Exhibition drill
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Exhibition drill is a modified routine that involves complex marching sequences that usually deviate from standard drill.
Teams performing exhibition drill are often affiliated with military units, but the scope of exhibition drill is not limited to the Military Drill Teams.
Exhibition drill is often performed by Armed Forces Drill Teams, the drill teams at service academies and ROTC and JROTC units, and civilian drill teams that perform at parades, drill meets, and half-time shows and other public venues.
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[edit] Unarmed
In an unarmed division, exhibition drill may consist of intricate precision marching, along with various hand movements. Modified step team routines may be used, but participants should remember that often during competition, exhibition drill is evaluated by military judges.
[edit] Armed
In an armed division, exhibition drill normally involves spinning or tossing of the weapons (rifles, or sabres). JROTC and ROTC units will always use demilitarized weapons. The process of demilitarizing a weapon involves welding a lead tube through the barrel of the rifle and adopting some measure that interferes with the operation of the action to ensure that live rounds are not fired. Drill teams may also attach bayonets to their rifles (JROTC units may not however). High school units (senior division) may compete/perform in armed or unarmed. While the middle school units (junior division) are only authorized to have an unarmed team.
[edit] A Brief History of Rifle Exhibition Drill
The first documented performance of exhibition drill (XD) was performed by Hadji Cheriff at what is believed to be the Midway Plaisance of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. The film was later copyrighted by Thomas Edison in 1899, entitled "The Arabian Gun Twirler."
The performance, though quite absurd to today's standards, demonstrates without a doubt, rudimentary aerial (two 1½s over-hand thrown from the firing hammer) and over the shoulder techniques with a rather remarkable display of over-the-head drill (OTH), and ends right after an under the leg inverted spin.
In itself, this clip is extraordinary, because military XD did not surface until 5 and half decades later, and even then, there was no spinning of this difficulty. The burning question of course is: where did Mr. Cheriff get his inspiration?!
What else is remarkable about this performance is the choice of weapon. Though it can not be absolutely determined, one can make a good case by viewing the below listed video stills that it was a .577 caliber, triple band, 1853 Enfield Musket: This weapon is 56" long and weighs about 9.5 pounds, which is 13" longer and slightly heavier then, if not as much as, drill weapons used today.
[edit] Exhibition drill in competition
Exhibition drill is one of many different drill phases that are a part of a Drill Meet. Other phases include Inspection, Color Guard and Regulation Drill.
General Rules and guidelines
Rules of exhibition drill during competitions vary, but most of them apply the following guidelines:
Time - There is usually a minimum and maximum time a routine may take. Points are deducted if a team is under or over time.
Boundaries - Teams should be aware of their boundary lines, and if necessary, alter their routines as to not cross the boundary lines. Points are deducted if a person crosses a boundary line.
Some high-school level competitions will also prevent cadets who are participating in armed drill events from performing more dangerous 'over the head' spins, in the interest of safety.
[edit] Civilian Drill Teams
King's Village Guard of Hawaii, more commonly known as the King's Guard. They were founded in the 1960's and perform weekly shows in Hawaii. They have also performed several times at The National High School Drill Team Championships in Daytona, Florida. They use a modified Springfield M1903 rifle.
New Guard America, founded in 1997 by Constantine H. Wilson. New Guard America is the world's only internationally touring Civilian Drill team. They use Springfield M1903 rifles with fixed 10 inch bayonets. They are based out of the Washington DC metropolitan area. They perform mainly in four man blocks. In June of 2008 they performed at the Norwegian Military Tattoo in Oslo, Norway, making them the first Civilian Drill Team to ever perform at an international tattoo.
[edit] Outside the United States
In the United Kingdom, probably the best-known exhibition drill unit is the Queen's Colour Squadron of the RAF Regiment, the ceremonial unit of the Royal Air Force, which holds the world record for the most drill movements performed without a word of command. British drill displays very rarely include the fast manipulation and throwing of weapons that is common within the United States. This is because most British drill organizations only carry out standard drill movements, as opposed to inventing specific display movements that are only of use for exhibition purposes; they also use newer, standard issue, weapons that have a mounted magazine, thus making aforementioned manipulation and throwing of weapons impractical and dangerous.[citation needed]
The Norwegian Army has a silent drill platoon in the Kings Guard, performing in foreign tattoos like Edinburgh and Halifax.[citation needed]
[edit] See also
- RAF Regiment Queen's Colour Squadron
- United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon
- 3d United States Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard)
- Parade (military)
- Foot drill
