Although exhibition drill may borrow tools from pageantry arts, the two are not the same discipline. They differ fundamentally in purpose, authority, design intent, and evaluation philosophy.
The Origins of the Modern White House State Arrival Ceremony
This article outlines the ceremony’s historical development and the origins of the specific ceremonial units that participate. It is written for instructors, historians, ceremonial planners, and drill and ceremonies professionals.
Compliance Review: CAP Cadet Color guard — Doctrinal and Ceremonial Deficiencies
This article evaluates a publicly visible Civil Air Patrol cadet Color guard presentation based on published ceremonial standards, flag protocol, and drill doctrine. The purpose is educational and corrective, not personal. All observations below are based solely on what is visible in the referenced image and applicable regulatory guidance.
Authority to Judge: Why Experience, Rank, and Instruction Do Not Automatically Confer Judging Authority in Drill and Ceremonies
For decades, the military drill and ceremonies community has struggled with a persistent and often unspoken problem: who is actually qualified to judge drill and ceremonies.
When “Joint” Does Not Mean Authorized
Recently, Virginia elected a new Governor. The image at the top of the page was shared on the VA State Defense Force Facebook page. There are many things wrong and here is what I noted on social media based on this image
Ceremonial Mourning, Authority, and the Proper Use of Bunting
When a public official or community leader dies, the desire to honor them is immediate and sincere. For first responder agencies in particular, this instinct often manifests through visible symbols of mourning—flags, apparatus positioning, uniforms, and, increasingly, bunting.
For Drill Meet Judges: Why Accent Is Not Excellence in Regulation Drill
Judging regulation drill requires a fundamentally different evaluative lens than judging exhibition or performance-based disciplines. When that distinction is not explicitly defined, even experienced judges can unintentionally reward behaviors that fall outside regulation doctrine. This article clarifies what regulation drill is asking you to evaluate, what it is not, and how to avoid common visual traps that distort scoring. Regulation …
When Standing Out Breaks the Standard: Accent vs. Authority in Regulation Drill
In regulation drill, excellence is not demonstrated by visibility—it is demonstrated by compliance. Yet in competitive environments, a recurring behavior has emerged: teams introduce subtle pauses before flanking movements, exaggerate foot sweeps on facing movements, or add slight timing accents that are not prescribed by doctrine. These additions are often intentional, designed to “stand out” to judges when technical execution …
The Pathfinder Drill and Ceremonies Manual: 6 Surprising Takeaways
Introduction: More Than Just Camping and Crafts When you picture a youth group, you probably think of camping trips, community service, and crafts. You might not picture a 318-page technical manual detailing the precise angle of a foot or the specific cadence for a funeral procession. But that’s exactly what I found when I analyzed the Pathfinder Drill & Ceremonies …
The Three-Man Color Guard: Authorization vs. Application
The USAF drill and ceremonies manual recognizes this configuration as an acceptable color guard formation. Its inclusion establishes that the formation is doctrinally valid. The other services do use this team set up, but it is relegated to formal visits on the international stage.