John K. Marshall, CDM, MCG’s Post

It's time, @uscg_academy - for the staffs and finials to be changed to be within standards. ❌Brown staffs are not authorized and the ❌battle-ax finial is not authorized for the other service colors besides the USN. The @uscoastguardbootcamp color guard recently changed to the correct light ash wood guidon staffs with the flat, silver spade. They did it because as soon as you pick up the Army departmental color, those standards apply. DoD Instruction 5410.19 Vol 4, AR 840-10, and MCO 5060.20. ❌All harness sockets must be under the web belts. ❌All harness sockets must be at the same level as the national bearer's or minimally lower. See MCO 5060.20. ❌All staffs must be angled slightly forward. TC 3-21.5. Note, the Joint Armed Forces Color Guard in DC doesn't angle staffs forward because all the service honor guards there keep the staffs vertical. Outside of DC, staffs are angled. ⭐Colors in correct order. ⭐Correct dimensions for colors. ⭐Correct length for the staffs. ⭐Fringe on the national is correct. • • • • • 🔆Education is 🔑! . 🔹Read your manuals! Download them free at the Resources page here: www.thedrillmaster.org . Prov 1:7b, Fools despise wisdom and instruction . 🔹https://lnkd.in/e6u7K8v2 . 🔹I educate, train, & certify cadets, military, judges, & 1st responders . 🔹Ask about a professional critique of your performance . 🔹If you choose to, you can learn more about D&C with my books on Ceremonial, Regulation, & Exhibition Drill: https://lnkd.in/ebVva2E . #honorguard #ceremonialguard #JROTC #AJROTC #MCJROTC #NJROTC #AFJROTC #SFJROTC #YoungMarines #CAP #CivilAirPatrol #SeaCadets

The Colors Turn On is a smoother transition to facing from column to line formation. It's used instead of Colors Halt, Left Face. Colors! Present, ARMS! Is used to help the team focus on the next command. Stand by, Colors, Attention does the same thing. The first of the two preparatory commands is the "focus" command because the mind can wander. Then, with the team brought back to the current situation, the standard preparatory and execution commands are given. The use of the two prep commands is just normal operations since changing depending on setting would be confusing. Practice for the team is minimal as they perform across DC sometimes several times each day. The very slow cadence for the guards is on purpose to match the slower three counts of the dipping staffs. Not exactly clicking for this one. 🔆Education is 🔑! . 🔹Read your manuals! Download them free at the Resources page here: www.thedrillmaster.org . Prov 1:7b, Fools despise wisdom and instruction . 🔹https://lnkd.in/e6u7K8v2 . 🔹I educate, train, & certify cadets, military, judges, & 1st responders . 🔹Ask about a professional critique of your performance . 🔹If you choose to, you can learn more about D&C with my books on Ceremonial, Regulation, & Exhibition Drill: https://lnkd.in/ebVva2E . #honorguard #ceremonialguard #JROTC #AJROTC #MCJROTC #NJROTC #AFJROTC #SFJROTC #YoungMarines #CAP #CivilAirPatrol #SeaCadets

I have a two questions for the @wv_nationalguard. 1️⃣Why did the Soldiers responsible for training the Winfield High School Future Leaders Program not use all of the standards in TC 3-21.5? Why just a handful of standards? 2️⃣Why use the cheapest junk on the market? The harnesses are all web material, even the "socket". ❌The socket is worn below the waist. 👉Wrong staffs, finials, and unauthorized cord and tassels for the military, but these students can carry these staffs. This why you should not carry any other organization's colors. They almost never meet military requirements. ❌This two-hand grip on the staffs is for strong wind. ❌WV pushed forward at Parade Rest, that's a guidon ONLY position. ❌That's not Colors Reverse. ❌No member of the team can execute About Face. ❌In a column of twos, bearers lead, guards trail. 👉Having said all that, these students can do almost whatever they want. They don't have to follow TC 3-21.5 as long as they follow the minimal guidance in the Flag Code. However, why would some Army protocols be followed and not all? 🔆Education is 🔑! . 🔹Read your manuals! Download them free at the Resources page here: www.thedrillmaster.org . Prov 1:7b, Fools despise wisdom and instruction . 🔹https://lnkd.in/e6u7K8v2 . 🔹I educate & train cadets, military, & judges & certify 1st responders as Certified US Ceremonial Guardsmen . 🔹Ask about a professional critique of your performance . 🔹If you choose to, you can learn more about D&C with my books on Ceremonial, Regulation, & Exhibition Drill: https://lnkd.in/ebVva2E . #honorguard #ceremonialguard #JROTC #AJROTC #MCJROTC #NJROTC #AFJROTC #SFJROTC #YoungMarines #CAP #CivilAirPatrol #SeaCadets

