No matter how many hours a day you practice, there still doesn’t every seem to be quite enough time! The best units are those that learn that sometimes, working HARDER means working SMARTER. Use these 5 strategies to maximize your practice time!
1. “Gush ‘n Go!”
Let’s do some math. Your “average” break during drill team practice is 5 minutes, right? “Take 5!” you hear constantly. But after you get everyone back on the floor and drilling again, we’re willing to bet that 5 minutes is more like 8-9 minutes. So let’s call that 10 minutes per break. Now, imagine you’re snapping and popping and really hitting it hard. You take 10 minutes off and it’ll take another 10 minutes to fire back up to that high level. Now, your 5 minute break has cost you 20 minutes. You take 2 breaks per practice because, well, it’s only 5 minutes, right? Now you’ve effectively burned 40 minutes. Let’s say your average practice is 2 hours long. By taking just 2 “5-minute” breaks, you’ve gone from having 2 hours of solid drill time to just barely over an hour. Now, multiply this by, let’s say, 5 days a week. That’s OVER THREE HOURS per week you’ve spent NOT drilling. Now multiply that by a whole season and you’ll have spent a ton of literally 24-hour DAYS just “taking 5.”We operate on a system of “Gush ‘n Go” breaks. You fall out, you run to your water source, you hydrate thoroughly, and you run back into your spot. This process should take no more than 1-2 minutes and should involve active motion 100% of the time. This eliminates down-time AND keeps the team focused.
2. Practice Outside of Practice
If you wanted to be the star basketball player, would you only touch a ball during practice? If you wanted to become the first chair player in the band, would you only play your instrument during class? Of course not. You would do everything you could OUTSIDE of practice to come prepared to focus on the team or the band or whatever metaphor you want to choose. For some reason, we treat drill as something we can only do during practice. Now, we aren’t talking about spinning rifles at home. There are plenty of habits you can implement to make sure practice time is team time and not individual time. Set the expectation, for instance, that each cadet perform 25 repetitions of each rifle manual movement found on the drill card each day. If we’re being honest, you’re already coming to the JROTC area and may or may not be doing productive things in that time. Make it a game: get a partner and for the first 5 reps, respectfully correct one another. Then, for the next 20 reps, challenge each other to see who can do them the sharpest and most precise. Walk down the hall with good posture. Sit up straight in class. Flank down the aisles at the grocery store. You must be willing to be a nerd about getting better at drill. When each member is prepared BEFORE practice, you have more time to spend working on things as a team instead of remediating individual skills.
3. Plan Your Practice
Many teams come to the drill deck and decide on the spot what to work on. When you do this, you have no idea how long it’ll take to meet the goal and you may be wasting valuable time deciding what to do instead of DOING it. Your practices should be scheduled and daily goals should be set in advance. Have a plan for if you accomplish your goals with time to spare. Have a plan if you don’t quite get everything you need done accomplished. Post and communicate the plan. Brief the plan before during and after practice. If you know how your time should be spent, you’ll know if you’re spinning your wheels or really making progress. Begin with the end in mind. By the end of practice, what do you want to see the team able to accomplish? Now structure your goals to reach this goal. Goal-oriented practice is effective practice.
4. Start On Time
When one of our Coaches says their practice begins at 1530, they mean, “Drill Team, Attention!” at 1530 and NOT show-up-grab-your-stuff-change-your-clothes-use-the-head-take-roll at 1530. Allot a reasonable amount of time before practice, given your school location, to do the following: leave class, put away your things, change into proper clothing, draw rifles, take roll, etc. This way, when practice begins, you know it’ll be actual time on the drill deck. Do everything you need to do BEFORE practice starts. Many teams burn hours a week on roll call and getting ready when the best teams have done all this in advance of the designated start-time. You want to minimize your time prepping and maximize your time DRILLING.
