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Exhibition drill is a variant of drill that involves complex marching sequences which usually deviate from drill used in the course of ordinary parades. Teams performing exhibition drill are often affiliated with military units, but the scope of exhibition drill is not limited to military drill teams. Exhibition drill is often performed by Armed Forces Precision Drill Teams, the drill teams at service academies and ROTC and JROTC units, and civilian drill teams that perform at parades, drill meets, and half-time shows and other public venues.
The first documented performance[ citation needed ] of exhibition drill was performed by Hadji Cheriff and filmed at what is believed to be[ by whom? ] the Midway Plaisance of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois. The film was later copyrighted by Thomas Edison in 1899, entitled The Arabian Gun Twirler.[ citation needed ]
The performance demonstrates aerial (two 1½s over-hand thrown from the firing hammer[ clarify ]) and over-the-shoulder techniques, over-the-head drill,[ clarify ] and under-the-leg inverted spin.[ clarify ]
It is believed[ by whom? ] that the weapon was a .577 caliber, triple band 1853 Enfield Musket, which is 56" long and weighs about 9.5 pounds and thus is 13" longer and heavier than most drill weapons used today.[ citation needed ]
Exhibition drill is one of many different drill phases that are a part of a drill meet. Other phases include Inspection, Color Guard and Regulation Drill.
Exhibition military drill has grown drastically in popularity in recent decades. This growth can be attributed to several primary factors. These include:
General rules and guidelines
Rules of exhibition drill during competitions vary, but most of them apply the following guidelines:
Time – There is usually a minimum and maximum time a routine may take. Points are deducted if a team is under or over time.
Boundaries – Teams should be aware of their boundary lines, and if necessary, alter their routines as to not cross the boundary lines. Points are deducted if a person crosses a boundary line.
Some high-school level competitions prevent cadets who are participating in armed drill events from performing more dangerous 'over the head' spins, or raising cadets off the floor, in the interest of safety.
Some high school drill teams compete at the National High School Drill Team Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida, and generally use demilitarized Springfield M1903s, M1 Garands, M-14 rifles and Daisy Drill Rifles. There are also national drill level competitions for JROTC divisions, including Navy JROTC, Army JROTC, Marine Corps JROTC, and Air Force JROTC. Other countries have their own drill team competitions for teenagers.
In an unarmed division, exhibition drill may consist of intricate precision marching, along with various hand movements. Modified step team routines are used in some competitions.
In addition to the National High School Drill Team Championships, SNI also hosts the World Drill Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida. This event is for competitors who are 18 and have graduated from high school and open to competitors worldwide.
Past WDC Champions [3]
Year | Category | Name | Category | Names |
---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | Solo | Filiki Tupuola Jr | Tandem | Chester Centino; Balisco |
2008 | Solo | Chester Centino | Tandem | Bolo; McCoy |
2009 | Solo | Matthew Wendling | ||
2010 | Solo | Michael Renn | Tandem | Michael Renn; Adam Renn |
2011 | Solo | Matthew Wendling | Tandem | Michael Renn; Adam Renn |
2012 | Solo | Andres Ryan | Tandem | Michael Renn; Adam Renn |
2013 | Solo | Justin Delaurier | Tandem | Michael Renn; Adam Renn |
2014 | Solo | Samuel Gozo | Tandem | Barbosa; Barbosa |
2015 | Solo | Andres Ryan | Tandem | Chris Haley; Tyler van Keuren |
2016 | Solo | Michael Renn | Group | Dylan Baine; Michael Renn; Adam Renn |
2017 | Solo | Robert Zyko | ||
2018 | Solo | Andres Ryan | Tandem | Andres Ryan; Adam Jeup |
2019 | Solo | Alejandro Paulino | Tandem | Andres Ryan; Neriah Guerin |
2020 | Solo | Samuel Gozo | Tandem | Andres Ryan; Neriah Guerin |
2021 | Solo | Trey Simmonds | Tandem | Neriah Guerin; Brando Fuentes |
2022 | Solo | Neriah Guerin | Tandem | Cameron Arroyo; Trey Simmonds |
2023 | Solo | Jackson Rainwater | Tandem | Trey Simmonds; Isaac Rodriguez |
2024 | Solo | Jackson Rainwater | Tandem | Jonathan Ludwig; Jackson Rainwater |
Colleges with Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) units, as well as military academies, have drill teams normally train and compete in two types of drill events: Regulation/Close Order and Exhibition (Trick or Fancy) Drill. Regulation Drill is conducted in accordance with Field Manual 22-5 (now FM 3-21.5) Drill and Ceremonies. Exhibition Drill is more free form and often more elaborate than Regulation Drill. Exhibition Drill teams are also more colorful in uniform and weaponry. In both types of event, participants are typically armed with weapons made safe or inert by removal of firing pins. Armament is totally devoid of all firing mechanisms for the safety of participants and audience alike.
