One of the most persistent problems in military drill and ceremonies is no longer confined to a unit, school, installation, or local community. The internet has changed the way incorrect ceremonial practices spread.
The Instructor Is Not a Cadet
Why Adults Should Not Fill Positions in Cadet Color Guards and Drill Teams I recently posted a photograph of an Army Junior ROTC color guard. Four positions were occupied by cadets. The fifth was occupied by an Army JROTC instructor, who was marching with the cadets and carrying a flag. Several people asked what was wrong with that. One response …
A Leadership Problem in ROTC Training
Recently, a senior ROTC cadet reached out with a familiar situation. He was told that facing movements cannot be executed in a color guard.
When “It Doesn’t Matter” Becomes the Standard: A Leadership Problem in ROTC
Over the years, I’ve had the same conversation with cadets again and again. It usually starts with a simple question
Honor Guards of Antiquity 2: Leadership of the Persian Melophori and the Dual Mandate of the Chiliarch
It’s important to clarify the distinction of the Melophori (Mēlophoroi), or Apple Bearers, from the larger body of the Persian “Immortals” as historical sources have revealed.
Why Drill and Ceremonies Remain Essential: Lessons from the Greeks, Romans, and Earlier Civilizations
Military drill and ceremonies are often dismissed today as outdated, overly formal, or “just tradition.” Yet long before drill manuals, long before modern armies, the greatest civilizations of the ancient world understood something profound: disciplined movement shapes disciplined minds. The way a person stands, walks, trains, and carries himself is inseparable from their character. The ancients believed this so deeply …
The Three Pillars of a Championship Team: Building Drill Team and Color Guard Excellence
Three powerful concepts—Building Cohesion, Competition Simulation, and Peer Leadership—will build a truly dominant and strong drill team and color guard.
Compliance Review: CAP Cadet Color guard — Doctrinal and Ceremonial Deficiencies
This article evaluates a publicly visible Civil Air Patrol cadet Color guard presentation based on published ceremonial standards, flag protocol, and drill doctrine. The purpose is educational and corrective, not personal. All observations below are based solely on what is visible in the referenced image and applicable regulatory guidance.
Navigating Leadership: A Cadet’s Guide When Adult Support Falls Short
You’ve heard the message: Dismissiveness hurts. When you bring a real problem or an idea to an adult leader and their response is a dismissive comment—or worse, “I don’t care”—it’s frustrating, unfair, and makes you question why you should even try. First, know this: You are heard, and your concerns are valid. Your initiative is vital to our program. You …
4 of 4 The Unyielding Precedent: Guardianship, Standards, and the Timeless War Against Stupidity
The first three installments established the analytical imperative (Cipolla), the ethical guardrails (Scripture/Stoicism), and the strategic mandate (Negentropy). This final article completes the foundation, demonstrating that the need to guard standards and warn against irrationality is not new—it is a central, continuous theme across military, philosophical, and wisdom traditions spanning millennia.