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Marching Band Color Guard Inappropriate silks

Flag Protocol and the Marching Band Color Guard

DrillMaster August 20, 2024Color Guard/Color Team, Protocol and Flag Leave a Comment

Marching band and drum corps directors, color guard instructors, and flag printing companies have a very big responsibility to not violate Title 4 of the US Code, the Flag Code. In addition, they have an equal responsibility to hold foreign national, state, and all other official government flags in an equally high regard to ensure those flags are not used in a degrading manner.

While I do have an intermediate understanding of flag protocol, I am not a vexillologist like my colleague, DeVaughn Simper. DeVaughn has been instrumental in my continued education in flag protocol and collaborates with me on many articles, this being one. With that understanding comes an awareness of flags and situations that others may not have.

Anger

With the initial publishing of this article, I received some horrid, ignorant, and even moronic comments. If the only thing you are going to do is get angry with me because I’m not “staying in my lane”, you have absolutely no idea of my history and are doing nothing but making a superficial judgment. Don’t act like a coward like this individual did. There are many forms of cowardice.

Please also read Severe Ignorance Concerning the Color Guard as this can help you understand that I know this issue very well from both sides.

Definitions

We will put flags into three categories for the purposes of this article.

Governmental Flags (Color/Colors)
- National, state, territory, county, parish, and city flags.
- Military departmental and organizational flags.
- Positional and personal colors.
Novelty Flags
- These flags do not represent a government or entity within a government. They may be adopted in some fashion to officially represent a body of (non-)government entities, usually international.
- The POW/MIA flag, owned and designed by the League of Families. It represents POWs and MIAs from the Vietnam war. It’s display is authorized at any time, while carrying it is highly restricted. Congress authorized its adoption to be carried as a personal color for the funeral of a former POW/MIA only.
- Any flag of a public or private organization (sports team, corporate business, Olympics, UN, NATO).
Performance Flags (Silks)
- Flags used by marching band and drum corps color guards and indoor winter guards.
- The recommended material for a silk is nylon or lightweight polyester. Chiffon or silk will barely last a season.

A Performance Flag History

Marching bands and drum and bugle corps have a long history of flag bearers marching with them. At first, thousands of years ago, the bands were military, and the flags were tribal and later governmental and carried in a dignified manner. That continued until the 1900s when flags with different colors were carried. The girls of the color guard usually wore an adaptation of the band’s uniform, usually a military style, and marched in strict patterns.

Movement entered the choreography in the 1930s with the Swiss art of flag swinging (Fahnenschwingen) at the college level and by 1940 the introduction of two flags for a performance began. The 1950s and 60s saw the spread of colors guards and their training with the flagstaff being manipulated in different directions, still rather strict, based on the color guard section of the Army drill and ceremonies manual, with some swinging and spinning. Dance began to be incorporated by the mostly female color guard members in the 1970s and flag design and printing took off as a business in the 1990s.

Marching band color guards use different silks (flags) in shows and parades to convey different moods, emotions, and meanings. On the right is the Mira Costa Marching Band.

The image at the top of this article is of the Carbon High School band and color guard in Price, UT. Their color guard silks are an adaptation of the American flag violating Title 4 of the US Code, Chapter 1, Section 3. If it looks like an American flag, it IS an American flag.

The distinction of the Performance Flag must be easily recognized. As an example, the image below is of the Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps from their 1992 show American Variations, an extremely patriotic show that never once comes close to an undignified use of the American flag. As you can see in the image, the silks are easily recognized as patriotic using the elements of an American flag, while at the same time being easily recognizable as very distinct from out national colors.

Star of Indiana 1992 — Star of Indiana Drum and Bugle Corps 1992

Even if you look at the Carbon Marching Band Color Guard silks while they are held still, they still strikingly resemble the American flag and when the flags are moving, the silks are barely indistinguishable.

I talked with the Carbon High School Marching Band director who understood the issue and will take action to contact a veteran group nearest the school that will take the silks and dispose of them properly.

Foreign National Colors

Santa Clara Vanguard 2013 spinning French Flag

Above, you see a still from the Santa Clara Vanguard Drum and Bugle Corps 2013 performance, Les Miserables. In the center of the main formation toward the last 30 seconds of the show is a member of the color guard spinning a replica French flag. While it conveys an artistic message, it is wholly inappropriate and disrespectful to the French.

Having said that, it does not matter if a pole was taken to ask the French if they find it offensive to have their flag spinning on a football field. That’s not the point, the point is to have respect for all national flags and treat them with honor.

It is easy for Americans to see the colors red, white, and blue and not be familiar with their arrangement as a foreign national flag. Another flag that is constantly abused is the Dutch flag, the flag of the Netherlands.

The flag of Russia is also a tricolor red, white, and blue. The shades of the blue and red colors of these flags vary.

Remember, even if you change the shades of all three colors, if it looks like the flag of Holland, France, or Russia, it is. Flags must be very distinct so as not to be confused with a country’s flag.

