Sharks take bite out of drill meet Published June 15, 2007 By Airman 1st Class Stephen Musal Public Affairs GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Since the days when Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben introduced it to the Continental Army, drill has been an integral and crucial part of military training. The spirit of that ancient tradition was kept up Saturday when members of the 17th Training Group's three drill teams competed for glory and a trophy in Goodfellow's drill meet. The teams, composed of students from the 312th, 315th and 316th Training Squadrons, competed in an open-ranks competition, a regulation drill competition and an exhibition drill competition. Prizes were also awarded for individual drill and a spirit competition. The 316 TRS demonstrated their mastery of team drill, taking first place overall. The Sharks caught first-place honors in the open ranks, regulation and exhibition drill events as well. The 312 TRS won the spirit award for having the loudest, most enthusiastic group in support of their drill team. Red, white and black - "firedawg" colors - dominated the audience, and distinctive 312 TRS cheers could be heard across the base. The Rattlers were not left out, with all three of the finalists in the individual drill competition hailing from the 315 TRS. The first place winner was Airman Samuel Phillips, an operations intelligence student with the 315 TRS. "It is refreshing to see our young Airmen pouring their time and talents into an event where military decorum and bearing play such a vital role," said Master Sgt. José Greene, 17 TRG superintendent of military training, who also volunteered as one of the judges. "The precision with which some of those drill movements were performed should serve as a reminder to all that we are in a profession that requires discipline," Sergeant Greene added. "This was military training at its finest."
