In the somber process of bringing home our fallen servicemembers, every detail matters. The sight of a flag-draped casket signifies part of the highest honors a nation can bestow. However, a modern logistical trend is starting to undermine that dignity: the practice of draping the interment flag over the shipping container holding the casket, rather than the casket itself.
Standards vs. Excuses: My Role and Your Responsibility
This article is not just directed toward JROTC instructors alone, but also adults over all other cadet programs. The text of a recent critique for the above photo (with additions here): Colors, you have X the wrong staffs (AFI 90-1201 tells us what to use, the light ash wood guidon staff), X wrong finials (same AFI for the flat, silver …
Why We Have In-Ranks Inspections
In-ranks inspections matter because standards matter. All standards matter.
“Cherry Picking”
I’ve been told twice in two days that I “cherry pick” information. In one instance it was purely an insult, but it came from an adult who doesn’t like accuracy or the truth. The second time came from a college level cadet who thought the two USAF D&C standards and who is authorized to follow them, doesn’t make sense.
A Message From The President of Missouri Military Academy
As the 135th MMA Corps of Cadets completes the first days of training for the year and begins academic classes on Monday, I want to share a message that will soon be sent out in our Eagle magazine. I want to remind you, our alumni and friends, of the strength of our conviction and belief in the education we provide for our cadets. As always, thank you for your support of the Academy and our young men. Together, we make a difference in their lives!
The DrillMaster Response
While a massive majority of readers understand exactly what I do, there a tiny few who feel that I need to be told how to do what I do. However, those few are very few and are disrespectful, arrogant, selfish, prideful, vulgar, and many times childish.
Do Standards even Matter?
The picture at right was sent to me by a Facebook friend who is an Army JROTC instructor in Texas. He sent it with the note that, at this particular drill meet, the SOP stated that only authorized service uniforms were to be worn. He told me the reason for the strict uniform requirements: One year I saw a color guard …






