D & C Debates.

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 13:12:52 -0400

So at work right now we are debating rear march. Do you call it on your right leg or left and which way you turn. We are split down the middle.

What do you think it is? (do not google or look it up)

With that being said do you think D & C is a dying art that needs to be taught more and enforced better starting at basic?

***disclaimer I was correct when we googled it***

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Oct 28 at 2014 1:36 PM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 13:36:51 -0400

Yes, D&C is a dying art and needs to be implemented and taught like it used to be. Called on right foot and you pivot to right on left foot.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2014 1:51 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 13:51:04 -0400

Wow, rear march. Arguably one of the hardest things of D&C and basic was the rear march. Both calling it and executing it! I so badly wanted to google this before I voted, but I refrained to see if I could remember. If I recall correctly, call right foot and pivot to right with left foot...

I agree LTC Private RallyPoint Member D&C is a dying art and one that I believe NEEDS to be revived before we lose it completely. I for one, love D&C.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2014 2:05 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 14:05:49 -0400

Drill and Ceremony is indeed a dying art, as we do not practice it enough. The only time it is every really used is for Change of Command Ceremonies, and at that point in time you spend a majority of time practicing left and right turns for pass and review. The subtleties are lost.

I actually had an argument with a DS in my ALC Class about Closing a platoon oriented company formation. To elaborate, each of the 4 platoons was in in their respective formations, and we were getting ready to march to chow. I gave the right face command, and then close on lead platoon. The argument was who calls march, the person in charge of the collective, or the platoon sergeants.

No Google/Bing/Asking Jeeves, go.

The lesson I learned: DS do not like being shown regulations and being proven they are wrong.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Oct 28 at 2014 2:09 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 14:09:45 -0400

Pretty sure for our drill manual it's different. Drill is firmly the forte of enlisted Marines but I do believe we deliver our preparatory command "To the Rear" with a left footfall, and the command of execution, "March!" on the right foot, followed by a left foot step, pivot on both feet rightward to the rear, stepping off again with the left.

Close Order Drill (as we call it) is not a dying art in the Marine Corps.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2014 3:36 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 15:36:44 -0400

To the rear march is called on the right foot and turn to the right.

Response by SFC Vernon McNabb made Oct 28 at 2014 3:52 PM

SFC Vernon McNabb — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 15:52:48 -0400

Prepatory Command and Command of Execution are both done when the right foot hits the ground. On the command of execution you take one additionional step with the left foot forward and pivot on the balls of both feet to the right. And contrary to some opinions, the command is "Rear, March!". Not, "To the rear, March!".

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2014 4:47 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 16:47:44 -0400

I have marchaphobia. I need to get over it quick if I make warrant officer selection. Other then practicing marching notional troops while walking to work, we just don't do enough in the Reserve side.

When I move real troops, I feel pressure and my left and right get all mixed up.

"Column right (or left) + as you were" has become way to common.

Response by SGT William B. made Oct 28 at 2014 6:16 PM

SGT William B. — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 18:16:44 -0400

I love Rear March, or as I've come to know it, "Everybody, ignore what I say and turn around in the most sloppy manner imaginable."

Seriously though, it's so snappy looking when well-trained soldiers pull it off flawlessly. Same for the Left Flank, March/Right Flank, March commands.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2014 6:48 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 18:48:28 -0400

The command Rear, March is given as the right foot strikes the marching surface. On the command of execution March, take one more step with the left foot, pivot 180 degrees to the right on the balls of both feet, and step off in the new direction taking a 30-inch step with the trail foot and the arms don't swing outward while turning either, I've seen it done, trust me, someone's eye almost got poked out once.

This is the one D&C move to this very day always, always screwed me up.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2014 7:00 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 19:00:13 -0400

LTC Private RallyPoint Member, thanks for posting a good old fashioned D&C question. It's been quite a few years since I did rear march, but I think it's called on the right foot, pivot on the left, to the right. Must be, right?

When I was a young troop, a SP4 working my way toward SGT, D&C was an important part of my life. And then in the Old Guard (with SFC Boots Attaway), D&C was even more important. I think it has its place in soldiering.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Oct 28 at 2014 8:05 PM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 20:05:57 -0400

Sigh. It's "Driver, Move out!"

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2014 10:22 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 22:22:47 -0400

I go to military school where we eat, sleep and breath D&C. We were always taught to call it on the right.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2014 6:04 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 06:04:08 -0400

Sadly NCO's that know their job should not have to debate this.

Response by SSG Tim Everett made Oct 29 at 2014 9:55 AM

SSG Tim Everett — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 09:55:00 -0400

There isn't but one correct answer. I've been out ten years, let's see if I'm right: call on the right leg.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2014 10:30 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 10:30:05 -0400

I just recently graduated WLC and they taught that you call "Rear" on the right foot then "March" on the next right foot this is where you pivot to the right while your left foot is forward and right foot trailing before the pivot