The Marine Corps 'Keepers Of Traditions'

"Keepers of traditions"

The Marine Corps fighting force is well known all around the world. Each and every Marine wears the eagle globe and anchor on their uniform with pride and dignity. Throughout the decades the Marine Corps not only developed great warriors but also quality citizens. Regardless of our ethnicity we are the band of brothers and we share the same customs and traditions. Among traditions like; mess nights, Marine Corps birthday, uniform inspections, and field day, the close order drill tradition lacks practice at our units the most. Our units should continue to practice drill to build confidence, sustain high military standard and discipline, and to carry on our tradition. Since day one in boot camp, we practiced basic marching movements that further down the line we moderately mastered. Upon graduation every recruit marched across the parade deck with precision and excellence. Overtime however, when Marines finally get to their units, basic Marine Corps knowledge and drill movements are no longer practiced. During many formations and ceremonies, it is noticed that Marines forgot basic commands and movements, and nobody likes to take charge to form up a platoon. Every Marine is a leader and every leader
should know how to march a platoon, form up formations and conduct uniform inspections. The ability to lead close order drill builds up confidence, leadership, as well as teamwork and every unit can benefit from that.1 With those leadership skills, each and every Marine will represent the Corps to a higher degree while progressing as a leader.

Compared to other branches, Marine Corps always held us to a higher standards and requirements.
Our physical fitness test is much more demanding, our basic training is a lot more challenging, and it is a fact that we look better at drill and in uniform than any other branch. As we are held to a higher standard, the American public recognizes that, and often, people will come up to us and thank us for our sacrifice and freedom. It goes without saying that drill teaches discipline, improves unit 's morale while instills the habits of obedience to orders2. Even though close order drill is not a professional requirement, every Marine should have the desire to carry on our Marine Corps
traditions. We represent the most disciplined fighting force there is in today 's society. Behind every tradition, we stand by our core values; honor, courage and commitment. Drill enhanced our brotherhood with cohesion and unity. Even though we no longer use drill in combat, it is one of our oldest traditions, a tradition that thought us discipline, precision and confidence. It is our responsibility to practice our traditions, and to keep them alive. As a noncommissioned, and staff noncommissioned officers, it is our responsibility to do our part to continue passing on our traditions. Through drill, each and every Marine will become a part of our tradition and history.3 As Marines we should not have to attend professional military education academies to learn drill, it should already flow in our blood. The close order drill needs to be practiced more at our units, and it will not only build confidence in our Marines, enhance high military standard and discipline but also will uphold our traditions for many years to come. As a Sergeant of Marines, and “a keeper of traditions" I can take all the tools that I will learn in this academy, and I can take them back to my unit, and evolve on it. I can dedicate my time to progress on close order drill, especially by performing uniform inspection, participating in ceremonies and most importantly, share my knowledge with the Marines in my unit.

Bibliography: http://www.dimondjrotc.org/Documents/History%20of%20Drill%20and%20Ceremony.pdf - Paragraph G http://www.marines.com/history-heritage/traditions - "Close order drill" http://usmilitary.about.com/od/marines/a/usmcdrill_4.htm - Page 4