How to Sand Your Stock
May 14, 2013 in Drill Teams, Honor Guard, Instructional
How to Sand Your Stock
May 14, 2013 in Drill Teams, Honor Guard, Instructional
How to Sand Your Stock
May 7, 2013 in Commentary, Drill Team Training, Drill Teams, DrillMaster Products
The DrillMaster Education and Training System: Drill Team Training- Exhibition Drill for the Military Drill Team, Vol II
The follow-up to Exhibition Drill for the Military Drill Team. Where the first book left off, Volume II gives you in-depth and broader information. Continue your education with the second book in the only series for drill team training.
A reader’s review: Exhibition Drill For The Military Drill Team, Vol II, is an excellent resource for those who have very little to no drill experience and yet still contains information for those experienced in drill. Volume II is written in an easy to understand style and is directed towards instructors and cadets. It contains all you ever wanted to know about drill and maybe more. One could actually build a team from scratch using Volumes I and II and be extremely competitive
The Table of Contents
CHAPTER 1: DRILL TEAM/DRILLER INFORMATION.. 9
The Professional Driller 9
Exhibition Drill: Building from the Foundation. 9
Things to consider for a performance: 10
Reporting-in or -out: 11
Speaking When Spoken To. 12
Uniform and Equipment How-To’s, Care and Maintenance. 13
But, how do I really make a routine?. 15
Performing to Music. 21
The Commander: Rifle or Sword/Saber?. 22
Offering Feedback. 22
Terminology: 23
Which Service Has The Best Drill Team? The Final Answer! 25
Exhibition Drill in the Movies. 26
CHAPTER 2: TEACHING DRILL. 27
How to Teach Drillers. 27
Teaching Methods. 27
Go From the Known to the Unknown: 27
Dangerous Moves. 28
Time. 28
The Armed Driller’s Secret to Learning Faster 28
Progression in Rifle Weight?. 28
New Routine or Same Old-Same Old?. 29
CHAPTER 3: RIFLES. 30
Nomenclature. 30
Making a “Spraisy” & Where to Buy. 35
Replacement Stocks/Parts. 35
Sanding Your Rifle. 36
Painting Your Rifle. 37
Why Use a Sling?. 38
Taping a Rifle. 38
Rifle Sound. 39
How to Count Revolutions/Rotations. 39
Bayonets. 39
Spinning with a Bayonet 40
I Dropped! Now What?. 41
“Flow”: Free and Bound Movement 41
Beginning Exhibition Rifle Moves. 42
CHAPTER 4: XDNotation© EXHIBITION DRILL NOTATION AND TAXONOMY. 56
XDNotation: 57
Category: Prefix Symbols. 57
Category: Armed Regulation. 59
Category: Unarmed Regulation. 60
Category: Unarmed Exhibition Moves, Above the Waist 61
Category: Armed/Unarmed Exhibition Moves. 62
Category: Armed Spin Stops, Single-Hand. 64
Category: Armed Spin Stops, Two-Hands. 64
Category: Armed Exchanges. 65
Category: Armed Rolls. 66
Category: Armed Spins. 67
Category: Armed Aerials. 69
Category: Armed Specialty. 69
CHAPTER 5: MOVEMENT AND THE DRILLER. 73
Writing Movement for your Drill Team.. 73
Design Information: 73
Using the Routine Mapping Tool 74
Ripple Lines. 74
Muscle Action Types. 74
Joint Motion Directions. 74
Movement Planes. 75
Effort Changes: 75
Principles of Movement 75
The Effects of Movement 77
Driller Responsibilities. 79
Axes and Planes: X, Y and Z. 80
Marching Better 84
Articulation. 89
Exercise for the Driller 89
Posture. 91
CHAPTER 6: THE COLOR TEAM.. 92
Color Team Commands. 92
Mounting a Flag on a Flagstaff 93
Standard Colors Post 95
“Diamond” Colors Presentation. 95
The Process of Posting the Colors. 96
The Position of Honor 100
What NOT to do. 100
CHAPTER 7: CHECKLISTS. 102
Suggestions for you and your team: 102
Tips. 103
CHAPTER 8: MILITARY DRILL CLASS COURSE OUTLINES. 104
Middle School Military Drill Class Course Description. 105
High School Military Drill Class Course Description. 107
CHAPTER 9: MILITARY DRILL CLASS LESSON PLANS. 110
