Both the flagstaff manual and the guidon staff manual are linked. In this study we will discover the similarities and where both manuals separate due to the flag attached to the staff.
The guidon staff is the flagstaff and vice versa. The differences come in length and the type of flag attached. This is key to understanding the difference, the guidon flag is just a unit designator, and the staff can be put in many positions. A color is complete different and must be treated with the utmost respect at all times.
- All services use the 8’ guidon staff with the flat, silver spade finial, ferrules, and middle screw joint with the guidon flag attached.
- Only the Army and Air and Space Forces use the 8’ flagstaff with the flat, silver spade finial, ferrules, and middle screw joint with a 3’x4’ color attached.
- All services use the 9’6” flagstaff with a 4’4”x5’6” color attached.
- Army, Marine Corps, and the Air and Space Forces use only the flat, silver spade finial, ferrules, and middle screw joint.
- The Navy and Coast Guard use gold-colored ferrules, middle screw joint, and the battle-ax finial as the standard finial.
- The Navy and Coast Guard use gold-colored ferrules, middle screw joint, and different finials, depending on rank for ceremonies and displays.
- Only the Army can attach 3’x4’ colors to 9’6” flagstaffs with the flat, silver spade.
- Only the Air and Space Forces attach a 3’x4’ color to a 7’ flagstaff with the flat, silver spade for indoor posting.
Order
All of the services have been mostly the same for as far back as I can go in the service drill and ceremonies (D&C) in descriptions and, eventually, images. I don’t know if I have all of the historical drill and ceremonies documentation for each service, but what I do have in book and PDF form has led me to come to a few conclusions- although they are not necessarily concrete.
- Army: Order has always had the right hand in the “V” grip for the flagstaff and guidon staff. The placement of the ferrule was at the center of the foot and later moved forward to the little toe (1986). The first color guard images showed up in 1971.
- Marine Corps (Navy, Coast Guard):
- The “Strong Grip” has existed at least since 1980 edition of NAVMC 2691.
- Before that, the “V” Grip was used as described in the Marine Corps League’s Drill Manual (1956). The hand flip on the command of Carry/Present is described but not necessary since the hand is already in the “V”. The lower ferrule was positioned at the little toe touching the edge of the shoe.
- Air Force (Space Force): The first AF manual (1953) included images of positions, and the USAF has used this positions since separating from the Army in 1947. The description for the grip is the “V”.
Double Time
All services use the Double Time position for the guidon. This is for running with the guidon staff. In all of the text for all three D&C manuals, the word “port” is never used.
- This position is not “Port Guidon”, it’s the Double Time position.
- There isn’t a preparatory position, command, or procedure for assuming this position.
- Lastly, it is never used for the flagstaff because we do not run with the flagstaff/colors. Running with a guidon flag is perfectly acceptable, not with colors (I know…).
Carry
Carry comes with several surprises from everyone.
- Army: As I previously wrote, not until 1971 was there a photo of Carry.
- The descriptions merely stated to hold the “pike” with the right hand at should height slightly inclined forward.
- The right hand eventually moved up from shoulder level to in front of the mouth, allowing the Colors Sgt to give direction to the team without being noticed
- In 1971, Carry is shown with the left hand at the side (as God intended!). The same for the 1984 edition of FM 22-5 (the precursor to TC 3-21.5).
- In the 1986 edition, suddenly the left hand is on the staff at the socket all the time for no reason (it’s a bracing technique and doesn’t need to be applied constantly) and it’s been there ever since.
- To make this even more interesting, here is a photo of an Army color guard from around 1910. Notice the bearer left hands.
- Marine Corps (Navy, Coast Guard):
- The 1956 description has the staff angled forward, like the Army technique of the era. The command “Ready Cut” was not used but the movement is described.
- The publication of the NAVMC in 1980 saw changes to staff angle and the addition of the command “Ready Cut” for uniform secondary movement.
- Air Force (Space Force):
- The first AF manual (1953) showed the right hand on the staff at shoulder level. The angle forward has always been the standard. Keep in mind that flagstaffs have always been held by the right hand at shoulder or chin/mouth level.
- In the 1963 edition the right forearms of the bearers are horizontal.
- The 2013 edition saw something very strange. The description for the staff at Carry was wrongly rewritten to say the left hand was to hold the staff*. Please read the article, The Problems of AFPAM 34-1203, thedrillmaster.org/2020/03/10/afman-36-2203-problems/.
