Color Guard Part 1: Preventing “Flag Wrap”

DrillMasterAsk DrillMaster, Color Guard/Color Team, Commentary Leave a Comment

In competition, (A & AF) JROTC color teams must follow their service drill and ceremonies manual to the letter, for ceremonies, we can incorporate some tools to help navigate around possible problems. The wind can be a serious issue, especially when at Order or when traveling. However, remember this: you may not tuck your color, per the manual, but that …

Why The DrillMaster for Cadets?

DrillMasterColor Guard/Color Team, Commentary, Drill Team Training, Honor Guard Training 2 Comments

I was asked a short time ago why someone would hire me or use the skills I’ve acquired. That is an excellent question. Why indeed. Question: Concerning drill, what would you tell someone who is just coming into JROTC, whether they are an instructor or a cadet? Read. Read your service drill and ceremonies manual. You need to know it …

The Graveside Sequence For Funeral Directors Part 3

DrillMasterHonor Guard, Honor Guard Training, Instructional Leave a Comment

The military funeral with cremated remains, “cremains”. Sequence The honor guard, as few as two members or as many as six, arrives one hour before the ceremony and makes a couple of dry runs in their travel uniform. Fifteen to 20 minutes before the funeral, the team changes into their ceremonial uniform and forms up each element, pall bearers should face …

The Graveside Sequence For Funeral Directors Part 2

DrillMasterHonor Guard, Honor Guard Training, Instructional Leave a Comment

The Modified Funeral Sequence Again, military and first responder funerals are about the deceased, but for the family. The honor guard arrives one hour before the ceremony and makes a couple of dry runs in their travel uniform. Fifteen to 20 minutes before the funeral, the team changes into their ceremonial uniform and forms up each element, pall bearers should face the grave. When …

The Graveside Sequence For Funeral Directors Part 1

DrillMasterAsk DrillMaster, Honor Guard, Honor Guard Training, Instructional Leave a Comment

This is a Full Honors Funeral with all elements present. A Standard Honor Funeral would encompass the pallbearers also firing the Three-Volley Salute as the firing party. Military and first responder funerals are about the deceased, but for the family. With that being, the family needs to be able to see every element of the honor guard. In the image …

Excellence is More Than “Clean”

DrillMasterColor Guard/Color Team, Drill Team Training, Drill Teams, Instructional Leave a Comment

“Clean” has many different definitions. In visual terms, however, we use it to mean, “having no needed corrections; easily readable”. WHOA! what is this “easily readable” stuff, are we are talking about drill teams? Yes, drill teams are a part of the visual performance family. This family includes, dance, marching band, step, etc. Click here for my article explaining Readability. See …

JROTC Cadets May Not Wear Service Uniform Items

DrillMasterColor Guard/Color Team, Commentary, Drill Teams, Honor Guard Leave a Comment

UPDATE: AFJROTC cadets may wear the Hap Arnold, Wing and Star cap device only if the unit has written permission from HQ AFJROTC. Individual cadets may not wear the device, but special teams may with the written permission. For more on seeking permission, read the article, New AFJROTC Drill Team Uniform Policy. JROTC Cadets May Not Wear ANY Service Uniform Items. …

Service Core Values and You

DrillMasterDrillCenter News Leave a Comment

Each Service several years ago began codifying what the service stands for and what standards the service members needed to uphold. Even if you are a first-year JROTC cadet, you need to take on these standards and make them your own. It will be so beneficial for you right away and in the long term. Don’t follow the ways of …

An Embarrassing Color Guard Performance

DrillMasterAsk DrillMaster, Color Guard/Color Team, Honor Guard Training, Instructional 2 Comments

I created this article for two reasons: Help deflect questions that usually arise and come my way. The questions go something like this: “Can we do this/[is this proper] for our color guard?” Communicate to everyone, even Active Duty, Guard, Reserve, law enforcement, and firefighters that what you do is usually caught on camera and/or video and affects others in …

Drill Team Recruitment and Retention

DrillMasterAsk DrillMaster, Commentary, Drill Teams Leave a Comment

Program Motivation/Incentives “A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon.” Napoleon Bonapart This is the reason, among others, that we in the military have ribbons, medals, badges and other awards. The same for JROTC and all cadet and even scouting programs. Ribbons and shoulder cords are worn on the standard uniform and help let everyone know …