The diamond formation is an alternative for traveling that is quite unique. When properly done, it looks good. It is used for traveling only, as it is not an appropriate static formation. Static formations are fully explained in service drill and ceremonies manuals. Is it authorized?
Standard, Authorized Formations
- Line Formation is the go-to standard for almost every ceremony.
- Explained in each service drill and ceremonies manual.
- Inverted Line Formation is only used when directly posting the colors into the stands. That means the stands are right at your feet. The Army uses this for posting the colors and anyone else can as well. Inverted Line is never used any other time because it puts the national color to the left of the other color(s).
- TC 3-21.5, “The Color sergeant then commands Order, ARMS; Right, FACE; and Forward, MARCH. On the command of execution MARCH, the Color guard marches to the rear of the head table (see figure 15-1 on page 15-7). Once the Color guard is centered on the flag stand, they Mark Time and the Color sergeant commands Colors, HALT and Right, FACE [this is inverted line -DM]. The Color guard should approach the flag stands from the right to position the national Color bearer in front of the flag holder on the right, facing the audience.”
- Mentioned in MCO 5060.20, “Make sure the colors do not reform inverted [this is inverted line -DM].”
- Column Formation is used constantly for starting colors presentations where the team moves through a very narrow aisleway into Line Formation for the presentation, and then departs in Column Formation. Briefly mentioned in MCO 5060.20, but anyone can use the formation.
- MCO 5060.20, “The aisles may be too narrow for a color guard to march in normal formation. The color guard would then march in by two’s or in column of ones.”
- Inverted Column Formation is never used at any time because it puts the national color behind the other color(s).
- Both Column and Inverted Column are briefly mentioned in MCO 5060.20, “If marching in a column of ones, the order of march is ALWAYS, right color guard, national color bearer, organizational color bearer, left color guard.”
- Column of Twos is used for narrow aisleways and not seen very often. To form this while marching, the guards just drop back with a shorter step and move behind the bearers. To reform, the bearers either halt or the bearers march in place and the guards move up.
- Only MCO 5060 explains this, “The aisles may be too narrow for a color guard to march in normal formation. The color guard would then march in by two’s or in column of ones. (See figures 7-26 and 7-27.) If marching in by twos, the color bearers lead, and the riflemen follow. Upon reaching the spot for presenting the colors, the riflemen would step into their normal position.” Anyone can use the formation.
Forming the Diamond with Four
If the team is marching shoulder-to-shoulder, the ceremonial standard (not authorized for ROTC, JROTC, etc.), then you must Split It (you don’t have to go to Mark Time) and move to Close Interval before moving to the diamond.
When the team first falls-in, you can form the diamond for a parade or a colors presentation. You want Normal Interval for the depth (one arm’s length), plus about 12”.
When you start in Line Formation and begin marching forward and want to move into the diamond, a simple “Diamond, MARCH” is called on two consecutive left steps, the team takes one more step with the right at Quick Time and executes the move.
On the next left step, National (“Nats”) and Org bearers begin a shorter step while Left Rifle Guard (“L”) starts a Half Step and marches to the center of and behind the bearers. Simultaneously, the Right Rifle Guard (“R”) marching at Quick Time, moves to the center of and in front of the bearers. All this can be accomplished in about eight steps.
To resume Quick Time, the team either steps off on the ninth step (left foot) and continues or the commander can give “Ready, STEP” on two consecutive left steps with the step off at Quick Time on the following left.
The guards must move to a position that creates considerable distance between them and the bearers to enable the Colors Turn-On for a color presentation.
Below is the end result of marching to the diamond without the bearers moving outward. This creates thinner diamond that isn’t as visually pleasing. Having the color bearers move out to create a wider distance between them looks better.
To present the colors and move into Line Formation facing left requires a modified Colors Turn-On that is accomplished in four steps.
Notice that the guards rotate in place and the bearers execute a wheel with the rotation point between them. Notice that the Skinny Diamond needs no alteration for the movement of the bearers, but the Diamond does. Here, the bearers must move inward and wheel at the same time.
Forming the Diamond with Five
The team with five members does virtually the same thing as the team with four, but the guards must travel a bit longer.
Add two steps for the guards to transition to and from the diamond. The guards should be the same distance from the bearers as if the team was manned with four, Normal Interval (one arm’s length), plus about 12”. The bearers need to be at Close Interval and do not need to space out like the two bearers do above since the three bearers form a wider diamond and more visually pleasing formation.
If you are doing this to present the colors, march into position, execute the modified Colors Turn-On, and present the colors, the bearers execute a wheel without changing their distance, but there is a modification that needs to be accomplished by the guards.
Here, you can see that the guards must move out and away from the bearers as they turn 90 degrees to the left so as to end up at Close Interval from the two end bearers.
Larger Color Guards?
I wouldn’t. This should be it, a team of four or five.
Lastly
The color guard in these images is the Base Honor Guard (BHG) at RAF Lakenheath and/or Mildenhall in England. They are not doing very well in maintaining the ceremonial standards required for a BHG set forth by the USAF Honor Guard, but I used these photos to clearly illustrate the Diamond Formation.