A DrillMaster Study of The Cupped Hand

DrillMaster August 15, 2024Honor Guard, Instructional, Regulation Drill Leave a Comment

The US military did not consider the hands until the early 1900s and at that time the description has an open hand curved inward. Below, you can see the development of the cupped hand from the earliest writings to the fully cupped hands of today. Note- “fingers in their natural curl” is an open hand, more or less, that is curved.

The photo at the top of the page is of a Marine in the 1960 edition of the Landing Party Manual. Imagine, as recently as the 1960s, we barely cupped ours hands when at Attention and while marching.

Department of the Army

51. Arms and hands hanging naturally, thumb along the seam of the trousers. Infantry Drill Regulations (1911, corrected 1917)

e. Arms hanging straight down without stiffness so that the thumbs are along the seams of the trousers; back of the hands out; fingers held naturally. FM 22-5, Drill and Ceremonies (1939)

20 f. Let your arms hang straight without stiffness along your sides with the backs of your hands outward, your fingers curled so that the tips of the thumbs are alongside and touching the first joint of your forefingers. Keep your thumbs straight and along the seams of your trousers with all fingers touching the legs. FM 22-5, Drill and Ceremonies (1964)

21. c. Let your arms hang straight, without stiffness, along your sides with the back of the hands outward; curl your fingers so that the tips of the thumb are alongside and touching the first joint of your forefingers. Keep your thumbs straight and along the seams of your trousers with all fingertips touching the trouser legs. FM 22-5, Drill and Ceremonies (1971) (emphasis mine)

3-2 d. Let the arms hand straight without stiffness. Curl the fingers so that the tips of the thumbs are alongside and touching the first joint of the forefingers. Keep the thumbs straight along the seams of the trouser leg with the first joint of the fingers touching the trousers. FM 22-5, Drill and Ceremonies (1986) (emphasis mine)

The image below is from TC 3-21.5 (2012) which was used to create the cartoon drawings in the 2021 edition. You can see the neutral wrist and the thumb at the trouser seam.

Department of the Navy

2-8 (5) Arms hanging straight down without stiffness so that the thumbs are along the seams of the trousers; backs of hands out; fingers held naturally. Landing Party Manual (1950)

2-10 (5) Your arms should hang naturally, thumbs along the trouser seams, palms facing inward toward your legs, and fingers joined in their natural curl. OPNAV P 34-03 (1960)

The first Marine Corps Drill Manual, written by the Marine Corps Association in 1956, mirrored the Landing Party Manual from 1950, but only concerned drill and ceremonies. It seems to have led to publishing the OPNAV that came out in 1960, which led to the NAVMC of 1980 and the MCOs that followed.

S. Your arms should be straight, but not stiff at the elbows; thumbs along the trouser seams, palms facing inward toward your legs, and fingers joined in their natural curl. MCO P 5060.20 (2003)

The image below, from the 2019 edition of the MCO, shows the Marine with two different techniques for his left and right hands. His left hand shows a neutral wrist, proper application of the technique, but his right hand shows ulnar deviation, improper application of the technique. See the USAF description below to learn about ulnar deviation.

Marine Corps Cupped Hands Different 2019

Department of the Air Force

The USAF was made an independent service in 1947 and published its first drill and ceremonies manual in 1953 and then in 1956 with continuous updates ever since. The 1985 edition of AFR 50-14 begins the description of how we cup our hands today.

3.2. Arms hang straight down alongside the body without stiffness, and the wrists are straight with the forearms. Place thumbs, which are resting along the first joint of the forefinger, along the seams of the trousers or sides of the skirt. Hands are cupped (but not clenched as a fist) with palms facing the leg. AFMAN 36-2203 (1996, 2007)

In my view, the USAF has developed the best description, Army second. However, the photos to go along with the description for decades showed the wrists as “straight” as mentioned in the editions from the 1990s and early 2000s as shown above. That is known as a neutral wrist. It’s not bent in any direction. Suddenly, in 2013 and since then, the AF decided to use a photo of horrible technique but keep the accurate description. Now confusion has entered the chat room.

The image below on the left shows the wrong technique. We do not extend the thumb downward. The is known as ulnar deviation and is not an accurate portrayal of the description. Unfortunately, the SSgt’s blouse sleeve is a bit too long to be able to see the full wrist angle she is using. However, the image on the right is of my wrist with the my sleeve pulled up so that we can see the extreme difference in angle between the end of the forearm and wrist.

Cupped Hand Ulnar Extension — AF Cupped hand 2013 2022

Ceremonial Drill

All of the information above is for what we call Regulation Drill. That is, all drill that comes from a military regulation that is applied to every member of the service from Basic Training or Boot Camp throughout their military career.

With ceremonial drill, drill and ceremonies at the honor guard level, a step above regulation drill, standards are a bit different, much more strict, and better explained in every single detail. Below is the C-Fist, the Ceremonial Fist.

Notice in the image how the middle finger is centered on the trouser seam and the knuckles are more horizontal. This squared-off look presents a cleaner, centered image, especially when wearing a white glove. Air and Space Force Honor Guard and Base Honor Guard (BHG) members are authorized to use this technique. Marine Barracks Washington Marines also use a similar technique. Fleet Marines and Sailors, Airmen and Guardsmen not on a BHG and Coast Guardsmen are not authorized to use this technique.

