"Column of files from the right..."

I was at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego in '83, but even after that, we had to do close order drill during inspections while out in the fleet.

The agency I retired from has a drill team, and what is so good about them is that a former sergeant, who was in charge of them, was on the Silent Drill Team. The team was very impressive, and it brought pride and dignity to many memorials and events.

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Originally posted by PHPaul:

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Originally posted by bald1:
Is this where the DI would command you to move up to close the interval to the man in front of you such that you would "make your buddy smile"?

LOL

"Nuts to Butts!"

First phrase that came to my mind. That was lining up to the chow line in San Diego. I wonder if they still do that now with mixed genders.

It would be surprising, shocking, if any of you marines did forget your close order drill.

Here is a story.

Germany in '64 or so, decided to award back pay to former Askari soldiers still alive, who fought for Imperial Germany in WW1 - mostly East German Africa and Southeast German Africa troops, in the African campaign, 1914-1918.

The banker assigned to pay the former soldiers had a problem in identifying whom to pay. He, probably ex-military himself, gave each applicant a broomstick to perform the Prussian Infantry Drill.

All applicants passed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Askari

BTW, for you military historians, the German Africa campaign of 1914-1918 presents a fantastic study in irregular warfare, where by a small well trained and led force of 11,000 to 13,000 troops tied down up to 500K troops over a 4 year period.

A well executed irregular warfare campaign can be impossible to defeat. The Askari's deserved their back pay.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_von_Lettow-Vorbeck

Not only do I remember it perfectly, I have a couple of other Marines for coworkers and we frequently do COD with umbrellas in the office hallway. You can imagine the looks.

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Originally posted by Snake207:
In college I was on the NROTC Drill Team.

“Well I’ll sleep better at night knowing that, sir.” — Gunny Highway

In high school we drilled with M-1's,I joined the navy and we drilled with o3's
We went to camp Pentalton and shot the M-1's under Marine instructors.

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We were "asshole to bellybutton" in 1989.

I remember that for sure. Plt 1089 - started in August of '89 and most definitely remember close order drill and my general orders.

IHTFP.

Ostensibly it stood for I hope there’s a Friday parade but more factually I hate this fucking place. USNA.

I can still do it, I don’t remember it with love though. Lol

A sailor here -

I remember training with old de-militarized Springfield '03s, and can still do the 13-count manual of arms without even thinking about it. Funny how some things stick with you for life.

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Originally posted by pedropcola:
IHTFP.

Ostensibly it stood for I hope there’s a Friday parade but more factually I hate this fucking place. USNA.

I can still do it, I don’t remember it with love though. Lol

I remember COD, but thankfully only did it during Plebe Summer. I then proceeded to miss every single parade, thanks to crew practice (I think that may have actually been a net loss...)

Question is - at this point in your life, do you ever look out the window in January, then open it up to scream "Dark Ages"?

Never been a marine, 11 years army, and I well remember close order drill.

Have not read the rest of the thread, but who here remembers the "stockade shuffle"?

Never been a Marine but my son was and my SIL retired from the Corps in 2007 as an O-5 Harrior pilot.

All these entries very familiar so the branches not far apart. My basic was at Sampson AFB in FEB TO April 1954. Retired in 1974.

My brother surely does. He was on the precision drill team in Navy ROTC at Texas. Their practices and performances were often enlivened with the presence of their team sweetheart, Farrah Fawcett.

Its been a while, but watching good close order drill still sends a chill up my spine. Love it.

The "snap and pop" is something to behold.

(And of course lends itself to good order and discipline)

feersum, good memories! The dark ages. lol

Ah yes, I remember it well. I actually enjoyed it. I was in Army basic training in the summer of 1959 and drilled with the M1. I can still do the manual of arms, even in my sleep today.

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Originally posted by G-Man:
Not only do I remember it perfectly, I have a couple of other Marines for coworkers and we frequently do COD with umbrellas in the office hallway. You can imagine the looks.

I clearly imagine you sending the resident Snowflakes scurrying for their "safe spaces"!

flashguy

In August, it will be 30 years since I first stepped on the yellow footprints. I still remember all of the drill movements perfectly, but some of my general orders are a bit fuzzy.

It will be 35 for me this August.

I dont have a 20in AR to practice with, but I imagine the muscle memory is all there for most of it.

Who remembers the 12th general order?

Spoiler below



To walk my post from flank to flank, and take no shit from any rank.

I too am not a Marine. I just bought an M1a and I did all the drills when I got home. What impressed me was that I remembered them. My wife and daughter thought I was nuts. My neighbors were scared that something was going on.