View Full Version : How to give drill commands..
Marines, last week jobs were assigned to certain Poolees at the West Indy Recruiting Station because we have a state wide Poolee Function coming up. I was assigned to be the Poolee Platoon Leader (or Sgt.) and I felt very accomplished. The issue is that I don't exactly know how to give out drill commands which is part of my job description. Now I was volun-told for this, and I like the challenge because I know with practice I will be able to do it, and I don't want to get fired. So can you guys please enlighten me on this subject. I need to learn how to give drill commands so my Poolee Platoon don't look like clowns because their leader is one. I know how to drill, but i don't know how someone would give the commands. I need to learn from the basics so I can practice. I would greatly appreciate it if you guys can help me out.:sick:
Scottie0417
03-29-09, 09:49 PM
What kind of drill commands? Marching drill commands or are you talking about having poolees in formation and putting them at parade rest, present arms, at east, attention?
Ask the recruiters and/or other Marines that may be there or returning from boot camp to help teach you all as a platoon at one of your pool functions before the competition. It's hard to teach via text/book. Need to do it more in person.
PaidinBlood
03-29-09, 09:58 PM
I know how to drill, but i don't know how someone would give the commands.
Carefully....:scared:
You'll be fine, as long as you're not going up against the "Legendary Drill Instructor" *choke* himself.. He is everywhere. Just trust your recruiters and any Marines who come home on RA or what not. You'll be fine...
Freaked out
Insecure
Neurotic
Emotional
Kill :banana:
Like Atten-hut, Right-Face, About-Face, Left-Face, Parade-Rest, Present-Arms, Ready-To, At Ease?
Or Column Left-March and stuff like that. The facing/stationary commands are easy, the marching commands get tricky for what foot to call it on. Most marching commands are called on the left foot, with the exception of Column Left, Right Flank, Right Oblique, and a few others I cant think of right now. You have to actually march yourself to call them correctly while practicing. I'll give you an example.
Say you want to do Column Left, it should go like this.
(right foot) Column (left foot)left (pause, right foot) (left foot) March (pivot on right foot).
Or a Left Flank
(left)By the (right)Left (left) Flank (right, pause) (left) March (pivot on the right foot)
Platoon Halt would be
(left) Platooon, (left, Pause) (right) Halt, (left, step) (right comes together with left foot)
Hope this clears up some, you can't get good at calling commands while marching unless you practice yourself at home.
PaidinBlood
03-29-09, 10:29 PM
The finer points of pitch and inflection get even trickier. I will not pretend to have any clue how to do it, just seen enough MFs get lit up for doing it wrong.
0231Marine
03-30-09, 07:15 AM
I really doubt they're expecting a poolee to learn the finer points of drill and actually march a platoon but I may be wrong. I could just see Poolee Schmucatelly calling "Open Ranks" or "To the Rear, March" while maintaining his position in the platoon and marking time seperate from the platoon. Talk about a cluster fvck waiting to happen.
Regardless, just sound off when you give your commands and make sure you break the commands in half and emphasize the back half.
Parade------REST! This ensures that the platoon hears what command is coming and allows them a quick second to prepare for the movement. They need to execute the command as quickly as possible. Snap and Pop!
In Corporal's Course when they taught us drill, they emphasize keeping a command precense and the best ones at drill are not only the ones that know when to call the commands but the ones with the booming voices so that everyone can hear them.
And what ever you do, do not issue the command, "Cock Face"! You will get hazed.
PaidinBlood
03-30-09, 07:41 AM
And what ever you do, do not issue the command, "Cock Face"! You will get hazed.
Zing! :banana:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mfxcq77FkdE
Matt Brzycki
03-30-09, 04:50 PM
Without dusting off my drill manual (circa 1978, though I bet it hasn't changed much), here are some additional points which I hope are true despite my deteriorating memory chip:
There are two commands: The preparatory command and the command of execution. Man, I hadda reach deep for that one. The preparatory command, as the name implies, prepares the platoon for the movement. After this, there should be a slight pause (when used in a stationary position) before the command of execution. When marching, of course, the pause before the command of execution is one step.
