This morning, I watched the presidential wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. It was Veterans Day, and representatives of our Armed Forces had assembled to carry out one of our nation’s most solemn ceremonial responsibilities.
The flags of the states and territories lined the walkway. The Joint Armed Forces Color Guard stood ready. A muffled snare drummer, a bugler, a wreath bearer, and ceremonial formations representing our military services occupied their assigned positions. The Tomb Sentinel maintained his post. Every participant had a specific responsibility within a carefully coordinated ceremony.
The president laid the wreath, honoring our nation’s veterans and the sacrifice represented by the Unknowns. It was a beautiful expression of military discipline, dignity, and national remembrance.
Unfortunately, I also encountered comments from people watching the livestream who considered the entire ceremony a waste of time, personnel, and taxpayer money. Some argued that military personnel should be doing “real work” instead of participating in ceremonies.
I’ve heard this argument for decades. Honor guards are unnecessary. Military bands are unnecessary. Drill teams contribute nothing to military readiness. Ceremonies are expensive performances that serve no practical purpose. These assertions reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of military service and the responsibilities of our Armed Forces.
Military ceremony is real work.
It fulfills real obligations. And those obligations deserve the same professional commitment we expect from every other military responsibility.
The Military Has Responsibilities Beyond Combat
The primary mission of our Armed Forces is to defend the nation. Preparing for and conducting military operations is essential. Nothing about the importance of military ceremony diminishes that responsibility. However, military service involves considerably more than combat proficiency.
Our Armed Forces also preserve institutional history, maintain traditions, recognize achievement, honor sacrifice, represent the nation, and demonstrate the values they are entrusted to uphold. These are not optional activities invented to occupy personnel between deployments; They are established military responsibilities.
The Army’s TC 3-21.5, Drill and Ceremonies, identifies the primary value of ceremonies as:
“to render honors, preserve traditions, and stimulate esprit de corps.”
That is the Army explaining the purpose of its own ceremonial practices.
There is also a statutory responsibility. Under 10 U.S.C. § 1491, the Department of Defense must provide military funeral honors for eligible veterans upon request, subject to the law’s provisions. At a minimum, those honors include the folding and presentation of the American flag and the playing of Taps.
Congress has recognized that honoring military service is important enough to establish a legal obligation. While this statute concerns military funeral honors rather than Veterans Day observances, it illustrates a broader principle: military organizations have responsibilities to those who served that extend beyond preparing for combat.
We do not dismiss those responsibilities simply because the personnel involved could be performing another military task.
What the Ceremony at Arlington Communicates
In my 2024 article, Why We Perform Ceremonies, I wrote that ceremonies are about communication. That remains central to understanding their purpose.
Every component of the Veterans Day wreath-laying ceremony communicates something significant.
The representatives of the states and territories provide a visible expression of the nation. The Joint Armed Forces Color Guard represents the Armed Forces serving that nation. The ceremonial formations demonstrate collective discipline and respect. The muffled drum establishes a solemn atmosphere, and the bugler’s music gives voice to sentiments that words cannot always adequately express.
The Tomb Sentinel represents an enduring commitment to those whose identities have been lost but whose service will never be forgotten. The President’s participation represents the nation’s formal acknowledgment of that service and sacrifice. Regardless of who occupies the office or what political opinions spectators may hold, the obligation remains.
Notice where the attention is directed. The ceremony is not supposed to be about the drummer, the color guard, the military formations, or even the President. Every ceremonial participant exists to support the purpose of the ceremony and direct attention toward those being honored. That is one of the defining characteristics of a properly conducted military ceremony.
There is no need for unnecessary movements, theatrical gestures, or individual displays intended to attract attention. The ceremonial personnel accomplish their responsibilities through disciplined execution within established standards. Their precision is a means of expressing respect.
The Work Behind Ceremonial Precision
People watching a wreath-laying ceremony see only the finished event. They generally do not see the preparation required to make it happen.
