QUESTION #1 - How Does Our Drill Unit Get Invited to Attend the Army Nationals?
All interested Army JROTC units wishing to apply for entry into the Army Nationals event can do so simply by downloading the event invitation and registration form directly from the event website. This invitation is generally posted in early September each year. Additionally, every year in late September, a magazine is mailed by Sports Network International to every JROTC unit in the world. This magazine (IDR) maintains an official invitation for your JROTC program to petition to enter the Army Nationals. Again, every Army JROTC unit in the world is eligible to apply for entry. Submission of the School Registration Form and the School Registration Fee constitutes a valid petition for entry into the Army Nationals. Just make sure your entry is received by SNI no later than the early December deadline printed on the registration form to ensure your unit has the best chance of getting accepted into the event.

QUESTION #2 - What Determines Who Gets Accepted Into the Army Nationals?
This is a tough question. First cut is to ensure the application received by the early December entry deadline get first consideration. This deadline gives all schools plenty of time to check calenders, gauge interest/talent and then submit the official application.

Secondly, SNI will make determinations regarding who gets into the Army Nationals based on numerous criteria. The first criteria is to accept teams who are in contention for an overall title FIRST. This means that schools entering all events needed to capture an overall title within either the Armed or Unarmed Division are given a priority over schools who are entering a few events. Therefore, if you are NOT planning to enter all events, probably better to save your time and postage because we do not plan to have any "partial" team entry slots in the high-demand one-day drill competition.

Other important criteria in use include: overall team talent, past champions or high finishers at other solid drill competitions, maintaining a solid geographic diversity, and keeping a diversity of team locations (urban, rural, suburban), and a mixture of armed and unarmed teams, and that is the recipe for a great Army Nationals competition field!

The final decision is subjective but based on making the Army Nationals exactly what it is -- the fantastic cross-section of top Army JROTC talent from across the Army Region. It is filled with second guessing and mind-numbing detail but hard choices have to be made. The most important single piece of advice that can be imparted is to fill out the back of your entry form with solid facts -- make your best case why YOUR SCHOOL BELONGS AT THE ARMY NATIONALS!

QUESTION #3 - When Do We Find Out if our School has been Accepted to Attend?
Immediately following the early December entry deadline, all entered schools will be evaluated and the competition committee for Sports Network International will make determinations surrounding which schools are selected to attend. The final competition field should be posted to the Army Nationals website very shortly thereafter.

QUESTION #4 - How is the Date and Location Selected for the Army Nationals every year?
The dates for the Army Nationals are dictated by availability of event venues, drill calender openings of Sports Network International, as well as ensuring a sufficient amount of time is left between the end of the competitions and the "prep time" for the top finishers to then go to Daytona Beach, Florida to compete within the National High School Drill Team Championships the first weekend in May.

The location is a joint decision of Sports Network and the United States Army Cadet Command. Dozens of factors play into the decision on exactly where to host these competitions within a vast country to best satisfy the goals of the Eastern and Western Army drill units. Such factors as: availability and quantity of solid judging support; affordable billeting for out-of-town teams; cost and availability of first-class indoor drill venue; proximity to a large percentage of the expected best drill units; highway system to facilitate easier bus travel, historic climate and overall weather conditions expected during the competition time frame; local support from the host area; as well as other important factors were all points to consider.

QUESTION #5 - Will the Army Championships move to a different location within the U.S. every year?
Production of an event the size and scope of the Army Nationals will make a move to a different location every year impractical and will diminish the overall quality of the meet. While a move is not out-of-the-question, the option of moving the event to a new location every year not something that is currently being discussed .

However, there is currently discussion regarding the possibility of rotating the event between just two different locations. This may provide an overall benefit and would be looked at as an overall positive for the entire region where this is not a single concentration of the best Army units (as there is currently in Texas). It would also greatly enhance access to the event from a larger number of different schools as the event would be a closer drive every other year. The future holds many options as it relates to this fantastic competition. All schools should check the official Army Nationals website often to keep apprised of the latest news surrounding this exciting drill competition.

QUESTION #6 - What Drill Manual will the Schools Compete Under at the Army Nationals?
All events at the Army Nationals are held under the guidelines of Army Field Manual 3-21.5, with the few exceptions and changes made within the Army Nationals SOP.

QUESTION #7 - Do We Have to Enter Every Team Event?
There is no requirement that a team must enter all events within a competition division to attend the Army Nationals. However, with the huge interest from schools looking to capture an overall Eastern or Western Championships title, teams that are looking to enter just an event or two are very rarely accepted. Our first priority in accepting any team for entry is, are they competing for an overall title (a team entering all team events). If they are not, they go to the bottom of the pile of entrants. Therefore, we suggest any team serious about gaining entry look at entering and excelling in every team event within the division you are entering.

QUESTION #8 - Why does the Army Nationals not maintain Solo and/or Dual Exhibition competition?
Primarily, the sole focus of the the Army Nationals drill competitions are to find the finest all-around Army JROTC drill team in both Armed and Unarmed competition. The solo & dual competition is not scored toward the title at virtually any drill meet I have ever seen or heard of. It is presented to give individuals who have practiced, worked hard and excelled a place to showcase their best and brightest in an individual forum after the overall team competition has ended. While this competition may become a part of the event in the future, for now the event will focus on the team competition side of Army JROTC drill.

QUESTION #9 - The "No Crossing Over" Rule -- What Does That Mean?
Cadets may only compete on one TEAM at the Army Nationals. Therefore, while a single cadet may compete in each EVENT within a competition division, he/she may not compete for BOTH Armed and Unarmed teams. Teams found in violation of the this rule can be disqualified from the entire competition. ENSURE YOUR TEAM DOES NOT PLAN TO HAVE CADETS WHO ARE "CROSSING OVER", COMPETING IN TWO DIFFERENT DIVISIONS (i.e. both the Armed and the Unarmed events). The easiest way to understand this is to think of each team you enter as being from a separate school.

