Uniform Inspection (Appearance, Bearing, and Knowledge)

Today is Wednesday and we will have our weekly uniform inspection. You will be inspected in three areas: appearance, bearing, and knowledge. Uniform inspection is a test. This test (inspection) will be conducted by the Senior Naval Science Instructor. This week, we conducted station training (knowledge, bearing, and drill) and had a quiz on cadet knowledge and a squad unit leader drill evaluation all to prepare you for the inspection. Good Luck?

Lets Assess What You Know and Can Do?

Cadets you will be assessed today to determine your cadet knowledge and proficiency in leading squad drill. The assessment is two parts: a short quiz and a squad unit leader drill proficiency. The quiz consists of five questions about JROTC uniform and five questions about the first five general orders to the sentry. The drill evaluation is a basic squad drill card similar to the station training you recently did. A designated drill peer leader will evaluate your proficiency in leading a squad in drill. The assessment will be a combined score of the two assessment events. 

Good Luck, lets see what you know and can do?

Uniform Accountability and Prep Day for Drill, Appearance, and Knowledge

Today is a modified uniform day due to a change in the school schedule yesterday. Today we will set up three working stations:

• Station 1: Squad Drill Evaluation Prep: Review each cadet being the squad unit leader for squad drill. 
• Station 2: General Orders To Sentry Review: Review individually and collectively the first five General Orders to the Sentry. 
• Station 3: Uniform Accessories Update: Cadets will notify the Supply Rep of the uniform items or accessories they are missing to include updating their ribbons. the Supply Rep will keep a detailed record and turn it into the SNSI. 

The Class Drill Peer Leaders from the previous day will be the station leaders. Cadets will be at each station for approximately 15 minutes. 

Class Drill Competition

Today's Classroom Activity: Today in class we will be conducting unarmed (without a drill rifle) and armed (with a drill rifle) drill competition called IKO (Individual Knock Out). 

Description: IKO is a form of drill related "simon says" where a drill commander gives command and the classmates in formation have to perform the drill  movement promptly and accurately. Any mistake results in that cadet being dismissed from the small formation until only one person is left (the winner). Reverse IKO is the exact opposite resulting in a cadet who performs the drill movement properly being dismissed from the formation leaving the cadets in the formation who need the work on drill. Reverse IKO is also an instructional tactic to use if cadet intentionally make mistakes to not participate. 

Who is in charge: We will have the designated class leader coordinate with the NSI (Chief) to draw rifles to include in the IKO / Reverse IKO, since the SNSI is absent today. Class Leaders, you can rotate drill commanders for IKO but start out with class leaders for the event.

Class Leaders for this Event:
Period 2; Sienna
Period 4: Trevor
Period 6: Nicole
Period 7:  Mercy

More Drill...Right Shoulder and Left Shoulder Arms

Based on your recommendation to increase armed drill (with drill rifles) in class and our unit's desire to participate in armed drill for the upcoming Bethel Drill Competition in November, we will conduct armed drill in class today. 

Lets take a look at a video about the manual of arms: 

We will go through the manual of arms "by-the-numbers" (with the unit commander utilizing a verbal number) count for each step of a particular manual of arms. 

The foundational basis for all drill is the proper position of attention. Pay attention, ask questions, and put forth your best effort. We may have some cadets work one-on-one so remain flexible and keep a positive attitude. Everyone learns differently, so be patient with yourself and with each other. 

The benefits of drill are developing attention to detail, technical proficiency in drill, followership and leadership, and teamwork. 

Drill with Drill Rifles

One of the suggestions for improving cadet involvement in our Navy JROTC program is to conduct more rifle drill in class. The above short 5 minute video is a Navy JROTC unit conducting a portion of an Armed Drill routine. We will be conducting platoon unarmed and armed drill as a class period this year based on the cadet suggestion. In the past we focused on the after school drill teams while conducting drill during class periods but not with as much emphasis, we will change our focus. What that means to your class period is each individual cadet needs to focus and put more effort into drill than perhaps they did in the past. Your class period's ability to conduct both unarmed and armed drill is a SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time Bound) NJROTC goal for each of you. Our goal will be to conduct the platoon drill card for the Bethel Drill Meet by the end of the first Marking Period. 

