Lets face it..no one likes marching. These boys and girls are good
When I saw a TV programme (Masterchef I think) showing ITS at RAF Halton with regular RAF personnel, I was amazed how badly they were drilling.
Last edited by chevvron; 7th Dec 2022 at 20:35.
Two questions.
How can anyone be so ridiculous as to assert "no one likes marching"? I loved it, as did most of my colleagues.
What the heck is 'cow-kicking'? It never featured in any drill I ever did.
How can anyone be so ridiculous as to assert "no one likes marching"? I loved it, as did most of my colleagues.
What the heck is 'cow-kicking'? It never featured in any drill I ever did.
There's a lot of satisfaction in marching when it all comes together. I'll never forget the hours of being screamed by the drill instructors on bitterly cold winter days and told we were the worst intake they'd ever seen and the gradual melding into a smart and efficient parade. The best bits were the perfect-line abreast march-past formations and the spoke of a wheel thing where the left marker was virtually marking time and the thirty or so airmen to his right marching anti-clockwise in increasingly longer steps to maintain a straight line (what was it called?)
Pretty much everyone agreed that the most-hated sessions eventually became the most enjoyable. I could probably still do it today (50 years later) in a reasonably good fashion as long as it was with SLRs.
Check, T,L,V, Away!
Pretty much everyone agreed that the most-hated sessions eventually became the most enjoyable. I could probably still do it today (50 years later) in a reasonably good fashion as long as it was with SLRs.
Check, T,L,V, Away!
Drill is a completely un-natural way of moving. Thus it makes the squad members think as they act. I did it for over 40 years, first as a cadet then ATC AWO and officer. Once the cadets got used to the idea, it gave a great sense of pride and achievement, which, I'm sure you'll agree, is a great thing. I always felt under pressure not to mess thinks up and let them down. I had a piece of paper in my pocket with the orders written on it. Whilst there was no way I could get it out and read it on parade, it was a kind of 'security blanket' for me.
As others have said, watching good drill is a thing of beauty, even now1 Well done all, keep it up!
As others have said, watching good drill is a thing of beauty, even now1 Well done all, keep it up!
I had a sense of impending doom each time they marched toward a dead end.
I must show this to " our lot" The Sqn was depleted during covid so a good two thirds are the two intakes this year, around half being September. We have some way to go to reach this standard in two parades a week.
I must show this to " our lot" The Sqn was depleted during covid so a good two thirds are the two intakes this year, around half being September. We have some way to go to reach this standard in two parades a week.
I have always had the aircrew disdain of Drill, why march when you can fly! QR's used to state that to be on official parades you have to be above 5ft 6inches and below 6ft 10 inches and those who know me know that I definitely fall BELOW that bracket. This was all I needed to avoid it for almost all of my career. However since I joined the ATC on retirement I have been on more parades than I ever did in regular service. The cadets in the main really enjoy it and have immense pride in themselves when they get it right. In October, Bristol & Gloucester Wing attended camp at Halton. The Drill competition was judged by the Recruit Training School Warrant Officer, who stated publicly that he wish half of todays recruits would perform as well as our cadets. And this is after 2 years of COVID with Squadrons unable to parade and a whole raft of new recruits who were new to the corps.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
I could probably still do it today (50 years later) in a reasonably good fashion as long as it was with SLRs
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Not forgetting the associated BS of cleaning / kit preparation ....more time needlessly wasted.
There was also the fact, that, those who seemed to take a lot of interest in any of the above, did so as a cover for their inabilities elsewhere.
And besides which, I have a very sensitive nature....and was called some very rude words
Well, it's like this.....ok, drill is part of being in the military...no escaping that but, after a (very!) short while, the novelty wears off...rapidly !....the synchronised walking bit is all very well for those who enjoy pointless wasting of time.....tended to interfere with more valid usage of time, such as a social life, or, work...if you've joined the Army and one of the Regiments for whom drill is part of their work, fine...if you've joined the RAF to maintain / fly or any RAF role for that matter, then it can be dispensed with.
Not forgetting the associated BS of cleaning / kit preparation ....more time needlessly wasted.
There was also the fact, that, those who seemed to take a lot of interest in any of the above, did so as a cover for their inabilities elsewhere.
And besides which, I have a very sensitive nature....and was called some very rude words
Not forgetting the associated BS of cleaning / kit preparation ....more time needlessly wasted.
There was also the fact, that, those who seemed to take a lot of interest in any of the above, did so as a cover for their inabilities elsewhere.
And besides which, I have a very sensitive nature....and was called some very rude words
I can't remember how to port arms but might still be able to strip down a Bren gun.I got my indoor marksman's badge with a .22 but when I came to fire the .303 on the range, the kick was too much for this skinny little 14-year-old, I lost confidence and failed to qualify.
RAF next stop,The Queen's (King's) Colour Squadron has got to be one of - if not the - best precision drill units in the world.
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Ah, you can't beat a good Drill session for generating a bit of personal pride in getting things right as part of a team.
In my CCF Cadet days, I went on a Drill Course with the Irish Guards at Caterham Barracks. Quite stimulating! Four squads of Cadets drilling at the same time, with 'your' squad on the opposite side of the Square hopefully receiving your commands. Some years later, at OCTU, this all helped when doing and ordering drill. Although our Sqn WO (Mr Matthews) observed "You don't need to shout quite as loudly, Mr. MPN11."
In my CCF Cadet days, I went on a Drill Course with the Irish Guards at Caterham Barracks. Quite stimulating! Four squads of Cadets drilling at the same time, with 'your' squad on the opposite side of the Square hopefully receiving your commands. Some years later, at OCTU, this all helped when doing and ordering drill. Although our Sqn WO (Mr Matthews) observed "You don't need to shout quite as loudly, Mr. MPN11."
My last such occasions were differently attired, with a sword and 'protecting' the CFS colours - indoctrinated into 'twiddly shuffling' turns on the spot by the 'Rocks' at Uxbridge ! Best bit ... last on, first off !
Ah, you can't beat a good Drill session for generating a bit of personal pride in getting things right as part of a team.
In my CCF Cadet days, I went on a Drill Course with the Irish Guards at Caterham Barracks. Quite stimulating! Four squads of Cadets drilling at the same time, with 'your' squad on the opposite side of the Square hopefully receiving your commands. Some years later, at OCTU, this all helped when doing and ordering drill. Although our Sqn WO (Mr Matthews) observed "You don't need to shout quite as loudly, Mr. MPN11."
In my CCF Cadet days, I went on a Drill Course with the Irish Guards at Caterham Barracks. Quite stimulating! Four squads of Cadets drilling at the same time, with 'your' squad on the opposite side of the Square hopefully receiving your commands. Some years later, at OCTU, this all helped when doing and ordering drill. Although our Sqn WO (Mr Matthews) observed "You don't need to shout quite as loudly, Mr. MPN11."
One Easter camp at Brize Norton, we won the drill competition, which put a smile on our CO's face, but I still dont think he ever forgave me for attending that drill course at Caterham in the first place.
I returned to Caterham Barracks when I was billeted there for my gliding course at Kenly.
Happy days!
And we still don't know what 'cow-kicking' is.
Personally I thought those boys and girls were bloody good and if that was part of a competition, I hope they won it.
Personally I thought those boys and girls were bloody good and if that was part of a competition, I hope they won it.