QUESTION #10 - What in the World is an "Unarmed" Color Guard?
The "Unarmed Division" of Color Guard DOES NOT mean that these units compete with no weapons! It simply means that the scores they generate count towards the overall team totals generated by their Unarmed Drill Team. The color guard units who enter the event with their Unarmed drill team maintain two rifles/two flags, and execute the same exact sequence as the "Armed" Division color guards do. Don't feel bad for asking -- we get this one a LOT!

QUESTION #11 - Why are the trophy placements not posted at the event during the competition or at least posted on the internet throughout the day of the competition?
Posting scores during the day makes the final trophy presentation that evening as boring as watching paint dry! If this meet were conducted as a "commuter meet", where schools drive-in, compete and then drive home that afternoon/evening, as a courtesy to these teams, posting scores helps them get an early start back home.

Since almost every school will remain in town Saturday night and are required to attend the awards ceremony that evening, not providing the results in advance makes the Awards Ceremony very exciting. In fact, several individuals who initially complained about not having the scores posted contacted us afterwards and stated the cadets had a much better time at the ceremony. Since the Army Nationals event is FOR THE CADETS, this was welcome information.

QUESTION #12 - Where do you Buy the Gorgeous Trophies that are Presented at the Army Nationals?
Sports Network International constructs by hand all of the trophies that are presented all of our drill competitions. The component parts are bought from one of several trophy part suppliers here in the United States, cut or otherwise modeled into the correct size and shape, and then assembled. Complete construction for all of the trophies to include the plates that are a part of each trophy takes between 2-3 weeks. These trophies are among the most impressive available anywhere in youth sports today. Thanks for asking, but to get one you have to win at the Army Nationals!

QUESTION #13 - When Does the Invitation and other Important Event Rules and Regulations become Finalized and How Can we Get a Copy?
The rules generally change little from year to year and are posted on the website very shortly after the invites are posted in September. The event SOP is posted in September as well. The entire School Folder is posted on-line generally in very early December to allow all schools that are accepted into the competition the ability to download and begin the completion of the paperwork process necessary to attend the event. These papers are found on the official Army Nationals Paperwork HQ.

QUESTION #14 - What is the Team Package Plan and Do I Have to Use It?
All cadets eligible to compete within the Army Nationals competition must attend through the Team Package Plan. This plan is optional for instructors and other adult team followers.

This plan is designed to ensure all cadets win or lose receive a first-class drill competition in a first-class facility. Each cadet will also receive treasured event mementos to remember their experience at the Army Nationals all at a very affordable cost.

The Team Package Plan Includes:
- Specially-minted Army Nationals bronze medallion on a chest ribbon
- Specially-designed Army Nationals t-shirt for all paying participants, ordered to size
- 8" X 10" color team photograph with custom event logo

The price of the Team Package Plan, as well as the low event registration cost, is kept very low due to the vast support of the United States Army Cadet Command. With a School Registration Fee of just $100, and a Team Package Cost of just $10 per cadet, the Army Nationals remains one of the finest bargains in the world of competitive drill.

QUESTION #15 - What About Parents, Chaperones, Instructors, etc. - Are They Required to Attend Through the Team Package Plan?
For the Army Nationals competition, only competing cadets are required to attend the event and stay through the Team Package Plan - this rule in non-changeable. Many other team followers including bus drivers, school administrators, JROTC instructors, parents and other team followers often elect to stay through the Team Package Plan so they may receive the same items the cadets receive, but it is not required.

QUESTION #16 - We Want to Get a Ballpark Cost for the Trip -- What Should We Consider?
There are several factors that any school should consider when trying to estimate a cost to attend the Nationals. Several of the most important things to consider are: Transportation, Food, Lodging, and the Team Package Costs.

Transportation: Teams traveling from any great distance must decide whether they will drive or fly. Teams that fly to the Army Nationals must make arrangements for local transportation not only to and from the airport, but to an from the competition site. Along with the cost factor, this is why most teams bus to the Army Nationals.

Food: Meals are plentiful, varied and reasonably priced. Both venues have literally HUNDREDS of family dinner chains, fast-food places, as well as cafeterias and all-you-can-eat restaurants. Most teams have found that you can comfortably feed your cadets for $12 per day, per person.

Lodging: Billets are plentiful and varied, and are best explained on our Army Eastern Championships Billeting and Army Western Championships Billeting home pages.

Team Package Plan: The price of the Team Package Plan is simple to figure - $10 per cadet. It is a real bargain and is heavily subsidized by the United States Army Cadet Command to make the event very affordable for those wishing to be a part of the event.

QUESTION #17 - Does Our Team Have to Arrive in Town on Friday Night. Can't We Just Show Up and Compete on Saturday sometime?
You may arrive in town any time you wish. Hotel listings are on the website to assist teams looking to make overnight reservations with reasonable rates. The competition start times will be preposted in advance on the website so that any school may plan their arrival. While it may be tough to compete straight off of a long bus ride, when you arrive is your concern only as there will be no "Commander's Call" or other official meeting to attend and plan around.

However, all schools on arrival Saturday morning will check in at the event Registration Desk. At this time, any last-minute information will be presented, as well as all of the school's shirts, medallions and team photo paperwork. The event will maintain a closing Awards Ceremony on Saturday evening following the competition that will be required attendance for all attending schools. Please check your Team Folder for exact times and locations.

QUESTION #18 - We Still Have Questions -- What Should We Do?
If your question relates to the Army Nationals competition in any way, your best bet is to contact Sports Network International at 386/274-1919 or email - Sports Network International

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