Service Drill Teams Attend Annual Training Camps

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Each year around the end of February and the beginning of March, each of the service drill teams (Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force- not sure about the Coast Guard*), leave their duty station and head out to train for about 30 days to work on the upcoming season’s routine. Before the teams leave for training there is a challenge time or, …

Color Guard with POW/MIA flag outside of formation

All About POW/MIA Flag Protocol

DrillMasterAsk DrillMaster, Color Guard/Color Team, Honor Guard, Honor Guard Training, Instructional 53 Comments

Depending on where you live in the US, you can count on strong feelings as to whether the POW/MIA flag should be marched in a color guard for a parade. Title 36 U.S. Code § 902 – National League of Families POW/MIA Flag The information in the Flag Code is instructions for US government agency display. It has no information …

First Responder Funeral Guidelines

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These guidelines are for the United States Certified Ceremonial Guardsman program for more information on the program and how you and your team can be certified, click here to send me an email through the contact section on the Home page. Click here to download these guidelines to include them in your unit’s program. Developed in Coordination with Palm Beach …

Do Pallbearers Remove Their Cover?

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No. Yes. Well… When I received this question a few months ago on my Instagram account, I went right to work answering it as I went through a typical scenario in my head. At the same time, my friend, CN Alec White, a current US Navy Ceremonial Guardsman assigned to the Casket Team, gave a different answer from a different …

Taps: “America’s National Song of Remembrance,” Information and Origin

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In The News That will be what the bugle call Taps is called when a proposal that is now in the House eventually passes. Read the complete story here. See also Taps 150 and TapsBugler. What to do – During a rendition of Taps at a military funeral, memorial service or wreath ceremony, -All present not in uniform should stand …

Formal Casket Watch

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To many in the honor guard world the term casket watch, is unknown. That is unless you are on a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or EMS honor guard member. These members have known of and performed a casket watch for many years for their fallen.

Is it “Tall or Tap,” “Tall Tap” or What?

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When first falling-in for a flight or platoon formation, after the dressing to the right, the leader of the formation (Drill or Training Instructor or even the Drill Team Commander) might use a term that some seem to be unfamiliar with, “If you are taller than the person in front of you, tap him on the shoulder and move up!” …

Replacing the Army Spade Finial

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Finial = the topper/ornament of a flagstaff Flagstaff = the guidon staff carried by a color guard member Active Duty and Reserve US Navy and US Coast Guard color guards are required to have the battle-ax, also called a Battalion Lance, as their primary finial, according to NTP 13B, Flags, Pennants and Customs (download from the Resources page). The silver …