5. Eliminate Distractions
What does this mean? Well, a few things. Firstly, no cell phones should be at practice. This doesn’t mean putting them in your pocket. It means ensuring at the start of the season that all parents and/or guardians have the instructor’s number and then collecting phones in a single location before practice. Every time you glance at your phone is a moment you’re losing focus on drill. Besides, you don’t need to worry about Mom needing to get a hold of you because she already has the instructor’s phone number handy to make sure you get any emergency messages, right? It’s hard but lose the phones. Another major distraction is sitting down. Yes, sitting down. We like to say that sitting down is the enemy of getting back up. When you sit, you naturally tune out and lose focus. Avoid it at all costs. Lastly, avoid extended breaks (notice a trend) that allow for conversation to deviate from drill-related and productive discussion. If you notice it happening, immediately move to stop it. Remaining focused means you’ll spend no time RE-focusing the team towards the goal!
We hope this information is a good start! We want to hear from you via our Facebook page, our Instagram account (@drillteamdynamics), and via our website here!
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)!
Originally published Glendale Parade Store‘s Bugler newsletter. To sign up for email updates from Glendale Parade Store via The Bugler, CLICK HERE!
5. Practice, Practice, Practice!
At the end of the day, nothing replaces time spent marching on the drill deck. Most highly successful units practice 5-6 days a week putting in hours comparable to a part-time job. While this might not be an immediate reality for many developing programs, creating a multi-year plan to add practice time to your unit’s schedule will have successful results when implemented properly. Some units offer Drill Team as an elective for participating students utilizing PE/Dance State Standards. Other units split practice between morning and afternoon sessions. If you’re serious about improvement, finding time to practice is a must!
4. Set Clear and Attainable Daily Goals!
The best drill team units know that effective practice means eliminating down-time. By maintaining constant engagement at all times – driven by clearly communicated daily goals – the drama, the in-fighting, and the horse-play are all minimized simply because there is no time for it when the goal is clear. The cadet commander and coach should collaborate in advance of each practice to determine the physical practice goals for that day. Then, post those goals on the office or armory door for all members to see throughout the day. When practice begins, restate those goals and work hard towards them! This seems like a no-brainer but many teams often simply go outside and run through their routines stopping occasionally to fix mistakes. A goal-driven team is a more successful one!
3. Prepare Methodically for Competition!
Top drill team units leave NOTHING to chance. They pack extra EVERYTHING and they certainly don’t rely upon cadets to show up in their uniforms. The fact of the matter is that cadets exercise personal responsibility setting up their uniforms each week for class. For the competitive drill team, uniform preparation is a science with teams of cadets assigned to each individual rank, accoutrement, and award to ensure that every uniform is the same from cadet to cadet. Shoes are shined well in advance and double-checked for consistency. Uniforms are fit and tailored and many units have a separate “Inspection-Only” uniform maintained to perfection and stored at the unit. In the weeks leading up to a major competition, championship teams spend as much time preparing as they do practicing because they know the difference it makes!
2. Be Willing to Innovate!
Top instructors know that an LOI or SOP is a document meant to be read and dissected. Anyone who tells you there isn’t strategy in even something as “mundane” as Regulation Drill isn’t being truthful; as coaches, we obsess over the minor details. Does the competition not mandate a specific entry/exit point? We ask ourselves, “How can we do things differently – yet correctly – to stand out in the field?” When it comes to exhibition drill, the most innovative routines are always a collaboration between instructor and cadets. Be confident in your vision: even if you don’t know how to spin a rifle or slap yourself silly, you probably have some creative ideas that your cadets can bring to life on the floor with their skills!
1. Constantly Adapt and Overcome!
Competitive JROTC drill is an ever-evolving field driven to new heights each year by the excellence on display at the nation’s top competitions. What worked even 5 years ago might be woefully outdated today. The best drill team coaches are always willing to adapt to this ever-changing field and apply what is successful for the benefit of the cadets in their charge. The phrases, “We’ve always done it this way.” or “I like it like this.” are the enemies of success when those methods consistently fail to deliver results. The BEST thing you can do for your cadets is be aware of the changing trends in competitive drill to maximize their efforts!
