Clemson University's Pershing Rifles secure another national victory

Published: April 19, 2011

Clemson's Pershing Rifles Company C-4 image by: Pershing Rifles Company C-4

By Max Sewesky

CLEMSON — Clemson University’s Company C-4 once again was top gun in the General John Joseph Pershing National Drill Competition, held at Ohio State University in March. This marks the Clemson drill team’s sixth win in seven years.

 “The win was a great way for us to put an exclamation point on an already very successful year,” said cadet Derick Burgin, commander of Company C-4. “Our members worked tenaciously all semester — as much as four days a week for practice — in order to make sure we represented Clemson well at the championships. Keeping Clemson’s proud military heritage alive is a goal we always keep in mind when preparing for this competition.”

In addition to competing nationally, Company C-4 participates in Clemson events and other local celebrations, including football, baseball and basketball color guards; Tigerama; 21-gun salutes; Veterans Day celebrations; and other drill ceremonies.

Pershing, the competition’s namesake, in 1891 became a professor of military science and tactics at the University of Nebraska. Aiming to increase discipline and morale among the university’s battalion, Pershing created a drill unit that would become the foundation of a national organization, the Pershing Rifles.

Clemson joined the National Society of Pershing Rifles in 1939 with the formation of Company C-4.

More information about the Pershing Rifles and Company C-4, including news and upcoming events, is available on the clemsonrifles.com website.

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