Lesson Plan Overview: Initial Training. 110
Lesson Plan Overview: Advanced Training and Judging Basics. 110
Lesson Plan Overview: Advanced Judging. 110
Lesson Plan I: Standing Manual 111
Lesson Plan II: Manual of Arms. 114
Lesson Plan III: Manual of the Flagstaff 117
Lesson Plan IV: Manual of the Sword/Saber 119
Lesson Plan V: Manual of the Guidon. 121
Lesson Plan VI: Cordon Procedures. 123
Lesson Plan VII: Routine Creation and Movement Principles. 125
Lesson Plan VIII: WDA Judging System Overview.. 127
Lesson Plan IX: Overall Effect 129
Lesson Plan X: Composition Analysis. 131
Lesson Plan XI: Individual Analysis: Equipment and Movement 133
Lesson Plan XII: Regulation Drill 135
Lesson Plan XIII: Competition Logistics, Timing and Penalties and Tabulation. 137
Lesson Plan XIV: So, You Want to Be a Judge. 140
Lesson Plan XV: The Process of Assigning Scores. 142
Lesson Plan XVI: Accountability. 144
Lesson Plan XVII: The Principle and Process of Achievement 146
drill meet, drill competition, drill team, drill team training, regulation drill, exhibition drill, color guard, color team, fancy drill, precision drill
February 19, 2013 in Drill Teams, Honor Guard, Instructional
Many ready-to-use slings that you will purchase are quite long and cannot be completely secured without using tape and the tape then makes that part of the sling sticky and other issues can arise from using tape on the sling. Here is an easy way to shorten a sling ensuring safe spinning without the sling flapping around.
The standard nylon sling that comes with the Daisy Drill Rifle. The sling clasp is laying next to it:
The same sling now with about 6 or 7 inches cut off the end. Now you can see the other piece of hardware, the sling retaining piece (that the sling is threaded through and then sewn down), from the cut off end. You can melt the end of nylon slings so that they will not fray. Don’t catch it on fire, just hold the flame near the end so that it slowly melts.

When cutting multiple slings, use the same sling as a measuring guide to cut the others or you will have small differences in sling lengths.

This picture is of the sling quick-change device that is always attached on the rifle’s bottom sling swivel. You can leave this hooked on the rifle, or remove it, your choice. Leaving it on gives you the ability to create sound.

Putting the sling back on the rifle. At the cut end, loop it through the sling retaining piece and through the lower sling swivel or the sling quick-change device.

Now, feed the cut end of the sling back through the sling retaining piece so that it protrudes about a half inch. Now, pull the slack of the sling through while holding onto the half inch of sling sticking out of the sling retaining piece. A standard for honor guards is to have the sling retaining piece centered on the small groove on the top of the rifle butt.
Put the sling clasp back on the sling, pinch the sling at the sides to insert the sides of the sling underneath the pins of the sling clasp. You can put the clasp on the sling so that the solid piece faces the rifle or faces away from it (also see next picture). Thanks to Melbourne (FL) High School AFJROTC Cadet Vaughn for the use of his hands in this picture.

Feed the sling through the upper sling swivel so that it goes toward the rifle or away from it (this depends on the way you attached the clasp). If you need to perform Sling Arms (for JROTC colors competitions only), you will want to thread the clasp and sling like the picture below. You will want the sling to extend about 4 inches from the clasp.

For all other applications, a sling and clasp setup like this will work very well. Pull the sling tight and place the clasp as close to the end of the sling (with the metal tab) as possible.

