Drill and Ceremonies
The Drill and Ceremonies domain tests whether you can execute and explain standardized movements used in squad, platoon, and ceremonial formations: positions, facing movements, marching, saluting, and command voice. Questions often turn on command sequence, who commands whom, and the difference between ceremony and tactical movement.
Core rules
- At attention: heels together, feet at a 45-degree angle, legs straight, hands curled with thumbs along the seams, head erect.
- Parade rest: feet about 10 inches apart, hands behind the back, right hand over left, head and eyes forward. At ease permits relaxed arms but keeps the right foot in place; rest permits movement unless otherwise directed.
- Hand salute: right hand raised with upper arm horizontal, forearm at about 45 degrees, fingers straight and joined, middle-finger tip touching the headgear edge or eyebrow; hold until the salute is returned.
- Facing movements execute on the ball and heel of the feet as prescribed, with the body erect and the trailing foot brought smartly to the leading foot.
- A preparatory command tells the unit what to do; the command of execution tells it when. “Squad, ATTENTION” is preparatory “Squad” plus execution “ATTENTION.”
Worked example
On “Right, FACE,” “Right” is preparatory and “FACE” is execution. You pivot 90 degrees to the right, keep your body erect, and bring your left foot to your right without scraping. Reasoning: the preparatory command sets the movement; the execution command starts it; neither alone is the full command.
Traps that cost marks
Moving on the preparatory command, confusing “at ease” with “rest,” saluting with a bent wrist or open fingers, and failing to hold the salute until it is returned. Also watch for commands delivered without the required pause between preparatory and execution parts.