History of Drill and Ceremony

The Importance of drill is to enable a commander to move his unit from one place to another in an orderly fashion. Drill aides in disciplinary training by instilling habits of precision and response to the leader’s orders. It also provides a means through ceremonies of enhancing the morale of troops developing the spirit of cohesion, and presenting traditional, interesting and well-executed military parades. Drill helps provide the development of all soldiers in the practice of commanding troops. The primary goal of drill is to prepare troops for battle by practicing tactical maneuvers employed on the battlefield. It enables commanders to conduct their forces into formation and prepares those forces for the situations at hand. Drill is much more than just a bunch of choreographed steps. It commands presence, confidence, and the ability for troops to form and unite as one. Through the years though advanced weaponry has diminished the need for drill’s use on the battlefield. However drill is still taught to the soldiers so that they can learn professionalism, teamwork, discipline, pride, and confidence.

Soldiers learn drill through three different methods: step by step, talk-through and by-the-numbers. Generally, drill instructors teach the marching movements by using the step by step method. The movements that require simultaneous movements benefit from the talk-through method, and movements that consist of two or more actions are taught using the by-the-numbers method. Soldiers have to respond to drill movements repeatedly until they become habits.

In 1775, when our country was fighting for its independence, our government and country were faced with the problem of organizing an Army engaged in war. From April 19, 1775, until Valley Forge in 1778, General George Washington and his troops, who were no more than a group of civilians, endured significant loss due to superior British forces. The British military was highly trained in battle. General George...