Sergeant Major Marching Up & Down the Parade Square - Return to Spit & Polish

[Bruce Monkhouse]

Dear Lord.......

You guys can keep on living in the middle ages of you want to. My troops and myself will keep training for tomorow's war.

Well if you know how tomorrow's war will be fought then you must really be Nostradamus.......................don't flatter yourself, you are training for what you, and your troops/ superior's, THINK will be "tomorrow's war".

Your line of thinking has led to many a colossus failare.

 

[blacktriangle]

Well if you know how tomorrow's war will be fought then you must really be Nostradamus.......................don't flatter yourself, you are training for what you, and your troops/ superior's, THINK will be "tomorrow's war".

Your line of thinking has led to many a colossus failare.

He's an AES Op. His job requires him to train so that he can ____ and supervise others in the conduct of ___. By doing this he is fulfilling his small piece of the puzzle that is the greater CF. The same can be said for just about every trade. None of us may know what the next war entails, but I am pretty sure it won't be won with drill. We need drill for ceremonial reasons, nothing more.

I have noticed that a lot of people feel the CF won't be doing "anything" now that the Kandahar mission is winding down. True there might be less action for the Cbt Arms, but real training still needs to be done when possible. As for everyone else from AES Ops to RMS Clks to Shift workers at Leitrim...business as usual.

 

[Gunner98]

Want to fly and be a gluebag? Join Air Canada. I've got no time for Tom Hank's Top Gun wannabees.

I have resisted replying to this topic (even though SuperMax and recceguy both seem to think it wants Hanks and not Cruise that starred in Top Gun) but can do so no longer.  Drill is not just ceremonial otherwise the manual would be called Ceremonial and not Drill and Ceremonial (http://www.army.forces.gc.ca/lf/Downloads/cfp201.pdf)

Have we all forgotten the 'all CF members are soldiers first' mantra that was so popular under General Rick. 

I have found it useful in many ways to incorporate regular parades (weekly/monthly/as required) into the workdays of a(ny) unit to pass information, present awards/promotions and recognize individual or group efforts in garrison and on field exercise.  Forming people into ranks tells them that it is important that everyone hears the same message and afforded the same recognition.  Having junior leaders who are capable of forming, sizing and marching troops as a basic skill set should be maintained regardless of unit that is why it is still a module of the PLQ.  The fact that officers are rusty or negligent in maintaining their drill competencies is a command and leadership issue.  A Service/Branch of the CF should never become so afraid of the parade square that it moves his recognition ceremonies to auditoriums as a routine.

Freedoms of the City, Partnership parades and sunset ceremonies throughout my career are remembered with pride.  Were they perfect ceremonies - no - but every effort was made to ensure they were dignified attempts to demonstrate pride, leadership and teamwork.

I find the insistence by some that drill is a thing of the past is more about complacency and laziness.  A parade does not need to be an arduous affair to symbolize to all ranks in a unit that dignity and integrity remain important military values.

CFP 201 Chapter 1 excerpts: 

2. The aim of drill and ceremonial is to contribute to the operational effectiveness of the CF by:

a. ensuring that the CF efficiently march and manoeuvre together as one in duty and routine; and

b. promoting discipline, alertness, precision, pride, steadiness and the cohesion necessary for success.

3. Drill is the basis of all teamwork...

17. The hallmarks of CF drill are efficiency,precision and dignity. These qualities are developed through self-discipline and practice. They lead to unit
pride and cohesion...

19. Military troops which display constant competence in drill are recognized universally as highly trained, well-disciplined and professional.
Drill that is well taught and executed develops individual pride, mental alertness, precision and esprit-de-corps which will assist the individual
service member to carry out orders instinctively at all times.

20. Good drill, well rehearsed, closely supervised and precise, is an exercise in obedience and alertness. It sets the standard for the execution
of any duty, both for the individual and the unit, and builds a sense of confidence between commander and subordinate that is essential to high morale.

21. The personal qualities developed on the parade ground must be maintained in all aspects of military life. Commanders must insist on the same
high standards both on and off parade to instill these qualities strongly enough to endure the strain of military duty in peace or war. The systematic
correction of minor errors strengthens these characteristics and improves both individual and unit standards.

 

[jollyjacktar]

We hope it won't happen, of course, but tomorrow's war could involve a ship taking enough battle damage to require abandonment.  Never done it myself, obviously, but if the training video is anything to go by a foundation in drill is a definite asset in getting the ship's company off of the ship in an orderly (and therefore relatively safe) fashion.  That's at least one real-world, non-infantry, example of an application for drill training.

