Sample Questions for a Drill Competition

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During a drill meet each team goes through the inspection phase where each cadet has his/her uniform inspected while being asked questions by the judge. Basic Knowledge What does JROTC stand for? Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (Army) What does LET stand for? Leadership, Education, and Training What is the mission of JROTC? To motivate young people to be better …

Where can I find a complete list of exhibition drill moves?

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Some other countries use a separation of terms: Foot Drill and Rifle Drill. At The DrillMaster, we use “Drill” as meaning the feet; Unarmed Exhibition Drill (UXD) and Armed Exhibition Drill (AXD) to mean the body and equipment movement layered over the drill for the feet. On with the question. In General There isn’t such a thing as a “complete …

Hut, Toop, Threep, Fourp?

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In the Air Force the official way to call cadence is not “Left, Left, Left, Right Left” (more on that later). In the USAF drill and ceremonies manual, 36-2203, it states that when calling or counting cadence (AF cadence is 100 to 120 SPM- steps per minute- with a 24-inch step) you say, “HUT, TOOP, THREEP, FOURP; HUT, TOOP, THREEP, …

What is Echo Taps or Silver Taps?

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What it is “Silver Taps,” also called, “Echo Taps” is the bugle call, Taps, played by two buglers in echo fashion. It does sound very nice when played on special occasions, but it is not played at funerals. Why it is not authorized Army Regulation 220-90, Army Bands dated December 2007, Paragraph 2-5h(1) states the following: “Echo Taps” or “Silver …

What is a Military Drill Team?

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A military drill team is an armed or unarmed marching unit that performs routines based on military drill. All drill teams, no matter what size, perform or exhibit their routine.

What is the meaning of the POW/MIA Image?

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The POW/MIA BraceletAn organization called VIVA (Voices in a Vital America) launched the first public awareness campaign for POW/MIAs. Although the issue was featured occasionally on the news and in magazines, no formal organization existed for POW/MIAs. VIVA was a not profit, non-political, student organization run on a volunteer basis in Los Angeles in the 1970s. Several college students, Carol …

15-Count Manual Arms and Moving One’s Head

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A question I received: how can you not move your head when your doing the 15-Count Manual of Arms? Answer: The 15-Count Manual of Arms (the command is: “15-Count, Manual, ARMS“) accomplished either stationary or while marching is, from Order Arms: Right Shoulder (1, 2, 3, 4) Left Shoulder (5, 6, 7, 8) Present Arms (9, 10, 11) Order Arms (12, …

What is the Straight Leg Technique for Marching?

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The “Straight Leg” Technique* is used for marching bands/drum corps and could be used for a military drill team. The leg barely bends at the knee while the foot rolls from the heel to right behind the ball of the foot, the foot does not roll to the toe as in a normal marching step. The reason for this technique …

Ask DrillMaster: Toe First?

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Why do military honor guard march toe-first? I can speak for American honor guard units: Sometimes the Pall Bearers may march toe-first depending on terrain or other circumstances.  Other than that, military honor guards do not march toe-first, it’s a roll-step of sorts. The Guards at the Tomb of the Unknowns, roll-step on the outside of the sole to create …