Don White wrote:
Harry Krause wrote:
On 11/21/2006 9:21 PM, Bert Robbins wrote:

Harry Krause wrote:

On 11/21/2006 9:57 AM, Vic Smith wrote:

On Tue, 21 Nov 2006 07:32:33 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

On 11/21/2006 7:21 AM, JohnH wrote:

On Tue, 21 Nov 2006 11:25:01 GMT, Short Wave Sportfishing
wrote:

On Tue, 21 Nov 2006 02:11:47 GMT, "Calif Bill"
wrote:

US Navy, so must include boats.
Weapons control we can live with.
http://www.whc.net/rjones/USN/USN_team.html

Pfffhhhtt.....

Marine Corps Silent Drill Team is better.

Squids....

The Army's Old Guard puts them all to shame.


I don't understand the purpose of these displays. Are they part of
recruitment programs?

Maybe the audience was parents of graduating recruits. The only time
I saw drill exhibitions was at graduation. Close order marching with
the requisite rifle movement was the order of the day when I was in,
but I do recall one guy in our company who had all the rifle spinning
down pat. I don't remember that he drilled with a separate unit, and
think he picked it up in HS ROTC. And I don't recall seeing rifle
exhibitions when I was in boot camp. Somewhere there's an Admiral
or Captain who likes this stuff, and it's his pet project.

--Vic




Pomp and circumstance, I guess.

Hey, I can understand military rifle and handgun competitions, and
survival competitions, and just about anything promoting and building
the skills needed to survive battle or posting to hostile territory.
The more training and skill promotion for that, the better.


Discipline in one area carries over to other areas.



Yes, I am sure the ability to twirl one's rifle helps one avoid IEDs.


I like precision marching with a band..preferably a pipe band ...but the
twirling of rifles seems silly...something like highschool cheerleaders.

Absolutely! I was in the marching band, and orchestra all through high
school. Had a great time!