Pershing Rifles at PMC

In 1948, a group of six cadets organized a special drill team. At the time, its purpose was to develop a drill unit to perform on special occasions at PMC. Under the leadership of Bert Mazzeo, a member of a world-famous trick drill team in Europe after World War II, the unit was reorganized and taught the cadets a trick drill routine.

The cadets were granted a charter as Company Q, 5th Regiment in the National Society of Pershing Rifles on November 25, 1952. This organization was founded in 1894 by General John J. Pershing at the University of Nebraska and promotes competition among units throughout the country. In 1967, PMC became the 15th Regimental Headquarters and was known as Company Q-15.

This was the beginning of a long, successful and admired history within its regiment and the nation. Each year Company Q-5 would travel and compete in Basic Drill, Trick Drill, Advanced Drill and Individual competitions. In an eight-year span beginning in 1955, Q-5 competed in more than twenty-three major tournaments and was awarded some forty-eight trophies, including the title National Champions. In 1969, Company Q-15 won the Pershing Rifles trophy for the 7th time. The trophy was then retired to PMC’s trophy case.