Marine Corps Order 5060.20, Marine Corps Drill and Ceremonies, is the drill and ceremonies (D&C) manual for the Marine Corps, Navy, Coast Guard, and other sea services (NOAA, Merchant Mariners, and Public Health). But it doesn’t apply, as stated at the beginning of the manual, to two key organizations in the Marine Corps. Why on earth would that be? Let’s find out.
The Purpose of Military Drill and Ceremonies
The benefits of drill and ceremonies (D&C) are numerous and I won’t restate them here but I will use a couple of them to make my point about the purpose and to see how we are generally failing to use drill and ceremonies for its intended purpose and thus unable to reap the benefits.
“Every Honor Guard Invents Their Own Standards”
Quoted from an AFROTC cadet. A cadet who is going to commission into the USAF/USSF. The quote was relayed to me. If the above statement is true, then writing AFMAN 34-515 (the USAF Honor Guard manual) culminated in several years of wasted of time and abuse of resources. Standards are written and applied to uphold laws and regulations and avoid …
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 Problems of AFPAM 34-1203
After the USAF was created as its own uniformed service on September 18, 1947, it went from using Army Regulations to writing and using its own. When it came to drill and ceremonies, the newly created service looked at the Marine Corps and Army drill manuals and chose from what it considered the best from each (most from the MCO). One thing the USAF eventually left out (beginning in approximately the 1970s) was the manual of arms for the rifle. Why? Because the Army and Marine Corps had already accomplished that task and Airmen did not have a daily use for rifles like Soldiers and Marines.
The Harch, Harms, & Hace of AFPAM 34-1203
[Formerly AFR 50-14, AFM 50-14, and AFMAN 36-2203] Word pronunciation can be peculiar in the US military. However, if we look at it with logic, we can understand the the application of those possible peculiarities.
Training and the Three Styles of Leadership
Training Levels. Since I spent my last seven years in the Air Force as a Unit Education and Training Manager (AFSC 3S2), I will use the USAF’s levels. They are applicable to everyone, no matter what task, no matter if you are in the military or not. Our emphasis here is military drill and ceremonies. Featured image from taskandpurpose.com A 3-Skill Level: …
Why is Drill Necessary in the Armed Forces?
A question from India: Why is drill necessary in the armed forces?
Answer: Drill is life for some, but what about those trainees coming into the military through Basic Training and Boot Camp? Why do they have to drill unarmed and even armed?
The DrillMaster Reading List
Over time, I will update this list as needed. For now, educate yourself. Many of the following manuals are the Resources page. Service Drill and Ceremonies Training Circular 3-21.5, Drill and Ceremonies Marine Corps Order 5060.2, Drill and Ceremonies Air Force Manual 36-2203, Drill and Ceremonies Regulation Drill Training (portable lesson plans) DrillMaster’s Color Guard Coach’s Field Manual DrillMaster’s Platoon, …
How to Halt from Right/Left Step
With me spending 27 years associated with Air Force drill and ceremonies, the Marine Corps style of D&C has always been unusual to me. Having said that, I’ve studied the MCO several times and have worked with a couple of Marines who have been a great help for me. Not long ago, A Navy Master Chief NJROTC instructor had a …
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