The Army’s C-fist is more flat. Members of the 3^rd Infantry Regiment and Post Honor Guard members use the technique from 1964.

Mistakes that Pallbearers Deal With

DrillMaster August 13, 2024Honor Guard, Honor Guard Training, Instructional Leave a Comment

Funeral directors and and cemetery caretakers have a big responsibility to ensure funeral honors can happen without a hitch. That being said, there’s usually something that the pallbearers must deal with. In this article, we will deal with travel to the gravesite and gravesite setup. Click this link to read the similar subject of Flag Orientation on the Casket and how to deal with it.

Casket Removal from the Coach

Pallbearers, also called Body Bearers and Casket Bearers, have two methods of removing a casket from a hearse (called a coach). Below, you see the first method I’m calling the “6 and 4” sidestep and rotation method that is most common. Less common is the “Up and Face”.

“6 and 4“. The numbers are in quotations because teams use different numbers to step away from the fender of the coach (4 or 6 sidesteps) and then the standard rotation of 4 steps to orient the foot of the casket to point in the direction of travel.

“Up and Face“. This method removes the casket and continues the travel in the direction of the head. This is accomplished when there is a very short distance to travel or there is an impediment that would be in the way and is unavoidable (a tree or monument, etc.).

Travel with the Casket

Travel is accomplished feet-first unless there are circumstances as described in “Up and Face” above. Below is a typical approach to the grave. Travel is feet-first and the family is placed to see the flag correctly.

The team can always turn around in place without rotating the casket if there is some sort of situation where the head must go first at the grave so that the family sees the flag properly. Here is a possible example.

The pallbearers are traveling with the casket as usual to the gravesite.
The bearers pass the grave (or could stop centered and rotate from there), halt, turn around, and
The bearers continue the rest of the way to the grave to ensure the casket is oriented correctly for the in-ground vault and the flag is also oriented correctly for the next of kin (NOK, family).

Canton away from the Next of Kin

The canton of the flag is always laid over the left shoulder of the deceased. The head of the casket faces to the NOK’s left and that means the canton is on the opposite side of the family when the casket rests on the mockup (lowering device) over the grave. For the two-man fold, that means the canton is in the left hand of the pallbearer/folder at the head.

By the way, Do Not “Present” the Flag

Folding the American flag does not include “presenting”. This “presenting” is a current trend where the pallbearers attempt to be #ceremonialer and perform the “Flag Tilt” that doesn’t exist in the flag fold sequence except in only one case.

The only time the “tilt” is authorized is when the two who are folding do not have enough room to pop the flag flat over the casket or urn. Only then, ONLY THEN, do the folders pop the flag to the tilt and then fold from the tilt.

Having to pop to the tilt and then fold is a good visual to explain that the canton must be in the upper left-hand corner as viewed by the family. This is means the family is on the correct side of the grave, the head of the casket is pointing the right direction for placement in the vault, and the flag is oriented correctly.

Again, there is no such thing as popping to horizontal, tilting, moving back to horizontal, and then folding. Note – I’ve seen video of a six-man folding team where the three on the side of the family actually kneel(!) to “present” the flag by tilting it. This is absolutely unbelievable bad taste and completely flaunting standardized flag protocol.

Back to the article-

NOK Placement Matters

Cemeteries are laid out in efficient rows with caskets generally facing one direction. Older cemeteries can have some quirks, but most caretakers and funeral directors are able to create a situation that is easily navigable by the pallbearers. There are, however, times when those who are involved do not understand that NOK placement is very important in regards to casket orientation.

Having said this, in some cases, there may be a situation where the family is on the wrong side because of terrain, a tree or monument, or vault lid, etc. For this, the team should have a contingency to make sure the flag is folded while properly oriented to the family. To facilitate this, I suggest performing Head Over Foot.

Stars Over Stripes and Head Over Foot

This technique is used when the flag is upside down or backwards, you can use Stars Over Stripes to bring the flag to the correct orientation for two folders to begin folding.

If you have six pallbearers and the flag is backwards or the family is on the wrong side of the grave (the situation we are talking about here), you could use Head Over Foot that is similar to the above technique to bring the flag to the correct orientation.

Note- since I just coined the term as I’m writing this, I don’t have a video of Head Over Foot, but I’m sure there are enterprising individuals out there who can imagine the technique and how to accomplish it. You could do this relatively easily with six folders.

For two folders, the two would have to gather the flag into the arms of one folder, sidestep toward the family, come together, grasp the opposite ends, step back, (sidestep to centered on the casket, pop to horizontal, fold the lengthwise folds, step toward the family, and continue with the triangle folds) and begin folding the lengthwise and then triangle folds.

Obtaining Proper Step Length

DrillMaster August 8, 2024Instructional, Regulation Drill Leave a Comment

In this article, I tell you how you can teach someone to march with a 30” step. It’s best to work as a formation (platoon/flight or color guard) and not individually. I was sent the following question by a reader and provided the answer below.

