Importance of Drill & Ceremony
Drill and ceremony are used to direct large groups of people from one point to another. Organizations such as the military and high school marching bands use drill and ceremony to accomplish their various missions. Drill and ceremony teach teamwork, discipline and the importance of following orders. Drill and ceremony are also used to mark certain events and even to entertain crowds.
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Purpose of Drill and Ceremony
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The primary purpose of drill is to allow a leader to move a large group of people with accuracy and precision from one point to another. It also instills discipline and forces attention to detail to learn the commands and the action to be carried out under each different command. In the case of the military, when quick adherence to orders can be the difference between life and death, drill helps to instill that quick adherence to orders in soldiers.
Uses for Drill and Ceremony
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The uses for drill and ceremony range from the practical application of moving a unit across a battlefield, to entertaining groups of people. One of the more famous drill teams is the United States Marine Corps Precision Drill Team. This team travels the world giving drill and ceremony demonstrations to audiences at many different events. High school marching bands also use drill and ceremony to entertain football fans across the United States.
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Value of Ceremonies
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Drill is often used as part of a larger ceremony. Ceremonies range from honoring someone for heroic actions to burial of a military member who has died. The type of drill performed depends on the type of ceremony. In the case of change of command, the former commander's soldiers march past him in review. In the case of a military burial, two types of drill teams are used. The first carries the casket to the grave, folds the flag and presents the flag to the fallen soldier's family. Second is a drill team of seven soldiers each armed with a rifle. At a certain command during the ceremony, each soldier fires three rifle shots, providing the fallen soldier with the 21 gun salute.
Types of Marching Steps
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There are three basic types of marching steps used in drill: Full Step, Half Step and Double Time. The full step is a 30-inch step and is used to move a unit of long distances. The half step is a 15-inch step and is used to slow the unit and allow it to recover and realign after turns. Double time is a 30-inch step and is used to make a unit run as one and in formation. Double time differs from the full step in that each member of the unit is running instead of walking.
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