A DrillMaster Study. A Long DrillMaster Study. Technically, a white paper. Since it’s so long (11 pages) it will publish in segments this week, January 20-24, 2025. Nothing I found has come close to explaining military drill and ceremonies like this.
Originally written April 7, 2020, major update January 2025.
Military drill encompasses a variety of movements and formations performed by members of the military, cadets, and others, either with or without equipment (rifles, flags, guidon). There are distinct forms of drill, each serving specific purposes and contributing to the overall discipline and efficiency of military personnel.
Drill is the “trained, patterned behavior of soldiers.”
Harald Kleinschmidt, “Using the Gun: Manual Drill and the Proliferation of Portable Firearms,” 603.
The Definition of Drill
First, for our purposes, what do we mean by “drill”?
- Unarmed Drill: Any movement performed without a piece of equipment: rifle, sword/saber, or flagstaff (guidon and colors staff).
- Close Order Drill: Also called Foot Drill, whether stationary or while marching in a formation: squad (element), platoon (flight), company (squadron), color guard, etc.
- Armed Drill: The word also includes manipulation of a rifle, sword/saber, etc.
- Unarmed Drill: Any movement performed without a piece of equipment: rifle, sword/saber, or flagstaff (guidon and colors staff).
“If we are to defend ourselves against the British, we need more than a gathering of angry farmers. We need discipline and drill and regulations. We need regular channels of supply, food and powder, recruitment, organization. A commander must understand all of those things.”
John Adams, June 9th, 1775
Types of Military Drill
The three primary types of military drill are:
- Ceremonial Drill: This type focuses on formal events and ceremonies. It includes parades, honor guards, and other occasions where precision and presentation are paramount.
- Regulation Drill: Also known as basic drill, this type involves standard movements and commands used to train soldiers. It is the foundation of military discipline and coordination.
- Exhibition Drill: Involves intricate marching patterns, body movement, and rifle manipulation designed to impress, entertain, and highlight skill.
- Scholastic: This type highlights creativity and skill, often seen in competitive settings at the high school and college level.
- Ceremonial: This is exhibition drill with many restrictions that are based on where the team comes from- a service honor guard.
- Independent: This is individuals and teams that are civilian based, mostly high school and college age, who spin rifles (very few march unarmed) and compete at competitions made for independent drillers.
For a detailed breakdown, refer to the article, What is a Military Drill Team? Additionally, for a historical context, you can read A Brief History of American Drill and Ceremonies.
Tomorrow’s installment is Understanding the Purpose of Military Drill.