I hate parades, because they’re just naff in this org, but parade/sqn drill is damn good done right.
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They’re naff and a weekend killer in the regs too. Passing out of IOT was the last time I did any drill in my regular career.
It’s a complete change of direction for the whole flight, so while all the flight itself has to do is turn 90 degrees. Everyone else, including the supernumerary officers, NCOs, the flight WO, the flight commander and the flight Adj all have to turn, then march into position.
It’s not what cadet flight sergeants think it is.
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I don’t think there’s been a single time where all those people have been on parade and in the correct formation in my entire cadet career to be honest.
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We used to use it at the annual wing field day, the final parade had the whole 3 Squadrons marching on, fall in the officers and then a March past.
We used to do it at course weekends. The JNCO, 1st class, first aid and other courses would be the flights. SNCO and cadet DI courses did the staff roles.
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Indeed… “By column of route quick march” is far too common. People think it means 'follow the road to where you know you’re going" but that’s absolute toss.
It needs to cease to exist and I’m doing my best around here to kill it.
As has been said, it is purely to change formation from “Line” to “Column of route” and only affects the executives and supernumeraries. “Move to the right in column of route, right turn”.
The other option is column of threes.
Into line is another one much misunderstood… It doesn’t mean ‘turn to face the person giving the commands’. It tells the extras that they are to take up an inline formation facing the new direction ordered.
As for markers and guides… One places the marker on the parade square in advance (normally the right marker, but it could be the left marker, if marching on from the other side).
The guide then takes the place of the marker (outside of the normal files of three) and ‘guides’ the flight onto the marker. As they approach the marker, the guide drifts across to their correct position and the whole flight is halted on the marker.
Sounds complicated when written; is actually dead easy when done.
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