Good evening, sir, I have an instructional question for you. How would you go about teaching Sea Cadets the proper pacing? We have used tape before and have them walk up and down multiple times till they do it. But I’m asking for other ideas that you may have. Thanks!

To get a formation to achieve proper step length takes timing. Having individuals try to do it is difficult, it’s better to have a platoon march. You can tape or paint lines for a 30″ step, but if you have cadets with varying degrees of height, the ones with shorter legs may have difficulty achieving that step length.

The image below shows the lines I painted on a portion of the parking lot where I have trained cadets. I used two furring strips to create a clean line for each 30” and 15” step using different colors for each length. Using two tape measures helped speed up the process.

Have the platoon march to a metronome. You’re going to work on creating muscle memory for the tempo and for the step length. For how to set this up, read Metronomes Can Help.

Metronome Setup for Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard

With the metronome going, just have the platoon march. Check the step size by having a squad or rank march over the lines you taped or painted every once in a while, and also provide feedback to the platoon members to lengthen or shorten their step. Keep marching for at least an hour going through columns, flanks, and obliques. Halt often and informally give “dress and cover” each time to get everyone into proper Distance and Alignment Training. https://thedrillmaster.org/2016/03/08/distance-and-alignment-training/

Below is an example of what I mentioned in the paragraph above. You can see a two areas with painted or taped lines to gage how well the members of the formation are meeting the step length set.

Do all of this regularly and the platoon will soon find a step length that works for everyone that is fairly close to if not on the 30″ requirement. Step length is measured from heel-to-heel and nowhere else. Why? Because everyone’s heels are the same.

Don’t Run Over the Leaguers!

Achieving a 30” step size can work well for most everyone in their teens and older, but when we come to US Navy League Cadets, who are 11-13 years-old can have a bit of difficulty maintaining that step length, League Cadets are march in their own formation ahead of US Navy Sea Cadet Corps Cadets (13-17) and that can cause the Sea Cadets to catch up to the League Cadets rather quickly.

It might be best if everyone took a cue from the USAF and marched with a 24” step. That step length, just 6” shorter can make a world of difference.

Metronome Set up for AF/SF — Metronome set up for Army

Ultimately,

The formation finds it’s own step length with which everyone feels comfortable, if you let that happen. That’s not necessarily a good thing because most people will walk/march slowly and with a shorter step length. Most often trainers must “push” everyone in the formation to obtain the desired step size and tempo. We have our own muscle memory when it comes to walking and marching is walking at Attention, so we often need heavy training in this area.

Why We Carry Flagstaffs at the Same Level

DrillMaster August 6, 2024Color Guard/Color Team Leave a Comment

Nothing magical happens when the staffs are lifted from the marching surface that requires the American flag/color to be carried higher. Let me restate that. We do not carry the American flag higher than others flags except when two physical limitations, not equipment, are met.

The Colors Harness

Sometimes called a “sling”, the colors harness is a mandatory uniform item for a color bearer. If you call it a “sling”, it can be confused with the rifle sling.

At right is a typical colors harness and the only one I recommend. This double harness is available in leather (shown), clarino (a high-gloss synthetic leather), and web material. The socket frame is a leather and metal rectangle and the socket itself is metal with a small hole through the bottom through which the lower ferrule of the colors staff protrudes. The metal of the harness comes in silver and gold colors.

The adjustable limits of the harness frame are just above the crotch to just below and barely touching the belt.

What Our Manuals Say

TC 3-21.5 states in Chapter 15, section IV, para. 15-34. At the Carry, rest the ferrule of the staff in the socket of the sling. The socket is below the waist and adjusted to ensure that the finials of all Colors are of equal height.

MCO 5060.20 states in Chapter 7: para 5. a. Slings are adjusted so that the colors are the same height when at the carry or, if this isn’t possible, the national colors are slightly higher than the organizational colors. If necessary, have the senior color bearer slightly taller than the organizational color bearer.

6. j. All colors carried by the color guard are attached to staffs of equal height. The standard color staff consists of a 9 ½-foot, hardwood pole capped at each end by metal ferrules.

The First Limitation

The first physical limitation requiring the American flag to be carried higher is when the waist level of both bearers is different. Only then is the American flag carried minimally higher.

The Second Limitation

The second physical limitation requiring the American flag to be carried higher is very similar to the first. It is when the height of both bearers is different. Only then is the American flag carried minimally higher.

Examples and Explanations

Some of the images below have much more than one thing wrong, but please take them in the context meant for this article. Focus on colors harness socket height.

Above, is a photo of US and Pilipino Marines. For an international color guard, all national colors must be carried at the same level. There is definitely a problem here with untrained team members. The harness socket frame resting on the crotch is unacceptable.

In this photo, the phrase minimally higher was not understood. The national bearer’s harness should have been lowered a couple notches at least, and the organizational bearer’s socket should have been raised a similar amount.

