The Naval Reserve Officers' Training Corps (NROTC) Unit at Texas A&M University hosted the 23rd Annual Navy Junior ROTC Area-10 Field Meet, Feb. 26-27.

The meet, known as the Texas State Championship, hosted more than 600 students from 16 high school NJROTC units across the state, competing for the championship title and a chance to compete at the National meet in Pensacola, Florida, later in the spring.

More than 150 Texas A&M University Battalion midshipmen and active-duty students (Seaman-to-Admiral 21 and Marine Enlisted Commissioning Education Program) volunteered over the weekend to assist with scoring and execution of the meet. The event provided the opportunity for NJROTC cadets to visit A&M and interact with the Corps of Cadets.

Over a two-day competition, the NJROTC units were scored in 10 events testing their academic prowess, physical strength, and military bearing and precision. The first day of the field meet consisted of physical training and academic events, and was conducted mainly on O.R. Simpson Drill Field in the heart of Texas A&M's campus.

The second day was composed of various military basic and exhibition drill events, including personnel inspections, armed and unarmed drill, and color guard. Saturday events were held at the Physical Education Activity Program (PEAP) Building and Penberthy Intramural fields on west campus at Texas A&M.

"It is clear to the NROTC staff and Midshipmen Battalion how much work these high school teams put into training for this event," said Lt. Alli Hamel, Texas A&M NROTC staff field meet coordinator. "They bring a lot of passion and effort to this meet and we are honored to be able to host it."

At the end of the weekend, George Bush High School claimed the championship title, snapping a sixteen-year Flour Bluff winning streak.

The NJROTC program is overseen by Rear Adm. Stephen C. Evans, commander, Naval Service Training Command (NSTC) at Naval Station Great Lakes.

NJROTC is a citizenship development program that instills in high school students, in U.S. secondary educational institutions, the value of citizenship and service to the United States.

NSTC oversees 98 percent of initial officer and enlisted accessions training for the Navy, as well as the Navy's Citizenship Development program. NSTC includes Recruit Training Command (RTC), the Navy's only boot camp; NROTC at more than 160 colleges and universities across the country; Officer Training Command (OTC) in Newport, Rhode Island; NJROTC and Navy National Defense Cadet Corps (NNDCC) citizenship development programs at more than 600 high schools worldwide.

For more news from Naval Service Training Command, visit www.navy.mil/.