LUCK… Has Nothing To Do With It

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“Good luck!” We say it without even thinking and we mean well by it. It’s what most of us first think when we hear something like this: “My team has a competition this Saturday.”

“Break a leg!” has already been taken by the acting community, but I’m not really looking for something new to say.

What is “luck”? It is success or failure brought on by chance rather than through one’s own actions. You mean to tell me that my team and I have worked for weeks, hour after hour, designing and perfecting a routine and it all comes down to a roll of the dice? Not hardly.

This is why the military drill world needs trained judges.
(Insert rant about having trained and certified judges here)

So then it can actually be an insult to wish someone luck before a performance. Why an insult? Because of the training that has gone on behind the scenes. Excellent effective drill routines along with fully trained team members do not drop off of trees. It all comes about through hard work, long hours and creativity. There are never any shortcuts to excellence, success and winning. Don’t fool yourself into thinking that a trophy with a number “1” on it is what it means to win.

(Insert narrative on “success” and “winning“)

Well, what does one say to a Driller or a team that has worked tirelessly for weeks on end and has produced such a wonderful visual creation?

  • “What a great opportunity!” To show everyone the result of your hard work.
  • “You have the advantage!” From all of the practicing you’ve put in.

Those have great meaning behind them, but they just don’t roll off the tongue really well. How about:

“Do your best!”
and
“Have fun!”

That’s more like it. Whether it’s your first or 101 time performing, always put your best into it. By all means have fun as well and cheer on the other competitors.

Missing in America Project

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Their Mission:

The purpose of the MIA Project is to locate, identify and inter the unclaimed cremated remains of American veterans through the joint efforts of private, state and federal organizations. To provide honor and respect to those who have served this country by securing a final resting place for these forgotten heroes. Click here for more.

Here are some very interesting and sometimes amazing stories: MIAP Blog.

Support the Missing in America Project, a donation supported program.

What’s Wrong With This Honor Guard Picture?

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This US Air Force photo shows Airmen carrying cremated remains of veterans for final honors. It is a touching and respectful ceremony and one in which all who participated can be proud. However, there is a slight problem. The Airmen bearing the colors should be on the right of the Airmen bearing the urns. Also, this is not how the cased American flag is carried over a distance.

It’s the small details that all honor guard members must pay attention to and if there isn’t any written guidance available, the team’s training should be able to dictate proper procedures.

How to Expand Your Vocabulary

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The first thing you need to do when working with a rifle or sword/saber is to be comfortable with that piece of equipment. Your comfort level determines how well you will drill. When you have mastered the manual of arms and have begun to explore single hand spins, double handed spins, behind-the-back (BTB) spins and even over-the-head (OTH) spins, and are comfortable with these moves, you can then explore different ways to manipulate the rifle.

A wide vocabulary helps create variations which then expanded the vocabulary even more. But how does a Driller widen his or her vocabulary? Through experimentation. There are several ways you can experiment.

Hand Placement
Let’s say you are spinning a rifle in a flow segment that you have created that goes from single front spins with the left hand into a BTB spin while turning your body 180° twice to end up at Port Arms. Moving through that sequence as slowly as you can you can feel the rifle in each hand- but what if you change the position of one of your hands? What if instead of catching the rifle on the bottom to move into the BTB you actually catch the rifle with your hand on top? Where can this position then take you and the rifle? Or you could extend your reach and catch the rifle underneath closer towards the end where the barrel is, where would this take you and the rifle?

This may be stating the obvious but, you have to let the rifle’s momentum work for you.

Stops
Stopping the rifle with different parts of your body (arm, foot, thigh, hand) is another way to experiment.

Individual Move Variations
So, you can execute a Ninja well. How about a backward Ninja (rifle spins the opposite direction and hands directly opposite on the rifle)? Do you spin the rifle only in one direction? Start spinning in both directions. Spinning in the opposite direction can open up new move variations.

Ambidexterity
Are you right- or left-hand dominant? Start using your less dominant hand. This will open up all kinds of opportunities for variation.

Be as creative as possible. If you need some personal help, shoot me a message through the Contact page. I critique videos all the time.

