Jan. 9, 2015 -- To make the parades at
Marine Barracks Washington, D.C. happen, It take many months of coordination.
Crowds see the ceremonial marchers, the hosting
element, the United States Marine Band, the United States Marine Drum and Bugle
Corps, and the Silent Drill Platoon. What is not seen are the countless hours each of the individual component puts in during the off season.
Ceremonial Drill School (CDS) is how the officers and staff
noncommissioned officers of the Barracks learn their part in preparation for
parade season. Without the parade staff executing perfect drill commands, the ceremonial mission of the Barracks cannot be met.
The school prepares the officers and staff noncommissioned officers
for marching as the parade staff.
The three-week course teaches the fundamentals of marching,
sword manual, voice commands and uniform preparation.
At the end of the course, the students perform an evaluation similar to a parade sequence. The evaluation is performed on the pristine parade
deck of the Barracks.
“Everyone at the Barracks comes to watch the CDS evaluation,”
says Gunnery Sgt. Cedric Smith, the Barracks Drill Master. “So the CDS students
are under a lot pressure.”