Mansfield High JROTC earns national title

The Mansfield High School Storming Tigers Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) clinched first place in the Armed Division of the Army JROTC National Drill Championships, held May 3 in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The Tigers competed against 43 other teams of high school cadets in their division from Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine JROTC programs across the nation.

Cadet Jason Randle, a senior at Mansfield High and the team’s commander, said, “It means a lot to represent my school and city as an Army JROTC Drill National Champion. We’re putting ourselves on the map as a team and program that will be dominating for a long time.”

Teams from across the United States participate annually, with this year’s competition drawing Army JROTC drill teams from 26 states. This is the first national championship for the Mansfield High School team at the National Drill Championships. Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Kinnel, the school’s JROTC instructor and coach, attributed the team’s success to motivation, teamwork and dedication.

“What an honor and a blessing to be able to change lives and see cadets become better citizens,” said Kinnel.

In addition to their first-place victory, Mansfield High JROTC secured second place in the Division 2 Unarmed Category at the All Service Nationals Competition on May 4-5, also held in Daytona Beach. This event features JROTC drill teams from all six military services across six categories of drill, including inspection, regulation, color guard, exhibition, solo exhibition and dual exhibition.

Kinnel has been the instructor for the Mansfield High JROTC program since 2015. This is his team's first national title in the Army JROTC National Drill Championships.

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