For any competitive JROTC colors team, selecting the right gear for success is a make-or-break decision: no amount of strenuous, calculated practice on the drill pad can make up for an equipment malfunction! As such, we strive to select just the right gear that will allow the cadets to shine in the eyes of their judges. This article will walk you through our decision-making process and offer the practical tips color guards are looking for the country over. But first, a few notes…
ALWAYS refer to your SOPs and LOIs to ensure that the gear you select falls within the realm of acceptable equipment; a drill meet’s SOP/LOI document nearly always supersedes other documentation as it contains special information pertinent to the competitive environment!
Remember that your judges are being asked in their judges’ briefs to grade the quality of the drill executed; having the best LOOKING gear is a secondary consideration to having the most FUNCTIONAL gear; we have NEVER seen a competition determined by who wore the most “ceremonial” attire – but we certainly have seen it determined by functionality of equipment many times over!
So what do we recommend? Keep reading below!
Poles & Ornaments
We recommend the TRADITIONAL FIT 8’x1 1/4th” aluminum pole (84_). The length and diameter is perfect for conducting high-speed competitive movements with snap and pop while remaining light enough to manipulate with ease. When acceptable per SOPs, we recommend the Round Spear Styrene flag pole ornament (85_) which is symmetrical (no more struggling to align your spades) and allows for easy uncasing/casing when required. The plastic material is lightweight and won’t affect the balance of your pole or poke through the canvas flag casings!
Flags
While 3’x5’ is the standard competitive flag size, we highly encourage you to check your SOP as, when possible, we recommend a 3’x4’ set of flags. We recommend, when allowed, that these flags be unfringed. The smaller size has several advantages: it hangs higher so that visibility is not an issue and the shorter length allows the judges to view the cadets’ bearing while marching. The shorter size ALSO represents several less cranks of the pole during the uncasing and casing procedures! Removing the fringe also shortens the flag while removing an element that can be tricky to contend with while uncasing/casing. While our 3’x4’ US flag (0223) is a standard product, be sure to give us a call to discuss custom-ordering your 3’x4’ state or organizational flag!
Flag Cases
The ONLY flag cases we recommend for competition are our exclusive line of Canvas Flag Cases (68_). For classroom or ceremonial use, imprinting on these cases is sharp but when every minor difference means a demerit, we recommend keeping your competition cases blank so that when they are folded and placed in the pistol belts, there is no chance they’ll look different.
Harnesses
The potential for demerits for missing the cup with the flag pole far outweighs any other consideration when selecting a harness. While shiny nickel or brass cups look outstanding for honor guard functions, they are impractical and dangerous for competition. We recommend our Double Leather Flag Carrier(1802_). With its wide plastic cup and sharp-looking leather, these are a favorite of competition colorguards at the highest levels!
Pistol Belts
The Army Training Circular is very specific about the type of belts to be worn: pistol belts. But within that broad category, there are many options. We recommend opting for a clean, crisp look with minimal metal accents to avoid impossible upkeep on your competition-ready gear! Our line of Military Police Belts (18_) is perfect for competition. Remember, each of your color guard team members needs a belt, not just the flag bearers!
Rifle Slings
You have a lot of options when it comes to rifle slings for your competition color guard. Some companies produce nylon slings. You can choose from brass and nickel hardware. But we ONLY recommend using Heavy Web Rifle Slings with a nickel finish (200_N). Unlike the brass finish, the nickel action is smoother for conducting sling arms and is far easier to maintain without buffing or shining. The cotton material is flexible enough to be accommodating of the intricate sling arms maneuvers but rigid enough to snap and pop with ease!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out! We stand ready to answer any questions you might have concerning the best gear to outfit your teams! Remember, this list is highly specific and curated for the discerning Army color guard team looking to compete successfully at a high level!
Best of luck and happy drilling!
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