Starting the school year can be stressful! Especially when you’ve recently been named the Cadet Commander for your team. Thankfully, you can manage the stress – and loneliness – of the commander spot starting with these 5 helpful guidelines!
1: Communication Is Key
This means communication at ALL levels. You must actively communicate with your instructors, your fellow returning cadets, as well as with your new cadets. Communication builds relationships and relationships are the lifeblood of a drill team. Start by sitting down with your fellow upperclassmen or fellow cadet leaders. As a group, determine your goals for the team and outline what you, as the cadet commander, expect from the team in the coming year. Decide collectively on a set of expectations and then communicate those expectations to the team. When you’ve communicated professionally and actively, you’ll have assistance on the practice deck. The best cadet commanders have built relationships that make their job that much easier when it comes to maintaining work ethic and discipline during the long drill season!
2. Create a Culture of INCLUSION
What does this mean? It means treating everyone who comes out for drill team – regardless of experience, age, or class – with dignity and respect. It means treating everyone on the team with firmness, fairness, dignity, and compassion. In our activity, every single member makes a difference. Even if you may have been looked down upon or treated poorly as a freshman, you can break that cycle. There are too many other teams looking to take your unit down collectively for you to spend time putting down your own members. In addition, many teams have come unglued due to poor treatment of freshmen. A knowledgable, confident, strong new member is an asset to the team. One who feels constantly degraded, forced to “earn their keep”, and put through poor treatment will underperform for a longer amount of time. Additionally, this means breaking down existing “cliques” (or groups) within your drill team. Force everyone to sit together and/or mingle whether they want to or not. Invite EVERYONE – not just your friends or those you like – to partake in drill team outings. You don’t have to like the individual but you must extend the invitation to be part of the family. And besides, you might get to know someone better that you might’ve written off otherwise. Inclusivity is a key trait for success.
3. Plan Properly
Create and communicate your daily practice goals and plan well in advance of each practice. Spend a moment briefing the team on your plan prior to practice. Constantly reiterate throughout practice WHY you’re practicing what and how you are. A commander who is organized and comes every day with a plan of action is one who is respected and one who works less hard on maintaining focus. When the goal is clear and communicated, the team can better understand why they’re doing constant repetitions. Work one-on-one with your coach or instructor to help develop your goals and daily plans. We recommend writing and posting the goals for the day in the JROTC area for all drill team cadets to view throughout the day. That way, everyone – most importantly YOU – comes to practice prepared!
4. Avoid Down Time
Drama, lack of focus, and other issues arise at practices where cadets are not fully engaged 100% of the time from start to finish. You, as the commander, must set a pace and a flow to practice that forces everyone to be moving constantly. Moreover, if you call a command without a piece of feedback, you’ve wasted time and lost engagement. For every single repetition, you MUST have 1) something for the team and/or individuals to sustain and 2) something for the team and/or individuals to improve upon for the next rep. If you notice attention spans wandering, move the team, move their physical position, or change gears to another practice goal. Physical motion stops the mind from wandering – be decisive and constantly active! Commanders who run practice with a sense of urgency and drive avoid downtime that leads to in-fighting and other destructive habits.
5. Turn Up the Energy
As the commander, you MUST be the most energetic cadet on the deck every day, at all times. Your energy level is always reflected in the team’s which means if you’re at a 10, they’re likely at a 7-8. However, if you show up to practice at 5, you can bet they’ll be hanging around 2-3. You WILL be tired. You WILL be frustrated. You WILL have other attentions outside of drill. You WILL get upset. You WILL be agitated. But you must exude energy and positivity 100% of the time you’re in front of the team. Even if you don’t feel it, fake it until you make it. It’s hard to be a Debbie Downer around someone who is upbeat and positive. Your energy level must be through the roof to achieve the best results. You can show this in your body language, your words, and your actions. Get excited. Change positions – constantly. Run from place to place. Motivate. You are the commander and you’re no longer allowed to be tired, bored, hurting, or apathetic. You must be a ball of energy from start to finish. You can sleep at home!
We at Drill-Team Dynamics Inc. want to wish you the a great drill season! Remember, we are here as a resource via our website, our Facebook page, and our Instagram (@drillteamdynamics)!
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