Starting up a Color Guard

[Cadet CJS]

I'm going to be promoting to Staff Sargent in a few days and a few of my fellow Cadets and I would like to start a Color Guard. There are three of us interested and we all will be promoting to Staff Sargent with in the next week. Can someone please out line the steps for starting a local Color Guard? Right now we aren't interested in competing at the National Competition.

Some questions:
What type of meeting place do we need?
How long should we practice per week?
What do we need for the uniforms?
How can we recruit other Cadets to join the Color Guard?
Once we're up and going how do we get the word out for events?

If anyone has any advice for us it would Really be appreciated. None of us have done this before so we can use all the help we can get.

-Cadet CJS

[Luis R. Ramos]

by Cadet CJS:

...to be promoting promoted [FTFY] to Staff Sargent'...

I was always taught that the person receiving the action is not the one acting on it. In other words...

...it is the officers above you who promote, are the ones that will be promoting, or the ones that promoted.

The person receiving it, is the one that was promoted, or that will be promoted, or is the person being promoted, or to be promoted.

Thus if you are not on the Promotion Board, saying "I am going to be promoting" is bad English.

Others in here, am I wrong?

And about correcting a cadet with initiative, since I will get a few slams for this, he will be a Staff Sergeant. I believe the higher you go, the more you learn the better you are!

[Salty]

The uniform for the Honor Guard is listed in Chapter 9 of CAPM 39-1.

CAPM 39-1 Uniform Manual

You can practice at your squadron for indoor and outdoor color guard drill.  You should practice as long as it takes for your team to move as one unit as flawlessly as possible.  Talk with your DCC about this project and work with them in selecting cadets that are squared away with their uniforms and drill movements.  In order to get the word out and offer to lead parades and other events you should ask your DCC to bring in the Public Affairs Officer for their help after your team is ready.

I was a member of a CAP Color Guard as a cadet and it was one of my favorite aspects of the cadet program.  Good luck to you and your future team.  It's a rewarding experience and one I really enjoyed as the U.S. Flag carrier for many parades and events.


EDIT:  BTW, CAP has an Honor Guard pamphlet that you may want to look through as well, although I suspect it's probably a little more in depth than what you should be concerned with starting out.

CAP Honor Guard

[Spam]

Mr. Ramos, no slams from me; I would be more concerned that he learns to spell "Sergeant" correctly, though!


Cadet CJS, I've commanded a unit which had a leading Wing CG until the recent Cadet Comp hiatus, with multiple pro sports stadium appearances, funerals, etc. It can be a true honor, and greatly rewarding, but there are costs which you need to be wary of when starting out so you don't fail.


1.  Be advised - there are specific differences between the Honor Guard program as a whole, and just Color Guard elements. Don't confuse them, and don't be discouraged thinking you all need expensive uniforms with new hats, ascots, etc., or that you have to compete in the Competition to have a unit Color Guard. Winning Cadet Comp CG units are those which can afford to fund raise and spend approx. $1000 - $1500 annually plus variable costs to travel, which can be daunting but are on the order of many travel team sports. My advice is that you can and should start out small, focusing on local events such as parades, etc. You should not bite off more than you can chew, and I think you SHOULD consider doing this, even if all you have now is basic Class B (no coat) blues. If all you want to do is a local Color Guard, that is OK!  Then, if you want to build off of that to field a full team for Cadet Competition, go for it! If some of you then want to go "all in" and expand into a full Honor Guard, go for it.


2.  Before taking on additional duties, my first advice is for you and your fellows to do a self-assessment first. How much time can you budget for a Color Guard, given more important priorities (and I would argue, that would be any responsibilities to your faith, your family, and your schoolwork first, then your normal CAP assignments).  You'll all want to go into this project (and any project) eyes open, not letting other commitments suffer.


3.  Then, seek guidance and sponsorship from your unit leadership; you want "buy-in" from them. Your Squadron Commander should be approached through the chain of command, i.e. your Cadet Flight Commander or Cadet Commander if you have one. Prepare a statement of interest with your pals, indicating that you all can devote x number of hours per week. That lays the foundation for your CO to assign staff and budgets to get you gear and supervision for practices, etc. You do NOT want to skip this chain of command; some units have problems with detailing a few cadets away from "normal" training/activities, so work those out. For example, you don't want resentment from your cadet chain/peers for being seen as "skipping training", so don't schedule anything which would conflict with CPFT or Character Development or required contact hours training in other areas.


