The Drill Pad

The purpose of drill is to:
  • Enable a commander to move his unit from one place to another in an orderly manner.
  • Aid in disciplinary training by instilling habits of precision and response to the leader's orders.
  • Provide a means, through ceremonies, of enhancing the morale of troops, developing the spirit of cohesion, and presenting traditional, interesting and well-executed military parades.
  • Provide for the development of all soldiers in the practice of commanding troops.

Drill is the purest form of leadership that exists in the military training environment. One leader gives commands and the followers respond with immediate and flawless execution. The very definition of a drill command, an "oral order," leaves no doubt of its intention. There are no arguments, no committee consensus, no debating, and no refusals. Military directives precisely describe each movement in stages leaving no doubt or confusion on its execution. Drill is the foundation on which everything in the military is built.

One of the key factors in teaching drill correctly is the method of instruction. The "demonstration/performance method" along with the whole-part-whole concept should be used. This method shows how the finished product looks, then it is broken down into small parts, thus giving a step-by-step detailed explanation of how to achieve the task in a logical sequence. Then it is put back together and, again, the finished product is reviewed.

If this sounds a little complicated, it is. Teaching drill properly is not easy. If it was, everyone would be doing it and doing it properly. Teaching drill requires a high degree of instructor skill. Demonstrations must be flawless and made to appear easy so that all students will be confident of their ability to perform in a similar manner. It takes many hours of practice before an instructor can give a flawless lesson. The lesson sets the standard. On the drill pad there are no arguments, no committee consensus, no debating, and no refusals. There is no doubt or confusion on the execution of a movement. There is only drill, leadership in its purest form.