Silent Drill Platoon The United States Marines Silent Drill Platoon is precision, timing, and discipline at its best. The team tours the country performing at special events.
Drill Platoon candidates participate in a four-month Silent Drill School in Yuma, Arizona, where they live and breathe drill work. They maintain their rhythm with no verbal commands or cadence. After drill school, candidates must try out before attaining a position with the team.
Their impeccable dress blue uniforms and perfect timing speaks to the pride and commitment of the entire Marine Corps.
At a New York Giants game in the fall of 2001, fans overcome by the show of patriotism shouted "U.S.A., U.S.A." throughout the drill team's entire performance. Amazingly, the Marines pulled the performance off without a hitch, never once allowing themselves to be distracted by the enthusiastic crowd.
Silent Drill Platoon video
Amazingly, the Silent Drill Platoon maintains their rhythm with no verbal commands or cadence.
'The President's Own' Marine Band The United States Marine Band has been part of the events that have shaped our national heritage for more than two centuries. Its omnipresent role in events of national importance has made it part of the fabric of American life.
Established by an Act of Congress in 1798, the Marine Band is America's oldest professional musical organization. Its primary mission is unique-to provide music for the President of the United States and the Commandant of the Marine Corps.
President John Adams invited the Marine Band to make its White House debut in the unfinished Executive Mansion on New Year's Day 1801. In March of that year, the band performed for the inaugural of Thomas Jefferson and has performed for every Presidential inaugural since that time. An accomplished musician himself, Jefferson recognized the unique relationship between the band and the Chief Executive by giving the Marine Band the title, "The President's Own."
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Marine Band the title, "The President's Own."
Whether performing for South Lawn arrival ceremonies, State Dinners, or receptions, Marine Band musicians appear at the White House about 300 times each year. Additionally, the band participates in more than 500 public and official performances annually, including concerts and ceremonies throughout the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. Each fall, the band travels through a region of the United States during its concert tour, a tradition started by John Philip Sousa, the band's legendary 17th director.
It was President Thomas Jefferson who proudly proclaimed the U.S. Marine Band 'The President's Own.'
Listen to 'The President's Own' Marine Band playing The Stars and Stripes Forever in Luzern, Switzerland.MP3 works good.
"Amazingly, the Silent Drill Platoon maintains their rhythm with no verbal commands or cadence." After having been the Right Guide in my training at Parris Island and then became a Classroom Subjects Instructor, I was asked to be that in all inspections and ceremonies (as you know, the one dedicating the Iwo Jima Monument) in which the Women Marines participated.
The male Drill Instructor who'd trained me, Sgt. Richard Duncan, formed a Women's Silent Drill Team with eight of us, with me as the Leader.
There are indeed no verbal commands or cadence call from beginning to end, and he took us to the USO's in Savannah and Charleston to perform.
It was something I truly enjoyed.
He loved to relate the fact I established a legend for him, to brag about to the men who thought we were a joke.
In my Basic Training, there were 73 women in my Platoon, and there in June, July and August, because of the heat our drill practice was done after breakfast on the street, or at 1900 on the tennis court.
One evening, Richard was concentrating on the feather merchants (short ones) at the rear of the platoon, out of step, and failed to remember there are two short ends on the court.
Leading as Right Guide, he'd turned me onto one, but was silent when ahead loomed first the end of the concrete, bit of grass - and then the wire court fence.
All of a sudden, he snapped around to shout a "Right Turn, March!" for me - but it was too late.
He loved to pause for effect, and then continue with, "and when I looked, she was going UP THE FENCE, with the next gal planting a foot to follow!"
You, of course, go over the proverbial cliff unless your order is amended..:))
"Amazingly, the Marines pulled the performance off without a hitch, never once allowing themselves to be distracted by the enthusiastic crowd." Dubya, I can attest to the fact it is easy for a Marine to isolate themselves from external distractions.
Wherever we marched, men in those days loved to try to shake our composure and make us laugh, get out of step, look their way, whatever...
As Right Guide, and later as Leader of the Silent Drill Team, I was transported to a plateau where I was impervious to anything except the task at hand.
In Basic, it was the pace the DI had set for me, and I could have done it 14 hours without any effort, all the while catching any changes he made, faster or slower in the cadence.
I was processing the faces on the side and their faces and sounds they made, but they all bounced off stone.
It's hard to explain, but determination is a factor!
Corps rules!