900 division question.

[iWaBo]

So i've heard that in basic you can do the exhibition drill team if you have prior knowledge or whatever of it. and i know that they take volunteers during P-days. but i was wondering, if anyone here was on said drill team, what a regular training day was like in them or what all you do drill wise.
all of the articles i've read about them are just to vague and i was wanting first hand accounts of what its like. any help will most liekly better than what i've read already. thanks.

[tmoreland]

So i've heard that in basic you can do the exhibition drill team if you have prior knowledge or whatever of it. and i know that they take volunteers during P-days. but i was wondering, if anyone here was on said drill team, what a regular training day was like in them or what all you do drill wise.
all of the articles i've read about them are just to vague and i was wanting first hand accounts of what its like. any help will most liekly better than what i've read already. thanks.


You are screened for 900 Division on your night of arrival. You will likely see someone walking around asking for people who are previous ROTC or prior service. RAISE YOUR HAND AND SAY "I bla bla bla Petty Officer." There isn't much of an exhibition drill team at RTC but there is a hell of a team at Corp School.

[iWaBo]

Thank you. and i had no idea there was one at corps school too.

[Taylor]

I was put into a 900 division during my P-days.

One of the POs just came around asking if you had prior NJROTC, drill, or band experiance. Enter yes to any of the above, and your hired.

You train just like everyone else, still get beat...I mean physical training under instruction...still work through your little baby navy bible, still PT, ex cetera.

I would say the only difference is, and correct me anyone if I am wrong, is that we didnt get "beat" TOO severly because hey...we had to perform, lol. And your division squeezes in practice for your performance during the week.

Your in a seperate ship then anyone else, will get told that you watch TV all day while everyone else is recieving REAL training, but its not the truth...dont buy it.

Good luck mate.


V/r

[tmoreland]

Thank you. and i had no idea there was one at corps school too.
The team at Corp School is really top notch. This is coming from an EPO who was often heard saying that the Drill team gets priviledges for dropping rifles at Graduation Ceremonies. The tryouts will be offered after you class up. Once you get on the team (you perform at a graduation) you are exempt from the watch bill. I will say though that the Drill Team is not easy to be on or stay on. You practice everyday and you are more likely than any other student to get your nose flattened by an M1 Gurande. Good Luck! Oh BTW you need to keep an 85 GPA and NEVER fail a test to stay on the drill team.

[iWaBo]

sounds easy enough. we drill with demilitarized m-14 in my highschool mcjrotc and i was the drill team commander by my junior year. the nose flattening isnt that bad, i pierced the top part of my ear with the flash surpressor practicing before a performance and still went on.
man now im even more stoked to get out there and get started.. thanks everyone.

[indy]

when did NHCS start a rifle drill team? It must be fairly new as there was only a Color Guard a few years back... (late 2001-ish)

[Corpsman_Billy]

The team at Corp School is really top notch. This is coming from an EPO who was often heard saying that the Drill team gets priviledges for dropping rifles at Graduation Ceremonies. The tryouts will be offered after you class up. Once you get on the team (you perform at a graduation) you are exempt from the watch bill. I will say though that the Drill Team is not easy to be on or stay on. You practice everyday and you are more likely than any other student to get your nose flattened by an M1 Gurande. Good Luck! Oh BTW you need to keep an 85 GPA and NEVER fail a test to stay on the drill team.

Heehee, I would know this. By the way it's an 80 gpa, and let's say no duty weekends =P

[Doc_Stevens]

Wow, didn't know that NHCS has a drill team now. Way COOL.

I was 900 company at GLAKES back in 1976 (sheesh, that seems like a long time ago).

They came around, asking if anyone had any experience in a drill team or band and I raised my hand (on the band part). Those volunteers were taken out to form a new company. As we didn't have enough for a full complement, it took about eight days to form up. We were assigned tasks as need (read into this....paint, pick up trash, cigarette butts, etc)

After forming up Company 936, we trained just like everyone else, swimming qualifications, marching, all the routine stuff, but then we also had band practice. I can't recall how often, but I'm going to say a couple of hours each day, on top of everything else. I can think of no special privileges, but we did go off base to march in a parade, which included refreshments afterwards (in moderation).

The only other thing that I seem to recall, is that every time some dignitary came to base, who ever it was.....if their visit included a tour.....we were doing field day into the wee hours of the morning.....waxing the floor so much, you could eat off it.

It added a couple of weeks to my time at GLAKES, but well worth it and I wouldn't change it for a thing.