Competitive Outcomes

Another outstanding week in the books.

Competitive Outcomes has officially completed another Navy JROTC Cadet Basic Leadership Training Course in North Carolina, bringing together more than 80 cadets from around the region for a week focused on leadership, teamwork, and personal growth.

Throughout the course, cadets challenged themselves in:
• Precision drill
• Team-building exercises
• Physical training (PT)
• Leadership and academic instruction
• Canoeing
• Fishing
• Campfires and s’mores
• And yes… even a little line dancing.

Leadership isn’t developed in a classroom alone. It’s built through shared challenges, new experiences, and the confidence that comes from stepping outside your comfort zone. Every activity was designed to reinforce the values of discipline, communication, resilience, and teamwork that these young leaders will carry back to their units.

Thank you to the instructors, cadre, and North Carolina State Parks for making this week possible. Most importantly, congratulations to every cadet who showed up ready to learn, lead, and support one another.

We’re proud of what you accomplished, and we’re excited to see where your leadership journey takes you next.

Since 2010, Competitive Outcomes has been honored to work alongside military and law enforcement professionals in 27 countries around the world.

From training foreign military ceremonial units to developing police honor guards and specialized teams, our mission has always been the same: to elevate standards, preserve tradition, and build organizations capable of performing with professionalism under the most demanding circumstances.

It is a privilege to be invited into so many nations to share knowledge, learn from our international partners, and strengthen the global community of ceremonial excellence.

To every agency, unit, and leader who has trusted us over the past 16 years—thank you. We look forward to continuing this mission for years to come.

🌎 27 Countries. One Standard of Excellence.

The future of the Honor Guard profession depends on more than great training—it depends on strong standards, collaboration, and a commitment to preserving the traditions that define our calling.

That’s why Competitive Outcomes is proud to support the National Honor Guard Society.

As an independent 501(c)(3) (status pending) nonprofit, the Society is bringing together leaders from across the Honor Guard community to preserve tradition, elevate professional standards, foster collaboration, and invest in the next generation of Honor Guard professionals.

While Competitive Outcomes remains committed to providing world-class Honor Guard education and training, we believe the profession is stronger when organizations work together toward a common purpose.

We’re honored to stand alongside the National Honor Guard Society as they help build the future of the profession.

Together, we honor the past, strengthen the present, and prepare for the future.

Another incredible milestone for the Competitive Outcomes family.

The U.S. Navy has announced its 2026 Most Outstanding and Most Improved NJROTC units, and we’re honored to see that 10 of the recognized programs are Competitive Outcomes alumni.

Even more humbling:
🏆 2 of the Top 3 Most Outstanding NJROTC Units in the Nation have trained with Competitive Outcomes.

These achievements belong to the dedicated cadets, instructors, and school communities who commit countless hours to excellence. We simply have the privilege of helping provide the training, coaching, and standards that support their success.

To every unit recognized this year—congratulations. Your hard work, discipline, and commitment to excellence continue to raise the standard for NJROTC programs across the country.

We’re proud to have played a small part in your journey, and we’re excited to see what you accomplish next.

Congratulations to all of the 2026 award recipients!

This weekend, I had the privilege of attending the National EMS Memorial Service in Washington, D.C. While the ceremony honored all 37 EMS professionals whose names were added to the memorial this year, one name carried a particularly personal meaning.

Lieutenant/Paramedic Sarah E. McCarthy.

Sarah was a multiple-time alumnus of Competitive Outcomes Honor Guard training and an unforgettable member of the St. Charles County Ambulance District Honor Guard. She embodied everything an Honor Guard member should be—professional, compassionate, humble, and deeply committed to serving others.

Reading about her life and then witnessing her family receive the folded flag during the service was a powerful reminder that behind every line-of-duty death is a person who dedicated their life to caring for complete strangers, a family whose lives are forever changed, and a community that will never forget their sacrifice.

As someone who has spent my career training Honor Guards, these ceremonies are never just about precision or protocol. They are about ensuring that heroes like Sarah are remembered with the dignity and respect they have earned. Every movement, every salute, every folded flag, and every moment of silence tells the story of a life lived in service to others.

To Sarah’s family, her friends, and everyone at the St. Charles County Ambulance District: thank you for sharing her with the EMS profession. Her legacy of compassion, leadership, and service will continue to inspire those who had the privilege of knowing her and those who now learn her story.

Rest easy, Sarah.

Your final watch is complete. We have the watch from here.

Some moments remind us why we do what we do.

Last week, Competitive Outcomes Founder & CEO Bill Owen had the privilege of attending the National EMS Memorial Service in Washington, D.C., joining Honor Guard members, EMS professionals, and families from across the nation to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty.

The event was made even more meaningful by the incredible presence of the Competitive Outcomes family. More than 20 Competitive Outcomes alumni traveled from across the United States to serve on the National EMS Memorial Honor Guard. Standing watch, presenting the colors, and rendering final honors with unwavering precision and professionalism, they exemplified the highest standards of ceremonial excellence.

For Competitive Outcomes, this is what our mission is all about. We don’t simply teach drill and ceremony—we develop Honor Guard professionals who are prepared to serve with dignity during the moments that matter most. Seeing so many alumni entrusted with honoring our nation’s fallen EMS providers is a testament to their dedication and the commitment they continue to demonstrate long after training has ended.

To every Honor Guard member who served this week, thank you. Your professionalism ensured that every fallen EMS provider was remembered with the respect, honor, and dignity they so richly deserved.

We are honored to have been there. We are proud of our alumni. And we will continue our mission of preparing Honor Guard members to serve with excellence when their communities need them most.

Honor isn’t taught in a classroom—it is demonstrated in moments like these.

This past week, Competitive Outcomes was honored to attend the National EMS Memorial Service in Washington, D.C., as the nation gathered to remember EMS professionals who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities.

We were especially proud to see more than 20 Competitive Outcomes alumni from across the country serving as members of the Honor Guard for this solemn national event. Their discipline, professionalism, and attention to detail reflected the dignity owed to every fallen EMS provider and the families they left behind.

Training is only the beginning. Seeing our alumni carry these traditions forward—standing shoulder to shoulder in service, remembrance, and respect—is the outcome that matters most.

To every Honor Guard member who served, thank you for representing your agencies, the EMS profession, and the fallen with distinction.

We remember. We honor. We carry the legacy forward.

From building a team to becoming the team to beat.

Last week, Competitive Outcomes returned to South Carolina for another outstanding JROTC Drill Camp.

When we first began working with this school, they were just beginning to establish their drill program. Today, their cadets are performing one of the top exhibition routines in the area, taking first place at their Area Championship—and that transformation did not happen by accident.

It came through disciplined practice, strong leadership, attention to detail, and cadets who were willing to accept coaching and continually raise their standards.

This camp focused on sharpening fundamentals, strengthening team cohesion, developing student leadership, and continuing to elevate the precision and creativity of their exhibition program. All while getting new drillers and team members up to speed.

We are incredibly proud of how far these cadets have come, but even more excited about where they are headed next.

The standard continues to rise.