Austin, TX—After competing in their first National Middle School Drill Championship in Dallas, 25 students in Bedichek Middle School's Junior Marines Leadership Program won three national titles in Unarmed Color Guard, Armed Drill and Overall Color Guard. In preparation for the competition, students practiced two hours daily, Monday through Thursday, and four hours Saturday. In order to participate, students were required to maintain passing grades in all course work.

Darrick A. Norton, former Marine Staff Sergeant and Bedichek teacher, leads the program. Created in the spring of 2006, the Bedichek Junior Marines Leadership program was designed to instill values such as integrity, dependability, loyalty, unselfishness and tact. The three-year program offers training in leadership and physical endurance, drill and ceremonies, teamwork and daily, personal discipline.

To learn more about the program, visit www.juniormarines.org.