The Military Department, now the JROTC associated with Concordia Lutheran High School, has a storied history that’s full of tradition. It began in 1906 at Concordia Junior College. The department was being spearheaded by the Director of the College Martin L. Luecke. The Director wanted the program to whip the students into shape. He thought the students were “developing hollow chests.” After the approval of the program, West Point graduate and Fort Wayne native, Captain Ivers Leonard, was appointed as Concordia’s first Commandant.
The program grew over the years to include the high school. It became strictly a high school program in 1954. The program is so remarkable that the military program is the mascot of the school. The Concordia Junior College ceased operation in 1957 and rebranded itself as the Concordia Senior College and was located where Indiana Tech is now until 1975. Eventually the college moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan and became Concordia University Ann Arbor.
The Military program here at the high school is rich with tradition which goes back over 118 years. For well over a hundred years the prestige and pageantry of tournament marches on every spring. The elegance of the Officers Ball spans over 80 years of dining tradition and social graces. That tradition and history will continue on February 22 with the 54th Annual Captain Homer L. Clendenen Memorial Drill Meet.
On that cool Saturday morning, the doors will open at 0700 hours for spectators to witness the precision and pageantry of 14 JROTC units battling to be the champion of the 54th Annual Homer L. Clendenen Memorial Drill Meet. JROTC units from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Kentucky and Ohio consisting of more than 400 Cadets in total will represent all four branches of the military at this highly competitive and
prestigious event.
Captain Homer L. Clendenen was a Senior Army Instructor from 1968 until his untimely passing in 1972. As the Senior Army Instructor, Captain Clendenen brought the CLHS Army JROTC Cadet Battalion into the new age of instruction. Captain Clendenen was focused on training the Cadets to make decisions, plan and execute those strategies. With this in mind, he founded the Concordia Drill Meet in the winter of 1971. After his passing, the Cadets changed the name of the drill meet to honor the memory of Clendenen's efforts at Concordia Lutheran High School.
Come out and support the Concordia Lutheran High School JROTC Cadets. There is no charge for spectators to attend the event. We will see you there