Here, having a shorter US national bearer can create problems. The command needs to concentrate on bearers that are closer to the same height or at least waist level height.

Not using a colors harness leads to the left hand shifting to the most comfortable position.

The waist levels here are very different as well as bearer height. Notice how well the Marines compensated by adjusting their harnesses.

The Coast Guardsmen here are wearing their harnesses incorrectly, the straps are crossed in front instead of at the back. The harness has much more material hanging down in front and therefore has the socket extremely low.

This shows no concept of equalizing the sockets as no attempt was made. Many people think that the harness socket frames must be equal length below the belt. That’s simply not true.

Barely an attempt at harness adjustment.

Ne real attempt here.

Excellent socket alignment, but terrible technique for furling (probably folding) and casing the colors.

Obviously, they have no idea.

Very close, but the bearers did not have the guards check to make sure the sockets were aligned.

Last Thoughts

Military color guards form and march at Close Interval in accordance with Army TC 3-21.5, MCO 5060.20, and AFPAM 34-1203. The Ceremonial units of the US military march shoulder-to-shoulder. Color guards for first responders have a choice of Close Interval or shoulder-to-shoulder marching.
Guards must double-check harness socket levels before practices and performances and adjust as necessary.
Wed harnesses are almost infinitely adjustable, leather harnesses can be adjusted according to the pre-punched holes for the buckles. It’s highly recommended to purchase a leather hole punch (shown below) to add more holes above, in between, and below the pre-punched holes as necessary.

Reader’s Digest, you are Partially Wrong

DrillMaster August 1, 2024Protocol and Flag Leave a Comment

Andy Simmons wrote an article entitled, 12 Flag Etiquette Mistakes You Didn’t Realize You Were Making. He does a good job of identifying 9 subjects but has no idea about three of them. The biggest problem with his article is his lack of referencing Title 4, US Code, commonly called the “Flag Code” for every subject except one, where he did not read far enough. Had he done that, the title of his article would have started with the number 9. We will take a look at his three big mistakes below.

Flying the Flag At Half-Staff/Mast for a Fallen Friend

What Simmons says is wrong: You may be breaking this flag etiquette rule if you’re honoring a fallen soldier or veteran by flying the flag at half-staff. Find another way to honor your friend. According to the flag etiquette code, only the president or your state governor can order the U.S. flag lowered to half-staff.

What the Flag Code Says: 4 U.S. Code § 7 – Position and manner of display – (m)The flag, when flown at half-staff, should be first hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position. The flag should be again raised to the peak before it is lowered for the day. On Memorial Day the flag should be displayed at half-staff until noon only, then raised to the top of the staff. By order of the President, the flag shall be flown at half-staff upon the death of principal figures of the United States Government and the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, as a mark of respect to their memory. In the event of the death of other officials or foreign dignitaries, the flag is to be displayed at half-staff according to Presidential instructions or orders, or in accordance with recognized customs or practices not inconsistent with law. In the event of the death of a present or former official of the government of any State, territory, or possession of the United States, the death of a member of the Armed Forces from any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty, or the death of a first responder working in any State, territory, or possession who dies while serving in the line of duty, the Governor of that State, territory, or possession may proclaim that the National flag shall be flown at half-staff, and the same authority is provided to the Mayor of the District of Columbia with respect to present or former officials of the District of Columbia, members of the Armed Forces from the District of Columbia, and first responders working in the District of Columbia. When the Governor of a State, territory, or possession, or the Mayor of the District of Columbia, issues a proclamation under the preceding sentence that the National flag be flown at half-staff in that State, territory, or possession or in the District of Columbia because of the death of a member of the Armed Forces, the National flag flown at any Federal installation or facility in the area covered by that proclamation shall be flown at half-staff consistent with that proclamation. The flag shall be flown at half-staff 30 days from the death of the President or a former President; 10 days from the day of death of the Vice President, the Chief Justice or a retired Chief Justice of the United States, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives; from the day of death until interment of an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, a Secretary of an executive or military department, a former Vice President, or the Governor of a State, territory, or possession; and on the day of death and the following day for a Member of Congress. The flag shall be flown at half-staff on Peace Officers Memorial Day, unless that day is also Armed Forces Day. (Bold text emphasis mine)

Flying at half-staff for personal reasons is perfectly acceptable. Orders from the President or Governor are for government flagpoles, not personal. The bold text means that any federally controlled flagstaffs will follow the order in the jurisdiction of a Governor who orders flags to half-staff. There is no restriction on flying a flag at half-staff/mast for the American people.

DrillMaster Created – Flag with Crossed Rifles

Replacing the Stars

What Simmons says is wrong: For the same reason as the previous slide, don’t replace the stars with anything else. An image of a favorite candidate, Fourth of July quotes—nothing should replace those symbolic stars.

What the Flag Code Says: 4 U.S. Code § 1 – Flag; stripes and stars on – The flag of the United States shall be thirteen horizontal stripes, alternate red and white; and the union of the flag shall be forty-eight stars, white in a blue field.

