“Practice makes permanent.” Lt. Col. Bernard C. Lorenz always told my drill team this phrase. He was my AFJROTC instructor when I was in high school and has now passed, but I have always remembered that phrase and included it in my training. Thanks, Sir. Practice makes permanent and education is key. We will tackle both in this article. Many …
Know What to Say and How to Say it
Reporting statements are a must for all competitive drill teams, color teams (color guards), tetrads (4-man), teandems (2-man) and solos. Even if the performance is not on the competitive field all, except for the color team, can have an introduction statement for the audience. Team Responses for Inspection Your team should have standardized responses for each team member when addressed …
What’s Wrong With These Pictures?
What could be wrong with the following pictures? The flags (hung back-to-back) above are each facing the right way (canton in the upper left) as you view it from either direction. Is this necessary? No, not at all, but someone took the time and cared enough to make sure that everyone, whether flying in or flying out of Melbourne, FL …
How to Adjust During a Performance
The human eye will notice whatever is moving or, if many objects are moving, will notice moving the fastest and then, within about 5 to 10 seconds, look away. If you are on an honor guard or drill team, you know that your movements are scrutinized constantly, especially in competition. You’ve practiced your movements over and over and yet, you …
Pieces Parts: M1, M1903 and M14 Drill Rifle, DrillAmerica, Daisy Drill Rifle parts
Pieces Parts: M1, M1903 and M14 Drill Rifle, DrillAmerica, Daisy Drill Rifle parts This is Drill Life: rifles break or lose a screw. Where does a Driller go to find parts for his/her rifle? Need a butt plate for your M1? An upper band with a bayonet lug for your Daisy Drill Rifle? Look no further! If you have a …
WDA Adjudication System
‘We won with 13 million points! Second place had a score of 12,000.” I pose this question to you all: In all of the military drill competitions across the USA, and probably into other countries as well, what do the scores mean? What do the point gaps mean? I have an answer: The scores and point spreads mean nothing. Then …
Learning to Drop
Apparently, some Drillers don’t plan for mistakes. This is not good! For some reason, some Drillers are taught that they’re not supposed to pick up their piece of equipment (rifle, saber/sword, guidon) when they are dropped even when performing i a competition! Unless you are part of the Marine Corps’ Silent Drill Platoon (see picture at right borrowed from Flickster), …
First Step- How to Step Off
One of the things I really did not like about Basic Training was my TI and/or DI yelling things like, “You look like trees in the wind!” “Stop be-bopping!” But, in Basic, there is not time for the “why” of what does not work. I’m going to explain the “why.” “Stop be-bopping” is regarding vertical movement when marching and the …
“Open” or “Closed,” that is the Question
There is a difference whether you and/or your team stands with the Closed Foot Method or Traditional Method and not just visually. There are two ways of standing at Attention for the American military, drill teams and honor guards when referring to the position of the feet (the star is the center of balance): Closed-Foot Method Heels and toes together …
“Your uniform makes me uncomfortable.”
DrillMaster explains his uniforms.