4. Logistics and support:  Don't go out and go nuts buying gear, such as the full Honor Guard set!  Let your leadership work through this with you to gradually specify, price, and acquire/borrow/share gear. let your unit leadership worry about the logistics - escorts, fund raising and support, but know that you should not be practicing/meeting on your own per the cadet protection policy.


5. Details on the color guard can be found in http://www.capmembers.com/media/cms/P052_008_B38750453C56C.pdf, specifically Chapter 5 on the Color Guard element.


Best of luck!

V/R,
Spam

[Spam]

Cadet, a couple more inputs:

You stated "we aren't interested in competing at the National Competition" check.

You asked:
What type of meeting place do we need? [Spam: an outdoor drill pad with a flagpole, an indoor lecture hall type room for starters].

How long should we practice per week? [Spam: y'all need to answer that, after discussing your goals. Discussed in prior reply. Suggest every meeting where other cadets are drilling, you should be working with rifles/flags, whether in blues or BDUs that night. MAKE SURE that for practices outside of normal meetings, you have an escort and that you fill out the REQUIRED parental notice form].

What do we need for the uniforms? [Spam: stick to basic Class Bs for now as in prior reply. Focus dollars on colors/rifles].

How can we recruit other Cadets to join the Color Guard? [Spam: be admirable in bearing, appearance, performance and attitude. Be humble, generous and caring, and welcoming to newcomers, while not being stand offish or elitist. Embody the Core Values in all respects, and remember your duty as custodian of the National Colors. That said, propose to your chain that all cadets practice with dummy rifles (wood/tape) during drill on blues-uniform nights, and periodically hold an open tryout for CG alternates to join your team, or eventually to audition for a competition team. The last thing you need is to be elitist and to have only 4 guys to choose from, and to not have a pool of candidates for a short notice funeral on a school weekday afternoon].

Once we're up and going how do we get the word out for events? [Spam: offer to make presentations/present the colors at local organizations first, like Kiwanis, Rotary, Lions, Elks, Loyal Order of SAR Dachsunds, whatever, then local city council or school board meetings, minor league sports teams, etc. Then grow the business to NFL, MLB, etc. Contact your nearest AFB and find their Honor Guard and ask if you can meet, and perhaps augment them for funeral details, etc. You will get used if you can walk the walk].

V/R,
Spam

[Luis R. Ramos]

Spam,

Thanks for spotting that! I missed it.

Cadet CJS, in competitions, Color Guards and Honor Guards are looked at with a magnifying glass.

If you have a team that says or write Sargent, while another says or write Sergeant; if you have one that is not paying attention to their drills, their customs, one will end losing points. Can you tell us which one will be?

I hope you will be successful in the Color Guard venture. A Color Guard is difficult to coordinate and train. But when all are doing their thing out there, and everyone is working together it is one of the best expressions of a team.

Congratulations on your interest.

[lordmonar]

Step one.    Tell your local leadership that you would like to do this.   

No you don't need special uniforms.  No you don't need any where special to practice.   If you are not pressed for time 30 minutes before the regular meeting is all you need.  If you want to jump start a team.  Maybe a four Saturday to get the basics Dow then 30 minutes each week to run through the drill to keep the skills fresh.  And maybe a two hour practice just before each event.   

Anyone who has completed curry should be encouraged to join the team.   Remember the guard is normally four people but you can have everyone in the squadron on the team. 

Traditionally officers are not allowed on the guard.  But I'm not a total stickler for that. 

You will need gear.  Get two good flag poles, two nice flags same size and same boarders.  Two drill rifles. Parade store.com has some nice ones.   

That's all you need to get it started.   

Please note step one. If you senior leadership can't support extra activities you are dead in the water. 

[Cadet CJS]

Thank you for all the advice. We now have enough Cadets to start a Color Guard and we will begin training soon.

Can someone please point me to some good YouTube videos showing CAP Color Guards in action? There are so many and I'm still new so I don't which ones are doing right.