November 30, 2012 in Ask DrillMaster, Commentary, Drill Teams, Honor Guard, Instructional
“We are the makers of rifles, and we are the dreamers of dreams”
The M1917 “American Enfield” (9lbs. used from 1917 to mid 1960s, eventually replaced by the M1903)
Winchester, Remington and Eddystone (Baldwin Locomotive Works in Eddystone, Pennsylvania).
The British made the Lee Enfield Rifles which date from the late 1800s to the present day. Numerous version were created, rifles numbered 1, 2, 3 & 4, and different alterations were made to each version resulting in Mark I, II, III, and IV. Photo: Enfield Mark I from 1903, courtesy wikimedia.com
The M1903 (used from 1903 to 1937, eventually replaced by the M1 Garand)
Many call this the Spingfield M1903, but this is not correct all the time as Smith-Corona, Rock Island Arsenal and Remington Arms made this rifle as well.
The M1 Garand (used from 1936 to 1966, eventually replaced by the M14)
Springfield Armory is probably best known as the maker of this rifle but, Winchester, International Harvester, Harrington & Richardson and Baretta also made Garands.
The M14 (10lbs, used from 1959 to 1970, eventually replaced by the M16)
Springfield Armory, Winchester, Harrington & Richardson and Thompson-Ramo-Wooldridge, Inc. (TRW)
What does all of this information mean to you, the Driller? If you want a demil’d rifle, don’t just look for what seems to be the most popular name. There are many more out there.
FYI, the quote is a rewording of something Willy Wonka said in the original movie.
October 30, 2012 in DrillCenter News, Instructional
This is simply an excellent job. THe only thing I could suggest would be close up views at certain points in the video. Having said that, this is a must see video for all Daisy Drill Rifle owners!
Assembling
Disassembling
October 21, 2012 in Uncategorized
Spraisy. The merger of a Daisy Drill Rifle replica and an M1903
Springdale. The merger of a Glendale DrillAmerica M1903 replica and an M1903.
Both Daisy and Glendale make a great Springfield M1903 replica rifle. You can use the metal parts or stock from either rifle. A complete switcheroo and it will all fit together. I guess one could even build a Glaisyfield: Glendale’s M1903 merged with the Daisy Drill Rifle and a Springfield rifle. All you need is two rifles and the major parts fit each rifle. Here is the nomenclature for a Springfield M1903 for reference:

July 30, 2012 in Ask DrillMaster, Commentary, Drill Teams, DrillCenter News, Instructional
Drill Life: rifles break or lose a screw. Where does a Driller go to find parts for his/her rifle? Need a butt plate for your M1? An upper band with a bayonet lug for your Daisy Drill Rifle? Look no further!
If you have a demilitarized M1 Garand, M1903, DrillAmerica 1903 or a Daisy Drill Rifle, Numrich Gun Parts Corporation, Old Western Scrounger SARCO, Inc., Liberty Tree Collectors and Battlefield Relics (BFR) are your best choices for parts.
July 13, 2012 in Ask DrillMaster, Commentary, Drill Teams, Instructional
Seriously, the best rifle to start drilling with at home would be the one that is the least expensive and would help you learn how to drill.You could then progress from there.
What rifle is best to start out?
The DrillMaster iDrill M1 or M1903 Rifle. Why? Because it costs less than $10 to make.
But it’s only about 2lbs.
If you like drilling and prefer the rifle your school uses, then save your money and buy a CTA DrilMaster M14 (similar to this), Daisy M1903 Drill Rifle, or Glendale DrillAmerica M1 or M1903. In the end, you experimented with a rifle that cost you your time to make it and a few bucks.
There are some great choices out there and you can start small and work up to a fully-weighted replica or even a demil’d (demilitarized) rifle.
See these links for more info: Psst, Hey Buddy, Armed Driller Alternatives
July 5, 2012 in Announcements, Commentary, Drill Teams, DrillCenter News, Honor Guard
August 1st can’t get here soon enough!
