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Drill TeamReceives100 RiflesCOLLEGE STATION - Fish Drill Team preparations for the 1975-76 competition season have been given a boost.The all-freshman team has acquired 100 practice rifles. Supplied through the Naval KOTC program, the acquisition enables each of the 85-member team to get early experience handling the nfle.Col. Jack Ivins, NROTC head, said the NKOTC unit welcomed the chance to assist a special unit of the Corps of Cadets. The detachment is the newest of the KOTC programs here. It has been m operation three years.Earlier FDT supply was largely by the Army, which also assisted the Koss Volunteers and Texas Aggie Band.The 100 rifles are Mark V dummy drill weapons. They are demilitarized” versions of the 0-3 Springfield nfle. The chamber of each has been split, the bolt welded shut and muzzle plugged. Sharp protusions have been removed, to reduce injuries.Otherwise, the Mark V’s are the same weight and have the same balance and outward appearance of the 0-3,” commented Marine Corps Maj. Steve Berkheiser. He, Maj. Dick Descheneaux of the Air Force KOTC detachment and Capt. John Miller, Army, are Fish Dnll Team sponsors.The new drill pieces have high impact fiberglass-type stocks that are more resident and durable to dnll team handling.Maj Berkheiser said the FDT will continue to use Springfields as competition arms. They are chromed and have highly-polished walnut stocks. The latter are more susceptible to breakage.The great thing about these new pieces is that each of the freshmen will now have practice rifles,” Maj. Berkheiser said. The competition weapons can't be used for teaching throws.With the added practice capability, it is probable that two teams will be entered in the Houston competition in DecemberSenior advisor Joe Wallaceand upperdass advisors have been drilling the fish since tryouts were completed early this fall.The team has as good a bunch of raw talent as it’s had in quite a while, Berkheiser said. “Forty to 50 were members of high school dnll units. Even though someunlearning’ and 'reteaching' to our methods is necessary, the group has moved faster through basic preparations.”The Fish Drill Team’s main competition season comes next spring.
Newspaper Details
Bryan Eagle
Bryan, Texas, US
Wed, Oct 15, 1975
Page 30
Full Page
Clipped by
Richard B.
IN, USA 03 Jun 2019
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