You can submit your questions to Dr. Drill via e-mail to: DrDrill@CadetStuff.org.

Dear Dr. Drill,

I am a platoon leader in the NJROTC unit at Glenn Hills high school I was wondering how do you do a counter column. If you have anything that could help me, could you please send it as soon as possible.

Patricia Wilkins

Dr. Drill Responds

Dr. Drill is only too happy to help! In this response you will find the US Air Force references and instructions. And just because I'm a nice guy, I'll even point you in the right direction for the US Navy version of what you're looking for! (NAVMC 2691/SECNAVINST 5060.22)

After first reading your email, Dr. Drill could be seen sprinting up the stairs from his basement drill pad (not far from the Zen garden) to grab a can of RAID and head for the kitchen! When the words "counter column" appeared on the computer screen, Dr. Drill naturally assumed that a column of ANTS was marching along the counter in his kitchen. Three cans of RAID later, Dr. Drill finally snapped out of it, and realized what the heck you were talking about. You mean, "Counter, MARCH" of course. Fortunately, no people or pets were injured during the spraying of the counter top, but dinner did taste a bit like bug killer for the next few days. Plus, as an added bonus, Dr. Drill plans to apply for a patent for the "glowing Formica product" that is now in his kitchen!

AFMAN 36-2203 (that's the USAF version of NAVMC 2691, of course...) uses section 4.16 to describe what you're looking for. "Counter, MARCH" can be given from the halt, and while marching -- with slight differences, of course! Oh -- and let me point out that "the Book" says, "This is not a precise movement, but it is used to permit flexibility in the movement of units where space is limited." Clear? OK... moving on:

While marching, the command is given on the left foot. This is the foot that is located at the bottom of the left leg. Not to be confused with the left HAND, which is busily swinging back and forth in a military manner. More on anatomy later!

On the command MARCH, the members of the flight (or Platoon if you're a Army, Navy, or USMC type) should execute the following:

1st Element Leader: Take four 24-inch steps (did you bring you ruler to drill practice?) forward, and execute a 90-degree pivot to the right, suspending arm-swing during the pivot (I promised there would be more on anatomy, didn't I?) Proceed to march across the front of the flight, just past the fourth element. Then execute another 90-degree pivot to the right, suspending the ol' arm-swing. Each succeeding member plays the military version of follow-the-leader and does exactly as the wise ol' element leader just did.

2nd Element Leader: Take two 24-inch steps (you can borrow the ruler from the 1st element leader), and execute a 90-degree pivot (you may have to loan your protractor to the 1st Element Leader -- he just remembered the ruler), suspending that faithful arm-swing during the pivot. March across the formation and execute another 90-degree pivot to the right between the 3rd and 4th elements. We continue to play military follow-the-leader as before...

3rd Element Leader: You're the joker that brought the scientific calculator, aren't you? Well... put it in your pocket protector next to the eight or nine pens you brought, straighten those glasses, and listen up! You're about to get a little dizzy. On the command MARCH, you take one step forward, then execute TWO 90-degree pivots to the LEFT, and march between the remainder of the third and second elements. Remember, in order to not fly away like a helicopter, suspend the arm-swing during those pivots, dude! You guessed it, the rest of your element will follow you and do as you did. Brief them ahead of time to bring Dramamine instead of their calculators next time, will ya?

4th Element Leader: Have you started to figure out where you're going? Hey - what's that you brought? An ABACUS? Are you nuts? "Flight, HALT" while Mr. Smartypants over here puts down his friggin' abacus and gets back into formation. Done? THANK YOU. The 4th Element Leader takes three 24-inch steps forward, and executes a 90-degree pivot to the left with suspended arm-swing. March across the front of the flight and pivot 90-degrees to the left again, to march between the second and first elements. Follow-the-leader for the element again... blah, blah, blah.

Guide: You thought I forgot about you, didn't you? Wrong-O. Dr. Drill would never leave out someone with such an important job! The guide performs this movement (stay with me here...) in approximately the same manner as the fourth element leader, staying in front of the fourth element leader in the most practical manner. Turning around and pushing the fourth element leader so you can stay ahead of him (and his abacus) is discouraged. In some drill circles, it's considered cheating!

As the fourth element leader marches past the last airman in the fourth element, he or she AND the individuals of the file begin marching at half-steps. The remaining element leaders go to half-steps once they pass the last individual in each file. Here's the part that's somewhat not precise: element leaders will incline as necessary to maintain proper interval (close or normal, depending on how you looked when you started!) The command Forward, MARCH will be given once all members of the flight (or platoon) have completed the movement, and normal dress and interval have been achieved.

Got it? Pretty simple, eh? Well here's the curve ball: This maneuver can also be accomplished from the HALT! How about them apples? From attention (and while standing in column formation, of course!) the command is the same: Counter, MARCH. The only difference is the number of paces each element leader takes prior to the first pivot. From the halt, the first element leader takes five paces forward, the second element leader takes two paces, the third element leader three paces, and the fourth element leader four paces.

A good way to visualize this is to get out that army set you played with as a kid. Line your guys up (the good guys, of course!) in column formation with plenty of room. Advance the element leaders forward the number of paces indicated, then pivot them (conveniently, their arm-swings will already be suspended) and send them marching between their little plastic buddies. Hours of fun will be had by all, and the troops you'll be training on the drill pad will appreciate the extra study time you took at home so they won't be knockin' noggins against each other on the drill pad.

As promised, the Navy Reference. Take a look at NAVMC 2691/SECNAVINST 5060.22. You'll find cool commands like "FORM A SHELTER TO THE LEFT." If you come across the reference for Counter, MARCH, please pass it on. I didn't find it in the version I was reading.

Until next time, you're all invited to Dr. Drill's "pad" for a home cooked dinner. It tastes a little like RAID, but it won't kill you. That is, unless you're a bug.

Dr. Drill