Jackson Clemmons of Manning has earned one of the highest honors at The Citadel, having been selected as a member of the prestigious Summerall Guards for the Class of 2026.
Clemmons was among 61 rising seniors who officially took their place in the historic drill platoon during the annual changing of the guard ceremony, held as part of Corps Day weekend on The Citadel’s Charleston campus. The event marked the final performance for the Class of 2025 Summerall Guards, who passed their rifles to the incoming unit.
Membership in the Summerall Guards is a coveted recognition of strength, stamina and leadership. Cadets undergo a rigorous selection process that begins with passing an initial physical fitness test and continues with six weeks of Bond Volunteer Aspirant (BVA) training. Candidates are tested on military pushups, sit-ups and rifle-bearing drills, all performed in strict formation and under physically demanding conditions.
Created in 1932, the Summerall Guards are known across the country as an elite military drill unit. Their precise, silent performances are based on old Prussian close-order drills and are never written down—passed only from class to class. The unit is named for Gen. Charles P. Summerall, former Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army and president of The Citadel from 1931 to 1953.
The newly formed platoon will be commanded by Cadet Cole Bouknight.
Founded in 1842, The Citadel is a nationally recognized military college offering a leadership-focused education to approximately 2,300 cadets. While military service is not required, about one-third of graduates earn commissions in the U.S. Armed Forces. The institution has consistently ranked as the No. 1 Public College in the South by U.S. News & World Report for 13 consecutive years.
For more information about The Citadel, visit www.citadel.edu.
