2011
National High School
Drill Team Championships
SOP Update/Clarification Page
(any other minor event info may be distributed during the event Commander's Call)
Below are the Event Update/Clarifications that have been implemented into the coming NHSDTC since the initial posting of all event materials. These items listed below are found in inverse chronological order to their date of implementation. All schools are encouraged to download and prepare for these changes in advance.
UPDATES/CLARIFICATIONS
#1 - September 18thth, 2010: Initial Website Set-up
SOP Updates site established -Invite, Reg forms to come in a few days...
Floor Diagrams will take another week! We are visiting THREE Phoenix Area venues on 09/25 - stay tuned!!!
#2 - September 18th, 2010: Clarification on Inspection "Open Ranks" Distance Sought
All service regulations specify specific distances for Cadet Commander to have between both the Head Judge and the unit for inspection-type formations. Due to the limitations of being indoors in a large meeting room, these often lofty distances are not practical. At the NHSDTC, SNI will be seeking all units to center themselves on the Head Judge. Judges generally ONLY penalize a unit for distance when the unit is vastly too far forward, therefore "crowding" the Head Judge. Therefore all units MUST ensure this does not occur. Judges know that all units should have adequate space to execute "Open Ranks, March" and maintain a minimum two pace distance between the Head Judge and the Cadet Commander.
#3 - October 30th, 2010: Drill Area Sizes - Floor Diagrams Posted
Tenative Floor Diagrams have been posted online for all three days of the NHSDTC showing many factors including entry locations and drill fllor dimensions. Also, the SOP was written to have Squad/Element Exhibition Drill in the Masters Level competitions using a 60' x 100' floor. This line in the SOP has been changed ever so slightly to make the correct size 65' x 100'.
#4 - 09 Aprilth, 2011: Open Ranks - Check Alignment Clarification
While the SOP clearly states within Inspection regulations that the cadet commander does NOT move to check alignmnt during Open Ranks, March. This same clarity is not present within the Regulation events. While the SOP DOES state the commander should NOT move to check alignment in regulation drill either, it is not found in the place within the SOP that it should be (in the regulation drill section). Because of this, we have included this SOP update to ensure all schools understand that at no point during the Nationals should ANY team move to check alignment in any event....this is considered a time waster for schools that are so obviously proficient in drill at this level.
#5 - 09 April, 2011: "Preceed Me Through the Inspection...."
While the NHSDTC SOP states that within Unit Insection event, Cadet Commander's are to "LEAD" the judge through the inspection, this does have some flexibility for the schools. Most Army units will lead the judge through the first rank and then allow the judge to cut in front of the cadet commander for the inspection of the rear of the rank and to reposition for the report out. This is perfectly acceptable and is fully outlined specifically within the Army regs. Other schools may choose to lead the head judge on both the front and back of the 1st rank. Either of these methods are fine. The overriding concern is that that when the judge states, "Preceed Me Through the Inspection", the cadet smartly moves to their position in front of the 2nd cadet in the first rank LEADING the head judge.
#6 - 09 April, 2011: Clarification on Armswing - the Final Word
To eliminate confusion and to get the final word regarding armswing on the command REAR, MARCH under the Army FM 3-21.5, we went to the source and spoke with the experts at Ft. Jackson at the Drill Sergeant School. Their point is clear, concise and to the point. The US Army FM 3-21.5 states, "Do not allow the arms to swing outward while turning" in regard to proper execution of the movement, "Rear, March". This has been interpreted to mean that natural armswing is SUSPENDED during this movement and that arms are stationary and extended downward. This is the standard taught in basic training by the same judges that will be attending the Nationals. Be prepared!
#7 - 15 April, 2011: Clarification on Unit Formation for Inspection and Regulation
While the SOP is clear, we have one or two schools annually that botch this up. While I would bet these are the same schools that fail to read the SOP, I'm going to take a shot at helping those that help themselves. Inspection Formation is FOUR RANKS of THREE CADETS EACH. Therefore, your must have FOUR Squad/Element Leaders. HOW you choose to get into the area is largely up to you as the SOP discusses but you need to end up with FOUR RANKS of THREE CADETS EACH only - no exception. The regulation drill is different. You are asked to execute COLUMN of THREES...therefore, you will need to have THREE SQUADS/ELEMENTS....do NOT come out for Regulation Drill with anything other than THREE SQUADS/ELEMENTS....
