A successful drill team requires more than dedicated cadets and a knowledgeable coach. It also requires responsible adults who ensure the team has the support, facilities, equipment, supervision, and opportunities necessary to train effectively.
The Texas Flag Myth: Former Sovereignty Does Not Create Special Flag Privileges
There is a persistent myth concerning the Texas state flag. It is frequently repeated in schools, veterans organizations, civic groups, and conversations about flag protocol.
Whose Rules Apply When a Color Guard Visits?
I was sent a message recently asking for guidance for presenting the colors in a very specific situation.
Similar Ceremonies Do Not Mean the Same Thing
Military ceremonies often share the same visible elements.
The POW/MIA Flag, the States Flag, and the Difference Between Protocol and Law
When a Texas municipality asks which flag belongs beneath the American flag, the answer must begin with the governing authority, not organizational preference. The DrillMaster | October 22, 2026 A Texas firefighter recently contacted me with a flag-display question. His city had purchased POW/MIA flags for its facilities, but the fire station had only one flagpole. The United States and …
New DAF Honor Guard Manual Published: Understand Who It Applies To
The Department of the Air Force has released DAFMAN 34-165, Honor Guards, establishing ceremonial guidance and standards for the United States Air Force Honor Guard and Department of the Air Force Base Honor Guard (BHG) programs.
Ceremonial Settings Supports Meaning but Do Not Create It
A powerful setting can strengthen a military ceremony.
The Command Voice: Giving Orders, Not Making Noise
A good command voice is controlled, clear, disciplined, and properly timed.
Understanding the Gait Cycle: Why the Feet Matter in Drill and Ceremonies
Marching is often taught as a series of positions: attention, step off, halt, face, flank, and so on. That is necessary, of course, because drill manuals describe movement in counts and commands. But beneath every command is something more basic: the human gait cycle. The gait cycle is one complete stride. It begins when one heel contacts the the marching …
Why the Light Ash Guidon Staff Is the US Military Flagstaff
One of the most common objections I receive when I state that the light ash guidon staff is the proper flagstaff for a US military color guard is some variation of this: “Where does the regulation say the staff has to be that color?” I appreciate it, but that question approaches the subject backward.