In recent years, an increasing number of Air Force color guard performances—particularly within Technical School, the United States Air Force Academy, and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps—have shown a consistent pattern: movements that appear deliberate and “ceremonial,” yet are fundamentally incorrect within their training environment.
At first glance, these performances are often dismissed as issues of execution—improper technique, lack of precision, or insufficient training. However, a closer examination reveals a more significant and systemic problem: personnel are not simply performing incorrectly—they are performing from the wrong doctrinal system.
The distinction between regulation drill and ceremonial drill is not widely understood, nor is it consistently taught. As a result, Airmen and cadets frequently adopt techniques observed from honor guard units, assuming these methods represent a higher standard of performance. In reality, these techniques are restricted, purpose-built, and authorized only for specific units operating under separate governing doctrine.
This article clarifies that distinction. It defines the difference between regulation and ceremonial drill, explains why the two systems are not interchangeable, and establishes the importance of applying the correct standard within the correct environment. More importantly, it addresses the root cause of the issue: the absence of clear doctrinal separation in instruction.
Understanding this separation is not optional—it is essential for maintaining standardization, preserving instructional integrity, and ensuring that performance reflects proper authority rather than perceived style.
The Image at the Top
The US Air Force Academy color guard looks great here. They are showing a high level of excellence using ceremonial technique. How do we know this is not regulation drill. There are two telling details:
- They are marching shoulder-to-shoulder
- Hand positions on the staff
This isn’t inherently wrong; they are technically correct. However, the cadets do not meet the requirements to perform ceremonial technique.
Videos Showing Poor Training
Recently, I was sent links to performances by Airmen in what the USAF calls Tech(nical) School, where Airmen learn their job right after Basic Training. These Airmen were trained to present the colors using ceremonial technique as you can see in the video below.
What you see here is probably the worst training ever put forth for Airmen in the history of the USAF. Barely anything here is correct—just the order of the colors in Column and Line Formation. Literally everything else is wrong and it’s not the fault of the Airmen.
At the end of the video is a third segment of “exhibition guidon staff” which can be effective for a drill team’s exhibition performance but is never authorized at any other time.
There are two immediate reactions when watching a poorly executed color guard:
- “That’s wrong.”
- “They need better training.”
Both are true—but incomplete.
What’s actually happening in many cases is more fundamental:
they are being trained to the wrong standard.
The Core Issue
Airmen in Technical School are required to follow:
- AFMAN 34-1203
This is the baseline for all general Air Force drill and ceremonies.
However, what is increasingly seen is the use of techniques from:
- AFMAN 34-515
- Base Honor Guard procedures
Those techniques are not general-use standards.
They are restricted to:
- United States Air Force Honor Guard
- Certified Base Honor Guards
Why This Matters
This is not about preference or style.
Military drill is prescriptive—it is governed by authority.
Using ceremonial techniques in Technical School is not “creative” or “advanced.”
It is unauthorized.
The Critical Misunderstanding
Many assume ceremonial drill is simply a higher level of performance.
It is not.
It is a different system entirely, with:
- Different techniques
- Different intent
- Different authorization
What Happens When You Mix Systems
When regulation and ceremonial drill are blended:
- Movements lose consistency
- Grips become incorrect
- Timing breaks down
- Instruction becomes unclear
The result is exactly what we often see:
everything looks wrong—because the system itself is wrong.
The Bottom Line
Even if ceremonial techniques are performed perfectly, they are still incorrect in this environment.
Because the issue is not execution.
It is authority.
Learn More
This topic is fully defined in the following Doctrine Clarification Statements:
ICS DCS 12-201 USAF Regulation vs Ceremonial Drill — Required Instructional Separation