For those of you not in-the-know, Glendale Industries, paradestore.com, will release it’s sister DrillAmerica Rifle to the original M1 Garand Replica. Yes, ladies and germs, the military drill world welcomes the new DrillAmerica M1903 replica! [cue applause]
It comes in two flavors: black or chrome metal.
DrillMaster will be testing it shortly to provide a review, but in the meantime, feast thine eyes:

Hold the phone- it comes with a bayonet lug! [a perfect place to have your DrillMaster Bayonet securely seated]
Image courtesy of Glendale Ind.
by DrillMaster
The DrillMaster Education and Training System: Filling in the Gaps
May 10, 2013 in Commentary, Drill Team Training, Drill Teams, DrillMaster Products
The DrillMaster: Filling in the Gaps Cover
The DrillMaster Education and Training System: Drill Team Training- The DrillMaster: Filling in the Gaps
Knowledge is key: educate yourself!
Drill Team Training: Filling in the gaps for the Exhibition Drill books and the Honor Guard Manual. After publishing these books, questions arose that I answered and ideas came to me, all of which I wrote in articles on my website, thedrillmaster.org. This is a collection of all of those educational articles from 2012. Collected and published to help independent Drillers, drill teams and honor guard units who are seeking to constantly improve and increase their knowledge.
This book accompanies Exhibition Drill for the Military Drill Team, Exhibition Drill for the Military Drill Team, Vol II and The Honor Guard Manual.
The Table of Contents
Chapter 1 JUDGING.. 13
The Process of Certification. 14
Becoming a Certified DrillMaster 14
World Drill Association Judge Certification. 14
Regarding Competition. 16
Military Drill Judging. 17
Amazing, Wonderful, Fantastic! 21
Stand Still Laddy! 22
Appreciating Creative Ability. 23
It’s Natural to be Negative. 24
What is Derived Achievement?. 26
The Essence of Judging Military Drill 27
How Drops Affect Scoring. 29
What Happens if you Drop a Rifle During a Drill Team Performance?. 30
What is the “SuperSquad” Competition. 31
Chapter 2 DRILL TEAMS. 33
Thinking Outside the Box. 34
Becoming a Professional Driller 34
Yeah, But He Just Dances. 36
What is a Military Drill Team?. 37
What is “Military Flavor”. 39
Regarding a Driller’s Bearing. 39
Ripple Lines. 41
What is Vocabulary?. 42
How to Expand Your Vocabulary. 43
What is Articulation?. 44
What is Audience Engagement?. 45
Excellence as an Effect 46
Programing, Programing, Programing. 46
Breath Control 48
Why Do We Practice the Way We Do?. 48
Issues to Consider When Designing/Programing a Routine. 50
Does Drill Team Style Matter to Win?. 50
Does Drill Rifle Type Matter?. 51
Learning to Drop. 52
Know What to Say and When to Say it 53
How’s Your Recovery?. 54
Sample Questions for a Drill Competition. 55
Thinking Outside of the Box. 56
Stepping and the Military Drill Team.. 57
The Opening Statement 57
Exhibition Drill Moves. 59
How to Switch Sides During a Column Movement 60
Marching Commands Matrix. 60
Hut, TOOP, THREEP, FOURP. 62
The Let Flank and the Column Left 64
The Column Movement 65
The Army Description (TC 3-21.5) 66
Commander Procedures for Column Movements. 70
The Column Half Left (Right) 73
How to Mark Time Properly. 77
Regulation Drill: What I Would Like to See. 78
Chapter 3 HONOR GUARDS. 83
How to Train an Honor Guard. 84
Sweat the Small Stuff 84
Echo and Silver Taps. 86
The Six-Man Flag Fold. 87
POW/MIA Hat Table Ceremony. 88
Can the POW/MIA Flag be in a Color Guard?. 94
All About the POW/MIA Flag and More. 94
The Fallen First Responder Ceremony. 98