They do not see the hours of training, equipment maintenance, uniform preparation, inspections, rehearsals, command coordination, timing adjustments, and countless corrections necessary to develop a ceremonial team capable of performing at this level. They do not see the instructors insisting on correct technique or the team members learning how their responsibilities affect everyone else in the formation.
A single ceremonial movement may require only a few seconds to execute, but performing it consistently, correctly, and in coordination with others requires substantial preparation.
I have spent decades performing, teaching, and evaluating military drill and ceremonial teams. One of the recurring misunderstandings I encounter is the assumption that ceremonial movements are simple because they appear simple. That appearance is the product of training.
The objective is to perform the assigned responsibility so precisely and naturally that the audience can concentrate on the ceremony rather than the personnel performing it.
And there is another responsibility that deserves emphasis: ceremonial personnel must execute their duties correctly, not merely attractively. Precision without adherence to established standards is insufficient. A beautiful movement that violates governing ceremonial doctrine is still incorrect. Our ceremonial teams have an obligation to honor the institution through both accurate procedures and professional execution.
Drill Is Foundational Military Training
Another criticism frequently directed at military ceremonies is that marching has little practical application to modern warfare. The observation is partly correct, but the conclusion drawn from it is not. Modern military operations do not generally require troops to march across a battlefield in close-order formations. That does not mean drill has lost its instructional purpose.
The military services have documented exactly why drill remains part of professional military training. The Marine Corps addresses this issue directly in MCO 5060.20, Marine Corps Drill and Ceremonies Manual, dated May 15, 2019.
Its Introduction states:
“Close order drill is one foundation of discipline and esprit de corps.”
The manual explains that drill teaches Marines to obey orders immediately and correctly while developing confidence and troop-leading abilities in subordinate leaders. This philosophy is reinforced in the Order itself.
- Section 3, Mission, directs commanders and personnel to execute close-order drill and ceremonies according to the Order to foster discipline and esprit de corps.
- Section 4, Commander’s Intent, explains that drill begins during entry-level training and continues throughout the force to develop confidence, leadership, and unit cohesion.
These are statements of military training policy.
The Department of the Air Force recognizes the same instructional purposes.
DAFMAN 34-165, Honor Guards, issued October 20, 2026, explains in paragraph 2.1 that drill enables officers and noncommissioned officers to move units in an orderly manner, develop habits of precision and responsiveness to orders, and provide Airmen and Guardians with experience leading troops.
The broader Department of the Air Force drill publication, DAFPAM 34-1203, reinforces these principles.
Paragraph 1.3.1 explains that each individual must learn the prescribed movements and adapt individual performance to the movements of the group. The formation must operate together in response to commands. These principles are entirely consistent with the Marine Corps’ explanation.
Drill teaches the individual to respond correctly, maintain position within a formation, understand responsibility to others, and function as part of a disciplined organization. The developing leader learns how to communicate instructions, exercise command authority, control personnel, and accept responsibility for collective performance. These are foundational leadership experiences.
A service member may never execute another formal parade movement after leaving initial training. That does not mean the instruction was wasted. Its purpose was never limited to preparing the individual for future parades.
The value of training cannot be measured solely by how often its introductory exercises are repeated during the remainder of a career. Drill does not substitute for tactical training, weapons proficiency, or operational experience. It serves a different instructional purpose, establishing habits and expectations that support later military development.
From Battlefield Formations to Military Discipline
Military drill originated in an era when organized formations were essential to battlefield maneuver.
The Department of the Air Force explains this evolution in DAFMAN 34-165, paragraphs 2.2 and 2.3, using the development of ancient formations and the experience of the Continental Army as historical illustrations.
The manual recounts the contribution of Baron Friedrich von Steuben, who arrived at Valley Forge in February 1778 and helped establish systematic military instruction within General Washington’s army. His work contributed to greater organization, standardization, discipline, and the development of competent military leadership. The Army’s adoption of von Steuben’s Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States in 1779 marked an important development in American military training.
