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April 2008 |
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Color Guard ConfusionDr. Drill |
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You can submit your questions to Dr. Drill via e-mail to : DrDrill@CadetStuff.org. Dr. Drill, I have a problem, I am the Commander of the [wing name deleted] Wing Color Guard and I was told that the position of Attention while in ranks as a color guard was shoulder to shoulder. We have won wing for 5 years and this is the first time that it has been brought to our attention. Which is the correct way: Shoulder to Shoulder or Close Interval when you are in a color guard? XX Wing Color Guard Commander Dr. Drill Responds Although there is better definition of the National Cadet Competition's Color Guard Competition now than there was in years past, this is still a somewhat iffy area. There are regs, and then, often, there are "the way things are done." At the National competition about 18 months ago, the judges were experts from the AF Honor Guard. They really knew what they were doing! It was Dr. Drill's impression, however, that the judges used criteria of their own rather than the criteria established by Civil Air Patrol in the references described below. Dr. Drill suggests following the dictates of the manuals and "rules of engagement" provided by National HQ unless you happen to personally know the judges and can get them to tell you what they're really looking for. (And if you can get it from the judges mouth, please inform Dr. Drill of what they say!) The information that you're looking for is provided by CAP National HQ on the As you'll see, there are five documents that you need to get your hands on to be up-to-date on the rules for the National Cadet Competition. These are:
So, to answer your question... There appears to be no reference to the position of Attention while in ranks as a Color Guard in any of the first four publications (i.e. National HQ has not tried to override the Air Force on this issue) so we refer to AFMAN 36-2203, section 7.32.2: "With the flagbearers in the center, the color guard is formed and marched in one rank at close interval..." Although many Color Guards are taught to be shoulder-to-shoulder (and in fact, that "may" be what the judges at the National level expect), that ain't what the book says. The correct interval is "at close interval." Dr. Drill |
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