-Cadet CJS

[kwe1009]

The uniform for the Honor Guard is listed in Chapter 9 of CAPM 39-1.

CAPM 39-1 Uniform Manual

You can practice at your squadron for indoor and outdoor color guard drill.  You should practice as long as it takes for your team to move as one unit as flawlessly as possible.  Talk with your DCC about this project and work with them in selecting cadets that are squared away with their uniforms and drill movements.  In order to get the word out and offer to lead parades and other events you should ask your DCC to bring in the Public Affairs Officer for their help after your team is ready.

I was a member of a CAP Color Guard as a cadet and it was one of my favorite aspects of the cadet program.  Good luck to you and your future team.  It's a rewarding experience and one I really enjoyed as the U.S. Flag carrier for many parades and events.


EDIT:  BTW, CAP has an Honor Guard pamphlet that you may want to look through as well, although I suspect it's probably a little more in depth than what you should be concerned with starting out.

CAP Honor Guard

The honor guard uniform is not for color guards.  CAPM 39-1 9.6.1.1 specifically states that color guards will not wear the honor guard uniform.  Honor Guards and color guards are different.  An Honor Guard can perform color guard functions but not the other way around.

The wing commander authorizes what uniform items can be used are listed in paragraph 9.4 and are generally the white shoulder cord, white gloves, and white web belt.  To keep expenses down I would recommend buying what you can in this order: flags and poles, gloves, shoulder cord, belt.

[Salty]

Thanks for pointing that out.  It's easy for me to get the two programs mixed up because my color guard team did it all.  I don't recall there being such a thing as an honor guard program for cadets back then.

[ranger0305]

We just started our honor guard as well, above Spam said to check with your nearest AFB to see if you could augment them with their duties, which is a good idea but first you need to learn the proper way. I would suggest contacting them and asking them to help teach you honor/color guard. This is what we have done (granted their CO is a senior member at our squadron), this way is very good to start i believe, because you can practice with their equipment before you have to buy your own. Also you probably know this but you must have at least 4 people for a color guard, preferably more as the date of any event is bound to conflict with someones schedule.

Thanks,
C/A1C Blackwelder.

[Av8tion]

If you have a neighboring unit with a strong (or at least decent) color guard you can always see if they would be willing to help train yours. Squadrons aren't islands, and it's important for nearby units to work together.

[arajca]

A couple additional minor points:
1. Have your basic drill moves (columns, flanks, facing, etc) down pat BEFORE starting the color guard. They help teach and practice coordinated moves. A color guard looks bad if they are uncoordinated.
2. For practice, get a 2x4 and cut out a couple practice 'rifles' to preserve your good ones. It's cheap and early on it'll help save money. Besides, everyone can have their own and practice away from the official practices.
3. Remember, the focal point of a color guard is the COLORS, not the bearers or guards. Most often, the color guard calls attention to themselves away from the colors by screwing up. Some minor, some major. Done right, the audience remembers the outstanding presentation, not the individual members of the color guard. Of course, some things are beyond your control - there's a video of a NCGC team where the wind and flag blow the bearer's hat off. The color guard continues as if nothing happened - which is appropriate.

[kwe1009]

A couple additional minor points:
1. Have your basic drill moves (columns, flanks, facing, etc) down pat BEFORE starting the color guard. They help teach and practice coordinated moves. A color guard looks bad if they are uncoordinated.
2. For practice, get a 2x4 and cut out a couple practice 'rifles' to preserve your good ones. It's cheap and early on it'll help save money. Besides, everyone can have their own and practice away from the official practices.
3. Remember, the focal point of a color guard is the COLORS, not the bearers or guards. Most often, the color guard calls attention to themselves away from the colors by screwing up. Some minor, some major. Done right, the audience remembers the outstanding presentation, not the individual members of the color guard. Of course, some things are beyond your control - there's a video of a NCGC team where the wind and flag blow the bearer's hat off. The color guard continues as if nothing happened - which is appropriate.

All very excellent points and great advice.  To add to statement "the  focal point of a color guard is the COLORS" that includes commands by the color guard commander.  A color guard presentation that can be done with little or no spoken commands adds to impressiveness greatly. 

