DRILL DOWN COMMANDS
Sample DrilldownSTATIONARY
When executing stationary commands, heels must close together, focus remain straight ahead, arms must be straight down at the sides with fingers and thumbs closed.
AT EASE is the command to relax. Both feet may move.
DOUBLE ARM DRESS is the command used to line up the group to start the drill down. when the caller calls "Double arm dress," the hands come to the shoulders with elbows straight out from the shoulders,
1=hands at shoulders.
2=arms extended.
DRESS RIGHT DRESS OR DRESS LEFT DRESS is another command used to line up the group to start the drill down. This command is usually used if space is limited and the caller needs participants to be closer together than Double Arm Dress. when the caller calls "Dress Right Dress," the right hand comes to the left shoulder with right elbow at shoulder height, the left hand comes up to the left shoulder with the left elbow at the side. Then the right hand extends to the right straight out from the shoulder and the left hand returns to the side. Participants move to the right until fingertips are touching the shoulder of the person next to them. "Dress Left Dress" is executed exactly reverse of the right. Dresses will only be used when setting up the group, they will not be used as a form of elimination.
1=hands at shoulder.
2=proper arm extended and other arm down at side.
PARADE REST is the command to step out with the left foot, hands placed behind back with right hand on top. Thumbs are acceptable. Can be executed on the oblique.
1=step out.
ATTENTION is the command to close the left foot to the right from "Parade Rest". There must be acknowledgement with both the head and arms.
1=close left foot to right, or acknowledgment with head and arms.
HAND SALUTE is the command to raise the right hand in a salute position over the right eyebrow . Left arm may remain down or raise to the waist.
1=hand to eyebrow
2=down.
ALL FACES RIGHT, LEFT, HALF must be executed with a heel toe pivot. "Right Face" is the command to turn to the right 90 degrees. Pivot on the right heel and left toe 90 degrees. "Left Face" is the command to turn to the left 90 degrees. Pivot on the left heel and right toe 90 degrees. "Half Right Face" and "Half Left Face" are executed the same only turning 45 degrees. If the caller has the participants remain there for a time, the toe may be lowered to the ground. Half faces will be called "Half right face," not "Right half face."
1=first position,
2=close.
ABOUT FACE must be executed with a heel toe pivot. Dig the right foot behind the left and pivot on the left heel 180 degrees.
1=dig,
2=close.
BY THE NUMBERS is the command to execute stationary commands only after the caller counts 1, 2; or 1, depending if the command is a two count command or a one count command. When executing stationary commands when not by the numbers, the tempo is set by the caller' s rhythm between words. When calling "Half________ face", the tempo is set between the second and third words.
MARCHING
When marching, arms can move in any style. Feet must lift off the ground and focus remain straight ahead.
MARK TIME is the command to march in place. The caller will call "Mark time march" (which sets the tempo and begins the sequence). Always start marching on the left foot. Arms may move to your own style of marching, but when "halt" is called, arms must return to the sides. The execution command for marching is "March." calling "Mark Time March" while on an oblique is discussed below.
HALT is the command to stop marching. The caller will call "Squad halt," or "halt". When halting on an axis, "Halt" is called on the left foot; take one more step with the right foot and close with the left foot. This is a two count halt. Continue marching until the caller calls mark time, halt. Instructions on halt commands for oblique follows below.
FORWARD MARCH commands the squad to move forward on an axis. When the caller gives the command "Forward March" from the attention position on an axis, immediately begin marching forward with the left foot. When the command is called from a mark time on an axis, "march" is called on the left foot; step right foot in place, then begin marching forward with the next left step. Forward March from an oblique is discussed below .
RIGHT FLANK MARCH is the command to turn 90 degrees to the right. When the caller calls "right Flank March", "march" is called on the right foot; step out with the next left, then turn right and continue marching.
LEFT FLANK MARCH is the command to turn 90 degrees to the left. When the caller calls "Left Flank March," "march" is called on the left foot; step out with the next right, then turn to the left and continue marching.
RIGHT OBLIQUE MARCH is the command to turn 45 degrees to the right. executed the same as a "Right flank" only turning 45 degrees. To maintain integrity, the left foot must step out on the oblique.
LEFT OBLIQUE MARCH is the command to turn 45 degrees to the left. Executed the same as a "Left flank" only turning 45 degrees. To maintain integrity, the right foot must step out on the oblique.
TO THE REAR MARCH is the command to turn 180 degrees to the right, in effect facing the rear. Executed the same as a "right Flank" only turning 180 degrees instead of 90 degrees. "March" is always called on the right foot.
CHAIN COMMANDS: The caller will call any number of marching commands in a row. When going from a right flank to the rear or vice versa, just continue the step. when going from a left flank to the right or to the rear, you must take a step between the left flank and the right to stay on the correct foot.
