The “drill world” is a place populated with wonderful individuals from all walks of life. Drill-Team Dynamics Inc. will spend the next several weeks introducing you to some of these amazing people, all of whom have unique insight and experience to share with others. There is a lesson to be learned from each of these drillers and we hope that you find their words both motivating and useful as you seek to improve yourself or your team!
Ms. Andrea Bryant
“It’s a unique experience. And I want other drillers, especially the young ones, to see that the passion doesn’t have to end when you graduate.”
Our first featured driller is Ms. Andrea Bryant. Ms. Bryant hails from the West Coast and is a graduate of Norwich University, the birthplace of ROTC. As a cadet, Bryant competed on the Shock Platoon, the widely recognized and multi-championship winning precision drill team at her college. Upon graduation, Bryant continued her involvement not only as a competitor but also as an entrepreneur. Her clothing company, For The Art Clothing, exploded onto the drill scene and has been hugely successful in catering to our activity. She is also a huge advocate for personal fitness and produces some amazing resources on health and physical well-being. She is an inspiration to thousands both on and off the drill floor!
What are some of your accomplishments/achievements to date?
Creating For the Art Clothing. A driller/serviceman told me a story just a few weeks ago. He said that he had arrived in a state that he had never been in, knew no one and had no one to talk to. Then one day, he spotted a guy wearing a shirt with crossed rifles on it. It was an FTA shirt. And he found someone to commune with. Had the guy not been wearing that shirt, he never would’ve known there was another driller on base. That’s what FTA is about. It’s a call to arms to represent the art and share the passion with others.
What else?
Gaining respect as a female driller is also something I’m proud of. More importantly, working to have the chops to go toe-to-toe with the guys and just be an equal. Being able to shatter stigmas by something as simple as popping off a quad.
The dual with Jay [Caalim] at ISIS 2012 was also something I’m proud of. I think it added a little magic to the competition that year.
How long have you been drilling and how did you first get involved?
I’ve been drilling for 14 years. I got into it when my mother bribed me with $100 to go to the local JROTC summer camp before my freshman year. Some current members of the drill team did a demonstration and I got hooked. I traded basketball for it. Twist of fate, I guess. Could’ve been in the WNBA right now. Haha!
What motivates you to keep drilling?
I continue to drill because I remember what drill did for me when I was younger. It gave me a voice that I don’t think I could’ve gotten from a typical sport. It gave me an outlet to tell a story through snap and pageantry. It’s a unique experience. And I want other drillers, especially the young ones, to see that the passion doesn’t have to end when you graduate. There is a place for them to grow with the sport, compete, create and inspire.
When you were first learning, who were your inspirations?
I had been drilling for 4 years before I really came to my first inspirations. They were Blake Jackson (now CPT Jackson, USMC) and Matthew Angoy, USA. The first time I saw flow was watching Angoy drill and it took me by surprise. And with Blake, I had never seen intensity like his. The thing that inspired wasn’t just the moves. It was that they embodied these drill styles in their personalities. Angoy is very easy going, like flow. Whereas Blake is a sharp, but intense kind of guy. Like his drill. It was then that I started I realize that drill wasn’t just about moves. You can become a character, have a theme, make a voice. And that’s when it becomes really interesting.
Tell us about a moment in your drill career that was especially memorable.
An especially memorable moment in my drill career was probably the 2012 dual. At least, that’s where I’ve gotten most of my fame.
What is your favorite move, trick, or sequence and why?
My favorite move right now is probably the Death Throw (I think that’s the name). [Abraham Robbins of New Guard America] does it. I like it because it builds suspense. I like moves that communicate danger and difficulty for even the most naive audience. It’s drill’s first appeal.
What advice do you have for today’s drill team members?
The most important advice that I have for drillers and teams today is to not depend on anyone else (school, state, government, etc.) to fund your drill career. Units are closing left and right. We’re in a recession. Those with drive and resourcefulness are the ones who will survive. Create your own independent economy. Get out a raise funds. Host a car wash, perform for a VFW, start a booster club, sell something. Don’t miss out on a trip or competition because you’re waiting on a handout. Make it happen.
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