Sweat the Small Stuff

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There is a book by the name Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff – and it’s all Small Stuff by Richard Carlson. Is a book that shows you how to keep from letting the little things in life drive you crazy (more of this review). The author explains how readers can better interact with colleagues, clients, and bosses while minimizing stress and bringing out the best in themselves and others. In this article I am not advocating sweating the small details that this book discusses and bringing an unmanageable stress level into your life. On the contrary, “Sweat the Small Stuff” in this case means, “pay attention to details as you progress through your training.”

The picture at right is of me training a firing party at Spangdahlem Air Base while I was attached to the Base Honor Guard there as an AP3 member. You will notice that we have a Belgian civilian and a Belgian Army Warrant Officer (American E-8 equivalent) joining us for this training session and even though all of the Airmen there were fully trained, they still practiced the basics. No one moved to the next step without us all mastering the previous step. We all paid attention to the minute details because that was our job: to flawlessly render military honors. We had the added honor/responsibility to render those honors in northern Germany and France and also in Luxembourg, Belgium and Netherlands.

I recently came across a YouTube video of a high school JROTC team’s first performance after most likely a week of training. While I would never expect a team to be perfect or anywhere close to that, this team’s performance lacked many of the basics that should’ve been taught to them. The students are doing the best with what they have to work with and what they have been given and I commend them on that. But, they are already behind since they all really need to go back to the very beginning and master the fundamentals, as I’ve said.

I have to hand it to them they had an exhibition routine that was within the time limits. However, many of the cadets did not display on knowledge of the fundamentals of drill. Fundamentals like:

  • Standing Manual* (attention, facing movements, center of balance, etc.)
  • Unarmed Marching Manual* (foot alignment, proper body carriage, arm swing, etc.)
  • Plus much more

*Terms I use in educating and training.

Watching the video was a sad testament to what might be called the “gotta-have-it-now” mindset that seems to be prevalent today. When a team trains, everyone on that team must master the fundamentals before moving on to learn more advanced concepts. Throwing a routine together in a short amount of time will only look like you’ve thrown a routine together in a short amount of time. You have to have a plan and that plan needs a strong foundation or you may not achieve the goal as expected.

The American military is built on, among other things, the principle of trainees mastering “the small stuff” before moving on to the “big stuff.” If a trainee cannot be trusted to fold their underwear in a 6 in. square, for example, how can that trainee be trusted to take care of an aircraft when lives depend on it?

Lives do not hang in the balance in the military drill world and I do not want you to think that I am trying to link the two, I’m just making a comparison: master the basic step and then proceed to the next step. Master that step and proceed and so on.

Pay attention to what you are doing as a team and don’t leave someone behind who needs some extra help. Anyone needing extra help needs some one-on-one time to help him/her progress and keep up with the rest of the team.

If you are the one training, please make sure you do not gloss over any of your training program (I hope you have one written down): train others to take your place. If you are a subject matter expert then train others to be subject matter experts.

Now, so sweat the small stuff.

Thinking “Outside of the Box”

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When I was about 10 years old I want to the skateboard (similar shape to the one pictured- thanks to machkulture.net). This was around 1975 and skateboards were starting to become more popular – ever kid seemed to have one. Some of the more popular skateboards, at least initially, were plastic and that’s what I wanted. My dad however, thought that it would be good to get a skateboard made of wood and in hindsight that would’ve been perfect. Never mind the fact that I never really mastered the skateboard, but it was still fun. Shortly after receiving my plastic skateboard I regretted having it. But there was no going back. I was stuck in my shortsighted thinking; I was stuck in my box.

There are some Drillers and teams who want to do what Driller A or Team B does because it looks good. In the visual performance arena copying is a form of flattery, but outright taking a particular trick or move and trying to execute it the exact same way, does not usually communicate flattery, it communicates a lack of education, training and creativity. Some might even say “desperation.” I don’t know if I would go that far. Some performances just stick out in your mind as having some of the best moments in them. And others want to emulate certain performers or teens. While there is nothing wrong with that, taking a trick or movement that someone else created and performed and injecting your own style into it is the best way to go.

