The Blue Ridge Rifles won their first National Championship for precision drill teams at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) in 1982, while commanded by cadet CPT Harden Hopper. The Drill Master was cadet MSG Lewis Lockett. The faculty advisor was MAJ Charles Clarkson. EKU was an invitational drill meet that included the Pershing Rifle national championship as a sub-element. The Blue Ridge Rifles took first place overall, beating all teams competing, to include the Pershing Rifle champion team from St. Peters College, commanded by cadet CPT George Santana. Also in 1982, the Blue Ridge Rifles took first place at the Mardi Gras invitational drill meet at Tulane and first place at the Georgia Tech invitational. Overall they have won 16 out of 24 Mardi Gras Appearances since then. In 1983 the Blue Ridge Rifles, commanded by C/CPT D.Lee Hackle, with Executive Officer C1/lt Jerry Purvis and Drill Master C/MSG Ken Marshall again won the national title at Bowling Green University in Ohio.