Movement has a rhythm and with competitive marching it is crucial to understand that rhythm and break down movement to understand it’s application better.
AFMAO – Zero Margin for Error
This investigation is grounded in a review of five critical articles from prominent news sources—including Stars and Stripes, NBC News, Washington Post, the American Legion, and NPR—which collectively detail a pattern of failures that constitute a betrayal of trust by Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations (AFMAO). This historical record highlights instances of mishandled veteran human remains and failed accountability, unequivocally …
Mission Overreach and Organizational Erosion: A Call to Re-Establish Ceremonial Standards Under The Air Force Honor Guard
Finished 24 October 2025. I’ve spent years detailing the operational conflicts that are actively undermining the Base Honor Guard program online through my website and social media. This is more than just a turf war; it’s about the legal requirement to preserve a congressional mandate. To download this position paper in PDF, click here. Download the sample suggested DAFI rewrite …
The “Honor by Dishonor” Fallacy, Part 2
Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, Veterans Day. Powerful, solemn days. People feel it in their bones — the sense of loss, the weight of sacrifice, the pride in service. And as coordinators, presenters, and participants, we want to make the moment meaningful. We want the ceremony to leave an impact. But sometimes, that desire turns into something else.
The “Honor by Dishonor” Fallacy, Part 1
I have coined this new term, a new fallacy of logic. It is a manifestation of grief and wanting to do something above and beyond for the deceased or, in many cases, doing bigger and better than last year’s (Independence Day, Memorial Day, etc.) ceremony. The image at the top of the page was generated by artificial intelligence at my …
Charlie Kirk’s Casket Carried By Airmen
There are rules and regulations surrounding military funeral honors. The military does not provide any type of honors, including a casket team, for just any civilian.
The Gould and Goodrich Review
I must say, I’m impressed with these products!
The Joint Formation
There might be some confusion as to what a joint formation looks like and when one is authorized so we will break it down here. The photo at the top of the page shows the Old Guard and Marine Barracks Washington companies with a barely visible Navy Ceremonial Guard company at the left of the photo marching in a parade …
The Manuals a Veteran Organization Should Have On Hand
Veteran service organizations regularly form color guards and even perform military funeral honors daily throughout the year. The training the teams receive should come from established military manuals. This is a list of the manuals the organization may want to have on hand. All available as a free PDF download here: https://thedrillmaster.org/downloads/ Army Standards – most prevalent Marine Corps Standards …
Why We Execute Facing Movements Only at Order
It can be a bit annoying to face and then move to Right/Left Shoulder but there is good reason for it.