As an example, I was at a region conference recently and a color guard posted the colors and a different group retired the colors at the end.

The first group's commander barked commands loudly and the rifle bearers were not holding the rifles correctly.  Not very impressive.

The second group went on nearly silent commands and the audience reaction was much more favorable and I heard many comments about how much better the second group performed.  In reality their moves were not any better than the first group and I doubt many in the room even knew the proper way to hold the M1903 at port arms.  The big difference was the commands (or lack of).  Doing all the moves without the appearance of commands shows great skill and preparation. 

[Eaker Guy]

A couple additional minor points:
1. Have your basic drill moves (columns, flanks, facing, etc) down pat BEFORE starting the color guard. They help teach and practice coordinated moves. A color guard looks bad if they are uncoordinated.
2. For practice, get a 2x4 and cut out a couple practice 'rifles' to preserve your good ones. It's cheap and early on it'll help save money. Besides, everyone can have their own and practice away from the official practices.
3. Remember, the focal point of a color guard is the COLORS, not the bearers or guards. Most often, the color guard calls attention to themselves away from the colors by screwing up. Some minor, some major. Done right, the audience remembers the outstanding presentation, not the individual members of the color guard. Of course, some things are beyond your control - there's a video of a NCGC team where the wind and flag blow the bearer's hat off. The color guard continues as if nothing happened - which is appropriate.

All very excellent points and great advice.  To add to statement "the  focal point of a color guard is the COLORS" that includes commands by the color guard commander.  A color guard presentation that can be done with little or no spoken commands adds to impressiveness greatly. 

As an example, I was at a region conference recently and a color guard posted the colors and a different group retired the colors at the end.

The first group's commander barked commands loudly and the rifle bearers were not holding the rifles correctly.  Not very impressive.

The second group went on nearly silent commands and the audience reaction was much more favorable and I heard many comments about how much better the second group performed.  In reality their moves were not any better than the first group and I doubt many in the room even knew the proper way to hold the M1903 at port arms.  The big difference was the commands (or lack of).  Doing all the moves without the appearance of commands shows great skill and preparation.

+1

[Cadet12354]

All very excellent points and great advice.  To add to statement "the  focal point of a color guard is the COLORS" that includes commands by the color guard commander.  A color guard presentation that can be done with little or no spoken commands adds to impressiveness greatly. 

As an example, I was at a region conference recently and a color guard posted the colors and a different group retired the colors at the end.

The first group's commander barked commands loudly and the rifle bearers were not holding the rifles correctly.  Not very impressive.

The second group went on nearly silent commands and the audience reaction was much more favorable and I heard many comments about how much better the second group performed.  In reality their moves were not any better than the first group and I doubt many in the room even knew the proper way to hold the M1903 at port arms.  The big difference was the commands (or lack of).  Doing all the moves without the appearance of commands shows great skill and preparation. 

Which conference was that?  Does anyone have a video of the two color guards that I could compare/contrast?  I would love to see the differences between the two, so I could help make my unit's color guard better.

[kwe1009]

All very excellent points and great advice.  To add to statement "the  focal point of a color guard is the COLORS" that includes commands by the color guard commander.  A color guard presentation that can be done with little or no spoken commands adds to impressiveness greatly. 

As an example, I was at a region conference recently and a color guard posted the colors and a different group retired the colors at the end.

The first group's commander barked commands loudly and the rifle bearers were not holding the rifles correctly.  Not very impressive.

The second group went on nearly silent commands and the audience reaction was much more favorable and I heard many comments about how much better the second group performed.  In reality their moves were not any better than the first group and I doubt many in the room even knew the proper way to hold the M1903 at port arms.  The big difference was the commands (or lack of).  Doing all the moves without the appearance of commands shows great skill and preparation. 

Which conference was that?  Does anyone have a video of the two color guards that I could compare/contrast?  I would love to see the differences between the two, so I could help make my unit's color guard better.

I'll decline on pointing out which conference.  The thing you need to take away from my comment is that you need to make sure your guards hold the rifle properly and the team commander is not barking out commands.  The most impressive color guards are the ones where everyone is in step/sync and the audience can't tell if any commands are being called.