Dear Dr. Drill,

My flight sergeants are pretty good at clearing up confusion about facing movements, but flanking movements are definitely not our strongest points. My flight commander and flight sergeant say two different things about flanking movements. My problem isn't with marching and them calling the movements, but it's from a stationary position that I don't get. How are you supposed to do a left and right flank from a stationary position?

Sincerely,

C/SMSGT Philip McGlass

Dr. Drill Responds:

Dear Phil,

Can any cadets in the room tell me when you'd step off from with your right foot? Who said "never"? WRONG! Who said "when executing a face in marching to the right"? Oh, so you've read paragraph 3.18 and you think you're clever, eh?

NOT SO FAST, there, buddy!

Dr. Drill is going to blow the lid off an error in the drill manual and teach you to a keen dance step at the same time! I know, Phil, I know; you're wondering "What the heck is 'face in marching', and what does it have to do with my question about flanking movements?". Glad you asked. Let's take a look (and by the way - trust your ol' buddy Dr. Drill on this one: there IS a mistake in this paragraph of the book...):

Let me turn the tables on you and say that you're the flight commander. You have just accidentally marched your cadets straight into a brick wall. Just when you're about to rip off your cover, throw it to the ground, and stomp your boot print into it because you've just completely lost face in front of your flight, you remember this really cool command... and you decide it is now time to teach your flight a new maneuver. I can just see it now...

"Flight, you may be wondering why I just marched you into this brick wall. I'm glad you asked that question. I'm about to teach you a new drill movement!"

Just when your flight members were losing all faith in you as their leader, they have a new respect for you as a drill instructor!

But I digress. Let's get back to the point. A Face in Marching is a very simple maneuver - really just a flank from the halt - executed by executing a 90-degree pivot and stepping off at the same time. Say you're the flight commander, and you want the flight to execute a Left Flank from the halt. First, you should teach your cadets how to execute a Face in Marching. When it's all done in real time, it goes like this:

Flight CC: "Left Flank, MARCH"
(Dr. Drill's note: You don't ever say "face in marching" as any part of a command. You need to teach the airmen how to execute a flank from the halt by first executing a face in marching. And also, notice that this command is not "Forward By A Left Flank, MARCH.")

On the command of execution, each member of the flight will execute the Face in Marching by pivoting 90-degrees to the left on the ball of the right foot, and stepping off in the new direction with the left foot during the pivot. The pivot and step are executed in one count, and proper dress, cover, interval, distance, and a positive account balance are maintained at all times.

Now you're saying to yourself, "Yeah, OK, fine, Dr. Drill. You're right as usual, but I'm really curious where that error in the manual comes into play..."

Well, what if you want the flight to execute a Right Flank from the halt? How would the Face in Marching look? Think about it! When you're on the march, a Right Flank is executed by pivoting 90-degrees on the ball of the LEFT foot while stepping off in the new direction with the RIGHT foot. But you already knew that!

Okay, wiseguy, check out this Fred Astaire move: when executing a Right Flank from the halt, you step off with the left foot, crossing it OVER the right foot and pivoting on the ball of the right foot at the same time. The left foot should hit the ground to the right of your initial position with your right foot back, and away you go. How cool is THAT!? Did you find the error in paragraph 3.18? Did you try this at home? (Preferably surrounded by pillows to cushion the fall...) Give it a shot, and you'll understand.

I know what you're saying: "Dr. Drill: that is the stupidest move I've ever seen on a drill field! I'm not going have my people facing brick walls and the entire thing gives me hives. With a little luck, I'll never have to do this weird two-step thing!"

Wrong again, buffalo breath! You should probably be using this technique every week! And most certainly at events like encampment!

Please open your drill manuals to section 4.5.3, which covers Open Ranks and inspections. Everyone take your greasy little index finger and follow along while Dr. Drill reads aloud: "When moving from individual to individual during the inspection, the inspector and flight commander simultaneously execute a face to the right in marching and an inplace halt."

So, boys and girls, every time you go from person to person by doing the old Cincinnati Side Step (that's what they call "Right Step, March" in the southern part of Ohio Wing), you're committing a heinous offense against Dr. Drill's sensibilities. Don't make Dr. Drill pull this web site over!

Did everyone find the error in the drill manual? Just to make sure we're all on the same page, here is the paragraph from AFMAN 36-2203. The italicized text is for our emphasis:

 "3.18. Face in Marching. The command is Right (Left) Flank, MARCH. On the command MARCH, the airman executes a 90-degree pivot on the ball of the right (left) foot and, at the same time, steps off with the left (right) foot in the new direction with coordinated arm swing. The pivot and step are executed in one count, and proper dress, cover, interval, and distance are maintained."

The italicized (left) and (right) were inadvertently added during a late edit and it wasn't corrected before publication. How do I know this is a mistake? Because Dr. Drill has friends in the Basic Military Training Stan/Eval shop at Lackland who owe him favors, that's how!

And did you know that there are actually two commands where stepping off with the RIGHT foot is the way to go? Do you know what they are?

Anyone?
Anyone?
Bueller?

How about Close, MARCH and Right Steps, MARCH?!

Well... there you go.

(In Ace Ventura voice): "MAN I'm tired of bein' right..."

A final caution: Face in Marching is NOT to be confused with an alternate Drill and Ceremonies maneuver called Marching on the Face. This is normally executed accidentally during parades and other outdoor functions where the heat index rises above 100 degrees. Parental discretion is advised!

Dr. Drill