And that, is why we have the Damage Control School, Sea Trainers, Fire Ex's during duty watches etc etc.  These situations are drilled into our lives as sailors and I suppose could be compared to the field training that the Army conducts.  Lots of nice response to situations and commands to make sure you keep the motto To Float, To Move, To Fight.  No wasted time spent square bashing to ensure discipline is instilled where and when it is needed to fit the Navy's needs.  Just as CDN Aviator feels fits the needs of today's Air Force.  If the Army types feel the need to square bash to get in their daily requirement of discipline, well so be it and more power to them I say.  I remember the countless hours/days of prep and execution for the GOC Inspection of Jimmy Cox et al in Calgary in the early 90's and don't miss it at all.  Weeks of my life I'll never get back...

 

[aesop081]

I find the insistence by some that drill is a thing of the past is more about complacency and laziness. 

I will be sure to pass that on to my leaders. Those are words that none of them have seen fit to use in any of my assesments over the years. I guess i fooled them all the way to my current rank.

Regardless, i will withdraw from this topic and wish everyone a great Sunday.

 

[Pieman]

My thoughts on this are that even at a high tempo, there was plenty of extra time for more drill (among the lower ranks anyway).

The months (literally - when you add it all up) in regiment of sitting around the cage with our thumbs up our butts, and not being allowed to go anywhere, or do anything (including PT or some kind of training) were the most demoralizing times for me in the army. All because they want you right there just in case someone needs you for something, maybe.  If we had drill practice once a week, at least that would have killed some time and made us feel like we were at least doing something for our paycheque. Better yet, it would have been great to do some training related to our job, perhaps self study courses. Oh well, easier to lock people in a cage and pull them out only when needed. On that note, too much drill would be the same thing as locking people in a cage. There has to be a happy medium.

I cringe at the thought of things slowing down, and wonder how people survived the cold war without hanging themselves from boredom.

 

[daftandbarmy]

I recall a fairly sensible and practical daily routine we used to follow in the old battalion:

Coy muster Pde at 0800 every day we were in barracks. It took about 30 minutes as I recall.

Dress of the day? Whatever the training plan demanded.

The OC would inspect one platoon each day. Pl Comd's inspected the others.

There was none of that "get there by 0700 so the Sect Comd can inspect you befor ethe Pl Comd inspects you at 0730 before the OC inspects you at 0800" junk. We're all adults and can read the training plan, so we knew what to wear.

Another bonus was that, because we did the same parade pretty much every dayt we were in barracks, junior NCMs could take over and act as Sect Comds etc as a way to get them ready for various leadership courses. A good confidence builder for them, as well as we freshly minted officers. Also, if someone was missing for any reason (courses, jail etc) anyone could stand in for him.

Basic dril was pretty good as a result, as was the standard of dress and equipment, so we could ramp it up pretty quick for a big event as required.

Just like anything else, good drills get you a good grounding in the basics.

 

[Old Sweat]

Let me throw in another example of drill that we took to an extreme in the gunners, and for good reason. We had our own version of Voice Procedure called Artillery Fire Orders or AFO. It was abbreviated and call signs were dropped after the original link was made. For example, "1, This is 11, Fire Mission Battery, over." "1, Fire Mission Battery, out." (All transmissions were written down and read back by the artillery communicator as quickly as possible and the logs were retained in case of error.) From then on all call signs were dropped and all other stations stayed off the air, unless there was information of tactical importance, which was only passed after the battery had reported "shot" which meant a round was in the air. The aim was to shave seconds or even tenths of seconds off the response time (how much time does sending "1, This is 11" take up each time it is used?) as well as to use something as rigid and demandingly accurate as computer code, if anybody had even dreamed of it when AFO was established.

To the other arms we sounded like babblers or chipmunks on steroids as we sent and acknowledged messages in hyperspeak, but it worked and maybe this time around, it saved some Canadian lives. To the unitiated it sounder like "1thisis11,firemissionbattery,over" all in one breath, and responded to by "1firemissionbattery,out." We spent hours and hours practising it and that included officers.

 

[Pusser]

After having read through all of this, one point keeps coming to mind.  To all those drill-detractors, what makes you think that drill has no place in modern operations?  I can tell you from experience and observation that drill is very much a component of operational success.  All you have to do is look:

1)  what is fleet maneuvering, other than drill with ships?

2)  what is damage control at sea, other than drill with lumber and plugs?

3) what is fire-fighting, other than drill with hoses?

4)  what is communication between ops rooms, other than drill with radios and computers?

5)  what is launching sonobouys from a Sea King other drill with sonobouys?

6)  what is a section attack, other than drill over and around obstacles with various weapons?

7) what do soldiers doing riot control (aid to civil power) do, other than a modified form of parade drill with shields and batons?


