Pathfinder Honour:

Trainer’s Notes

DRILL & MARCHING 2 (ie Advanced)

(Advanced star on Patch is not shown)

Instructions to Trainers / Instructors of this Honour

Thankyou for being involved with this Honour. These notes have been developed to assist in teaching /
instructing this honour. We recognise that there is much more information available and we are grateful that
you should share your expertise.

Please remember that Honours are designed to develop our Pathfinders in many ways; their interests, their
knowledge and their relationship with their Saviour and Creator. Your enthusiasm and creativity will have a
huge impact on those doing the honour.

To complete an Honour, the following (where applicable) must be completed satisfactorily:

 Physical and Practical Requirements.
 Honour Workbook.
 Honour Assessment Sheet. (On SPD Honour Website but Leader’s level access is required)
Additional Reference Material
Pathfinder Drill & Marching’, PBA ACT 001A, Nov 2004. Youth Department, South Pacific Division, SDA
Church.
Acknowledgments
 Drill & Marching 2 (Advanced) Honour

REQUIREMENT 1:
Have the Drill and Marching 1 Honour.
See notes of honour for details of requirements to attain this honour.

REQUIREMENT 2.
Explain the following terms, comparing and contrasting the action of each
command at the Halt:

a Open (Close) order march

On the command, “Pathfinders, open order MARCH.”

a. If in two ranks,
i. The rear rank will march back two paces.
b. If in three ranks,
i. The front rank will march forward two paces and
ii. The rear rank will march back two paces.
iii. The centre rank will stand fast.

Arms will be held steady by the sides throughout the movement.

Each pace to be 60 cm.

COMMON FAULTS
a. Taking too short a pace with the left foot.
b. Looking down at the ground.

On the command, “Pathfinders, close order MARCH.”

i. The front rank will march back two paces and
ii. The rear rank will march forward two paces.

Arms will be held steady by the side throughout the movement.

COMMON FAULTS
a. Front rank taking paces that are too long when opening the ranks.
b. Taking too short a pace with the left foot.
c. Looking down at the ground.

b Paces forward (backward) march

On the command, “Pathfinders, …. paces forward MARCH.”

The movement is carried out in quick time but with the arms held by the sides.
Each rank concerned will march forward the required number of paces called
for, stepping off with the left foot. Each pace to be approximately 50 cm.

COMMON FAULTS
a. Taking too short a pace with the left foot.
b. Looking down at the ground.

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Compiled: Feb 08 , Paul Cresswell, S Qld Conf. Updated: 1 Mar 09, John Sommerfeld, S Qld Conf.
 Drill & Marching 2 (Advanced) Honour

On the command, “Pathfinders, …. paces backward MARCH.”

The movement is carried out in quick time but with the arms held by the sides.
Each rank concerned will march backward the required number of paces called
for, stepping off with the left foot. Each pace to be approximately 50 cm.

COMMON FAULTS
a. Taking too short a pace with the left foot.
b. Looking down at the ground.

c Paces right (left) close March

On the command, “Pathfinders, …. paces right close MARCH.”

During the side pace other parts of the body will maintain the position of
“attention.”

a. Bend the right knee

b. Carry the right foot off to the right a distance of 30cm.
c. Raise the left heel approximately 2.5cm.
d. Bend the left knee and bring the left foot sharply to the right into the
position of “attention.”
e. Continue “a” to “d” above for each pace to be covered.

COMMON FAULTS
a. Uneven paces causing loss of covering and dressing.
b. Failure to close heels at each pace.
c. A tendency to move the right foot before the left has been placed firmly on
the ground.

Upon the command, “Pathfinders, …. paces left close MARCH.”

During the side pace other parts of the body will maintain the position of
“attention.”
a. Bend the left knee
b. Carry the left foot off to the left a distance of 30cm.
c. Raise the right heel approximately 2.5cm.
d. Bend the right knee and bring the right foot sharply to the left into the
position of “attention.”
e. Continue “a” to “d” above for each pace to be covered.

COMMON FAULTS
a. Uneven paces causing loss of covering and dressing.
b. Failure to close heels at each pace.
c. A tendency to move the left foot before the right has been placed firmly on
the ground.

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 Drill & Marching 2 (Advanced) Honour

d Fall out of (into) the unit

The command, “Fall OUT / IN”, is used when an individual(s) is /(are) called
out of or returned to their unit.

a. On the command, “… Fall OUT,” the Pathfinder(s) nominated

i. come(s) to “attention,”
ii. take(s) a half pace forward,
iii. turns to their right,
iv. marches along the front of their rank until clear of the unit and moves
off directly to whatever position has been designated.

b. On the command, “Fall IN,” the individual(s)

i. march(s) to their unit by the shortest route,
ii. passing to the rear of the rank in which they are positioned,
iii. halt adjacent to their position,
iv. turn right,
v. step forward into their rank and assume the same stance as the
remainder of the unit, ie. “at ease” or “attention.”

REQUIREMENT 3.
Demonstrate the ability to properly execute the following drill movements at the
Halt:
a) Open (Close) order march
b) Paces forward (backward) march
c) Paces right (left) close March
d) Fall out of (into) the unit

REQUIREMENT 4.
Explain the following terms, comparing and contrasting the action of each
command on the March:

a Slow march

The slow march teaches balance and good carriage; it is traditionally an essential part
of ceremonial parades.

The teaching of marching in slow time prior to teaching marching in quick time gives
the instructor opportunities of checking the length of pace.

It is the first stage in developing balance and poise whilst on the march.

Good slow marching may be obtained by the following method:-

 Have the unit stroll along with their arms behind their backs, head down looking
at the ground, at 60 paces per minute.
 Call the step until the unit stepping consistently at 60 paces per minute.
 While the unit is moving, bring the arms slowly to the sides. Then raise the head
slowly until the eyes are looking at their own height.

