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DUE 3 APR 2025
Pioneer Guard Parent Nationals Overview
The Pioneer Guard Drill Team is heading to Daytona Beach, Florida, to compete at the National High School Drill Team Championships (NHSDTC)—the premier event for JROTC drill teams across the country. This is a highly competitive event where the best teams showcase their skills, discipline, and precision in various categories.​
Travel & Accommodations
The team will depart on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, traveling by charter bus from Leavenworth, KS. The trip will take approximately 20-22 hours, with pit stops along the way, but no overnight hotel stays. The team is expected to arrive in the afternoon on Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
The team will be staying at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort, located directly across the street from the Ocean Center, where all competitions take place. The team will leave Daytona Beach on Monday, May 5, and is expected to return to Leavenworth on Tuesday, May 6.
Flying to Nationals
For families planning to fly instead of drive, there are two main airport options:
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Daytona Beach International Airport (DAB) – This is the closest airport, just 15 minutes from the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort. It is small and easy to navigate but has limited flight options.
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Orlando International Airport (MCO) – A major airport with more flight options and often better pricing. It is about 75 minutes (1 hour 15 minutes) from Daytona Beach.
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Hot Tip: If renting a car from Orlando International Airport, Alamo is the best rental company for best customer service and a smooth experience.
Competition
The Pioneer Guard will compete in all four major events:
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Armed Regulation
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Armed Color Guard
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Armed Inspection
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Armed Exhibition
In addition to these core competitions, the team will have two solo competitors and two dual teams competing in both Army Nationals (Friday, May 2) and All-Service Nationals (May 3-4).
Awards Ceremonies
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Friday Night: Army Nationals Awards – This is a one-day competition with only Army JROTC teams, making for a shorter awards ceremony.
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Sunday Night: All-Service Nationals Awards – This event includes all branches of JROTC, making it a much larger and longer awards ceremony. This awards ceremony will likely be livestreamed.
Meals, Food Options & Ocean Center Policies
The Parent Team for Nationals is still finalizing meal plans, and some meals will be coordinated and purchased for the team, while others will be prepared and served at the hotel or outside the Ocean Center.* We will share more details as they are confirmed, so please stay tuned for updates on which meals will be provided and which will need to be purchased by the students.
If preferred, student can choose to purchase their own meals at any time instead of eating the provided meals. The Ocean Center has a concessions stand with food and drink options available for purchase.
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*Important Policy – No Outside Food or Drinks in the Ocean Center
Please be aware that the Ocean Center has a strict policy prohibiting any outside food or drinks. This is non-negotiable, and there are no exceptions. Please be respectful of this policy to ensure that there are no issues caused for either of Leavenworth’s drill teams. The ONLY item that can be brought into the Ocean Center is a water bottle. As of February 27, 2024, tumblers are allowed if they have water in them. Be prepared to open it if requested to do so by security.
Parental Support & Volunteering
A small group of parents will be chaperoning in the hotel, but we will need extra hands to help with food preparation, serving food, and cleanup.
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Please watch for information on when and where help will be needed. We will do our best to communicate specific times and locations so you can balance helping out while still enjoying your time in Florida. Good organization and many hands make a heavy load light. Thank you in advance for chipping in where you can.
What Families Should Know About Daytona Beach
Daytona Beach is a popular tourist destination, and while it is generally safe, it is important to be mindful of a few things:
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The beach behind the hotel does not have lifeguards. While the ocean is a big attraction, students should be aware of rip currents and shark safety (avoid swimming at dawn/dusk and never swim alone).
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The Hilton has a great pool where students often gather.
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The surrounding area can be busy, especially at night. Parents should encourage students to be mindful of their surroundings.
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Cadets are required to stay in groups of four when they are outside the hotel and groups of two when they are inside the hotel or Ocean Center.
One of the highlights of Nationals is an informal gathering at the Beach Shell behind the hotel, where drillers from across the country come together to spin rifles, exchange skills, and connect. This is a great opportunity for the kids to watch and learn from some of the best drillers in the world.
You Need To Know
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Each student must contribute $300 to cover travel expenses. Students can earn this money by selling chocolates. Watch for details coming soon!
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Each student should plan on bringing at least $150 for spending money. When they have free time to hang out around Daytona there are many fun things to do, places to eat, and shopping but they are at your own expense. It’s never too early to start saving money for this trip!
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Parents attending will need to arrange and pay for their own accommodations. There are no rooms available at the Hilton, but there are hotels and AirBnbs nearby.
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Additional details will be shared in the coming weeks!
