Marine Corps Order 5060.20, Marine Corps Drill and Ceremonies, is the drill and ceremonies (D&C) manual for the Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, and other sea services (NOAA, Merchant Mariners, and Public Health). But it doesn’t apply, as stated at the beginning of the manual, to two key organizations in the Marine Corps. Why on earth would that be? Let’s find out.
Statement for Applicability
This Order encompasses all close order drill and ceremonial procedures for use by Marine Corps organizations with the exception of Marine Barracks, Washington, DC1, Officer Candidate School, Marine Corps Recruit Depot (MCRD) Parris Island, and MCRD San Diego2. (superscript number additions mine)
Encl 1, paragraph 4. C. (1), MCO 5060.20
The Explanations
1 Marine Barracks, Washington, DC (MBW) is the Marine Corps’ ceremonial escort to the President and as such has the highest level of expectations for drill and ceremonies. While MCO 5060 and the sister service equivalent manuals detail what is called Regulation Drill, the Marines at MBW perform Ceremonial Drill.
2 OCS and both MCRDs drill from 5060.20 but indirectly. All three organizations use the current MCO and essentially take a copy of the manual, add instructional information to it for the Drill Instructors at each location and teach from that.
The Reasoning
MBW. It stands to reason that the type of drill required in and around Washinton DC for the myriad of ceremonies is different. Modifications have been necessary to ensure the troops are able to perform with minimal negative influence on their body.
For instance, facing movements do not have a pivot due to the different marching surfaces. While marching on grass, a pivot can tear up that portion of soil and kill the grass. When marching on carpet or other surfaces, a pivot can cause an audible squeak and cause the foot to get stuck. Easy flow of movement is required at all times. The position of Stand at Ease is similar to Parade Rest but with the hands in front so as not to cause strain on the chest and shoulders.
Color guard movements are different for several reasons. The extremely detailed descriptions of each position and movement leaves nothing to guesswork. This saves time for training amongst the services when working together and opens the door to the highest levels of achievement possible in front of international dignitaries.
The MCRDs. It makes no sense whatsoever to state that the MCO’s standards are not applicable to OCS and the MCRDs when in fact they are absolutely applicable. MCO 5060.20 is the instructional source material, period. Everything taught at these three locations is, or should be, exactly what the MCO states.
It is my belief that the statement quoted above is the reason behind the mismatched application of the written standard that you can see when you view Marines in the Fleet. There are five D&C standards in the Marine Corps when there should only be two:
- MCO 5060.20
- MBW (Understandably different. FYI, the Barracks Order comes from the MCO.)
- OCS
- MCRD Paris Island
- MCRD San Diego
Not every Marine performs the same, but do not go off half-cocked and say the MCO is not applicable. As you have read above, it is where all sea service D&C originates.
The Photo at the Top
The photo is of an OCS graduation pass-in-review. While much is correct in the photo, some key issues are wrong.
- The guidon bearer is almost alongside the formation commander on the left.
- The rifle guards are at Present, which is never accomplished when marching. The command is “Eyes, Right” requiring the heads to turn, the organizational to dip, and nothing else to happen.
- The bearers have the two-handed grip (high winds, perfectly acceptable), but the right is not at mouth level and the left is above the right.
A Better Statement for Applicability
This Order encompasses all close order drill and ceremonial procedures for use by all Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard organizations with the exception of Marine Barracks, Washington, DC, The US Navy Ceremonial Guard, and The Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard.
Officer Candidate Schools for the Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Agency, Merchant Mariners, Public Health Service, as well as Marine Corps Recruit Depots Parris Island and San Diego, Navy Recruit Training Center Great Lakes, Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, the Naval Academy, and Merchant Marine Academy use this manual for all close order drill and ceremonial procedures with modification only for local instruction. Modification of the standards contained within is not authorized.
We need better clarity. The above paragraphs are my stab at creating clearer communication. To that end, the title needs to be changed to something like “Department of the Navy Drill and Ceremonies”.