Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Color Guard/Color Team”
One of the most persistent misconceptions I encounter is the statement:
“A flagstaff is just a flagstaff.”
This idea usually appears when someone is using a silver aluminum or gold telescoping pole and attempts to justify it for a military color guard.
At first glance, the logic seems simple: if it holds a flag, it should be acceptable.
That logic is incorrect.
In recent years, an increasing number of Air Force color guard performances—particularly within Civil Air Patrol, Technical School, the United States Air Force Academy, and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps—have shown a consistent pattern: movements that appear deliberate and “ceremonial,” yet are fundamentally incorrect within their training environment.
This article is written as a thought-leadership piece designed to bridge the gap between respect for first responders and the non-negotiable standards of military protocol. Its goal is not to diminish anyone’s service, but to defend institutional identity and restore ritual integrity in public ceremonies.
There is a persistent and damaging belief in the drill and ceremonies community:
“If it’s not in our manual, it’s not authorized.”
That belief is wrong—and it is directly responsible for the kind of performance deficiencies we continue to see across military, cadet, and first responder color guards.
In some organizations, particularly groups like the Sons of the American Revolution (from where I received the question below), it is common to see a “color guard commander” standing outside the formation, often carrying a sword and issuing commands to the guard. This raises a frequent question: Is this practice derived from early American military drill? The short answer is …
Color guards are carefully structured ceremonial formations. Every flag within the formation represents a specific authority: the nation, the foreign nation, the state or territory, a military service, or the organization hosting the ceremony.
Public discussion frequently merges two separate realities:
Congressional recognition of World War II Merchant Mariners as veterans and legal and doctrinal authority to form or represent a color guard
Joint color guards representing the Department of Homeland Security are increasingly visible at national ceremonies, public events, and major sporting venues. Their presence reflects the broad mission of DHS and the service of its many law-enforcement components.
In recent years, I have seen an increasing number of color guards—military, veteran, cadet, and ceremonial—placing swords or sabers in escort positions.
Drift in Drill & Ceremonies is not accidental.
It is not generational. It is not ignorance alone. And it is not simply ego.