AaronHorrocks wrote:
I got a bad feeling that Close Order Drill with you guys is going to be FUBAR.
Trust me- unless things have dramatically changed since I was last there in '09, there isn't going to be any "drill" with the group. The flag bearers will have a minimal amount to remember including:
-stepping off with the correct foot in unison when told "forward march!",
-keeping in step while "marching" (<-using the term a bit loosly here... it's more like walking),
-and coming to a stop together when told to "halt."
That's it.
There isn't going to be any formation to the group (beyond the flag bearers) or standing at attention, at ease, facing (turning) right or left etc.
It's already been said, but I'll say it again: we're not the military here. We are about 95% civilians (including myself) who love the film "Aliens" and the majority here enjoy costuming as the Colonial Marines. While we do have former and current military members here (including a few Marines such as yourself Aaron), and we do our best to not make mistakes such as forgetting to captialize the "m" in Marine, the bottom line is that we (on the whole) do not have
any military experience. We are simply play acting from what we saw and enjoyed in the movie itself.
Some of us do try to emulate the ceremonial side of the Marine Corps with our custom Colonial Marine Dress Blues uniforms, and being flag bearers in the parade, but even then you'll be able to pick out a bunch of mistakes we'll make.
And to be blunt, the Marines in "Aliens" weren't exactly the most "squared away" bunch either; they were a pretty undisciplined group.
We've had discussions about this before (the most heated ones were about 3 years ago in 2008). We want to do our best and "look good", and not do anything to insult the actual USMC, but we are still civilians and are going to make mistakes left, right and center. While we appreciate the mistakes, for most this is "just a costume" and no matter how hard you try, you're not going to turn a cilivian into a soldier overnight (yes I know a Marine isn't a soldier).
In other words (and this may sound harsh), we don't really "want" to learn all the drill and ceremony that goes with being a Marine... because we're not the Marines and never will be.
However what we do have here (much like the film) is a very close knit group of friends who are out to have a great time with one another. I have never felt such a strong sense of camaraderie with our group than with any of my other friends, family, or co-workers. The only group that equalled this was my time spent in the Air Cadets as a teenager. I love this place and this bunch!
Think of it like this... While we may have a couple of Gormans (who like to follow procedure to the letter) and a few Apones (who take the leadership role), most of us are the Hickses (who are out to look cool) and the Hudsons (who like to ham it up), and the Drakes and Vasquezes (who are ready to rock the house
)... but none of them stood at attention much or saluted once.
Kevin
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I pay special attention to it, since I try to write stories that are as accurate as possible.