#8 - 15 April, 2011: SOP ON-LINE UPdates are now CLOSED
As the event draws near, no further SOP updates/clarifications will be allowed on this site for the 2011 Nationals. NO NEED TO CHECK HERE FURTHER - THIS IS IT! Any other minor issues will be discussed at the Commander's Call the night before the competition begins.
<
BACK to the NHSDTC Main Page
SOP Updates site established -Invite, Reg forms to come in a few days...
Floor Diagrams will take another week! We are visiting THREE Phoenix Area venues on 09/25 - stay tuned!!!
#2 - September 18th, 2010: Clarification on Inspection "Open Ranks" Distance Sought
All service regulations specify specific distances for Cadet Commander to have between both the Head Judge and the unit for inspection-type formations. Due to the limitations of being indoors in a large meeting room, these often lofty distances are not practical. At the NHSDTC, SNI will be seeking all units to center themselves on the Head Judge. Judges generally ONLY penalize a unit for distance when the unit is vastly too far forward, therefore "crowding" the Head Judge. Therefore all units MUST ensure this does not occur. Judges know that all units should have adequate space to execute "Open Ranks, March" and maintain a minimum two pace distance between the Head Judge and the Cadet Commander.
Tenative Floor Diagrams have been posted online for all three days of the NHSDTC showing many factors including entry locations and drill fllor dimensions. Also, the SOP was written to have Squad/Element Exhibition Drill in the Masters Level competitions using a 60' x 100' floor. This line in the SOP has been changed ever so slightly to make the correct size 65' x 100'.
While the SOP clearly states within Inspection regulations that the cadet commander does NOT move to check alignmnt during Open Ranks, March. This same clarity is not present within the Regulation events. While the SOP DOES state the commander should NOT move to check alignment in regulation drill either, it is not found in the place within the SOP that it should be (in the regulation drill section). Because of this, we have included this SOP update to ensure all schools understand that at no point during the Nationals should ANY team move to check alignment in any event....this is considered a time waster for schools that are so obviously proficient in drill at this level.
While the NHSDTC SOP states that within Unit Insection event, Cadet Commander's are to "LEAD" the judge through the inspection, this does have some flexibility for the schools. Most Army units will lead the judge through the first rank and then allow the judge to cut in front of the cadet commander for the inspection of the rear of the rank and to reposition for the report out. This is perfectly acceptable and is fully outlined specifically within the Army regs. Other schools may choose to lead the head judge on both the front and back of the 1st rank. Either of these methods are fine. The overriding concern is that that when the judge states, "Preceed Me Through the Inspection", the cadet smartly moves to their position in front of the 2nd cadet in the first rank LEADING the head judge.
To eliminate confusion and to get the final word regarding armswing on the command REAR, MARCH under the Army FM 3-21.5, we went to the source and spoke with the experts at Ft. Jackson at the Drill Sergeant School. Their point is clear, concise and to the point. The US Army FM 3-21.5 states, "Do not allow the arms to swing outward while turning" in regard to proper execution of the movement, "Rear, March". This has been interpreted to mean that natural armswing is SUSPENDED during this movement and that arms are stationary and extended downward. This is the standard taught in basic training by the same judges that will be attending the Nationals. Be prepared!
While the SOP is clear, we have one or two schools annually that botch this up. While I would bet these are the same schools that fail to read the SOP, I'm going to take a shot at helping those that help themselves. Inspection Formation is FOUR RANKS of THREE CADETS EACH. Therefore, your must have FOUR Squad/Element Leaders. HOW you choose to get into the area is largely up to you as the SOP discusses but you need to end up with FOUR RANKS of THREE CADETS EACH only - no exception. The regulation drill is different. You are asked to execute COLUMN of THREES...therefore, you will need to have THREE SQUADS/ELEMENTS....do NOT come out for Regulation Drill with anything other than THREE SQUADS/ELEMENTS....
As the event draws near, no further SOP updates/clarifications will be allowed on this site for the 2011 Nationals. NO NEED TO CHECK HERE FURTHER - THIS IS IT! Any other minor issues will be discussed at the Commander's Call the night before the competition begins.
BACK to the NHSDTC Main Page