This is the first article in a series. Watch for the second in the series later in the spring.
About the Author
Matthew Wendling is a former AFJROTC cadet and two-time World Champion driller turned professional drill team coach. As a middle school English teacher, Wendling contributed to multiple championship drill team units where his efforts as an assistant coach culminated in back-to-back National Championship titles in both 2013 and 2014. After leaving the classroom to serve Glendale Parade Store as a Regional Representative, Wendling continues to work as a consultant to multiple championship middle school and high school drill team programs. He is a founding member of the Drill-Team Dynamics Inc. drill team training organization. If you would like to reach Matt, you can contact him at matthew@glendale.com.
Drill-Team Dynamics’ Instructor Seminars
With the expansion of professional development opportunities and on-site training workshops offered by companies such as Drill-Team Dynamics Inc., there are many ways to stay current. Many districts will accept professional development hours for attending events like Drill-Team Dynamics’ Instructor Seminars where instructors are taught best-practices by other instructors who have spent years developing their own programs.
You can learn more about Drill-Team Dynamics Inc. Instructor Seminars and sign up today by visiting Drill-Dynamics.com. Registration is $350 for the first instructor and each subsequent instructor receives a $50 discount on this fee. With your registration, any number of cadets are eligible to attend this 2-day training for only $25 per cadet. Their separate training is designed to supplement yours!
Glendale and ParadeStore.com
Glendale outfits honor guards, color guards, and drill units. Visit our site for the best in parade and drill equipment and for uniform accessories at http://www.ParadeStore.com.
Drill-Team Dynamics Inc. is a proud partner of Glendale Parade Store.
Here are the top 10 reasons your unit should consider attending an Instructor Seminar near you:
10) It’s the MOST AFFORDABLE, BEST professional development you’ll find anywhere!
EXCLUSIVE registration discounts are available for a LIMITED TIME ONLY! Register by 31 May 2016 and use promo code EARLYBIRD to receive 10% off your total registration fees! There is no better offering out there and we understand that fundraising is an extremely important aspect of your program! Now is the time to take advantage of these savings!
9) You’ll learn the “secrets” of CHAMPIONSHIP PREPARATION!
“Secrets” is in quotes because we believe there are none! We will share with you everything we’ve learned about successfully preparing a drill team unit towards competition in an open, candid format that encourages questions and dialog! We PROMISE you will walk away with more tools for your toolbox!
8) You’ll be surrounded by others just like YOU!
You have questions – so do your peers! Our seminars are designed to bring together instructors to share their experiences so that ALL attendees grow together! Our goal is to bring instructors together to learn and grow!
7) We cover EACH PHASE of drill!
You’ll experience training in Regulation, Inspection, Color Guard, and Exhibition. From strategies in Inspection to the creation of Exhibition routines, you’ll learn what goes into each phase of competition. We leave no stone unturned in an effort to best prepare your cadets for success!
6) Training is both conceptual and HANDS ON!
That’s right. We want you to walk away with a deeper appreciation for what your cadets do on the drill deck! So you’ll learn the physical teaching techniques that cause top units to snap and pop with power and precision. Who knows…You might just walk away being able to spin a rifle! One thing is for sure: you will understand how to best communicate and teach drill movements to this generation of cadets!
5) You’re building a NETWORK!
Not only are we always here to assist you from the time you leave the Seminar, but you’ll have made contacts with many area instructors and will be ready to share resources towards a better, more competitive drill circuit! What’s more, attending gives you access to a full range of Drill-Team Dynamics Inc. on-site training services!
4) Two Words: PROFESSIONAL. DEVELOPMENT.
Many districts accept the 16 hours of professional development credit offered towards your accumulation of continued education hours! You could spend that time in another death-by-Power Point lecture or you could be learning about the most FUN and REWARDING aspect of your job: coaching and mentoring cadets towards successful futures!
