Drill

[terrier]

Why do many sections of the Defence Forces look sloppy on ceremonial occasions ? I don't mean thier dress, but the drill looks like they're out for a stroll ! They're often not dressed off by height , they sway back and forwards like they're auditioning for the Wind That Shakes The Barley, and the slow march is a parody. I was told that the senior officer in charge of the Easter Commemoration 2009 at the GPO said that the Cadets were " the one shining light " of the whole ceremony.
Is it the union ? Is being drilled properly now considered bullying ? Or is it another one of those anti brit syndrome things ? ie the Brits do it smartly, so we'll show 'em !

[hedgehog]

What are you actually referring to?

[Groundhog]

Why do many sections of the Defence Forces look sloppy on ceremonial occasions ? I don't mean thier dress, but the drill looks like they're out for a stroll ! They're often not dressed off by height , they sway back and forwards like they're auditioning for the Wind That Shakes The Barley, and the slow march is a parody. I was told that the senior officer in charge of the Easter Commemoration 2009 at the GPO said that the Cadets were " the one shining light " of the whole ceremony.
Is it the union ? Is being drilled properly now considered bullying ? Or is it another one of those anti brit syndrome things ? ie the Brits do it smartly, so we'll show 'em !

What we refer to as "Drill", is 18th century tactics.

300 years after the War of the Spanish Succession, "Drill" is meaningless, pointless shite beloved of trainspotters, gobshites and civilians everywhere.

E.G. when the Steyr came into service many Sergeants-Major were upset that there wasn't as much drill as there was previously and they tried to introduce drill movements that were not actually necessary. Unsuccessfully thank God.

[sofa]

When on show to the public you have to look as smart as the brits,
People do not see how good you performing in the glen or abroad, its all about
perception. I hate seening some of the older guys with there head dress
worn like a A-rab.

[ZULU]

What we refer to as "Drill", is 18th century tactics.

300 years after the War of the Spanish Succession, "Drill" is meaningless, pointless shite beloved of trainspotters, gobshites and civilians everywhere.

E.G. when the Steyr came into service many Sergeants-Major were upset that there wasn't as much drill as there was previously and they tried to introduce drill movements that were not actually necessary. Unsuccessfully thank God.

It goes back a long way further back in time than the 18th Century!

If it really is the case that it is meaningless, pointless shite, why are the worlds foremost infantry forces so big on its execution at the highest levels?

[Barry]

It's done in a half arsed, sloppy manner outside of training institutions. This tends to show on ceremonial occasions, where the step usually goes out the window. And let's not even mention the idea of doing more than one rehearsal.

One problem, as I ranted about in a thread a couple of weeks ago, is the lack of a drill wing to set and enforce standards of foot and arms drill (at all levels) and to be the go-to people for matters ceremonial, and the lack of dedicated drill instructor training (learning the screed and doing a square test on your PNCO course does not a drill instructor make).

[Tango_Charlie]

How can you reasonably expect units to commit to to something as pointless as foot drill training when they so many otherundeniably more important commitments. Duties, ATCP, exercises etc etc. And the idea of a dedicated drill training depot is to my mind about as useful as the equitation school.

I'm not disputing that drill is a necessary part of induction/recruit training to teach a young soldier to work as part of a large group. You mentioned the cadets being 'a shining light' or something to this effect. Well i reckon we should leave all ceremonial duties to them and the RDF and let the rest of the army get on with some soldiering instead of standing outside of Aras in the lashing rain.

'No combat-ready unit ever passed inspection. No inspection-ready unit ever passed combat'

[Groundhog]

If it really is the case that it is meaningless, pointless shite, why are the worlds foremost infantry forces so big on its execution at the highest levels?

Tourism.

[Hello Alaska]

**** drill, of both the foot and arms variety.

[lefty]

**** drill, of both the foot and arms variety.

**** duty, **** shooting, **** cash escorts. Its a part of the job. I dont think there should be a drill school, or practice done for it every day. Once a unit is tasked with a ceremonial, soldiers on said ceremonial should be drilled so that they perform it well. As soldiers are expected to. Like i said its part of the job description and when its done badly it looks crap

[spider]

Drill instills discipline, obedience,confidence, pride and team work.

I read somewhere of a Royal Navy tender crew. They were ordered to put a tow on a larger ship. When the tender took the strain, the Captain shouted one command from the bridge - ' Down ' ! Everyone hit the deck. The Captain had seen that the wire tow line was fraying and had time to shout a warning befor it snapped. The wire rope was flung back and cut a metal pipe in half. Had the crew not instinctively obeyed orders, some of them would have been killed. Drill instills obeying orders as second nature.

The British Army may be big on drill, and yes some units are deployed in a role which brings them into contact with tourists. But drill is seen as a major part of the ethos of the British Army, from moulding recruits to every stage of an NCO's career as he progresses through the ranks. All soldiers from Irish Guardsmen to Royal Logistics Corps chefs do drill, and continue to do drill throughout their careers. It is part of being a Soldier. There is a place for, and a reason for drill. It instills discipline, obedience,confidence, pride and team work. It helps to seperate the men from the boys. And the results of that are seen on operations around the World today.

I'm not in, and was never in the Irish DF, and I've never seen their drill (except on TV), but I would imagine like any other Army in the World, there is a place for drill - it instills discipline, obedience,confidence, pride and team work.

On a slightly side issue, is it true that the ' Bloods ' are / were seen as the Irish Army's premier drill outfit ?

[rod and serpent]

Drill instills discipline, obedience,confidence, pride and team work.

I read somewhere of a Royal Navy tender crew. They were ordered to put a tow on a larger ship. When the tender took the strain, the Captain shouted one command from the bridge - ' Down ' ! Everyone hit the deck. The Captain had seen that the wire tow line was fraying and had time to shout a warning befor it snapped. The wire rope was flung back and cut a metal pipe in half. Had the crew not instinctively obeyed orders, some of them would have been killed. Drill instills obeying orders as second nature.

The British Army may be big on drill, and yes some units are deployed in a role which brings them into contact with tourists. But drill is seen as a major part of the ethos of the British Army, from moulding recruits to every stage of an NCO's career as he progresses through the ranks. All soldiers from Irish Guardsmen to Royal Logistics Corps chefs do drill, and continue to do drill throughout their careers. It is part of being a Soldier. There is a place for, and a reason for drill. It instills discipline, obedience,confidence, pride and team work. It helps to seperate the men from the boys. And the results of that are seen on operations around the World today.

I'm not in, and was never in the Irish DF, and I've never seen their drill (except on TV), but I would imagine like any other Army in the World, there is a place for drill - it instills discipline, obedience,confidence, pride and team work.

On a slightly side issue, is it true that the ' Bloods ' are / were seen as the Irish Army's premier drill outfit ?

It`s a Pill that should be taken twice a day.

[rod and serpent]

Spider, don`t the PSNI have drill instructors.

[spider]

Yes Rod, they have drill instructors, and they have to attend and pass (or certainly used to do) the Drill Instructors course at Depot Guards Division in Pirbright.

They are normally ex-Servicemen.

[hedgehog]

Drill is a necessary evil-

It should be done regularly - I hate it- but I realise its importance.

Its never ever a waste of time

except when the NCO is doing it wrong.


Spider I agree with your sentiments

that is except the Bloods bit- them inbread lads were each born with an inability to distinguish right

from left.