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Forward to the Where?

Dr. Drill

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

Dr. Drill,

This has been an element of much controversy at our squadron. At this year's encampment in early July the winner of the Individual Drill Competition won because the command "To the rear, Harch." was given and all other contestants but one thought the command was "Forward to the rear, Harch!" I've searched the AF-MAN 36-2203 and found nothing about a to the rear from a stationary position. Could you please tell me which is the correct command and where you found this information?

Thank you.

C/2nd Lt. Justin T. Ross, Parkersburg Composite
Squadron, WV Wing, CAP.

Dr. Drill responds:


Justin,

Ah, the joys of guerilla drill! Quite simply, there is no such command as 'Forward to the Rear, March'. In fact, a thorough investigation of AFMAN 36-2203 shows that you simply can't execute a marching to the rear from the halt.

3-16. To the Rear March. The command is To the Rear, MARCH, given as the heel of the right foot strikes the ground.

Emphasis mine.

Notice that the command 'To the Rear, March' can only be given as the right heel strikes the deck. Clearly, if a flight is stationary, then nobody's heel is striking anything, so 'To the Rear' can not be called.

I can already hear the screeching from the Che Guevaras in the audience: "Doctor! It doesn't say you can't do it that way!" Sorry, kiddies, but that argument doesn't fly with the drill manual. It outlines carefully and in great detail exactly what you are supposed to do. If it doesn't tell you you can, you can't.

Another piece of evidence to this effect is the 'Face in Marching', which is a method for performing a flanking movement from the halt. There are also methods described for performing many movements (such as columns) from the halt. So, clearly, you simply can't perform 'To the Rear' from the halt.

So, the only time you can do 'To the Rear' is when you're already moving forward.

So, what about this 'Forward to the Rear' stuff? Well, there is a nice list of every available drill command at the beginning of the drill manual. Why don't you go ahead and look up 'Forward to the Rear', I'll wait.

Hmm, hmm, hmm... Da de da da...

Oh, back already? Great. Did you find it? Didn't think so.

And there's your answer, Che: there is no such command as 'Forward to the Rear'. So, how about just creating our own home-grown 'Forward to the Rear'? Is that okay? The answer? No way, Jose! Uh... Che! That list is the list and you just can't create your own drill commands.

So, I don't know what's being taught or judged out in your neck of the woods, but the only proper command to turn a flight is 'To the Rear, March' and it can only be given while on the march.

I hope this helps.

Dr. Drill

Caution: Dr. Drill isn't always one hundred percent serious. Please activate your Joke Detectors. And don't call us when you find yourself explaining to a membership termination board why you used a staple gun to keep a cadet's hands at his sides during "To The Rear, March". All we're going to say on your behalf is "Duh!"

And if you find yourself on the bad end of a serious counseling because you decided to go toe-to-toe with your squadron commander over the position of the guide during a squadron-in-mass formation or something similarly trivial, well, we're just going to point, laugh and call you names!

Dr. Drill welcomes comments and corrections. Nothing herein is to be construed as official policy unless quoted from an up-to-date regulation or manual and Dr. Drill is not to be used as a blunt instrument to reshape the pointy heads of your superiors. Dr. Drill has made an extensive study of the drill and knows some people who know some things, but he's not the Final Authority on what happens at your unit. That Final Authority is? That's right, kids! Your UNIT COMMANDER.

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