The relationship between drill and warfare has changed considerably since that period. Advances in firearms, battlefield mobility, communications, and military tactics have eliminated the need for many historical close-order battlefield formations. However, the organizational benefits associated with systematic drill instruction have endured.
Paragraph 2.3.6 of DAFMAN 34-165 identifies several continuing objectives, including professionalism, teamwork, confidence, alertness, attention to detail, esprit de corps, and discipline.
The manual expressly recognizes that modern drill procedures generally are not employed in combat, while maintaining that their instructional objectives remain important. This is the distinction that critics frequently overlook. The tactical application of drill has changed. Its foundational instructional purpose has not disappeared.
That distinction is essential to understanding why the military continues to teach drill even when the individual may never use the movements in a combat environment.
Ceremonial Excellence and Military Professionalism
The Marine Corps makes another important observation in the Introduction to MCO 5060.20:
“Ceremonial duties are written deep into our history as a Corps.”
The manual identifies several historically distinguished fighting organizations, including Roman legions, Spartans, the French Foreign Legion, and the British Brigade of Guards, as examples of military formations associated with combat proficiency and ceremonial discipline.
Throughout military history, accomplished fighting organizations have frequently placed considerable importance on discipline, military bearing, uniformity, and the preservation of tradition. The Marine Corps recognizes this association as part of its own institutional identity.
That does not mean a unit’s ability to execute flawless drill movements proves its combat readiness. Combat effectiveness requires proficiency in military operations, leadership under pressure, appropriate equipment, realistic training, and many other capabilities.
However, the connection between drill and military professionalism is neither accidental nor meaningless. A unit that insists on correct execution, accountability, preparation, discipline, and adherence to standards during ceremonial responsibilities is reinforcing expectations that also matter in other military duties. The Marine Corps treats ceremonial excellence as part of its professional culture.
DAFPAM 34-1203 provides another useful explanation in paragraph 1.4, Introduction to Ceremonies. It describes ceremonies as formal activities that honor distinguished individuals, recognize significant events, and demonstrate the proficiency and training of Airmen and Guardians. It also identifies ceremonies as an extension of drill, connecting ceremonial performance to the precision, command responsiveness, and teamwork developed through military instruction.
The Department of the Air Force therefore recognizes both the representative purpose of ceremonies and their connection to military training.
An organization does not need to be engaged in combat to demonstrate that it takes its professional responsibilities seriously. That principle applies to every branch of our Armed Forces.
Military Music Is Not an Unnecessary Luxury
The argument against military ceremony often extends to military bands, drum corps, and buglers. Military music has a long history of communicating signals, regulating movement, supporting morale, and accompanying military activities.
Although modern communication technology has replaced many of its original practical functions, military music continues to fulfill ceremonial, institutional, and cultural responsibilities.
Consider a military funeral without Taps. Consider a formal military review without its musical component, or a ceremony commemorating the nation’s fallen without the solemn contribution of a military musician.
Music helps establish the emotional and ceremonial context in which honors are rendered. It provides continuity between generations and communicates meaning that spoken language does not always convey.
The muffled snare drum at the wreath-laying ceremony was not there simply to provide a marching beat. It contributed to the solemn character of the observance and supported the movements of ceremonial personnel. The bugler likewise fulfilled a ceremonial responsibility that carries considerable meaning for veterans, military families, and the public. The proper question is whether the assigned work serves a legitimate military purpose.
Military music does.
The Question of Cost
There is nothing unreasonable about examining the cost of military ceremonial programs.
Personnel, equipment, facilities, transportation, training, and administrative support all require resources. Military leaders have a responsibility to manage those resources carefully.
The existence of an important ceremonial responsibility does not excuse wasteful spending, inefficient organization, inadequate training, or unnecessary activities. But responsible evaluation requires understanding the mission being evaluated.
It is not sufficient to declare that ceremonial personnel could be performing other duties and therefore ceremonial work has no value. By that reasoning, virtually any military activity outside direct combat operations could be dismissed as unnecessary.