The Reserve Officers' Training Corps is a group of college- and university-based officer-training programs for training commissioned officers of the United States Armed Forces.
The Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets is a student military organization at Texas A&M University. Established with the university in 1876, it is the oldest student organization on campus.
A military parade is a formation of soldiers whose movement is restricted by close-order manoeuvering known as drilling or marching. Large military parades are today held on major holidays and military events around the world. Massed parades may also hold a role for propaganda purposes, being used to exhibit the apparent military strength of a country.
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The National Society of Pershing Rifles is a US military-oriented honor society for college-level students founded in 1894 as a drill unit at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. It is the oldest continuously operating US college organization dedicated to military drill. Originally named Varsity Rifles, members renamed the organization in honor of their mentor and patron, Lieutenant John J. Pershing, upon his departure from the university in 1895.
The Blue Ridge Rifles, established in 1950, is a military precision drill team within the ROTC program at the University of North Georgia. It is not directly affiliated with the Blue Ridge Rifles that existed as a military unit of the Confederate States Army during the Civil War, but drew its name in memory of that unit that stood up from the local area.
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The Fort Henry Guard (FHG) is a historical interpretation and exhibition drill organization based at Fort Henry, a national historic site in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. It has recreated the British military tradition of a bygone era since its founding in 1938. The Guard seeks to interpret in an entertaining and animated manner, a snapshot of life in the British Army of Queen Victoria, when Canada was part of the British Empire. The Guard also practices and performs historic military drill, demonstrated during daily inspections, cannon firings and garrison parades in addition to the weekly Sunset Ceremonies. Guard members dress in the standard line infantry uniforms of a British regiment and the standard gunner's uniforms of the Royal Artillery in the year of 1867, but the Guard does not represent any specific infantry regiment that garrisoned the fort.
A drill purpose rifle is a rifle which has been altered so that it can no longer be fired. This is generally undertaken by either removing the firing pin or leading the barrel. These rifles are used solely for drill purposes, training and teaching, usually by cadet forces. These rifles can be marched with and can also be used to perform exhibition style individual or group maneuvers.
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Precision Drill Squad is a form of exhibition drill practised in Singapore which involves the execution of rifle drills in complex series of movements with great co-ordination and precision. The natures of these drills exhibit a plethora of diversity; they may be sharp and quick, graceful and flowing, or include a wide variety of tossing and spinning techniques. During performances, performers move in unison through choreographed patterns with the rifles moving under their control, always synchronised with the rhythm of the music. Drills are executed without command and the only sound that is heard is the snap and pop of the rifles on every step, in perfect synchronisation and with precision.
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University of Florida ROTC is the official officer training and commissioning program at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. The ROTC Program offers commissions for the U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marines, and the U.S. Air Force. The unit is one of the oldest in the nation and is currently located in Van Fleet Hall on the university's campus. The university's Air Force ROTC won the Right of Line Trophy in 2007 and 2009 ranking it as the top program of its size in the nation. The unit has also been home to the prestigious Gator Guard Drill Team since 1953.
The Coed Affiliates Pershing Rifles (CAPER) was established in 1966 as the first officially recognized female auxiliary to the National Society of Pershing Rifles. It was disbanded in the early 1980s when women were fully integrated into Pershing Rifles. The organization has also been called the Coed Affiliates of Pershing Rifles and CAPERS over the years.
The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) is a federal program sponsored by the United States Armed Forces in high schools and also in some middle schools across the United States and at US military bases across the world. The program was originally created as part of the National Defense Act of 1916 and later expanded under the 1964 ROTC Vitalization Act.
Air Force Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (AFJROTC) is an elective class offered in many high schools across the United States. It is the junior division of a U.S. Air Force Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program composed of physical training, aerospace science academic classes, and leadership skill creation. Outside of the formal class, there are extra-curricular teams that cadets may participate in to create qualities of leadership and followership. Unlike the collegiate version of ROTC, upon completion of JROTC there is no military service required. This allows the youth of the United States to experience the military without having long-term commitments.
The National High School Drill Team Championships is a Drill Team Competition, held in Daytona Beach, Florida, in the month of May each year at the ocean center. The Drill teams from across the nation converge to compete in both the Master's and the Challenge level competitions. This event is currently the largest centralized drill team event. The company which runs the competition is Sports Network International (SNI), which hosts football and other Junior ROTC events as well. Although it has been held since 1982, it only became an official when the Army Cadet Command became the sponsor in 1988.
The Gator Guard Drill Team, abbreviated GGDT, is a precision drill team and military fraternity based at the University of Florida (UF). The team is named after the Florida Gator, the mascot of the UF. Founded in 1953, the Gator Guard is most widely known for its annual performances in the New Orleans Mardi Gras Parades. In 2016, the team consisted of 31 active male and female members. And would frequently chant, "Go Gators!"
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