Drill and Color Guard Practice is every Wednesday from 1515 to 1615

The History of Drill

In 1775, when this country was striving for independence and existence, the nation’s leaders were confronted with the problem of not only establishing a government, but also organizing an army that was already engaged in war. From the “shot heard around the world” on April 19, 1775, until Valley Forge in 1778, U.S. revolutionary forces were little more than a group of untrained civilians fighting against well-trained, highly disciplined British forces. For three years, General Washington’s U.S. troops endured many hardships, including a lack of funds, food rations, clothing and equipment. Additionally, they suffered loss after loss to the superior British troops. These hardships and losses mostly stemmed from a lack of military atmosphere and discipline in this country. 

Recognizing the crisis, General Washington (through Benjamin Franklin, the American Ambassador to France) enlisted the aid of a Prussian officer, Baron Friedrich von Steuben. Upon his arrival at Valley Forge on February 23, 1778, von Steuben, a former staff officer with Frederick the Great, met a U.S. Army of several thousand half-starved, wretched men in rags. “No European army could be kept together in such a state,” he declared. He immediately began writing drill movements and regulations during the night, and teaching a model company of 120 men during the day. Discipline became a part of military life for the 120 individuals as they learned and perfected von Steuben’s military drills. They learned to respond to commands without hesitation. This new discipline instilled a sense of alertness, urgency, and attention to detail in the men. Confidence in themselves, and in their weapons, grew as each man perfected the drill movements. As they mastered the art of drill, they began to work as a team – developing a sense of pride in their unit.Later, General Washington dispersed the members of the model company, who were well versed in drill, throughout the U.S. Army to teach the discipline. From this drill instruction, they improved the overall effectiveness and efficiency of the Army.

To ensure that the uniformity and overall effectiveness of drill continued, von Steuben wrote the first field manual for the U.S. Army in 1779: The Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States (commonly referred to as the Blue Book). 

When individuals react to commands rather than thought, the result is more than just a good-looking ceremony or parade — it is discipline! Drill is, and will continue to be, the

backbone of military discipline. In addition to discipline, military drill teaches and develops:

• Self-confidence

• Personal pride

• Esprit de corps

• Teamwork

• Attention to detail

• Unit pride