Drift in Drill & Ceremonies is not accidental.
It is not generational. It is not ignorance alone. And it is not simply ego.
The Simultaneous-Pivot Countermarch Problem
Authority, Emulation, and Ego in Drill & Ceremonies The category error: elite ceremonial technique being imitated in environments where it is not authorized. This is subtle — and therefore more dangerous — because it looks disciplined. What People Are Copying The maneuver being imitated is the four-man color guard countermarch executed with simultaneous pivots, as performed by: This technique is …
When the Flag Determines the Staff Manual
Across the United States, military and cadet units routinely conduct physical training runs with a unit guidon.
This practice is normal, historically grounded, and fully supported by service drill doctrine.
How Should CAP Cadets Respond When CAP Guidance Differs from USAF Doctrine?
Recently, I received a very good question regarding Civil Air Patrol cadets and if they can circumvent the CAP written drill and ceremonies standards that do not follow USAF doctrine. At first it makes sense to skip over bad CAP writing and opt to follow the parent service doctrine. However, that’s not the way things work. Let’s get into this.
The Dignity of Dissent: When Logistics Overshadow Respect for Fallen Heroes
In the somber process of bringing home our fallen service members, every detail matters. The sight of a flag-draped casket signifies the highest honor a nation can bestow. However, a modern logistical trend is starting to violate the very protocols meant to protect that dignity: the practice of draping the interment flag over the shipping container holding the casket, rather …
USAF Ceremonies Now Mishandled:
When an Airman or Guardian dies, the nation makes a visible promise: no one will be forgotten, and every honor will be rendered with precision, dignity, and certainty.
That promise is not symbolic. It is operational. And today this duty is in danger of not being met.
Authority Is The Invisible Structure That Explains Why
Military drill, color guard, and ceremonial performances feel fundamentally different from other performing arts—even when the outward motions appear similar.
Why America’s Historic Military Schools Matter More Than Ever
Across the United States, historic military schools and colleges are increasingly misunderstood, marginalized, or targeted for closure. Too often, they are dismissed as relics of the past—out of step with modern education or unnecessary in a professional volunteer force.
A Formal Doctrinal Challenge: Who Has the Authority to Change Drill and Ceremonies?
Over the past several years, I have documented a growing and troubling trend across cadet programs: drill and ceremonies standards being altered, replaced, or hybridized without clear doctrinal authority.
Can a Cadet Program Change Drill and Ceremonies Doctrine?
It has taken me a while to research and formulate a statement that calls on cadet program HQs to take a hard look at procedures. During this time, AFJROTC, NJROTC, CAP, and Yount Marines were the programs in my view. I am not calling out individuals, I am calling out the institutions, not people.