DOUBLE COMMANDS: When the caller calls "Double" before any marching command, execute two of the commands called. "double to the _____ counts as one command.
example:
double to the right Flank, to the Left flank = two right flanks and one left flank. Double to the Right Flank, Double to the Left flank = two right flanks and two left flanks.
DOUBLE CHAIN COMMANDS: Double commands may be intermixed with single commands in a chain command.
IN PLACE HALT is the command to halt on an oblique. It is a two count halt with "halt" called on the left foot.
MARK TIME MARCH (FROM AN OBLIQUE) is the command to return the squad to the proper axis while performing a "mark time march." If the last axis point marched on is to the right, "March" will be called on the right foot; step out with the left foot and turn right and continue marching in place. If the last axis point marched on is to the left, "March" will be called on the left foot; step out with the right foot and turn left and continue marching in place.
IN PLACE MARK is the command to mark time while still facing the oblique. This is a two count command with "Mark" called on the left foot. This command is called after there has been forward directional movement on the oblique and the caller wishes to have the squad mark time march while still facing the oblique.
SQUAD HALT (FROM AN OBLIQUE) is the command to return the squad to an axis. A three count halt is used to return to the proper axis. If the last axis point marched on is to the right, "halt" will be called on the right foot; step out with the left foot and turn right; close with the left foot. If the last axis point marched on is to the left, "Halt" will be called on the left foot; step out with the right foot and turn left; close with the right foot. If "Squad halt" is called while on an axis, execute two count halt.
FORWARD MARCH (WHEN CALLED ON THE OBLIQUE ) When "Forward March is called from an oblique, the squad must return to the proper axis to begin marching forward. Once the squad is moving forward, oblique may be called resulting in the squad to move forward on the oblique. When "Forward March" is called while halted or marking time on an oblique and the axis point is to the right, step out with the left foot toward the oblique, turn to the axis point, and continue marching. When "Forward March" is called while halted or marking time on the oblique and the axis point is to the left, step with the left foot in place, step forward on the oblique with the right foot, and step toward the axis with the left foot and continue marching. Continue marching forward until the caller calls mark time, halt or in place halt.
RESUME MARCH is the command to resume the most recent march command. When "Resume March" is called after the squad has been marking time, the squad will resume a mark time march. When "Resume March" is called after the squad has been marching forward, the squad will resume a forward march. "Resume March," when called, will be called from an oblique.
examples
Starting from an axis point, "mark time march, right oblique march, in place halt, resume march" = continuing a mark time on the right oblique.
Starting from an axis point, "forward march, right oblique march, in place halt, resume march" = continuing to march forward on the right oblique.
HANGING COMMANDS: If the caller calls "by the numbers, right face, left face, right face," executes the first right face and left, then calls a march command, begin marching; once marching stops, the remaining right face is the hanging command and must be executed before any other stationary command.
CANCELING COMMANDS IN A CHAIN: The only commands that can be canceled are commands given in a string that has not yet begun execution. This will prevent having to re-number commands. Hanging commands cannot be canceled once a new chain command is given.
examples:
"right Flank, Left flank, right Flank, cancel the second command, march" =right flank, right flank.
"By the numbers, right face, left face, about face, cancel the third command" = right face, left face.
"By the numbers, right face, left face, right face." execute the first two commands. Call "Mark time march" and "halt." Call "about face, left face, cancel the second command." The canceled command will be the left face because it is in the string that has not yet begun execution. When the caller starts executing commands, the order will be right face (the hanging command), about face.
HELPFUL HINTS
STATIONARY COMMANDS
Any anticipation, delays, or flinches are incorrect. This includes not executing commands in rhythm with the caller's rhythm.
Heels must be together when not executing a command. This includes when a halt is called after marching.
When executing faces, heel toe pivot must be used.
When Attention is called, there must be acknowledgement with both the arms and head.
Focus of the eyes and head must remain straight ahead, not down.
Breaking rank, such as looking round with the eyes or head to see if they are correct is considered an error.
When at Parade Rest: right hand must be on top. Thumbs either up or down are acceptable.
Fingers and thumbs must remain together and not become separated. Any movement of the arms, hands, or fingers is cause for dismissal.
Unusual placement of the hands such as cupped, thumbs tucked under, or hands angled back against the leg instead of down the center seam is incorrect and cause for dismissal.
MARCHING COMMANDS
Feet must lift off the ground when marching.
participants must step out on the axis or oblique as appropriate.
Rushing, hesitating, non-specific punctuation of foot placement on turns will result in error.
Executing a mark time march from an oblique with a two count start is considered an error.
Focus must remain straight ahead and not down.