How to Adjust During a Performance. 102
The 3-Volley and 21-Gun Salutes. 103
How to Join a Service Honor Guard. 106
Dispelling Tomb Guard “Facts”. 108
“Stop me if you’ve Heard this one…”. 113
How to Fold a Fringed American Flag. 115
All About the Flag on the Casket 115
Honor Guard Competitions: What I’d Like to See. 117
Chapter 4 COLOR TEAM (GUARD) 119
All About the Flagstaff 120
Joint Service Order 121
The Makeup of a Color Team.. 123
When to use The Ceremonial Pike Pole and Fire Axe. 125
Who is in Charge of a Joint Service Color Team?. 126
Authorized Formations for a Color Team.. 127
Color Team Spacing. 129
Color Bearer Port Arms. 130
Every Left On. 131
To Fringe or not to Fringe, That is the question. 133
The Marines Got it Right! 136
American Indian Sovereign Nation Flag Order 137
Can the POW/MIA Flag be in a Color Team?. 138
What is Color Team Exhibition Drill?. 139
“Unarmed” Colors. 139
“Fancy” Right Shoulder?. 140
Can a color team use rifles with bayonets or even use swords or sabers?. 140
Chapter 5 THE AMERICAN FLAG.. 141
Dipping the American Flag. 142
The American Flag at Half-Staff 143
When National Tragedy Strikes. 147
What to do When the Flag Passes. 148
US and POW/MIA Flags at Half-Staff?. 148
Are state flags flown at half-staff on September 11th?. 149
Chapter 6 MOTIVATIONAL. 151
What I strive For 152
Hard Work, Discipline, Desire and….. 152
Discipline at Practice. 152
Chapter 7 TRAINING.. 155
Learning by Word of Mouth. 156
First Step- and Hot to Step Off 156
The Mechanics of the First Step. 157
How to Half Step Properly. 158
How to Train When Not Practicing. 161
Practice Makes Permanent-Feet 162
Practice Makes Permanent- Knees and Hips. 165
Practice Makes Permanent- Shoulders. 165
Balance. 168
Posture. 169
Muscle Memory. 172
Chapter 8 DRILLFIT. 175
DrillFit: The Wood Chopper Exercise Variation with Rifle. 176
DrillFit: Side Bend with Rifle Exercise. 178
Book Exclusive: Exercises with a Rifle. 180
Chapter 9 GENERAL INFORMATION.. 183
All About Being a Leader 184
New Leader Syndrome. 184
Do You Discourage or Encourage?. 185
Licensing Music For a Performance. 186
The DrillMaster at Nationals. 186
Shoes for the Driller 187
Taps. 189
Competing with the “Best of the Best of the Best”. 189
“May the Best Man Win”. 189
Good Sportsmanship. 190
The Shoulder Cord. 190
How to Write Drill 192
How to Shape a beret 194
The History of the Challenge Coin. 195
Open or Closed Method?. 195
The Four Temperament Types. 196
Taller Tap. 200
“As I Was!”. 201
Roman Drill and Where Some of Our Commands Come From.. 201
A Short History of American Military Drill 202
How to Prepare for a Competition. 203
How to Hold the Rifle While at Either Shoulder 205
Calling Commands. 206
Copy or Version?. 207
The DrillMaster Law Enforcement Education Program (LEEP) 208
Twitter hash Tags for the Military Drill World. 209
What do you Want to be When You Grow Up?. 210
Chapter 10 ASK THE DRILLMASTER. 211
Color Team.. 212
If the Colors are cased would you dip the flag during a salute?. 212
Colors and Spacing. 212
What Makes a Color Team Good?. 213
How Many Flags can a JROTC Color Team Carry?. 214
Can the Army color guard perform in the dark?. 214
Do military color guards use real bayonets?. 215
What side is the American flag and rifles when marching?. 215
What are the AFJROTC regulations for flying flag at half-staff?. 215
What is the size of the staff for an Army color guard?. 215
Does a guidon need a pike if it’s outside?. 215
When on a color team and at Parade Rest, do you lean the flagstaffs forward like a guidon?. 216