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 Drill & Marching 2 (Advanced) Honour

 Make the unit point the toes outwards and downwards ensuring the weight of the
body is dropped onto the ball of the leading foot.
 Make sure consecutive movements of the feet are smooth and without hesitation.
 Any Pathfinder who pauses in mid-stride, places the heel to the ground first, leans
backward or flicks the toes, should be practised further with the head down until
these faults are corrected.
 Faults must be corrected and position adjusted until correct slow marching is
achieved.

All commands to commence slow marching are ordered when Pathfinders are at the
position of “attention.”

On the command: “Pathfinders, slow MARCH.”

a. Maintain the body erect and the arms steady at the sides;
b. Step off smoothly with the left foot, straightening the knee, with the toe 5 cm
from the ground, pointing downward;
c. Raise the right heel off the ground and, with a gliding motion, complete the 60
cm pace, the forward part of the left foot coming to the ground.
d. Bring each foot forward, straight to the front, pointing the toe forward and
downward, and continue as detailed in “b” and “c;” and
e. Retain the dressing by the directing flank.

f. “Pathfinders, HALT.”
g. On the command, given as the right foot is forward and on the ground:
h. Complete a full forward pace with the left foot in slow time; and
i. Bring the right foot forward, in quick time, and assume the position of
“attention.”

b Change step

On the command, “Pathfinders, change STEP.”

In slow time, the command, “change step,” given as the right foot is forward and on the
ground:
a. Complete a full pace with the left foot;
b. Bring the right foot forward in quick time and place the instep of the right foot
against the heel of the left foot; and
c. Step off in slow time with the left foot.

In quick time, the command, “change step,” given as the right foot is forward and on
the ground:
a. Complete a full pace with the left foot;
b. Bring the right foot forward in double time and place the instep of the right foot
against the heel of the left foot, bringing the arms to the sides; and
c. Step off in quick time with the left foot, swinging the arms.

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 Drill & Marching 2 (Advanced) Honour

When marking time, on the command, “change step” Given as the right foot is on the
ground:
a. Take two successive mark time paces with the left foot; and continue marking
time.

c Salute to the right (left)

On the command “Pathfinders, to the right SALUTE”

a. Turn the head and eyes square to the right.

b. In the same instant bring the hand to the position for saluting to the front, except
that the right elbow, forearm, wrist and hand must be drawn slightly to the rear,
without turning the body, so that the right eye can look along the palm of the
right hand.
c. The eyes are to look:
i. Their own height from the ground or
ii. Into the eyes of the official saluted or
iii. Directly at the colour or flag being saluted.
d. Turn the head and eyes to the front. At the same time cut the right hand to the
side.

COMMON FAULTS
a. Leaning forward, looking along the back of the hand or not looking the person to
whom the compliment is given squarely in the face.
b. Tilting the head towards the hand.
c. Hand too high.
d. Left shoulder allowed to move forward.

On the command “Pathfinders, to the left SALUTE”

a. Turn the head and eyes square to the left.
b. In the same instant bring the hand to the position for saluting to the front except
that the right hand must be pushed across to the left in order to adopt the correct
position over the right eye.
c. The eyes are to look:
i. Their own height from the ground or
ii. Into the eyes of the official saluted or
iii. Directly at the colour or flag being saluted.
d. Turn the head and eyes to the front. At the same time cut the right hand to the
side.

COMMON FAULTS
a. Turning the shoulder to the left and allowing the right shoulder to drop forward.
b. Not looking the person to whom the compliment is given squarely in the face.
c. Not allowing the right hand to move over to its correct position.
d. Dropping the wrist.

When saluting on the march the following will apply;

a. Throughout the duration of the salute on the march the left arm is held steady by
the side.
b. After completion of the salute the person saluting will cut both arms to the sides
for two paces and then continue to swing as in the movement for marching.
South Pacific Division of SDA Page 6 of 7
Document Name: Drill_and_Marching_2_Honour_Trainer_s_Notes
Compiled: Feb 08 , Paul Cresswell, S Qld Conf. Updated: 1 Mar 09, John Sommerfeld, S Qld Conf.
 Drill & Marching 2 (Advanced) Honour

REQUIREMENT 5.
Demonstrate the ability to properly execute the following drill movements on the
March:
a) Slow march
b) Change step
c) Salute to the right (left)

REQUIREMENT 6.
When marching, on which foot is the executive stage of following commands
given?

Command Foot
a. Halt Left
b. Right turn Right
c. Left turn Left
d. About turn Left
e. Salute to right (left) Left
f. Eyes right (left) Left

REQUIREMENT 7.
When marching in quick time, on which foot is the beat of the music?

When marching in quick time the beat of the music is always on the left foot, ie. as the
left foot is placed on the ground.

REQUIREMENT 8.
As a member of a drill squad, of at least nine people, complete four marching
diagrams.

REQUIREMENT 9.
Command a drill squad of at least nine people in the execution of basic drill at
the Halt and on the March as listed in the Drill and Marching 1
Honour, or this honour.

REQUIREMENT 10.
With a unit (or a selected colour guard), formally raise and lower the National
flag a summer camp, Camporee, Pathfinder Fair or similar programme or
ceremony.
Or,
With a unit (or a selected colour guard), demonstrate posting the National and
Pathfinder flags at a Pathfinder Rally, church parade or similar programme or
ceremony.

South Pacific Division of SDA Page 7 of 7

Document Name: Drill_and_Marching_2_Honour_Trainer_s_Notes
Compiled: Feb 08 , Paul Cresswell, S Qld Conf. Updated: 1 Mar 09, John Sommerfeld, S Qld Conf.