What have you seen or experienced that makes you think soldiers could benefit from refresher drill and ceremony classes?

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 14:27:14 -0400

Leaders, I am conducting some classes this weekend on Drill and Ceremony. I already have classes planned, but I was wondering if there were some things you have seen/experienced that you think/feel that Soldiers could benefit from refreshers. All input is welcome.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Apr 3 at 2019 2:36 PM

SSG Brian G. — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 14:36:58 -0400

Saluting, the when, where, and how. Members finish AIT and then just somehow 'forget' how to property salute but also the specifics of it. I saw one do a left hand salute to an officer the other day and just shook my head.

Response by LTC Eugene Chu made Apr 3 at 2019 2:49 PM

LTC Eugene Chu — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 14:49:40 -0400

Have participants also practice giving commands. While many know how to march as a member of a formation, some lack knowledge or confidence when in the leadership position of D&C

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2019 2:52 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 14:52:46 -0400

I'd start with the formation. Getting them into formation, then basics, position of attention, parade rest, etc. Move into facing movements and then into marching. You can spend as much or as little time as necessary in the basics depending on how you feel the soldiers are doing. IMO, the advantage of starting with the basics is to refresh their memory and get them thinking about what is about to happen.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2019 3:05 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 15:05:28 -0400

Don't really have anything to add, other than squad and platoon formation drill. Personal experience in Army JROTC was that when we were in regular clothes, we were pretty good. In Class B's though, there was a bit of extra pride. Not saying to do that, but there was something different.
I think it's a good idea, there's something martial in marching that we've lost. Blessings!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2019 3:22 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 15:22:09 -0400

think about how many times your soldiers have ever actually had to march a formation. Just like the Prep drills for PT, everyone thinks they are a master until they have to do it themselves. You could literally spend a whole day going through and taking turns with your soldiers marching the formation: column Left and right, left and right flank, rear march, etc. Most soldiers know you call rights and rear on your right foot, but trying to switch the rhythm mentally is usually a huge struggle for them. This will help your soldiers for BLC and will also prep them to be better in general at DNC.

As stated by others, proper break of ranks and receiving pan award or promotion is also needed in todays Army. I would also add how to properly inspect a rank and have the soldiers do it. I have each soldier go through it personally for prep of BLC. Your soldier may be just a private not even close to going to BLC, but these are things every soldier should know how to do that most soldiers do not. After a full day class and hands on, I have my soldiers take turns during our daily in ranks inspection and then marching during section pt so they have to continuously be on it and it becomes second nature. same thing with PT drills. Everything is a perishable skill, its better to have them prepped for success early on than having them brain dump it all and having to reteach them.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Apr 3 at 2019 3:33 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 15:33:30 -0400

D&C should be imbedded with daily activity from squad to Platoon. This is the responsibility of the unit Commander and 1SG. It should not have to be a special project. Thank you for your efforts and service.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Apr 3 at 2019 4:09 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 16:09:59 -0400

After the basics, some practical things like filing from the right. Counter column...simply because Sergeants Major like to spring that on young NCOs or you are formed up in a small courtyard outside an auditorium or similar and you need to get to turned around.

Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made Apr 3 at 2019 4:27 PM

MSG Frank Kapaun — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 16:27:00 -0400

Being in Special Forces, our definition of drill & ceremonies was four or more SF soldiers in the same hemisphere, going the same direction at approximately the same time. And only two having their hands in their pockets.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Apr 3 at 2019 4:59 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 16:59:10 -0400

Go to any Change of Command rehearsal. Soldiers have to be re-taught just about everything other than "Forward, March."

For an empirical demonstration, form them up, and without any instruction or preparation, give them a counter-column, and watch the chaos. To magnify the effect, but four privates in the squad leader positions.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2019 6:28 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 18:28:34 -0400

when you see the accordion movement when soldiers march, it's time to go back to the basics.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Apr 3 at 2019 6:38 PM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 18:38:30 -0400

Just select a random Soldier and ask him/her to conduct PT one morning. His/her world will come to an end!!!!!!

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Apr 3 at 2019 7:36 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 19:36:16 -0400

MSG Private RallyPoint Member On reflection, please include a small discussion of Soldier’s hands and arms not flailing about during Facing Movements! (Locked hands to your side), Left/Right Face!

Response by SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA made Apr 3 at 2019 8:38 PM

SPC Elijah J. Henry, MBA — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 20:38:56 -0400

If there will be Officers in these classes, instruct them on proper saluting form, and remind them to return salutes at the gate.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 3 at 2019 9:24 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 21:24:28 -0400

All of it! Coming from the ground up. I went to BLC last year after transferring from the Marines and holy crap was it brutal watching D&C and the lack of pride in uniform wear. The amount of anyurisms I had was astronomical.

So yeah, I’d start from the bottom up with emphasis on discipline and pride

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Apr 3 at 2019 9:59 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Wed, 03 Apr 2019 21:59:12 -0400

In 1967, SSG Jim Reese marched ‘his’ mortar plt back down a canyon to ‘my’ Co Area at Camp Pendleton. I asked why he had marched the troops rather than allow them to straggle as had been the fashion?

I was shocked, my teachings about being in control and in-charge were bearing fruit. MSG Private RallyPoint Member

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 4 at 2019 1:06 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 01:06:49 -0400

In my experience, the higher up in echelon I go, the more that adherence to D&C norms and expectations goes away. I am at a Brigade HHC now. We seem to only hold a formation for awards/promotions. Otherwise we have informal gaggles or huddles. Often the norm is a NCO leadership huddle in the first morning of battle assembly with the expectation that the info put out will be disseminated to our sections in the manner of our own choosing. When we do have formations, even things a simple as proper intervals between platoon/sections seem to be a struggle. Other things I note are movement related to breaking rank and posting, and exchange of senior section NCOs with their officers when the command "POST" is given (like does the Section Leader approach from the left while the NCO faces and moves rearward to the right, or visa/versa? I see both ways done...I am 99% sure the officer come around the left and NCO leaves to the right)

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Apr 4 at 2019 11:57 AM

CSM Richard StCyr — Thu, 04 Apr 2019 11:57:58 -0400

Procedures for formations and reporting. We watched an absolute gaggle the other day from the office window. Talk about some stripes reenactment looking trash.