In recent decades, military drill teams—particularly those performing exhibition drill—have increasingly adopted visual elements commonly associated with pageantry arts. Audiences often see this overlap and assume the two are functionally equivalent. They are not.
Motivation, Legitimacy, and Instructor Presence in Cadet Drill Programs
“A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon.”Napoleon Bonapart Napoleon’s observation remains relevant because it identifies a fundamental truth of military culture: recognition matters. Ribbons, medals, badges, cords, and other uniform distinctions are not superficial. They are visible acknowledgments of effort, competence, and commitment. They communicate, without explanation, that an individual or group has earned …
Phasing and Your Team
I want to take this opportunity to talk about Movement Phasing Phasing for our needs means movement that does not happen at the same time. Probably the easiest way to describe phasing is to talk about heel strikes while marching. See how all three heels will strike the marching surface at three different times? That’s phasing. You are either: In …
The Effective Ripple Line
A ripple line for a military drill team performance is a sequential movement where actions occur in a wave-like (fast or slow, smooth or sharp) progression rather than simultaneously.
Principles of a Visual Performance
The term “visual performance” has different meanings depending on the context in which it is used. For our purposes, we will concentrate on the principles involved in performance based in dance, (marching band) color guard, and military exhibition drill.
Vocabulary and Exhibition Drill
Whether you are a soloist, part of a tandem, tetrad, or larger drill team, understanding and applying the concept of vocabulary in a visual performance is essential.
What is “Audience Engagement”?
What is it that makes a routine grab the audience by the eyeballs and yell at them, “Don’t miss this or you’ll regret it!” Audience engagement, my friends, audience engagement. What is it and how do you get some?
Why We Execute Facing Movements Only at Order
It can be a bit annoying to face and then move to Right/Left Shoulder but there is good reason for it.
Visual and Movement Layering in Exhibition Drill
When we look at an exhibition drill performance, a drill team has numerous options. The best way to create an effective performance is to understand the fundamentals of design. This article looks at static presentations.
How not to Faint or “DoN’t lOcK YeR kNeEs!”
Most cadets and many adults know only this phrase about fainting (flaking) in formation. You definitely need to expand your knowledge to educate those for of whom you are responsible.