#MakeTheManualOfArmsGreatAgain and understand that, incredibly, MCO 5060.20 doesn't apply to both training depots. They both replicate the MCO with local documents, and add much more for the training environment. What's the result? A document that fully explains the training for D&C and the eventual slight change. Click on the tag at the top and see my recent post regarding the three grips on the rifle that are dependent on your service. Notice my thumb for the MC/N/CG grip. It's "tucked" into the curl of the index finger. Why is that? Because my fingers are probably further wrapped. I just went to my office, grabbed my M16 and replicated the grip shown here by pulling my fingers back to the right just a bit. That forced me to rest my thumb on my index finger. This is another example of the Marine Corps having three D&C standards. One for each Depot and the MCO. #MakeRegulationDrillGreatAgain 🔆Education is 🔑! . 🔹Read your manuals! Download them free at the Resources page here: www.thedrillmaster.org . Prov 1:7b, Fools despise wisdom and instruction . 🔹https://lnkd.in/e6u7K8v2 . 🔹I educate & train cadets, military, & judges & certify 1st responders as Certified US Ceremonial Guardsmen . 🔹Ask about a professional critique of your performance . 🔹If you choose to, you can learn more about D&C with my books on Ceremonial, Regulation, & Exhibition Drill: https://lnkd.in/ebVva2E . #honorguard #ceremonialguard #JROTC #AJROTC #MCJROTC #NJROTC #AFJROTC #SFJROTC #YoungMarines #CAP #CivilAirPatrol #SeaCadets

How does this happen? Usually all flagstaffs for a set are purchased together and all are the same length. So then, how is one flagstaff slightly longer than the other? Notice that the taller staff is for a GO PC (General Officer Personal Color). General officers have an enlisted aide who is responsible for many things, including travel with at least the PC if the the PC and staff. That could be the situation here. One thing that contributes to staff length discrepancies is the lack of understanding about how a flagstaff is measured. At one point AFI 34-1201 stated that length of the staff included the lower ferrule and finial. Then length was determined by just the wood, minus the metal hardware at each end (the middle screw joint is not considered). 👉Staff length is determined by the length of the wood, hardware is not included in the measurement. 🔆Education is 🔑! . 🔹Read your manuals! Download them free at the Resources page here: www.thedrillmaster.org . Prov 1:7b, Fools despise wisdom and instruction . 🔹https://lnkd.in/e6u7K8v2 . 🔹I educate, train, & certify cadets, military, judges, & 1st responders . 🔹Ask about a professional critique of your performance . 🔹If you choose to, you can learn more about D&C with my books on Ceremonial, Regulation, & Exhibition Drill: https://lnkd.in/ebVva2E . #honorguard #ceremonialguard #JROTC #AJROTC #MCJROTC #NJROTC #AFJROTC #SFJROTC #YoungMarines #CAP #CivilAirPatrol #SeaCadets

This is from a couple years ago and I forget what team this was. I'm guessing veteran group since many of them, without understanding how to #MakeFlagProtocolGreatAgain, just throw in the POW in every lineup as if it represents veterans and not a very specific group of veterans. Veteran groups have a choice of following one of the three service D&C manuals, the groups are not supposed to make up standards or techniques to suit their needs, although many do. Veteran groups come from the military and that requires military standards. An alternative can be my book, The Honor Guard Manual, since the standards in that book are based on US military ceremonial standards. ❌These are flags, not colors. Flags have a header band with grommets and do not have fringe. They are not authorized for military color guards. Colors have a staff sleeve/pole hem and can have fringe attached. ❌The staffs are also not authorized. These are for a civilian indoor display. ❌Marching the national color in the center between the other flags violates US military standards and the Flag Code. The US is marched on the far right, in line formation, and at the front, in column formation, of all other colors. Never any other position. 🔆Education is 🔑! . 🔹Read your manuals! Download them free at the Resources page here: www.thedrillmaster.org . Prov 1:7b, Fools despise wisdom and instruction . 🔹https://lnkd.in/e6u7K8v2 . 🔹I educate, train, & certify cadets, military, judges, & 1st responders . 🔹Ask about a professional critique of your performance . 🔹If you choose to, you can learn more about D&C with my books on Ceremonial, Regulation, & Exhibition Drill: https://lnkd.in/ebVva2E . #honorguard #ceremonialguard #JROTC #AJROTC #MCJROTC #NJROTC #AFJROTC #SFJROTC #YoungMarines #CAP #CivilAirPatrol #SeaCadets

UPDATE!

