Mission
The mission of the nationally ranked The Citadel Rifle Legion Drill Team is to provide the South Carolina Corps of Cadets, the State of South Carolina, and surrounding communities with precision drill expertise while representing the college through espirit de corps among cadets, exhibition and regulation drill, parades and sporting events.
A History.
Founded in 1990, The Citadel Rifle Legion Drill Team is the all-class co-educational drill team at The Citadel. The regulation team drills using United States Marine Corps regulation drill, utilizing demilitarized M1 Garand rifles generously supplied by the NROTC Unit on campus. These rifles - first manufactured in 1933 and used in World War Two, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War - are still used by the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Team today. The rifle weighs 9.5 lbs and is made of a composite fiberglass stock.
The exhibition team of the Rifle Legion, nicknamed "the Praetorians" after the elite Roman Empire Guards, is composed of tweleve cadets who perform under a unique and ever-changing drill manual. They, too, utilize the M1 Garand rifle, and perform in the same uniform used by the South Carolina Corps of Cadets. The Praetorians perform a silent, exhibition drill routine which involves complicated spins, throws, and movements.
Community Involvement
The Rifle Legion has judged Junior ROTC drill meets across North and South Carolina and has performed as a color guard on many occasions. The team is dedicated to improving its surrounding community, and is available to judge both ROTC and JROTC drill meets throught South Carolina and its surround states for a nominal fee. To request more informatin regarding judging for your event, please fill out the Judge Request Form.
The Rifle Legion also provides Color Guards for various events throught the region. To request a Rifle Legion Color Guard, please fill out the Color Guard Request Form. As Color Guards are often in high demand, the team may not always be available to perform; should this be the case, the Rifle Legion will gladly help you find another color guard to perform at your event.
Competition
Every year, the Rifle Legion Drill Team copetes in the annual Tulane NROTC National Drill Competition. Hosted in New Orleans, Lousiana by Tulane University, the team has continuously been ranked in the top ten. In 2005, the team placed sixth in the Armed Exhibition category and, in 2007, the team placed second (the 2006 competition was cancelled due to Hurricane Katrina). On this annual trip, the Rifle Legion marches in the New Orleans parades on the days leading up to Mardi Gras.