The History and Purpose

of Drill
Drill Stage 2
 Topics
 Objectives of Drill
 Word of Command
 Brief History of Drill
 Purpose of Drill Today
 The place of Drill in BB
 Objectives of Drill
 Definition of ‘Drill’
 Training in formal marching or other precise military
or naval movements.

 An exercise in such training: gun drill, fire drill.

 Any strict, methodical, repetitive, or mechanical

training, instruction, or exercise: a spelling drill.

 The correct or customary manner of proceeding.

 Objectives of Drill
 What does Drill train?
 Physical
 Fitness
 Cohesiveness
 Procedures
 Response

 Mental
 Perseverance
 Esprit de Corps
 Discipline of the mind
 Self-control

 How does Drill train?

 Repetition, repetition, repetition
 Word of Command
 3 “stages”
 Introductory
 Cautionary
 Executive
 Example
 Begerak Ke-kenan Bertiga-tiga, Ke-kenan Pu-
Sing
 Which is which?
 Introductory
 Begerak Ke-kenan Bertiga-tiga
 Cautionary
 Ke-Kenan Pu-
 Executive
 Sing
 Drill 1 & 2 Commands
 Drill 1
 Sedia, Senang di-ri.
 Ke-kiri/Ke-kenan/Ke-blakang Pu-sing
 Ke-kenan lu-rus
 Dari-kiri/-kenan Chepat Ja-lan
 Pandan ke-kiri/-kenan, pan-dan
 Berhan-Ti
 Hormat ke-hadapan, Hor-mat
 Keluar-Baris
 Drill 1 & 2 Commands
 Drill 2
 Perlahan Ja-lan
 Dalam bukat/tutup barisan, ke-kenan lu-rus
 Ke-kiri/Ke-kenan/Ke-blakang Pu-sing (on the
march)
 Jadikan dua/tiga barisan, ke-kenan lu-rus
 Sizing
 Sizing
 Dari-kenan, berdua bilang

 Nombor ganjil satu langkah kehadapan,

nombor genap satu langkah keblakang, kra

 Orang-yang di-sebilang kenan diam, nombor

gangil ke-kenan, nomobor genap ke-kiri,
barisan ke-kenan dan ke-kiri Pu-sing

 Jadikan tiga barisan, Chepat Ja-lan.

 History of Drill
 In the beginning: Hoplites
and Phalanxes
 One of the earliest uses of
organized formations
 Relied on whole formation
being able to advance and
maneuver as one entity
 Each man protected the
one on his left
 Victory depended on the
phalanx being able to keep
its formation
 Greeks vs Persians

 Battle of Gaugemela
 Shortfalls?
 Long pikes made maneuvering difficult.

 Only the first rank of men fought.

 Once out-flanked, phalanx formations

easily destroyed.
 History of Drill
 Moving ahead: Rome
and her Legions
 Drill becomes more
complex
 Similar emphasis on
formations
 More flexible and
maneuverable after
dropping the long
pikes.
 History of Drill
 The Testudo

 Roman Combat
History of Drill
 Gunpowder Enters:
Standing in the Face
of Death
 Need for steadiness
 Being able to deploy
quickly was a
necessity
Battle of Waterloo
 History of Drill
 The Modern Era: The
End of Drill?
 Reduction in ‘parade’
drill
 Emphasis on the
individual’s role and
initiative
 But Drill still remains,
albeit in a different
form
 Fire and Movement
 Purpose of Drill Today
Physical
Drill has come a long


 Fitness
way since its humble  Cohesiveness
Procedures
beginnings.

 Response

 Mental
 While evolving, the  Perseverance
 Esprit de Corps
objective of Drill  Discipline of the mind
always remains the  Self-control

same.
 The place of Drill in BB
 However, what use is Drill in BB?

 We do not fight battles or engage in

combat (at least in physical terms)

 Our drill is deemed archaic by modern

standards
 The place of Drill in BB
 Drill was introduced in the BB
 Because it was popular with youths
 Because it could be used to teach discipline

"The advancement of Christ's Kingdom among

Boys and the promotion of habits of
obedience, reverence, discipline and self
respect and all that tends toward a true
Christian manliness"
 The place of Drill in BB
 Does it differ from the historic reasons?
 Drill is not as popular now as it was then
 Drill is not seen as something relevant
 The variety of programmes available today
are much greater

 So why keep Drill?

 The place of Drill in BB
 What Drill is not
 A form of punishment
 Drill for Drill’s sake
 A core activity

 What is (or should be) our focus in Drill?

 Christ
 Discipline through self-control
 Discipline, not regimentation

 What does that translate into?

 Reverence and respect for authority
 Unity in purpose
 Dedication and focus
 Humility
 The place of Drill in BB
 The fact of the matter is this:
 Everyone is a soldier
 The only difference is which side you’re on
 Training as Soldiers of Christ

 “For our struggle is not against flesh and

blood, but against the rulers, against the
authorities, against the powers of this dark
world and against the spiritual forces of
evil in the heavenly realms”
– Ephesians 6:12
 The place of Drill in BB
 “This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, …
that by them you may wage the good warfare,
having faith and a good conscience, …”
- 1 Timothy 1: 17-18a

 “You therefore must endure hardship as a good

soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in
warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this
life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a
soldier.”
– 2 Timothy 2: 3-4
 Conclusion
 Challenges for Drill
 Remaining focused on the objectives
 Growing in discipline as a soldier of Christ
 Goes beyond marching and shouting