Class Activity: You will draw drill rifles and a class leader will be designated to go through the basics of individual armed drill. 

Basics: 
Fall In.
Position of Attention.
Dress Right Dress.
Right, Left, and About Face.
Parade Rest and Rest.
Port Arms.
Mark Time March.
Forward March
To The Rear March.

Overview of Manual of Arms: :

• Do's and Don'ts of carrying a Drill rifle
• Professionalism, Maturity, and Safety
• Order Arms
• Port Arms
• Right Shoulder / Left Shoulder Arms
• Present Arms

Individual Areas of Focus When Performing Armed Drill:
Rifle positioning: placement of the hands, distance of rifle from your body, elbow placement, etc.

FOCUS and MAKE an EFFORT TO IMPROVE. 

Let's knock the Rust off and do some drill!!!!

We have had enough talk in class, so let's get out of our desks and conduct some drill. Drill is a great mechanism for accomplishing a number of things:

• Move people from one area to another in an orderly fashion
• Allow everyone to work on self discipline, attention to detail, and bearing.
• Demonstrate technical precision while responding to commands
• Reinforce followership and leadership (Does the leader give the proper commands at the right time and do the followers execute the proper movements at the proper time?)

You will pair off into teams or small groups and start to practice: 

• Position of Attention
• Facing Movements
• Mark Time March and Halt.
• Marching and To the Rear March.
• Column Movements and Flanking Movements
• Squad Drill
• Platoon Drill.

Let us see how this goes...?

Short Attention Span and Much Work Still To Do... How Can We Improve

It is pretty apparent that many students feel that school is over and the teacher's didn't get the memo...students openly trying to sleep in class...providing the answer "I don't know" when asked a routine question where they could provide input. These are all indicators that many students have lost the motivation to focus. There is only problem: SCHOOL IS NOT OVER YET and FINALS are right around the corner. 

Today, you will be organized into three groups to perform two tasks on a rotational basis for 15 minutes each:

CADET PARTICIPATION DISCUSSION TASK:  You will discuss how to improve cadet participation in drill, community service, and military ball. Feel free to reference the rubric you filled out. Designate one person to take group notes to capture your ideas on how to increase cadet participation. 

RUBRIC TASK:  You will be given a hard copy of the BMHS Personal Responsibility Rubric. I will conduct a quick overview. You will then review it and Self Assess Yourself. Based upon the time left available you can discuss as a group. 

Final Comment: Based upon time remaining we may conduct a class-wide review of the tasks. I will conduct your individual student rubric self assessments and your small group discussion notes. 

STAY ON TASK AND FOCUS.

Feb 21 (Thursday) Leading Your Peers: Drill Practice with Practice Drill Rifle

Based on student feedback many of you asked to practice more drill with drill rifles in class, besides our after-school drill activities. Today that is exactly what we will do in class combined with the opportunity to have cadets lead their peers as a unit commander during this evolution.

Activity:

1. The Class Leaders will have everyone get a drill rifle from the Chief's Room.
2. Form the class into a platoon formation, standard Fall In & forming up procedures.
3. Class Leaders will start with static manual of arms and then transition into platoon drill with rifles in class within the confines of the space available. (We are indoors due to inclement weather).
4. Then then the Class Leader will select different students to take turns being the Platoon Commander. This gives everyone an opportunity to go from the follower position to being placed in the Leader position. the Class Leader will mentor these cadets as they perform to the degree they need it. The transitioning Leaders will experience "being in the spotlight" now responsible among their peers for verbally giving proper commands, being technically proficient in drill (knowledge & skill they should possess), and setting the example (bearing, attitude, etc.) for their peers.  
5. This has the added benefit of generating or re-generating increased emphasis on cadet drill. 

Anytime a student-cadet has an opportunity to stand in front of their peers and lead them (drill) or present a concept (class discussion or public speaking day) it is a great learning experience and ultimately a confidence boosting and team building event.