It takes time to develop style. It takes time to develop a look. For those Drillers or teams just starting out this is a time to get to know what you can do and how well you can do it. It’s also a time to educate yourself or your team and train to the best of your abilities. By educating yourself you’re going to be able to follow your own path and begin that “outside of the box” thinking. And this is what you want, this is also what the military drill world desperately needs.

Ask DrillMaster- Colors and Spacing

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Question: Hi, I just found your website. I have an urgent question. How many steps do there need to be from the head judge before and after executing eyes right, regarding colorguard? Now, I have read both  AFMAN-36-2203 and FM-3-21.5, and in the Colorguard section, there is no statement addressing my question. However, in the category regarding the Squadron/Platoon, there is a section on “Pass in Review” which states that the command “eyes right” must be commanded six paces before reaching the person who is “saluted” and the command “ready front” must be called six paces after: [The following is from FM-3-21.5{AFMAN-36-2203 sates something similar)

(7) As the reviewing party approaches the Colors, the commander of troops inconspicuously commands Present, ARMS (six steps from the Colors) and Order, ARMS (six steps beyond the Colors). They do not salute when passing to the rear of the Colors. The Color guard and bearers execute Eyes Right. The organizational Color dips (salutes).

BUT, this is regarding a regular formation, NOT a color guard. I digress….My main point is that if colorguards DO need to do eyes right/ready front six paces before/after, how do I do it??? The field is 60ft by 60ft. THERE IS WAY little space for us to do this. Main Main point: DO judges care if we do the six-pace thing? Will they deduct points if we don’t?

Thanks,
Ian

Answer: Hi Ian,

Man, you have done your research! I commend you on that.

Now on to your point. I cannot give you a definite answer. Sorry. But! What I can give you is guidance based on my years in ROTC, the AF and as a judge. As a judge I would look for the 6 paces. Since you have very little space in which to work I would suggest that you use the space wisely (I’m sure you already are). Since you are using the space wisely then don’t give a judge any reason to look any further into the routine. Here’s what I mean: keep everything perfect and have each team member project nothing but confidence. Make sure your step size is the same and also make sure your step type is the same. I’ve attached a book that I’ve been working on for a little while. I’m going to publish it soon but I’d like to send you this copy. Read through it and send me your thoughts. It may help you for this weekend.

I wish you good luck with the competition! Please keep me posted on how your team does.

 

Ask DrillMaster- Team Training Difficulties

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Question: What is a good way to run a team practice? I feel alot of the difficulties we’re having as a team is my fault for not running practices as efficiently, so would you have any advice please sir? Once again I cannot thank you enough for all the help.

Answer: What are the difficulties? Below I can only give you general ideas. If you can be specific, I can then address those issues.In the beginning, it is essential to make sure everyone is on the page; all team members need to know what they are doing from the start. So, everyone needs to master the what is called Standing Manual (unarmed drill) and then the Manual of Arms. Once those two are completely mastered then the Drillers are ready to move on to marching while executing the 15-Count Manual of Arms. Once this is mastered then you can start adding exhibition-type movements beginning with basics moving on to moderate moves and then, if the team is able, working on advanced movements.

At every practice, you need to make sure everyone is involved in the learning and/or teaching process. When you see that you have one or two team members who are as knowledgeable as you (or have more knowledge), use them to teach others having troubles and maybe even use them to develop parts of the XD routine if they’d like.

Treat all members with respect, even if they do not treat you that way. When you feel as though a team member is not being respectful, you can handle this away from the rest of the team unless someone is being truly intolerable, then you need to stop the inappropriate behavior immediately without being disrespectful (can be quite difficult).

The Difference Between a Flank and a Slide

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Question: What is the difference between a flank and a slide in marching band?

Answer: Good question! They are both the same movement except for where your shoulders point. On a Left Flank you will pivot on your right foot to your left, your hips and shoulders will face to your left- an ‘agreement’ of hips and shoulders. On a Left Slide, you will execute the same movement with your foot and your hips facing to the left, but your shoulders will face front, a ‘disagreement’ of the hips and shoulders.

In this picture, courtesy of Vimeo, you can see the woodwind players at front sliding to their right (your left). There are also three brass players sliding as well in the top left of the photo. And yes, Drillers can slide too- it just takes imagination on how to use this technique appropriately.