Does a service color guard swing their arms while marching?. 216
When is US flag dipped?. 216
Why are the rifles carried on the outside shoulder in a military color guard?. 216
Can a Color Team use pistols?. 216
What are the facing movements a color team (color guard) can make?. 216
When Should One Call Cadence?. 217
Drill Team.. 217
Team Training Difficulties. 217
Are there AFROTC exhibition drill regulations?. 218
What are the JROTC Standards for Earning a Color Guard Shoulder Cord?. 218
The Flank and the Slide. 218
What is the Straight-Leg Marching Technique?. 218
Where Can I Find a Complete List of Exhibition Drill Moves?. 219
Writing Drill 219
Who Makes the Rifles That Drill Teams Use?. 221
Ask the DrillMaster: Instructors for Military Exhibition Drill?. 223
What are the Restrictions on Buying JROTC parade/drill replica 19 03 Rifle?. 223
How can we make our JROTC drill team better?. 224
How do you Instill Esprit de Corps?. 224
Are Drill Team Bayonets Sharp?. 224
Who Manufactures the Mark 1 Parade Rifle?. 225
Can I use an M1 Rifle for Exhibition Drill?. 225
Is it Illegal to use a Bayonet on a Drill Rifle?. 225
Is the Guidon Bearer the Pivot Point?. 225
Are Springfield 1903 demilitarized rifles legal?. 225
What are pivots in marching band?. 225
From India: why is drill necessary in the armed forces?. 226
How do you make a drill team better?. 226
How can I learn the drills for JROTC faster?. 226
Is the Glendale M1903 rifle better than a Daisy Drill Rifle?. 226
How do you Train a CAP Drill Team?. 227
I need “how-tos” for rifle Exhibition Moves. 227
Where can I buy a Daisy Drill Rifle in [insert your town, city or state?] 227
How much trouble can you get in if you drop your gun in drill team?. 227
When stepping off, when do you use your right foot first?. 228
Our Drill Team commander says our rifles weigh 12 pounds. 228
What is the difference between Regulation Drill and Exhibition Drill?. 228
What can one do at Order Arms?. 228
I’m starting a drill team and am in need of some ideas. 229
Exhibition Drill Synch Question. 229
Honor Guard. 230
How do I start an honor guard?. 230
If the American flag is at half-mast where is the state flag?. 230
Why do military honor guard march toe-first?. 230
The number of members in an honor guard can range from?. 231
Is the POW/MIA table required at holiday parties?. 231
When is the POW/MIA table and/or script required in the Navy?. 231
What does the Bible represent on the fallen comrade table?. 231
Sprinkling on the Flag?. 231
The Flag as a Receptacle?. 232
Mounted Flag Questions. 232
What is the Difference Between the Marine Color Guard and Honor Guard?. 232
What are the qualifications for a JROTC honor guard?. 232
How do you sew honor guard aiguillette onto enlisted USAF service coat?. 233
What are the requirements for an Army 15 gun volley at funeral?. 233
What is the AF Honor Guard arm swing?. 233
Do all armed forces stand watch over caskets?. 233
Can Echo (Silver) Taps be played by one person?. 233
Can honor guard members still wear metal taps after service on the honor guard?. 233
How does one call cadence for honor guard?. 234
What are the responsibilities of an honor guard flight leader?. 234
Competition. 234
The WDA Adjudication System.. 234
Competing in Rounds. 234
What’s graded at a drill competition?. 235
What does one need to run a drill meet? 235
exhibition drill, armed drill, drill team, drill meet, drill competition, drill team training, bayonet, M1 Garand, M1903, M14, daisy drill rifle, Glendale DrillAmerica, fancy drill, freestyle drill
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