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Counter march?

Dr. Drill

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

Dear Dr. Drill,

Is the command Counter, MARCH, ever given in the Civil Air Patrol? I think it is also referred to as Counter Columns March.

Sincerely,
Cadet Ethan Zitzman

Dr. Drill responds


Cadet Zitzman,

No.

Thanks for writing,

Dr. Drill

P.S.: You didn't think the Doctor was really going to short-sheet you on the answer like that, did you? Yeah, you did...

P.P.S.: The fact of the matter is that Counter Column is an acceptable and - in the Doctor's opinion - very useful drill command that is seldom, if ever taught and used. The Doctor himself has taught it to NCC teams, but exhaustive knowledge of standard drill didn't seem to be what they were looking for, and nothing more difficult than 'Dress Right' was on the card.

P.P.P.S.: For those following along at home, Counter Column is section 4.16 of the AFMAN 36-2203. The movement is used to reverse the direction of a colum quickly and efficiently. It will get you out of tight spots that a couple of column movements simply can't accomodate.

P.P.P.P.S.: And, really, it's not hard to do; especially since it isn't a precision movement, which means that things like cadence and exact step count aren't as important as getting everyone around the corner.

P.P.P.P.P.S.: But, since it is in the Drill Manual, that means you can teach it and use it in Civil Air Patrol. I think you should. You will probably find it an interesting challenge to understand and teach a drill movement that nobody has ever heard of or seen performed.

P.P.P.P.P.P.S.: I hope this helps.

P.P.P.P.P.P.P.S.: 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!

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