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Fleeced at Drill Comp...

Dr. Drill

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

Dear Dr. Drill,

My name is Jason. I am with a cadet corps, we have a drill competion coming up. My cadets train really really hard every year, but they haven't won in a couple of years. I am just wondering if you have any drill maneuvers that will be exciting.

Thank you,

Jason

Dr. Drill Responds:


Hi Jason!

Excitement, eh? Jeez, Dr. Drill was pretty impressed with that whole Golden Fleece thing, how much excitement does any one guy need?

Now, when you say you're with a Cadet Corps, which cadet corps are you with? Are you with Civil Air Patrol? The ACA? JROTC? Someone else? Well, no matter. Since you didn't fill me in, I'm going to do what's easiest for me and figure you're with the CAP.

And, since I'm assuming you're with CAP, I'm going to assume you're talking about National Cadet Competition, and that works great for me, since I have a bunch of canned answers written on flash cards.

Let's see...

Scoring at volleyball... Nope.

Scoring at Quiz Bowl... Nope.

Scoring at Prom... Hey! How did that get in there?

Well, no matter, because I'm not so sure that an "exciting" drill maneuver is what you need to be successful. Training hard is important, so you're on the right track there. But, think about the scores your Cadets received in uniform inspection, written test, mile run, etc. These events are important to success in a competition, too!

Before focusing your attention on an "exciting" maneuver, it's extremely important to nail the basics in drill (as well as maximizing your scores in the other events). You need to have those movements down cold.

After you feel you have the basics squared away, get the group together and brainstorm about your innovative drill. And when you're talking about it remember: there are no stupid ideas, only stupid people. Namely, you, if you don't listen to what Airman Snuffy has to contribute. Try some of the ideas that people suggest. You'll have a lot more success with that approach than if I supplied you with an idea that worked a dozen years ago. (Although the 'Atomic Wedgie' maneuver sure wowed'em at NCC back in the day. A little hard on the smaller Cadets, though...)

I hope this helps! Say 'Hi' to the rest of the Argonauts and good luck on the next competition.

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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