So, just what are judges looking for? In general, they don’t know. Drill meet judges are not trained, they are briefed about an hour before the competition. Some get their briefing a day prior. It’s still a briefing, it’s not training since no one involved has enough time to readily digest and process the new information and then practice applying the info. This includes drill meets that I’ve run.
Your Bias and the Marine “Gathering Laundry”
Versión en español a continuación. Bias We all have certain knowledge and experiences that define how we view circumstances around us. That’s called our bias. A bias isn’t necessarily bad but if you only rely on your knowledge and experiences and are closed off to learning something new, that is the bad part. As a judge viewing regulation, exhibition, or …
The World Drill Association Ultimate Inspection
When I was a cadet at New Mexico Military Institute, we had a yearly inspection competition between each company. It was called the Sally Port Inspection. A sally port is a controlled entryway to a fort or even a prison. In the image below is the entry point or Sally Port for Hagerman Barracks. What cadets call the “Box” at …
The Argument From AFPAM 34-1203
What argument would this be? It’s about using the other two service manuals. It gets a bit complicated, but bear with me as we go through why the AFPAM has so little information and what to do about it. We need to understand that all three drill and ceremonies manuals are lacking in certain aspects and using ones best judgment …
A DrillMaster Study of Mark Time
Marching in place, marking time. Many think they know how to do it. There are three different regulation drill techniques for the US military and two techniques for ceremonial drill.
The Difference Between Mark Time and Half Step
OK, we know that Mark Time has you marching in place and Half Step has you marching forward at half the size as a normal step. But, there is confusion out there and I see it constantly. Mark Time Service Differences The Army tells us that the foot is brought straight up off the marching surface two inches. The Marine …
The Difference Between Accuracy and Precision
This video can be of great help to you in training.
Leadership: Parent, Adult, Child
I am publishing this article to help everyone, but it is specifically for one young man who I have known for a short time. You have a choice when addressing someone in person as to how you sound, what you say and your facial and body expressions. Before we continue: if you come across as a parent to others, especially …
Become a Certified Drill Competition Judge
When studying to be a judge, I was exposed to so many other forms of performance where precision plays a key role. If you want to judge performances in the Military Drill World, I suggest that you purchase my two World Drill Association books and then begin to watch not only military drill performances of all kinds, but other performances as …