If you replace the stars with another image, it’s no longer the American flag. Simmons premise is baseless. Now, as a patriotic American one may personally find it inappropriate to replace the stars with butterflies, for example, but it’s not a violation of the Flag Code.

Flying Another Flag on the Same Staff

What Simmons says is wrong: It’s OK to fly different flags—such as other national or state flags—in addition to, or instead of, the American flag. According to the flag code, however, the American flag must fly on a separate staff. The code also references this: “No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America.”

What the Flag Code Says: 4 U.S. Code § 7 – Position and manner of display – (f)When flags of States, cities, or localities, or pennants of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States, the latter should always be at the peak. When the flags are flown from adjacent staffs, the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last. No such flag or pennant may be placed above the flag of the United States or to the United States flag’s right.

You didn’t read far enough, Simmons. While we call a flagpole a staff, in reality a staff is a pole that is 10 feet long or less. A pole is longer.

Flying another flag on the same pole, on the same or different halyards is perfectly acceptable. The only restrictions on this are 1) Size – flay smaller second and third flags to reduce stress on the halyard and hardware, and 2) Lowering the flag to half-staff calls for only the American flag. The other flag(s) on the same halyard should be removed.

For complete information on this see Outside Flag Display Protocol.

What Are Drill Meet Judges Looking For?

DrillMaster July 30, 2024Judge Training Leave a Comment

That is a very good question. So, just what are drill meet judges looking for? In general, they don’t know.

Drill meet judges are not trained, they are briefed about an hour before the competition. Some get their briefing a day prior. It’s still a briefing, it’s not training since no one involved has enough time to readily digest and process the new information and then practice applying the info. This includes drill meets that I’ve run.

Any time I have introduced my adjudication system, I always get an instructor, almost always an officer, who says, “We need an ‘easier’ system for judging” or “you know we have this score sheet that has 50 lines on it so you can give a score for each [regulation sequence] move.” There are other similar resistant statements, but no one likes change, even if it’s for the better. Why? Laziness and a woeful lack of understanding.

The question comes back to what the judges are looking for. If they are untrained (some have a good amount of experience), then how do they know how to judge? They don’t know, they rely on the briefing and the natural human instinct.

The Natural Human Response

Reaction. Any time we see a movie, or some type of performance, Tomb Guard change, a play, musical, or concert, etc. We naturally react. That reaction is based on whether we like or dislike something and that’s fine. We will see a performance and not like the music, the singer, or dancer because it’s just not our cup of tea or we will like it for similar reasons. It’s all personal preference, what we call our bias.

Our bias can limit our exposure to something new and keep us closed off. That’s not always a bad thing, God gave us our personal tastes for a reason. But, lack of exposure to different types of performances, for an ROTC competition judge, will limit the ability of the judge to understand the different aspects of an exhibition drill performance and therefore affect the scoring negatively. That “negative” affect can lead to a lower or even inflated score. Both being unfair to all teams present.

For regulation drill sequences (squad, platoon, and colors), reaction is going to be based on training and how one thinks a certain position, move, or technique should be accomplished. Just because one graduated Basic Training or Boot Camp does not an expert make (but that seems to be the only criterion to be a judge). Likewise, just because one is or was a Drill Sergeant or Instructor, also does not make one an expert in drill and ceremonies. Yes, the trainers assigned to indoctrinate civilians into the military do have a certain level of a higher understanding of D&C, but it’s still not enough to accurately adjudicate a performance.

Reaction does have a place in adjudication, it’s called General or Overall Effect. We are to react to the effectiveness of the performance, but it must be based on standards which means there is no room for bias. That takes training.

Analysis

We are not born with a natural analytical response, although we can develop it to a certain extent. To analyze a drill performance, there is no reaction based on like or dislike and no bias. That takes training.

The Bases of Adjudication

A written standard from which all judging is formed.
A score sheet that takes into account the “What” and the “How” captions of a performance.
- Must have a single score for each caption and a total of both, not scores for each independent move (many regulation sequences) as this keeps the judge’s eyes off the performance. Halts here and there help a bit, but there is too much writing and not enough concentration on the performance.
- Must have a scaled scoring system based on the written standard.
- Must be focused on education and not merely providing a score.
Ranking and Rating
- Judges must know the difference between the two and that ranking comes first.
- A judge’s personal scoring guide allows the judge to rank performances based on the written standard, previous performances, and then provide a score.
A system that has a judge narrowly focused on only one aspect of the performance (Effect, Movement and Equipment, and Analysis).
A scoring system that allows for rewarding achievement. Nothing out there does this except the WDA system.

The World Drill Association Adjudication System

The WDA system has everything.

Olympic Flag Protocol

DrillMaster July 26, 2024Protocol and Flag 2 Comments

For international flag protocol, this is accepted. This image is from the International Olympic Committee when the organization announced the USA would have the 2034 Olympic games in Salt Lake City, UT.

I am not a fan of this in the least. The Olympic flag is placed to the right of national flags as far as the IOC is concerned. However, this is not stateside, it’s in Paris, France.

