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Posted on May 22, 2019
SGT Supply Sergeant (S4)
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I recently witnessed a bad version of an advancement ceremony for a PFC and am looking to give a class to some Sr NCO's on how the ceremony works, i.e. fall in, about face, CMDR come to front, soldier post, etc, etc.... I cannot find the exact procedure in the drill and ceremony TM. is there anything that lists out the exact steps for events like this and awards? ....btw I am in the National Guard so the units do not do these very often... any help is appreciated. thanks?
Edited 7 y ago
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SGT Robert R.
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Isn't that covered in FM 22-5 Drill and Ceremony? Sorry it's been a day or 10,000.
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SGT Robert R.
SGT Robert R.
7 y
SGT (Join to see) well sorry I wasn't much help. My VFW manual on rituals, while great, may not be what you are looking for.

Interestingly enough my company would do promotions as we did them in the military, as our CEO at the time is a veteran.
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SGT Robert R.
SGT Robert R.
7 y
SGT (Join to see) I have a buddy who is a squared away 1SG in the National Guard. Let me text him.
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SGT Supply Sergeant (S4)
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no worries I am guessing this is only covered in a school of some sort. let me know if he has any thoughts. appreciate you doing that.
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SGT Robert R.
SGT Robert R.
7 y
SGT (Join to see) he says TC 3-21.5 is Army D&C
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1SG Vet Technician
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You can't. There are general guidelines in the TC and FH, and basic movements that all should know, like breaking ranks, facing movements, reporting to the CO, etc. But the overall structure of ceremonies vary as much as the experience of the command team.

Some, such as Change of command and change of responsibility are more structured, in fact there is even a module in SSD 4 on it.

If your concerns center around basics, such as movement, facing, etc. I suggest you talk to your CSM or 1SG about volunteering to conduct a review as part of NCOPD. I know first hand how rusty we part timers are
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SGT Supply Sergeant (S4)
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thanks SFC Squires I may just have to do that...
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
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While I applaud and support your goal, be wise about your approach. There is in fact a way to approach this tactfully. Thank you for your service.
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SGT Supply Sergeant (S4)
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thank you CSM I am always careful in how I approach things. Being older with a break in service I get a little leeway in thing I want to do.
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Where can I find the exact steps for ceremonial events like advancement and awards?
SFC Michael D.
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Edited >1 y ago
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GySgt Kenneth Pepper
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2 questions;
1. Do Army (Active, Guard or Reserve) NCOs go through any sort of training on Drill & Ceremonies?
2. Are there any active duty soldiers assigned as cadre in your command to handle these sort of things? Any former active soldiers?
As of 10 years ago all Marine NCOs went through formal training that was heavy on Drill & Ceremonies. That training progressed at each rank where a CPL was expected to know squad drill, SGTs had to know platoon drill and up and up.
I know there are some who say it doesn't affect our warfighting ability but I disagree. Immediate response to orders, discipline, teamwork, the list goes on & on.
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SFC Michael D.
SFC Michael D.
>1 y
Yes. It's all covered under FM 22-5 Drill and Ceremonies.
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SFC Michael D.
SFC Michael D.
>1 y
When the Army goes through their different Leadership courses the Drill and Ceremonies are reiterated. Proper formations, marching, proper commands, the whole ball of wax. No one wants to look chewed up standing infront of a formation.
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SFC Cynthia Eyer
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As a kind of tactful way to train everyone, not just Sr ranking, try a game like Jeopardy, to quiz and teach about this. I found a quiz site at https://quizlet.com/24108210/army-study-guide-drill-ceremony-tc-3-215-or-fm-3-215-flash-cards/. I was a training NCOIC for almost my entire career as a unit additional position assignment. I would do this and lots was learned in a fun way. I would put out that the game would be played in one week and assign the teams with the training guides given to each group. When competition is the lead, all get up and roll in to win! It’s fun, they learn, and none gets ticked off because they were “called out”. Hoorah!
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SGT Supply Sergeant (S4)
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thank you, I may try this but there are only about 15 people in the unit and the majority are Officers and Sr NCO's
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SFC Cynthia Eyer
SFC Cynthia Eyer
7 y
SGT (Join to see) If majority of 15 personnel are senior ranking, then approach your 1SG/most senior NCO and let her/him know what you observed and what you found in the regs/FM that governs ceremonies. Make sure you have all of your facts right and can show them in black and white. Print it out and have two copies, one for you and one for who you are speaking to. Be concerned about their image, not about you being right. When a person of lesser rank brings something to the attention to higher ranking/command, it’s best to always present it as a betterment to show the greatness of the leadership within your correction.
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SFC Cynthia Eyer
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The two regs/FMs that govern this is TC 3-21.5 or FM 3-21.5
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SGT Supply Sergeant (S4)
SGT (Join to see)
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I looked at both and neither break it down far enough. it seems like this is just information that is taught and is not written down in specifics which is strange because I thought the military wrote everything down...lol
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SFC Cynthia Eyer
SFC Cynthia Eyer
7 y
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SFC Cynthia Eyer
SFC Cynthia Eyer
7 y
SGT (Join to see) As well, SGT Whaley, if I, whom has retired, can find these things I am sending you, you can do the same thing. You have been supplied, by several officers and senior NCO’s all that you need. If you can’t seem to find the answers you seek, this is a prime example of why those you seek to correct don’t have what they need. Be the leader and offer this with humility so they don’t have to spend time looking it up.
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SGT Supply Sergeant (S4)
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Thank you I will remember that when I give the class....it was funny when it happened everyone knew what was wrong and agreed we needed a little D & C.
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There are very few exacts in Drill and ceremony. It’s more of an art than a science. Basically pick up tc 3-21.5, look for the type of element to drill (individual, squad, company, etc...) and put together your best interpretation of how to execute.

But one can not execute higher echelon movements without understanding individual drill first. So- start from there and good luck!
SGT Supply Sergeant (S4)
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7 y
thank you I will look into it this way and see what I can come up with..
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SFC(P) Drill Sergeant
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Mind blown that soldiers don't know the basics of fall in, about face, and that... lord have mercy on our soul.
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SGT Supply Sergeant (S4)
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SSG this was more the case of an NCO filling in who had never done an advancement and a new soldier who had not been given an advancement and no one went over it prior with either soldier.
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SFC(P) Drill Sergeant
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TC 3-21.5 or FM 3-21.5...
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SGT Supply Sergeant (S4)
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looked at both and not enough detail
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