James E. "Jim" Jones, a Casper, Wyoming building contractor and a veteran of the World War II United States Army Air Forces founded the Troopers Drum and Bugle Corps in 1957 as an activity for local youth.

[1] In his own youth, Jones had won the American Legion individual snare drum championship while a member of Casper's Sons of the American Legion drum and bugle corps, in which he had also been the corps manager from age fifteen.

[4] Their first national contest was the 1961 American Legion Championships in Denver, where the corps finished fourth.

The corps felt that not only were they having their creative potential as artistic performing groups stifled, but they were being financially starved.

The Combine members felt that the corps should be making their own rules, operating their own competitions and championships, and keeping the bulk of the profit that shows earned.

At the first DCI World Championships in Whitewater, Wisconsin, the Troopers finished in sixth place.

[11] In 2021, corps director Kristy Jackson stepped down after facing allegations of gross negligence.