I could go on, but my point is that all of these are practiced movements made in response to commands.  We do them over and over again until we have drilled them into our minds so that we can perform competently and efficiently.  Good drill, of any type, starts with a mindset.  An easy way to start to develop that mindset is on a parade square.  It's cheap.  It's easy and it doesn't put anyone's life at risk before we give them a firearm or a multi-million dollar piece of equipment. 

Even after basic training we continue it because it has a ceremonial function, which is part of the fabric of who we are.  I've been on plenty of bad parades, but I can honestly say that the bad ones were a result of leadership, who didn't feel it was important enough or who thought they were doing us a favour by "simplifying" it (dispensing with a guard and band).  I have never felt put upon by having to go on parade for change of command or presentation, but I've often felt cheated when someone decided a parade wasn't necessary for something that was important to me.  When I was on NATO staff in Bosnia, my medal parade was cancelled in favour of an Oktoberfest celebration, so I received my medal in an office and I had to arrange for that myself!

Do Napoleonic linear tactics (from which parade square drill is derived) have anything to do with modern warfare?  Probably about as much as a degree in medieval French literature has to do with becoming a MARS officer, but we still expect a MARS officer to have degree and medieval French literature is perfectly acceptable.  We sometimes spend too much time thinking about the specific applications of our training and education and neglect the more general aspects, which can be just as important.  As a logistics officer, I don't grease engines, but that doesn't mean that my training years ago as a diesel mechanic has not helped to make me a better at what I do now.  Drill is not the be all and end all of military training, but it is certainly a part of it.  That being the case, it is worth doing well.

I'll close with a story.  A few years ago, I was observing the Battle of the Atlantic parade in Toronto.  I was in uniform on the sidewalk watching the parade when a young lady in yoga pants, a tank top, rollerblades and nose ring approached me and asked what was going on.  So I explained it to her.  She was fascinated and thrilled and thanked me profusely for the history lesson.  She went away with an entirely new perspective on the Canadian Forces, Canadian History and the military in general.  In other words, the CF made a positive connection with somebody that day - because of a parade.  It was hardly a useless of meaningless endeavour.

 

[Towards_the_gap]

As a 'drill detractor', I want to note that the point cdn_aviator and I are making is not against training by way of drills per se, but rather we are making a case against excessive and needless parade square tick-tocking, and also we are putting a point across that we see no correllation between the parade square and the battleground. As he pointed out, the examples given were from the 19th and early 20th century, where certainly parade ground practice led to battlefield success.

However, I'd like to hear from someone who, having fought in Afghanistan, directly attributes the same success to hours spent marching up and down the square.

I myself don't see it. But I am not arguing for abolishing drill altogether, just using our time, and our troops time, more effectively and wisely, rather than doing  something most regard as a PITA simply because it's cheap and we've always done it. Here in Pet there is more training venues and possibilities than you can shake a stick at, all low-to-nil cost, and all certainly more valuable than ceremonial drill. All that is required is some imagination and some leg work/e-mail chasing to book it.

 

[Michael OLeary]

..., but rather we are making a case against excessive and needless parade square tick-tocking, ....

Who was arguing for that?

 

[Ex-Dragoon]

I'll close with a story.  A few years ago, I was observing the Battle of the Atlantic parade in Toronto.  I was in uniform on the sidewalk watching the parade when a young lady in yoga pants, a tank top, rollerblades and nose ring approached me and asked what was going on.  So I explained it to her.  She was fascinated and thrilled and thanked me profusely for the history lesson.  She went away with an entirely new perspective on the Canadian Forces, Canadian History and the military in general.  In other words, the CF made a positive connection with somebody that day - because of a parade.  It was hardly a useless of meaningless endeavour.

But was she hot?

 

[OldSolduer]

As a 'drill detractor', I want to note that the point cdn_aviator and I are making is not against training by way of drills per se, but rather we are making a case against excessive and needless parade square tick-tocking, and also we are putting a point across that we see no correllation between the parade square and the battleground. As he pointed out, the examples given were from the 19th and early 20th century, where certainly parade ground practice led to battlefield success.

However, I'd like to hear from someone who, having fought in Afghanistan, directly attributes the same success to hours spent marching up and down the square.

I myself don't see it. But I am not arguing for abolishing drill altogether, just using our time, and our troops time, more effectively and wisely, rather than doing  something most regard as a PITA simply because it's cheap and we've always done it. Here in Pet there is more training venues and possibilities than you can shake a stick at, all low-to-nil cost, and all certainly more valuable than ceremonial drill. All that is required is some imagination and some leg work/e-mail chasing to book it.

And I agree with you, for the most part. I do not see the point in marching up and down the square for hours, nor do I see the point in having C6 or C7 refresher training every second day because "there's nothing else to do".

