RIVERSIDE, Calif. (April 1, 2014)—California Baptist University's Army ROTC took first place in the color guard event at the John J. Pershing Memorial Drill Competition (JJPMDC) held in Richmond, Va. March 13-16.

The winning team included cadets Nathan Shimabukuro, Dante Anderson, Darnell Mauricio and Joel Powell.

"The JJPMDC is the culmination of a year's worth of local competitions and hard work, where Pershing Rifle units from throughout the nation compete for the Varsity Rifles Trophy," said SFC Jay D. Villasenor, CBU military science instructor. "The CBU Army ROTC Color Guard competed at the collegiate level against 12 universities, along with the National Society of Pershing Angels, which is the high school level."

Pershing Rifles drill teams compete in several categories, including regulation drill, exhibition drill, individual drill and color guard.

Pershing Rifles is an ROTC related organization that was started by General of the Armies John J. Pershing in 1892 when he was the professor of military science at the University of Nebraska. Pershing Rifles membership is not only open to ROTC cadets, but also to civilian college students who want to learn more about the military.