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

Dr Drill,

JOSEPH L. BURKHEAD, Capt, CAP
Cache Valley Squadron Commander, Utah Wing

Dr. Drill responds...

Captain Burkhead,

Wow, we're full of questions today, aren't we? Not to worry, Dr. Drill has the cure for what ails you! In stereotypically illegible handwriting, Dr. Drill hereby electronically scribbles onto his prescription pad:

That's right -- we're invoking AFMAN 36-2203's paragraph 1.1.2's reference to the US Army's thicker, but equally confusing Bible of drill and ceremonies! As we all know, this reference can be found online here. Let's knock out your questions one by one, shall we?

1. I assume that Left/Right Step, MARCH movements can be done at the order position.  Is my assumption correct?

Yes, by golly, you're correct... well, at least half right! According to FM 22-5, 4-1 (f): "Facings, alignments, and short-distance marching movements are executed from order arms or sling arms. When these movements are commanded while at order arms, it is necessary to automatically raise the rifle about 1 inch off the marching surface on the command of execution. When the movement has been completed, automatically return the rifle to order arms."

2. Can face movements or left/right step be executed at either of the shoulder positions?

If you were to continue reading in Chapter 4 of FM22-5, you would come across paragraph 4-1 (g), which appears to answer your question quite well... and I quote, "Facing movements are executed from order arms or sling arms. When a facing is necessary to establish the direction of march, the facing movement is executed before the command for the manual of arms. After a marching movement has been completed, Order, ARMS or Sling, ARMS is commanded prior to the command for the facing movement. In other words, to answer your question, you should have planned ahead better!

3. I assume that facing movements must be done at the order position (NOT r/l shoulder).  Do I assume correctly?

Dude... this is the same question you just asked! But this time, you're asking it from the other direction. Your thinly veiled effort to confuse the living crap out of Dr. Drill has failed! HA! To answer this question, re-read the paragraph so painstakingly created to answer the aforementioned question 2. Still confused? Sorry, Dr. Drill doesn't have quite enough elixir in his medicine cabinet to cure this problem!

4. Is Eyes, RIGHT executed the same way as it would without arms (in other words, no rifle movements, just the heads)?  Does it matter which shoulder the rifle is on when executing the Eyes, RIGHT command?

Yeppers -- you've got it! No special provisions are set forth in FM22-5 indicating otherwise. If you're marching (or standing at attention, for that matter) with or without rifles, FM22-5 6-11 describes eyes right in painful detail. Look here for the full text. If you still don't believe me, look here under the Color Guard provision of the 22-5. It indicates that the color guard will be marching at right shoulder arms, and when Eyes, RIGHT is commanded, the guard at the right flank of the color guard does not execute eyes right. From this, you can safely infer that it is perfectly hunky dory to give the command Eyes, RIGHT while marching at right shoulder arms, and that the movement is completed exactly the same way as if arms were not carried.

5. Can you march at the Port, ARMS position?

Oh yeah, baby! If you can't find the answer in FM 22-5, take a look at AFCWI 36-2203. This is the Air Force Academy's manual of arms reference. Scroll down to paragraph 4.1.3 and move your finger along as the good Doctor reads aloud, "...At the discretion of the formation commander to lessen fatigue, right (left) shoulder arms and port arms may be commanded when marching at quick time."

6. I have searched for Air Force instructions on subject matter of this kind without success.  The D&C does not offer such knowledge, so all I can find is Army (22-5) and Marine regs.

Oops... it looks like Dr. Drill has gotten ahead of himself. If you were awake during the previous paragraph, you would have astutely noticed that a link to an Air Force reference was given. The AFCWI 36-2203 (that stands for Air Force Cadet Wing Instruction, by the way...) is the Air Force's manual of arms Bible. You may notice some striking similarities to the US Army FM 22-5. I don't think that's really an accident, do you? And speaking of accidents: take a look at the serviceman in the picture on page 37 of the aforementioned AFCWI -- specifically the dude in the center on the top row. It looks like he's having an accident!

Whew! Capt Burkhead of the Utah Wing seems to have asked one of the longest (and most well organized, thank you) questions of Doctor Drill since this site has been active. Lucky for him, Doctor Drill is one of the world's leading experts in drill and ceremonies... well -- perhaps I'm overstating it a bit. Let's just say that Doctor Drill is the leading expert in his entire house on drill and ceremonies. That is, at least when no one else is home.

Order, ARMS.
DISMISSED.

C-YA!

Dr. Drill