Having said that. Here is what the Flag Code, Title 4, US Code, has to say:

(c)No other flag or pennant should be placed above or, if on the same level, to the right of the flag of the United States of America, except during church services conducted by naval chaplains at sea, when the church pennant may be flown above the flag during church services for the personnel of the Navy. No person shall display the flag of the United Nations or any other national or international flag equal, above, or in a position of superior prominence or honor to, or in place of, the flag of the United States at any place within the United States or any Territory or possession thereof: Provided, That nothing in this section shall make unlawful the continuance of the practice heretofore followed of displaying the flag of the United Nations in a position of superior prominence or honor, and other national flags in positions of equal prominence or honor, with that of the flag of the United States at the headquarters of the United Nations. (Bold text emphasis mine)

While the Flag Code was created decades ago and gives us broad and general guidance with a few specifics, we really don’t need anything more specific than what I highlighted in bold above: “No other flag should be placed to the right of the flag of the United States of America.” That’s pretty clear.

The Order of Nations in the Parade of Nations

The first flag and group of athletes is always Greece, the home of the first Olympic Games, regardless of the host country. The remaining flags and athletes are presented in alphabetical order in the language of the host nation.

See also The American Flag and the 2012 Olympics. This really angered some British folks.

Inappropriate carrying and escort of the flag

Handling the Flag

DrillMaster July 25, 2024Protocol and Flag Leave a Comment

There are proper ways to handle a flag. This article goes over several proper techniques and shows some that are less than desirable and even inappropriate.

The flag is hoisted up a flagstaff or mast or folded, that’s it. How it is held comes with a couple of options. This technique below, is not an option.

Flag Detail as Color Guard and Bad Carry

We do not walk/march with the flag draped over arms like this except for one time. Pallbearers remove the flag from a casket to place a pall on the casket in the church vestibule, a transition space between the exterior entrance and the interior of a church building. The flag is taken to an office and draped as is. At the completion of the service, the flag is retrieved, the pall removed, the flag placed, and the ceremony continues.

Casket Covered in Pall — Flag Removed for Placement of Pall

The image at the top shows a lack of awareness on two levels:

1. Escort of the flag with armed guards.

This group is called a Flag Detail, and no one is armed. It is not a color guard. We do not treat flags as a color guard. Colors mounted on staffs form the color guard. The ones who are to be unarmed escorting the flag are halyard bearers and flag tenders depending on how large the flag is. The Detail hoists and lowers the flag at the flagpole. For details on the hoisting and lowering ceremonies, see TC 3-21.5, MCO 5060.20, or AFPAM 36-2203, all available in the Resources section of this site.

2. Traveling with an unfolded flag.

When the flag is not flying from a halyard, it is folded. The American flag is always folded when it is brought down from the halyard and transported to and from the flagpole or mast. The flag is folded into a rectangle (everyone except the military) or a triangle (only military are required to make this fold).

The Polish military folds their flag in a big rectangle and marches with it with the bearer having outstretched arms, we don’t as you can see in the photo below. The Polish Airmen carry their flag their way while the USAF Airmen carry the flag, folded in a triangle, cradled in the Airman’s arms on the right.

Polish And USAF Military Flag Detail — Polish and US Air Force honor guard march to the flag poles during the Aviation Detachment Ceremony, Lask Air Base, Lask, Poland, Nov. 9, 2012.

Folded Flags

Triangle Flag Fold - Required for Military — Triangle Flag Fold – Required for Military

As noted above, the only the military is required to fold the flag into a triangle. Civilians can fold the flag into a rectangle. While the military requires strict adherence to the flag fold, the rectangular fold for American citizens does not have to be perfect.

Rectangle Flag Fold - For Civilians — Rectangle Flag Fold – For Civilians

When folding, the flag is brought to fully open and horizontal. This is called Popping to Tabletop/Horizontal. The only time you pop to an angle, like the demonstration photo below, is when you do not have room to bring the flag flat. Do not pop to tabletop, tilt, and then go back to tabletop as this is not authorized as part of the flag folding process. There is no such thing as “presenting the flag” like this by tilting it.

Carry Techniques

The US military uses carry techniques that are based more on tradition. Civilians and civil authorities have no obligation to use these techniques, but using one is highly encouraged since these techniques offer a secure hold.

Army Carry Technique — Standard Army Carry Point-out

Navy Carry Technique — Marine Corps Carry Technique

The USAF or Army Carry technique shown above is a good default technique for anyone. There are poor techniques that either don’t look good or don’t fully support the flag.

Not the Best Hold Techniques

Death Grip Technique — Flag “Death Grip”

Not the Best Carry Technique as it does not fully support the flag

Bad Flag Carry Does not Support the Bottom — Not the Best Carry Technique as it does not fully support the flag

When Folding

Using Six handlers. Thumbs-up, like this.

Not fingers, like this.

US Fish and Wildlife Bad Hold Technique1 — US Fish and Wildlife Bad Hold Technique with fingers-up

Having two handlers. Fingers-up.

What About A Wet Flag?