Now, technically, according to the manual - unless there's been a change which would surprise me - the command of execution when marching is supposed to be "march" or "harch." Nuthin else. Any and all personal touches - such as "huh," "heh" or whatever - ARE UNAUTHORIZED. Either "march" or "harch" and that's it.
And, of course, as someone else pointed out, the key when marching is to start the preparatory command on the correct foot. Same concept applies when marching while doing rifle manual. Best way to do this, I think, is to practice on yourself. For stationary commands, we used to practice on trees. Serious. If your command presence was such that the tree actually followed your orders - or at least got the tree to shake - you were well on your way to getting through DI School.
Lastly, don't rush the time between the preparatory command and the command of execution in the stationary position. Ya gotta give the platoon a little time for the preparatory command to register. On the other hand, you don't wanna take forever between the two.
Matt Brzycki
Sergeant (1975-79)
Old Marine
03-30-09, 05:02 PM
The only personnel who I ever saw in the Marine Corps who knew how to give drill commands were Dril Instructors or former Drill Instructors. Anyone else is a pretender and usually it is like a monkey trying to rape a football.
commdog7
03-30-09, 05:02 PM
First off, you need CONFIDENCE! Judging by your post, you do not have too much. So what if you screw up a command, you are a poolee not a Marine. Just practice, practice, and practice some more until you have the confidence to be a decent driller. Have your recruiters teach you what they know.
And what ever you do, do not issue the command, "Cock Face"! You will get hazed.
What kind of idiot would say something like that, Corporal?
JWDevilDog
03-30-09, 10:05 PM
doing rifle manual. Best way to do this, I think, is to practice on yourself. For stationary commands, we used to practice on trees. Serious. If your command presence was such that the tree actually followed your orders - or at least got the tree to shake - you were well on your way to getting through DI School.
Careful, Sgt, we don't wouldn't want to give away too many secrets about DI school, now would we?
I love the way you worded that, though... I'm still chuckling...
0231Marine
03-31-09, 07:10 AM
What kind of idiot would say something like that, Corporal?
LOL, I don't know Books...you tell me.:bunny:
Okay. I've been practicing with the Marines at the Recruiting Station and so far so good. As the Sgt. above mentioned, they told me to have confidence, even if I'm wrong. and (hopefully) they think I must be doing a good job, because I haven't gotten fired.. Thanks for taking your time to assist me Ladies and Gentleman. Sorry I did not specify enough and you guys had to kind of guess around what I needed help with, this all came in handy.
Oh, and God Forbid I give the command Cock, Face! ha ha. I would not want to experience what S Sgt. Grady would do to me in that case, phew.
LOL, I don't know Books...you tell me.:bunny:
Hah! You didn't call me Cock Face. +1 for my real username. :banana:
PaidinBlood
03-31-09, 06:58 PM
Good for you cock face...
Old Marine
04-02-09, 03:04 PM
Okay. I've been practicing with the Marines at the Recruiting Station and so far so good. As the Sgt. above mentioned, they told me to have confidence, even if I'm wrong. and (hopefully) they think I must be doing a good job, because I haven't gotten fired.. Thanks for taking your time to assist me Ladies and Gentleman. Sorry I did not specify enough and you guys had to kind of guess around what I needed help with, this all came in handy.
Oh, and God Forbid I give the command Cock, Face! ha ha. I would not want to experience what S Sgt. Grady would do to me in that case, phew.
Hey numb nuts. First of all enlisted Marines are not gentlemen. Only Officers are considered gentlemen. WM's may be ladies, but most will probably tell you that they go by their Rank and name. You do not have to say Sir to an enlisted man, because he came up through the ranks. But you damn well better say Sir to your Drill Instructor even though he is enlisted.
thewookie
04-02-09, 03:19 PM
Hey numb nuts.
:marine: I love hearing that......doesn't get old,, eva.
I'm going outside and going to bust out a cadence while I go for a little trot....in honor of you Old Marine.....
ah-low right ah-lefty righty low... left foot, right foot, left-right-left:flag:
Old Marine
04-03-09, 08:52 AM
Wook: Sorry to hear that you have the trots. Try some kayopectate. Should cure the problem.