Fort Sill, OK @fortsillgarrison @usag_fort_sill_csm - The color guard of Drill Sergeants showed up untrained. But, according to unbelievably ignorant previous comments I've received, not meeting standards is perfectly acceptable. Here's just a brief selection: 1️⃣They were voluntold. 2️⃣They're wArFiGhTeRs. 3️⃣Its only color guard. So, the fact that Drill Sgts ❌don't know the position of the M4 at Order/Parade Rest (the mag well faces forward and the arm is straight) and ❌don't know that the American flagstaff is NEVER pushed forward and ❌that other colors are never pushed forward at Parade Rest (only Present for a low clearance area). This is a guidon staff position only. ⚠️Here's the reason they are supposed to meet standards: 👉It's their job. Not because they are Drill Sgts, it's because as soon as you are assigned to the team, it's your responsibility. Period. But, it's no big deal. Senior leaders hate it when I post negatively about what happens under their watch. I completely understand that. 🔆Education is 🔑! . 🔹Read your manuals! Download them free at the Resources page here: www.thedrillmaster.org . Prov 1:7b, Fools despise wisdom and instruction . 🔹https://lnkd.in/e6u7K8v2 . 🔹I educate, train, & certify cadets, military, judges, & 1st responders . 🔹Ask about a professional critique of your performance . 🔹If you choose to, you can learn more about D&C with my books on Ceremonial, Regulation, & Exhibition Drill: https://lnkd.in/ebVva2E . #honorguard #ceremonialguard #JROTC #AJROTC #MCJROTC #NJROTC #AFJROTC #SFJROTC #YoungMarines #CAP #CivilAirPatrol #SeaCadets

Question for the @illinoisarmyguard - what on earth were you thinking? No one owns a copy of TC 3-21.5, which is free? No one in the unit had any slight inkling that this might not meet any standards? ⭐Great spacing. ❌No web belts. Let's look at the guards first. ❌You march at Right Shoulder, not Port since the color bearers are supposed to be at Carry. ❌There's no such thing as Reverse or Mirror Port. ❌Your slings are thru the #StackingSwivel ❌You both may not be familiar with the finer details of Port with the M1 Garand, you're close but... Bearers. ⭐Correct colors type. ⭐Correct colors dimensions. ⭐Correct US staff. ⭐Correct US finial. ❌Colors staffs are never carried like a rifle at Port (runs with flags are different). ❌No colors harnesses. ❌Wrong staff for the state color. ❌Wrong color finial. ❌You must carry the Army departmental, Army National Guard organizational, or a unit color. ❌The gold-colored cord and tassels is not authorized for any Army flag. 👉Leadership failure. 🔆Education is 🔑! . 🔹Read your manuals! Download them free at the Resources page here: www.thedrillmaster.org . Prov 1:7b, Fools despise wisdom and instruction . 🔹https://lnkd.in/e6u7K8v2 . 🔹I educate, train, & certify cadets, military, judges, & 1st responders . 🔹Ask about a professional critique of your performance . 🔹If you choose to, you can learn more about D&C with my books on Ceremonial, Regulation, & Exhibition Drill: https://lnkd.in/ebVva2E . #honorguard #ceremonialguard #JROTC #AJROTC #MCJROTC #NJROTC #AFJROTC #SFJROTC #YoungMarines #CAP #CivilAirPatrol #SeaCadets

Recent MARSOC change of command. At first glance, colors looks great except for ❌not being at Close Interval. Shoulder-to-shoulder is not authorized at all for the Fleet. On closer inspection, we see that ❌the national color is being carried lower than the organizational. That's unacceptable. ⭐⭐The team looks good, in general. ⭐Left guard has good rifle position and hand placement. 👉Right rifle has good rifle position but weird right hand. ⭐Proper equipment all round. ⭐Org bearer "cutting the cake" (counter-clockwise rotation of the staff at Present to bring the spade edge pointing forward*). *This means all Marine Corps colors are mounted with the seam of the staff sleeve at the edge of the spade. It also means Marine Corps colors are always carried with the spade flat and the seam to the right (same for the guidon). Mounting colors with the seam on a flat side of the spade (carried so the seam faces rearward), like the Army, AF, and SF do, doesn't work. Navy and Coast Guard colors should be mounted with the seam at the rear of the battle-ax for parade use, and for posting it should be at the front edge of the battle-ax. When working jointly, use the Army method. I explain this with photos in my article here: https://lnkd.in/e5CDfU7 🔆Education is 🔑! . 🔹Read your manuals! Download them free at the Resources page here: www.thedrillmaster.org . Prov 1:7b, Fools despise wisdom and instruction . 🔹https://lnkd.in/e6u7K8v2 . 🔹I educate, train, & certify cadets, military, judges, & 1st responders . 🔹Ask about a professional critique of your performance . 🔹If you choose to, you can learn more about D&C with my books on Ceremonial, Regulation, & Exhibition Drill: https://lnkd.in/ebVva2E . #honorguard #ceremonialguard #JROTC #AJROTC #MCJROTC #NJROTC #AFJROTC #SFJROTC #YoungMarines #CAP #CivilAirPatrol #SeaCadets