Simplest way to learn the drills?

[dandl39]

As a new re-enactor, what is the simplest way to learn the drills and manual of arms before I hit the field. I have limited military experience and knowledge. Hardee's Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics manual is not easy to read or understand. Thanks

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Simplest way to learn the drills?

Like a theatrical play, drill manuals are intended to be performed, not read. The best way to learn is to practice with the manual open in front of you. You can do this easily for school of the soldier on your own. For company or battalion level stuff, it will require a bit more *coordination* ;)

[lhsnj]

Re: Simplest way to learn the drills?

I have to agree with John.. the easiest way to learn it is to do the movements. Hardee's breaks them down into motions. So a good way is to have someone (fellow reenactor or wife..etc..) read the motions to you and you perform them.

We try to do a COI for our own group at the start of each year and we will spend a couple of hours actually reading the motions and doing the movements to help fresh fish and even current members get it right.

[HOG.EYE.MAN]

Re: Simplest way to learn the drills?

Yup, you're right Wick....

Invite guys in your group over to your house and drill in the basement or back yard for practice this winter. :D

Sounds silly, but it can work for the basics.

[BumpusTN]

Re: Simplest way to learn the drills?

As a kid trying to learn Hardee's, I figured out the way that worked best for me was to recite the manual into a tape recorder (yeah, I was that kid), leaving pauses for the actual movements and play it back over and over again until I got it right.

Scott Bumpus
Jackson, TN

[Kevin O'Beirne]

Re: Simplest way to learn the drills?

Read the manual to get a basic introduction to the stuff you'll need to know--your group leaders can guide you through what they believe will be most important for you in that particular group.

Next, pick up the phone and call one of your group's officer and non-comm impressionists and ask them if they have an afternoon or evening to devote to giving you a one-on-one tutorial so that you are able to hit the ground running. If that's not possilbe, consider finding a group with officers and non-comms that are willing to help new members.

[Dave Grieves]

Re: Simplest way to learn the drills?

Download the videos on our website and read the accompanying text from Casey's:

http://www.122ndnewyork.com/manual/manual.html

[Rob]

Re: Simplest way to learn the drills?

The first time you try to read a drill manual, it's easy to get lost in the language. Find someone who knows this stuff and have them show it to you. (This is what corporals and sergeants are supposed to be doing.) Any mistakes in hand, arm, and foot positioning can be corrected right from the get-go.

[wilber6150]

Re: Simplest way to learn the drills?

Thers a couple of good videos out there about the school of the soldier by Media magic productions. I beleve Fall creek sutlery sells them..

[Rob]

Re: Simplest way to learn the drills?

Be careful with those videos. I've got a "School of the Soldier" video which has mistakes in it.

[Tom Ezell]

Re: Simplest way to learn the drills?

There is no royal road to scholarship, or soldiering, neither. Get one of your trusted company NCOs to work you thru the drill, repeatedly, until you get it right. Then go out in the back yard, or in the garage, and PRACTICE... daily if possible, but at least once or twice a week, to keep the muscle memory needed.

One of the more frustrating things in trying to train a reenacting company is the need to start from damn near zero on a monthly or bimonthly basis in re-teaching the manual of arms and the firings, before you can move on to company drill...

[blt37thga]

Re: Simplest way to learn the drills?

Listen And Watch Your Pards In Your Compamy Do The Manual Of Arms. Especially You Nco's, They'll Teach You Better Than The Book.



Cprl. Ben Taylor
37th Ga Co.i
Hgb

[JosephRoman]

Re: Simplest way to learn the drills?

As a new re-enactor, what is the simplest way to learn the drills and manual of arms before I hit the field. I have limited military experience and knowledge. Hardee's Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics manual is not easy to read or understand. Thanks[


Don't use the Light infantry tactics book, it was made for two banders. It is also very clear to me in my many years that many reenactors do not know the proper way to teach or don't know the details of the manual of arms or regular marching drill.

Pvt Joe

[billwatson]

Re: Simplest way to learn the drills?

"Hardee's Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics manual is not easy to read or understand."

Actually, it is, but you have to be patient. If you let it, it will tell you just about everything you need to know for the manual of arms, but you have to read it word for word and you have to assume that the people who wrote it had someone exactly like you in mind when they wrote it.

Ben, I'm not judging your pards, but consider this: When I finally read the manuals I found out the stuff my pards were teaching me was flat-out wrong at least half the time. You don't do present arms by putting the second band at eye level, right shoulder shift is not straight up and down, support arms pretty much is. I could go on for quite a while. There are quite a few people still running through the manual of arms incorrectly based on advice they got a decade ago, and those old habits are darned tough to break. My observation is that 70 percent of the folks involved in this are following inaccurate instruction in drill, at the squad, platoon, company and regiment levels.

My advice to the new guy is to read one particular evolution like right shoulder shift, look at the diagram in the book, and then see if his pards teach it that way. If so, away you go. If not, there's a problem.

[dixiecowboy25550]

Re: Simplest way to learn the drills?

Having read all of these suggestions and knowing how I learned drill, I would suggest catering to your own learning style. Do you learn better by doing? Practice the drill extensively. Do you learn better by hearing? Tape record the commands. Do you learn better visually? Read the manual and look at original pictures of weapon and body positions (at least for the school of the soldier stuff). To me, having an experienced soldier, NCO, or officer teach the basics was the easiest, most efficient way to learn the school of the soldier. Whatever learning style you choose, a huge factor in drill is you familiarity with the weapon: know the various parts of the piece and have a feel for the item (especially since a great deal of the explanations in the manuals refers to the weapon).


Hope this Helps,

Andrew Marcum