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April 2008 |
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Quicktime on the UptakeDr. Drill |
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You can submit your questions to Dr. Drill via e-mail to : DrDrill@CadetStuff.org. Dear Dr. Drill, In AFMAN 36-2203, paragraph 4.12 (Column Half Right/Left), after pivoting it says, "The airman then takes up the half step and continues in a half step until each member in his or her rank is abreast of each other. Then all members of that rank resume a full 24-inch step." It does not specify as to whether the flight resumes quick time on their own or the command forward march is to be given. Which is the correct way? Sincerely, Peter W. Coates, C/Capt, CAP C/Capt Coates, Ah, life's great lies: "The check is in the mail.", "Of course I'll respect you in the morning.", and "You only do things in drill on command.". Dr. Drill doesn't dare question those first two (in fact, he's used them a time or two), but I think I can help with the last one. Read on, my good captain. When the Doctor was just a young Cadet and still just playing doctor, he learned that when you performed a column movement, you maintained half steps until given "Forward, MARCH!" by your flight commander. Very AFMAN 36-2203/AFR 50-14/CAPM 50-3 Volume I/Code of Hammurabi, eh? Unfortunately, some misguided soul in the unit also taught that when a flank was given, it was executed in a similar fashion: Everybody pivoted at the same time, then half steps until "Forward, MARCH!" Suffice to say, we never won a drill competition. Thinking back, that was probably the reason why. (Well, that and the USC marching-band style we affected as we took the field. That whole "kick your feet out in front of you" thing wasn't well regarded by the judges, I'm sure...) Then, when I decided to finish playing doctor and make it a full-time vocation, I sprinted to the military to begin my PHD in D&C. During basic training, I was taught that on a column left or a column right, the command "Forward MARCH" was not given. I later found out in my advanced studies that the Air Force is the only service that feels the need to tell their people that they can stop walking like they're squishing baby Harp seals. In all the other branches, a rank steps out as soon as everyone is lined up. Of course, this seemed odd to me (as well as painful, since the first couple times I did it the way I'd learned, forty guys in combat boots ran right the heck over me!), but before long I took the hint and picked up the step as soon as my rank came abreast after a column. (I still have the combat boot marks on my back, if you're interested... No? Coward.) You're absolutely right in your read of AFMAN 36-2203. It is up to the members of each rank to figure out when they're "abreast" (ie. are aligned along the rank) with the fellow members of their rank and to start marching quicktime. They do so without subsequent or additional command. Now, do people still execute Column Half-Right & Left like it was a full Column Right or Left? Yes. Why? Because they're assuming that a column is a column is a column, whether you're going 90 degrees to the left or right, or just 45. This comes from people teaching D&C without properly acquainting themselves with the applicable published guidance on the subject. In the Grand Scheme of Drill, this is a minor mistake; Dr. Drill has certainly seen far worse. But, that doesn't change the fact that it's just plain wrong. Good on 'ya, Cap'n, for catching this oft-missed nugget of drill. Good luck at the Civil Air Patrol National Cadet Competition this year. Dr. Drill |
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