To many in the honor guard world the term casket watch, is unknown. That is unless you are on a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or EMS honor guard member. These members have known of and performed a casket watch for many years for their fallen.
The Honor and Sword/Saber Cordons
The Cordon Comprised of two squads facing each other. Spacing between members of each squad is usually an arm’s distance. Spacing between each squad of the cordon is a safe enough distance for the VIP to pass in between the squads*. The number of members in each squad depends on the type of cordon. The commander positions centered, behind one …
Wearing the Mourning Band
First responders have a black band that is worn over or around their badge/shield like what is pictured. The band signifies the loss of a colleague usually through a Line of Duty Death (LODD); the military equivalent to this would be an Active Duty Death. Three questions arise: How long should the department wear the band? Thirty days is the …
Excellence is More Than “Clean”
“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 …
Service Core Values and You
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 …
The Military Cordon
Military cordons (two lines of people, armed or unarmed, facing each other) are used for arrival/departure ceremonies and awards banquets. While the rifle manual here needs work, they do a fine job. If you have any questions, please ask.
Drill Team and Honor Guard Unit Training
In the military, we train. And we train, and train and train. We have major training scenarios (exercises) that involve multiple services and other countries, we have them for a single military installation, single unit training, all the way down to military specialty and ancillary training for each individual. It’s time consuming, but well worth the effort. After all, lives …
The Honor Guard Color Team Performance Critique
Another great free tool from The DrillMaster! Click here to view/download: The Honor Guard Color Team Performance Critique Use any time you have a color team (color guard) performing- even in a training situation. It is a great way to enhance knowledge and develop a keen eye in your honor guard members for what is right and wrong in a color team …