The History of the Drill

Drill is marching. In ancient history, the most powerful, efficient and developed empires developed ways of moving organized units of troops from one place to another on the battlefield, without individuals getting mixed up with other units. Otherwise, as masses of people manoeuvred amongst each other individuals would get lost and end up having to attach themselves to any old unit. A system of flags was developed so people could identify their own units (and side) on the field and make their way their correct flag bearer if they got separated. But sticking to "formed up" squads was better, forming a box of men who moved as a single body. Overall it meant command systems were effective - men stayed together and could be commanded as units. Josephus, a first century Jewish historian, testifies to the superiority of Roman discipline, and part of that discipline was an ordered method of moving formed up squads from one place to another. This discipline facilitates effective realisation of tactical man-management, and the result is a superior fighting army. [Josephus p195]

During what historians have reluctantly come to call “The Military Revolution” European armies between 1550 and 1720 became generally state-controlled, financed and permanent. “There was a resultant loss of individuality, with the need for better organization, good training - especially in drill - and strict discipline” [Becket & Chandler p40]. Training became an institution.

Since then, drill has become increasingly important as part of training, discipline and military parades. Goose Stepping was a form of extreme marching held by German, Prussian, and Russian heads of military to be an ultimate display of the unbreakable will and discipline of its soldiers. Most modern marching is not as extreme as the rigid goose step. Anything that resembling it is now unpopular because it has became associated with fascism. Nevertheless it is still used by some countries as a powerful display of military discipline.

Military Drill in the Army is formalized with utmost precision in the fearsomely bulky Drill Book. In the preamble to the Drill Book it is "confidently asserted that the foundation of discipline in battle is based on drill" and that this has been proven again and again. According to William Barlow, Robert Graves said there are "three types of troops: those with guts who could not drill; those good at drill but with no guts and those who had guts and could drill well. [...]
from http://www.vexen.co.uk/notes/drill.html

History of the Fancy Drill

Fancydrill

The Fancy Drill

The Royal Thai Naval Academy is the origin of the FANCY DRILL. It started many years ago. Now it is popular in every military academy and Armed Forces Academies Preparatory School. We can drill with both rifles and swords, but in the beginning we drilled with M-16 rifles. The Fancy Drill team can have 10 members or more. The Fancy Drill team members have to pass a hard training because M-16 rifles are heavy and they want to show strength. A month before the performance the Fancy Drill team will train in the evening of every day except holidays. In one year the Fancy Drill will have 3 performances: Navy day [Three Anchor party], the Seaman-Farmer Games and Children’s Day. The Fancy Drill can be performed anywhere. The Fancy Drill team members will be trained by the leader of the Fancy Drill team. Music is an important part of the Fancy Drill. Nice music makes the show better. A long time ago, we needed type 88-rifles in the Fancy Drill. They are old and heavy. Then we used MK 33 rifles. Now we use only M-16 rifles because they are modern weapons and easy to drill.

There are 4 styles of the Fancy Drill: Fixed position style, Weapon-checking style, Korean style or Falling leaves style and Circle style. Fixed position is the style in which every member twirls his M-16 rifles in a fixed position. Weapon checking style is the style in which every member stays calm but the leader acts as an inspector, the one who checks the others’ rifles. In the Korean style the Fancy drill members will perform in one row. In the circle style every member twirls and walks in a circle.

Fancy Drill is like a sport. We have to practice. We can learn many things from the Fancy Drill, such as discipline, teamwork and unity.

gun...

Now we use only M-16 rifles because they are modern weapons and easy to drill.

Fixed position style

Fixed position is the style in which every member twirls his M-16 rifles in a fixed position.

Weapon-checking style

Weapon-checking style is the style in which every member stays calm but the leader acts as an inspector, the one who checks the others’ rifles.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Korean style or Falling leaves style

In the Korean style the Fancy drill members will perform in one row.

Saturday, October 27, 2007

The circle style

In the circle style every member twirls and walks in a circle.

Friday, October 26, 2007

Interview

Interview with Capt. Pornnimit Srichomyong, who is the Commander of Naval Cadet Regiment. And he is also a graduate from the RTNA.

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1) Could you tell me about the beginning of the “Fancy drill”?

- During war time in the past, when soldiers had free time they would twirl or swing their guns for fun, to relax from the war and to make the other soldiers happy and entertain the camp. When they were very skillful at spinning guns, everybody thought that it was beautiful. Later on it became a show for important occasions. Actually, as I know the Thai Navy was the first who brought it to Thailand. Later on, all the armed forces got these “fancy drill” patterns of their own.

2) What’s “Fancy drill” in your opinion?

- Nowadays, fancy drill is a display of strength in weapon style for very important ceremonies, which shows the unity of the unit.

3) What do you think about the “Fancy drill” of the RTNA?

- I think it used to be better. In the past, if there would be a performance the practice began at least a month before the “Day”. But today, they only practice once a week. The Commander has an important role to support the practice. Moreover, there are so few students that the performance must take the players away from sports to join in. So they can’t be fully prepared because of this reason.

4) What would you improve in the “Fancy drill”?

- I think we should set it up as a club like other sports with constant members. And it should be supported by the Commander. There might be no “Fancy drill “in 10 years without support.

5) What do you think other people think about the "Fancy drill"?

- As I have heard, they just love it because it’s a unique performance that shows the strength and unity of the cadets with matching music. They think that it’s not something anybody can do.

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Reference:

Srichomyong, Lt. Ponnimit. Personal interview. 27 October 2007.