Astronaut High School Drill Meet 2013 Performance Critiques

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My critiques for each of the female performances (squad and platoon, RD and XD) at the first annual Astronaut High School Drill Meet. Click the titles for each school and the audio file should begin to download for you. Congratulations to all of the schools that participated! And a big thank you to all of the judges: local Army recruiters, …

How to Switch from Regualtion Drill to Exhibition Drill

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A short time ago a student friend of mine sent me a video of his armed solo performance asking for feedback (I give real-time audio feedback on performances of Drillers and teams in the WDA Adjudication System: Overall Effect, Composition Analysis, Marching & Equipment- usually a combined critique of a little from each caption). To preface the video, he told …

Regarding Ambidexterity

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The definition according to dictionary.com am·bi·dex·trous [am-bi-dek-struhs] 1. able to use both hands equally well: an ambidextrous surgeon. 2. unusually skillful; facile: an ambidextrous painter, familiar with all media. For the military drill world, having ambidexterity means 1. being able to use both hands/arms to manipulate your piece of equipment for armed exhibition drill and, 2. being able to use …

What is another rifle with which you could practice?

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Great question! Here is the info: Standard for the military drill world (MDW) in America are the  M1 Garand, M14, M1903A3 and, to a lesser extent the M1917 (Enfield). There are also some color teams/honor guards that use the Russian-made Krag rifle. Real, demilitarized rifles are listed here: Pssst, Hey Buddy Wanna Buy an M1903? Replica rifles are here: Armed …

The Opening Statement

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When I judge, I create a commentary/critique of each performance during the performance and I then post it on my website here for the Drillers/teams to download and listen to. On many of my recordings, you can hear me talk about the Driller’s or team’s “opening statement.” But what is this opening statement? Defining the Term In military exhibition drill …

Where can I find a complete list of exhibition drill moves?

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Some other countries use a separation of terms: Foot Drill and Rifle Drill. At The DrillMaster, we use “Drill” as meaning the feet; Unarmed Exhibition Drill (UXD) and Armed Exhibition Drill (AXD) to mean the body and equipment movement layered over the drill for the feet. On with the question. In General There isn’t such a thing as a “complete …