- Instead of switching the text to correctly state the right hand should be on the staff, the 2018 edition doubled down on the error with new photos of Carry and Present having the bearers now holding the staffs with the left*.
- The 2022 edition still has the wrong text and photos*.
*If the left hand was the true standard to hold the staff at Carry:
- The USAF Honor Guard would have switched their standards immediately.
- The Training Instructor color guard for Basic Training graduation also would have switched.
- The USAF would be opposite of the other services.
- No AF organization switched, ever, and that should have been a big clue to the OPR that the D&C manual was wrong. Not to mention members of the USAF Honor Guard calling the OPR immediately on publication of the new edition in 2013 telling them the flagstaff text is wrong.
Present
The end result is similar for the Army and Marine Corps with the Air Force being close.
- Army: The Army has Raised Guidon, the position executed just before Present. It is a traditional hold over from when guidon positions were used for signaling troops. The reach across is used when at Carry to switch the right hand to the “V” Grip. Notice the positions of the hands on the staff.
- Marine Corps: The Marine Corps does not have Raised Guidon, but it does have Ready Guidon, a stand-alone signal position, not associated with any other position or movement as this quote from MCO 5060.20 shows: “This movement is used as a signal for aiding troops in the execution of commands where hearing verbal commands is difficult.” Why the staff is shown centered in 2019 the edition, when the text only says to raise the staff, I am not sure. The 1956 edition is true to the text, although the hand placement is better in 2019.
- Air Force: The Air Force also has Raised Guidon, which is also executed just before Present. It too is a traditional hold over from when guidon positions were used for signaling troops. There is a reach across when at Carry to switch the right hand to the “V” Grip, but you’d never know it. Notice the positions of the hands on the staff, opposite of the Army technique.
Army JROTC will use its version and so will Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard JROTC colors guards. Air and Space Forces color guards use the AF version.
Parade Rest
- Army:
- A change happened over time for the Army with Parade Rest. Notice the image from 1971 showing the prep movement for the guidon bearer on the command Parade. That movement did not transfer to the flagstaff until the 1980s.
- In 1986, the drawings poorly showed the right hand slid up the staff for that same prep movement; not to the extreme of the 1971 image, but the 2021 cartoon image shows a good version.
- NOTE: Notice how the Parade Rest images for the guidon bearer and the color bearers look like the exact same position with the staff pushed forward, that’s because the drawings, made by a contractor, are the same. The flagstaff is always kept vertical at Parade Rest and that’s what the text in the TC states. This is just poor communication.
- Marine Corps:
- The delineation between techniques for the Marine Corps is obvious and I appreciate this very much. Clear communication here.
- Air Force:
- The Air Force also has relatively clear communication here. There should have been a photo taken of the color guard with the color bearers holding staff without colors attached to be able to see the hands.
- There is a possibility of the US bearer here holding his color with a finger or two. Never do this.
- Another big issue with the photos is that the spacing between the team members fluctuates drastically without any explanation in the text. It shouldn’t fluctuate at all.
The Links
The links come when we go to case and uncase the colors. The Army describes this quite well in paragraph 15-20. The MCO has a general description and does not go in-depth like the Army. Due to that, JROTCs are forced to use the Army procedure.
“The CSM [US color bearer -DM] then directs UNCASE THE COLORS. The Color bearers lower the Colors (same as Present Guidon).”
- Only the Army starts this way. AF/SF JROTC teams may be forced to use this technique.
- MC, Navy, AF, SF, & CG start this way.
- The Army’s technique. There is no reason to quickly swap hand positions. You can easily lift the staff out of the harness socket and meet the staff with the left hand at this position. It’s the ending position shown here, not the process that is required.
- This is the AF/SF technique that the MC, Navy, and CG JROTC units can use.
- This is the AF technique, modify the hands for the Army technique.
- Pull the staff inward to make the unfurling/furling process easier.
- Unfurl/furl using a smooth two-handed twisting technique, do not jerk – stop – repeat.
- As the color elongates, gently raise the staff.
- Completely unfurl with the spade at eye level or so that you can at least see it. It must be flat.
- Completely furl so that the staff ends horizontal and the spade flat.
Conclusion
This DrillMaster Study explores the similarities and differences between the flagstaff manual and the guidon staff manual. It highlights that the guidon staff and the flagstaff are essentially the same, with differences arising in length and the type of flag attached.
It delves into the historical aspects of the manuals for the services, noting changes and consistencies over time and further discusses various positions and movements for each staff manual detailing how each service executes these movements including the process of casing and uncasing the colors noting how the two manuals are linked.