The Junior Sword Drill started in 1932 and ended in 1992. The 1994 Junior Sword Drill last marched at the Ring Hop, the Friday night before Parents Day, in October 1992. Performing the Drill at the Ring Hop was the sole function of the Junior Sword Drill. In 1993, it trained the 1995 Junior Sword Drill. The trainees were called "roaches." During the training of the roaches the sword drill was disbanded because of hazing allegations.
The 1995 Junior Sword Drill was supposed to march at the Ring Hop in the fall of 1993, but it never did. The administration felt that the Summerall Guards was the only drill team that the school needed. The 1993 Sphinx was the last yearbook that included the Junior Sword Drill. It featured the 1994 unit and its performance at the 1992 Ring Hop.
The sword drill's only performance took place two years before its designated year: The 1990 sword drill would march in October 1988. The 1991 sword drill would march in October 1989, and so on. It always appeared in the Sphinx the year between the two years. This is all very confusing and may have been another reason it was disbanded.( Sources: "Junior Sword Drill Performs Tonight," Brigadier, October 25, 1974, p. 1; Gary Brown, "Junior Sword Drill Disbanded," Brigadier, October 15, 1993, p. 1; "Letters to the Editor," Brigadier, October 8, 1993, p. 3, and Nov. 12, 1993, p. 7; "The Junior Sword Drill, Sphinx, 1952, p. 218)