Drill is the basis from which you can build on. It is not dangerous, doesn't involve live fire. You can formulate opinions on how recruits can perform under some pressure prior to giving them weapons and ammuntion. Just my  :2c:

 

[Kirkhill]

7) what do soldiers doing riot control (aid to civil power) do, other than a modified form of parade drill with shields and batons?

Right then, here's the solution.....

Issue shields and batons,  add a couple of paragraphs to the manual of Drill and Ceremonial to accomodate the required "Order, Arms" drill and then you can designate half the square bashing time as ACP training - and all those fancier moves that seldom get practiced will suddenly become useful when placed in context of manoeuvering in the face of an enemy (even if they are just youngsters in black balaclavas with rocks).

 

[Michael OLeary]

Right then, here's the solution.....

No, the solution is not to make up reasons to do extra drill. The solution is to rationalize what drill is needed, and to establish how to maintain required competencies with a minimum of chickenshit to ensure that any anticipated events requiring presentable drill can be achieved with a minimum of special preparatory practice. It is also reasonable to assume that the level of expectation regarding types of events and the drill required for them will not be the same for each type of unit.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

As a 'drill detractor', I want to note that the point cdn_aviator and I are making is not against training by way of drills per se, but rather we are making a case against excessive and needless parade square tick-tocking, and also we are putting a point across that we see no correllation between the parade square and the battleground. As he pointed out, the examples given were from the 19th and early 20th century, where certainly parade ground practice led to battlefield success.

However, I'd like to hear from someone who, having fought in Afghanistan, directly attributes the same success to hours spent marching up and down the square.

I myself don't see it. But I am not arguing for abolishing drill altogether, just using our time, and our troops time, more effectively and wisely, rather than doing  something most regard as a PITA simply because it's cheap and we've always done it. Here in Pet there is more training venues and possibilities than you can shake a stick at, all low-to-nil cost, and all certainly more valuable than ceremonial drill. All that is required is some imagination and some leg work/e-mail chasing to book it.

As has been noted numerous times in this thread, there is not one person here that is advocating endless hours of parade square bashing. Some people are just failing to read the whole story in their drive to post something to get rid of drill altogether.

It's simply a skill to be maintained the same as weapons handling, ship's docking procedures or aircraft marshalling.

That way we don't become an embarrassment to ourselves in front of dignitaries like HRH, or our Vets and public on Remembrance Day, etc.

My, and I dare say most, Reserve units manage less than an hours practice before we get on the bus to head for the cenotaph. That's all it takes so that we don't look like that uncoordinated, uncontrolled embarrassing gaggle in the previous picture. I can almost guarantee what is going through the mind of that Army Chief standing off to the right hand side of the formation.

If Reservists can do it, with the limited time they have available, there is no excuse for full time CF members not to be able to accomplish this most basic of tasks, no matter what element they are from.

 

[Halifax Tar]

Here in Halifax we have the "Base Standing Guard" which fills most formal/ceremonial occasions where drill is required. This is usually made up of UIC 0100 unit's junior members and selected personnel to fill certain parade postions.

Having said this I know on my last ship, HMCS Toronto, we had "hands fall in" or "divions" at least once a month.

I personally have not done drill sense the last ramp ceremony I attended on KAF (May/June 2010).

1 hous(ish) a month, of drill, is plenty. I don't think anyone can argue that is too much.

 

[OldSolduer]

Recceguy, last fall I was invited to be the Guard Sergeant Major on the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada 100th Anniversary Freedom of the City parade.  I think we might have had two hours practise.
Funny thing is I'm a Royal Winnipeg Rifle, so our drill is totally opposite of all I knew as a Reg Force PPCLI Sgt.

So I'm a Rifle, on parade with a Highland Regiment, and for the most part...doing PPCLI drill. The hardest part was the pace of a Highland "Quick" march.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Recceguy, last fall I was invited to be the Guard Sergeant Major on the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Canada 100th Anniversary Freedom of the City parade.  I think we might have had two hours practise.
Funny thing is I'm a Royal Winnipeg Rifle, so our drill is totally opposite of all I knew as a Reg Force PPCLI Sgt.

So I'm a Rifle, on parade with a Highland Regiment, and for the most part...doing PPCLI drill. The hardest part was the pace of a Highland "Quick" march.

Even so, because of a solid foundation and regular use of drill, there was likely no problems adapting and looking professional.

Hardly "Quick" more like, "By the left' stroll" ;D I dread having to march on parade with our local Highland unit 8)

 

[daftandbarmy]

Even so, because of a solid foundation and regular use of drill, there was likely no problems adapting and looking professional.

Hardly "Quick" more like, "By the left' stroll" ;D I dread having to march on parade with our local Highland unit 8)

Wearing a swinging kilt, and the camouflage provided by a pipe band, helps....  ;D