The CAP cadet program seems to spend a rather lot of time on drill and ceremonies. I think this has a lot to do with the fact that as an activity it doesn't have a lot of overhead, and it is seen by the cadetsas something military, "cool!!!" However, it is pretty rampant throughout cadet organizations to see drill being done improperly both in execution and in theory. The execution is easily enough addressed, if you have enough guidance and experience, and of course our own Dr. Drill. In this article, I would like to talk more about the theory.

I heard many times throughout my training in the USAF, that the mission of the Air Force is not Drill and Ceremonies, but rather to kill bad guys and blow stuff up; True enough. Really, D&C is not the mission of CAP either, but the cadet program is, and leadership training is part of the cadet program. So that begs the question "how exactly is drill and ceremonies accomplishing leadership training?" Seems like an innocent enough question, but it's not very well addressed in many places.

The natural idea of the purpose of drill is "to move people around in an orderly fashion". Indeed, that's how the military uses it, as a sort of mass transit system. D&C as a leadership training tool has to be about more than just moving around though. That is like saying that dining protocol is just about ingesting food. Most people can see that there is "something more" to it.

Most cadets can tell you that it reinforces teamwork, but is that really enough benefit to justify spending so much time and effort? I suggest that it parallels key leadership concepts at every level. It teaches people how to carefully listen to, interpret, and execute instructions. It teaches people how to give instructions clearly. It progresses to high order skills such as evaluation, teaching, and coordination of small, large, and multiple teams toward a common goal. The combination of these facets of leadership meshes nicely with CAP's phase program.

The phase appropriate roles of drill and ceremonies, according to me:

Phase One: The learning phase.
In the first phase of the program, I expect cadets to learn and execute 32 standard drill commands which I have identified from AFMAN 36-2203. Proficiency in some of these commands is required to pass Achievement 1 and the WBA Comprehensive exam, but I require them all.
AETC Parallel: Basic Trainee (BMT) or in-flight Airman (Tech School)

Phase Two: The leadership phase.
In this phase, I expect cadets to learn how to give commands properly. Cadets should practice and master the elements of the command voice, and give commands with the proper inflection and cadence. They should stand or march in the appropriate position in formations. They should make on the spot corrections of cadets in the flight who are performing improperly, identify cadets who need further instruction, and continue to exemplify proper execution.
AETC Parallel: Dorm chief (BMT) or "ropes" (Tech School)

Phase Three: The command phase.
These cadets should be mastering drill instruction. I expect phase 3cadets to understand and teach drill using the demonstration/performance technique, by the numbers, mass commands, and maybe even classroom instruction. They should also be teaching the Phase 2 cadets how to execute their phase appropriate duties. Phase 3 cadets should be making on the spot corrections of Phase 2 cadets who are actually giving the commands, including correcting Phase 2 cadets for failing to correct Phase 1 cadets.
AETC Parallel: MTI Trainee, MTI (BMT) or MTL (Tech School)

Phase Four: The executive phase.
Executive phase cadets are my instructors of instructors. The phase 4 role is to teach phase 3 cadets how to teach and correct. They should be providing feedback and correction to Phase 3 cadets as they instruct. Phase 4 cadets should also be planning and executing large formations and ceremonies, and teaching the members of the formation the order of events, and how to execute the respective duties within the event.
AETC Parallel: MTI "black rope"(BMT)

If you think it's pretty ballzy to suggest that a phase 4 cadet should be comparable with a USAF black rope MTI, consider this: In the USAF, MTI's typically look down upon trainees who were former cadets, because those trainees often think they know what they are doing, when their understanding is actually very immature. Former cadets also usually carry over bad D&C habits. For the most part, the MTI's are right. A lot of cadets just "drill around" aimlessly to fill time. However, fully understanding and identifying the value that can be gained from D&C training, and intentionally teaching it can raise both the experience for the cadet, and the quality of leader we produce.