Color Guard Practices?

[Drill for life]

In the CSM Tips Thread a Cadet wanted to know how to make Color Guard practices more Efficent, so I started a new Thread for this purpose.
My units Color Guard are made up of Drill Team members so we only have to run through our Routine one time so the Rifles and Flags are Snychronized.
if you have anything to add please post it.

[TruBlu]

A good Color Guard is a well timed Color Guard. Your flag bearers and riflemen should have the same amount of counts for every movement. For example: In AFJROTC, the command "Carry Colors" is four counts: Riflemen go to "Right Shoulder" (cross the rifle up (1), grasp the butt of the rifle with the right hand (2), pivot the rifle and bring it in (3), drop the left hand (4). Flag Bearers go to "Carry" (bring the flag up and in front (1), position the flag directly over the cup/holster/carrier (2), drop the flag into the cup/holster/carrier (3), drop the left hand to the cup/holster/carrier (4). If you notice, those movements are essentially the same: Bring the flag/rifle up (1), ready the flag/rifle for position (2), position the flag/rifle (3), drop the left hand (4). Seeing as this is AJROTC compared to AFJROTC, there won't be much of a difference in the routine, if one at all. I suggest that Color Guards practice this until the timing is as close to perfect as possible, and then some. Once you have mastered the "Carry Colors," you can move on to the "Order Colors," "Present Colors," "Eyes Left/Right," and the casing/'uncasing' procedures (if applicable).

Like I said, it's all about timing, even the 'little' things like "Carry Colors."

[Drill for life]

Here is how we do Color Guards
1.In the Beginning of the Year we have Color Guard Practices(For like eight weeks)
2.If we have a Color Guard we practice for a Hour the Day before, just so everybody has good timing.
That is what we do, why waste time to have a Color Guard team, its easier to just have experienced Cadets do it and Teach LET 1's and LET 2's so we don't have to do it anymore. I have done every Color Guard for the Pat two Years.

[TruBlu]

Originally Posted by Drill for life

why waste time to have a Color Guard team

Um, Color Guard isn't a team per say, it's a service rendered. Also, even if you did want to call it a team, it would be a separate entity of any other team your unit has and would compete on it's own. Those who are "wasting their time with a Color Guard team" are doing it because they may or may not have a drill team. Have you thought about that?

Color Guard is not just a competition you do a few times a year. It's about the only real service we, as JROTC cadets, really put into the community while retaining a military aspect. There are units who have Color Guard teams, and solely that. I see no problem with it.

[ufcfootballfan]

In our Battalion, Color Guard is a service and a team. We perform at functions the community asks us to such as memorial services. We also have the team side. We have practice on Mondays, and Wednesdays, from 3:00 to 4:30 PM. I cannot find a efficient way of teaching the Color Guard movements to the cadets.

[-BuLL-]

Originally Posted by TruBlu

It's about the only real service we, as JROTC cadets, really put into the community while retaining a military aspect.

Do you not have an Honor Guard? I've done just about as many events with the Honor Guard as with the Color Guard. What do you usually do for your homecoming? We usually do our homecoming as well as local universities.

[ufcfootballfan]

Yes, we do have an Honor Guard. It is headed by my Battalion Commander. We do many events with the Honor Guard, more important events though such as events performed for the mayor, etc. For home coming, we just present the colors during the National Anthem and then we leave.

[-BuLL-]

My post was aimed at TruBlu but that's ok. We do lots of events with Honor Guard. I've done one for my Gov. and a Spanish ambassador. The Lt.Gov. and lots of other stuff.

Our Color Guard was once invited to do the Color Guard for a Memphis Grizzlies basketball game, but we couldn't go.

[TruBlu]

Originally Posted by -BuLL-

Do you not have an Honor Guard? I've done just about as many events with the Honor Guard as with the Color Guard. What do you usually do for your homecoming? We usually do our homecoming as well as local universities.

It's odd actually. We "have" both, but the cadets who do Color Guard also do our Honor Guard. There are only four to eight people willing to do these at any given time, and that maximum is pretty much set in stone. Sad I know, but we don't have much support any more.

[TruBlu]

Originally Posted by ufcfootballfan

In our Battalion, Color Guard is a service and a team. We perform at functions the community asks us to such as memorial services. We also have the team side. We have practice on Mondays, and Wednesdays, from 3:00 to 4:30 PM. I cannot find a efficient way of teaching the Color Guard movements to the cadets.

To teach, you do, and have them do as well. If you have the manpower, have a full Color Guard show them the movements and break them down visually. Then have the other cadets form up and do them as well. You could even, and I strongly recommend this, have the cadets switch positions during practice, so they have an understanding of the full Color Guard. If you lack the manpower, form them up and guide them through the steps. Focus on individuals rather than the whole Color Guard at once.