This is a great question that I receive every once in a while. The flag is taken down from the halyard, folded at the pole/mast as usual (unless weather conditions are dangerous, if so, get out of there so safety), and then transported indoors where it is unfolded and draped over something that will not stain the flag while it dries. The photo at right is an example at my home.

Once morning comes, the flag is folded, marched out to the pole/mast, and hoisted as usual.

The Ceremonial Application of Firefighter Equipment

DrillMaster July 23, 2024Color Guard/Color Team Leave a Comment

Some fire color guards will march different tools for the guards which does not necessarily provide clear communication with the audience. This image at the top of the Baltimore County Fire Department color guard do provide good communication. However, the possible issue is the tool, it’s a type of pike pole with a very unique head. A modified Boston Rake or Lockwood Hook? I’m not sure of the name.

Firefighter Color Guard with pike pole flagstaffs

Consider Communication

When selecting your equipment, consider how communication is affected. The look of the team is important in this respect and so is audience perception.

Ceremonial Fire Axe Position Examples — Ceremonial Fire Axe at Right Shoulder, Present, and Port

The fire axe is immediately recognizable and that’s what I suggest for all fire color guards unless they choose the rifle (teams in the northeast are more apt to arm their guards with rifles by tradition). Notice also, in the photos above and at left that the axes are being held at Right Shoulder with the axe head over the shoulder, opposite of what I am showing directly above. I steered away from having the axe head at my head. It didn’t feel comfortable to me for safety’s sake and controlling the axe from the heel of the handle didn’t work as well as I wanted.

Delaware firefighter color guard - guards armed with riflesDelaware firefighter color guard - guards armed with rifles — Delaware firefighter color guard – guards armed with rifles

Any type of pike pole is not necessarily the easiest to recognize by the public. Below is the short version of the ceremonial pike pole (about 3′). There is also a longer version (about 5′) and a flagstaff version that is even longer (about 8′, see the photo of the fire color guard above). Originally, the pike pole was a weapon used to unhorse a rider. Now, it is used to pull up flooring or pull down a ceiling.

A pike pole, either the short or long ceremonial version, looks like a stunted flagstaff. In terms of communication with the public in general, it doesn’t define itself at first glance.

I suggest not mixing tools. Having one guard with the pike pole and the other with a fire axe can be confusing, especially to anyone who is familiar with the military color guard. In the military, we don’t even mix rifle type.

Mixed equipment can look strange. I know that you are reading this and may be thinking? “So what if it looks strange?” I’m trying to emphasize a clear message to your audience, wherever they may be. Leaving your audience with questions isn’t as good as leaving them with a basic understanding of what they just witnessed. It depends on your audience, however.

Palatine IL Fire Color Guard with Mixed Tools

The Halligan

This is heavy! The Halligan tool is a crowbar, wedge, spike, hook, and probably a few uses that are discovered in the heat of the moment, pun intended. What it is not is a tool that makes the crossover for ceremonial use.

The photo of me at the right was never intended to be published, it was to see how the tool and I looked as I figured out a bit of a manual of arms for it. Even though I did figure out Order, Port, Present, and Right Shoulder (Left Shoulder was extremely awkward), it wasn’t to create and disseminate the manual. A team I trained uses the Halligan in one of their internal ceremonies and wanted me to design the movement and positions for the tool.

Constant Port, Mirror Port, Unarmed Guards, or…

Below are two examples of what I call Constant Port. Constant Port means the guards remain at the Port position even if the color bearers are at Order or Right Shoulder (Carry). The only movement the guards perform is to go to Present. The team at the top chose to use the mirrored version while the team at the bottom chose the matching version.

North County Fire Protection District Color Guard Mirror Axes

Cromwell CT Fire District Colors Matching Port

Constant Port creates an easily recognizable view (I recommend splitting the axe into thirds with the hands, see my photo above). However, maintaining this position for an extended period can be quite stressful on the arms, especially if the guards are holding real axes.

Unarmed Guards. Nothing says the guards must carry a weapon or tool. EMS units use unarmed guards frequently.

Fire Colors Unarmed Guards — Fire Colors with Unarmed Guards

No guards. A lack of (trained) personnel can be an issue for some departments. Having just color bearers or even just one national color bearer is fine.

Uniformity of Technique and Style

Present the best, clear image that you possibly can, it is your responsibility to do so. Whatever you choose, make sure you hold the equipment is the same manner, wear your uniform in the same manner, and don’t carry the national colors below any other colors.

Never hold the silk of the flag when at the position of Right Shoulder (Carry). When the flagstaff is in the harness socket, it is to fly freely. The flag flying freely is a symbol of the freedom we enjoy each day. Every decision you make communicates a certain thought and you must be aware of that.

Internal vs. External Ceremonies

Know your territory. Most tools are best used for firefighter-specific (internal) ceremonies where everyone in attendance understands the meaning for the ceremony (station dedication, memorial, funeral, etc.). If members of the public are there, they are possibly small enough in numbers so that you can answer their questions. Going out into the public, in my view, requires thought as to how to the team wants to present itself, represent the station, and represent the fire service, in general.

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