A reasonable assessment considers the purpose of the ceremonial mission, the standard required, the resources necessary, and the consequences of failing to fulfill the responsibility. Military ceremonies should be efficient, professionally managed, doctrinally correct, and appropriate to the occasion. They should not be eliminated simply because their value cannot be calculated in combat operations or weapons qualifications.
What We Owe Those Who Served
The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier represents something that should transcend political differences, personal preferences, and competing opinions about government expenditures. It represents Americans who served their country and whose identities could not be established. Their families were denied the certainty of knowing where their loved ones had been laid to rest.
The nation established a place where their service and sacrifice would be remembered. The continuing presence of the Tomb Sentinels is an extraordinary expression of that commitment. Ceremonial personnel do not stand at the Tomb because the American public needs entertainment. They stand there because the nation has undertaken an obligation to honor those buried there.
The annual Veterans Day wreath-laying ceremony extends that expression of gratitude to the generations of Americans who have served in our Armed Forces. A military funeral carries a related obligation. The flag is folded and presented, Taps is sounded, and authorized military honors are rendered because the individual’s service deserves formal recognition.
For the family receiving those honors, this is not an abstract question about budget priorities or how military personnel might otherwise spend their time. It is the nation’s final formal expression of gratitude for military service. The actions must be carried out correctly because the individuals receiving those honors deserve nothing less.
Real Work Includes Honoring Service
There will always be people who dismiss military ceremony as unnecessary. Some may be unfamiliar with its history. Others may simply assign little value to the traditions and responsibilities that military institutions have preserved for generations.
We cannot require everyone to appreciate military ceremony. We can, however, explain its purpose, demonstrate its value, and insist that it be performed according to established standards.
The Army, Marine Corps, and Department of the Air Force have not preserved drill and ceremonies merely out of sentimentality. Their publications explain the purposes of drill instruction, its contributions to leadership and organizational discipline, and the institutional responsibilities fulfilled through ceremonies.
Military ceremonial duty is not a distraction from the profession of arms. It is one of the ways that profession recognizes its responsibilities to the nation, its members, its veterans, and its fallen.
The service members who participated in today’s wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery were performing their assigned military duties. Their work required training, discipline, preparation, coordination, and professional execution.
More importantly, their work fulfilled an obligation of national remembrance. When the ceremony ended, the formations departed, the participants returned to their other responsibilities, and the national observance continued. The Tomb remained.
And the Sentinel’s responsibility to guard the Unknowns continued.
That is not wasted time. It is not wasted effort. It is not wasted money.
It is military service rendered with dignity, discipline, and honor.
References and Related Reading
The DrillMaster. Why We Perform Ceremonies. May 28, 2024.
The DrillMaster. The “Magic White Glove Effect”. September 19, 2017.
The DrillMaster. Understanding the Purpose of Military Drill. January 21, 2025.
The DrillMaster. Understanding the Benefits of Military Drill. January 22, 2025.
The DrillMaster. Understanding the Arguments Against Military Drill. January 23, 2025.
The DrillMaster. Understanding the History and Current Problems with Military Drill. January 24, 2025.
The DrillMaster. Understanding the Implementation of Military Drill. January 27, 2025.
The DrillMaster. Why is Drill Necessary in the Armed Forces?. September 5, 2017.
The DrillMaster. “Marching Doesn’t Win Wars”. October 7, 2025
Headquarters, Department of the Army. TC 3-21.5, Drill and Ceremonies. May 3, 2021. Preface and Chapter 1.
Headquarters, US Marine Corps. MCO 5060.20, Marine Corps Drill and Ceremonies Manual. May 15, 2019. Sections 3 and 4; Introduction, pp. ii–iii.
Headquarters, Department of the Air Force. DAFPAM 34-1203, Drill and Ceremonies. September 13, 2022. Paragraphs 1.3 and 1.4.
United States Code. 10 U.S.C. § 1491, Funeral Honors Functions at Funerals for Veterans.
Arlington National Cemetery. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. National Veterans Day Ceremony.