Across the country, color guards strive for precision in movement, timing, and appearance. Yet one of the most common failures occurs before the first command is ever given:
The equipment is wrong.
The Flagstaff Is Not “Just a Flagstaff”
One of the most persistent misconceptions I encounter is the statement:
“A flagstaff is just a flagstaff.”
This idea usually appears when someone is using a silver aluminum or gold telescoping pole and attempts to justify it for a military color guard.
At first glance, the logic seems simple: if it holds a flag, it should be acceptable.
That logic is incorrect.
When the Flag Determines the Staff Manual
Across the United States, military and cadet units routinely conduct physical training runs with a unit guidon.
This practice is normal, historically grounded, and fully supported by service drill doctrine.
A DrillMaster Study of the Flagstaff and Finial
Today’s US military flagstaff, the light ash wood guidon staff with the flat, silver spearhead, comes from a time when polearms were the weapon of choice for infantry and cavalry. The image at the top of the page is a painting by Italian painter Augusto Ferrer-Dalmau called Batalla de Rocroi. The painting was created in 2011, and the battle was …
Recommended Equipment for a Color Guard
I received such a great question that it spurred me into creating a new tag #DrillMasterRecommends, and writing this article.
The Flagstaff Spade Marker
When we stand at Order, Parade Rest (Stand at Ease), and Carry (Right Shoulder), the spade should be flat to the front. In order to do this, for many years, we (older guys) would use thumbtacks that we could feel with our fingers with the staff on the deck and/or see when carried.
Flagstaff Refurbishing
Flagstaffs can become weathered and lose their original look like the one pictured. That is easily remedied! Well, not easy-easy, but it’s not really all that difficult. Here are the steps: Remove the ferrules and middle screw joints. Sand the staffs down completely to the wood. Stain the the staffs. Coat the staffs with at least five coats of urethane. …
Replacing the Army Spade Finial
Finial = the topper/ornament of a flagstaff Flagstaff = the guidon staff carried by a color guard member Active Duty and Reserve US Navy and US Coast Guard color guards are required to have the battle-ax, also called a Battalion Lance, as their primary finial, according to NTP 13B, Flags, Pennants and Customs (download from the Resources page). The silver …
The Flagpole with Two Halyards and the Intended Direction of Display
DrillMaster explains his helpful term, Intended Direction of Display, when raising flags on a stationary flagpole with two halyards.
Ask the DrillMaster: What are we doing wrong with our color guard?
Question: Since you work with drill teams & know proper flag etiquette, you’re my go-to person on this one. We were told at a national veteran convention by someone from another state that we shouldn’t have an eagle on our state flag staff, only on the US Flag staff. I haven’t found anything about it. Is this accurate? Thanks! B …