The sound of gunshots echoed through the Armory this weekend. Nobody was killed, but several people hit their targets.

Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) units from 11 schools competed in the 22nd annual drill meet this weekend. The meet was sponsored by Iowa State University NROTC members.

The University of Nebraska unit won the meet, which included pistol, rifle, squad, platoon and individual drill routine contests.

Individual competitors as well as teams were honored for their performances.

“I’m impressed by the enthusiasm and the level of competition this early in the season,” said Captain John Maxey, ISU professor of naval science.

Second place went to University of Wisconsin-Madison and Northwestern University competitors placed third. Iowa State University ranked 7th overall, disadvantaged by not having an entry in the platoon competition.

In the shooting competitions naval officers participated in three rounds, ranging from slow fire, when competitors have five minutes to fire 10 shots, to rapid fire, when only 20 seconds were allotted for 10 shots. Rifle shooters also competed lying down, kneeling and standing.

Marquette took first place in the team rifle competition, and the team from Southwest Missouri State University won the pistol event.

Squadrons consisted of a minimum of seven and a maximum of 13 cadets working together, and platoons contained a minimum of 13 cadets.

Nebraska’s squad and Northwestern’s platoon received first place honors.

In the individual drill routine contest, competitors in formation were given marching commands to perform, such as “about face.”

Then, “as each person screws up, they get pulled out,” explained Sergeant Joe Riley. Riley said judges look for things like cadets who do not have their heels together completely.

After the first command, nearly half of the competitors were pulled out of the formation. The floor was quickly cleared of cadets until only one, a female from the University of Illinois, remained.

Riley estimated that 25 to 50 of the 250 competitors were female.

Individual distinctions were also given for cadence calling. A University of Illinois cadet also won this event.

The event was staffed and organized by ISU NROTC members. Saturday, the primary day of competition, was quite busy for them because the 63 members of the unit were divided between working at the drill meet and overseeing parking at the football game, Battalion Commanding Officer Tim Mohr said.

About 20 members of the unit also volunteered to represent ISU in the competition.

“Sometimes there are more important things than winning,” Mohr said, “like meeting the people from other schools,” whom they may work with later in their naval careers.