3) Anyone of ANY experience level will benefit!
Whether you’re entering your first school year as a JROTC instructor or you’ve been doing this for 20 years, the Seminar will benefit you and your cadets! Drill is constantly evolving and we stay on the cutting edge for a reason: to better prepare programs to succeed.
2) Seminars are taught by a select group of CURRENT AND FORMER JROTC INSTRUCTORS!
Not only will you learn from our own highly skilled corps of trainers, instruction will primarily be delivered by individuals with a strong history of building and sustaining successful JROTC programs. This isn’t learning delivered second-hand from civilians: this is knowledge straight from the source!
1) CADETS CAN ATTEND, TOO!
Instructor Seminars are meant to be collaborative! Just like in any successful drill unit, the understanding between instructor and cadets can make or break a program! While the instructors are engaged, cadets will learn from our staff of Coaches in a learning lab SECOND TO NONE! Bring your commanders, your leaders, your upperclassmen! You’ll start the school year on the same page!
So what are you waiting for? Learn more and sign up TODAY!
Many times, we are DM’d by cadets on our Instagram account (@drillteamdynamics), our Facebook, or via email and asked how they can bring Drill-Team Dynamics Inc. Coaches to their school. We wanted to provide some insight on how this process works and how YOU, as a cadet, can make a huge difference in the decision to conduct on-site training at your school!
The Instructor Is Boss
Because training MUST be discussed with each program’s instructor(s), it is very important that your instructor know what we do! Be sure to show them our website and especially focus on our Video section where they will be able to see the Before & After transformation videos as well as examples of our training in action! Showing them videos of our Coaches in action can make a huge difference as well. It’s one thing to hear about World Champion Samuel Gozo’s talent but quite another to SEE him in action on the drill floor! You can explain how sharp and crisp Unarmed Coach Kirsten Pacheco is but you can FEEL the power and intensity when you see it on video!
Once you’ve shown your instructor our site and videos, encourage them to fill out a Contact Form and we’ll take it from there!
Involve Your Teammates
Be sure to share your desire with the team. You should be collectively setting goals and working towards them on a continual basis. Show the team our site and videos and encourage them to follow us on Instagram (or Facebook…if anyone still uses Facebook!) Explain how you feel Drill-Team Dynamics Inc. will help your team reach specific goals. Keyword: Specific. Perhaps you’re looking to advance in competition. Or maybe your exhibition routine is missing that special something that really makes it pop. Communicate how you feel professional training will benefit everyone!
Know Your Options
Make sure you also read all about our difference services and are familiar with the concept of our training: we come to YOUR SCHOOL on YOUR SCHEDULE and focus on what YOUR TEAM needs. Typically, training lasts around 2-3 days with an average training day consisting of six hours of intense, focused, no-kidding drill time. Your instructor may have questions and you’ll want to have at least the basic answers!
If on-site training doesn’t seem like something your team can do at the moment, let your instructors know about our Instructor Seminars held throughout the year! The bonus here is that cadets MAY attend these Seminars with their instructor! It’s a great way to get access to skills, concepts, and techniques that you can put to use WITH your instructor!
Also, be sure to check out Nationals Drill Camp! Nationals Drill Camp is a week-long camp conducted by Sports Network International, operators of the National High School Drill Team Championships! If you LOVE drill, you’ll love spending an entire week surrounded by cadets from around the country that share your passion! It’ll be a week you’ll never forget and you’ll be taught by National Championship Coaches and World Championship drillers! The price tag may LOOK high but it’ll be worth every penny – we promise!
Don’t Be Afraid to Reach Out
Our Contact Forms have a choice for “Cadet” for a reason! We want to help you out as best as we can! On a daily basis, we answer questions ranging from “How do I execute _____ in accordance with the manual?” to “How do I deal with the DRAMA?” and everything in between! Even if your instructor and unit aren’t able to bring conduct an on-site training Workshop , we are always here to be a resource to you! Don’t be afraid to reach out and contact us with any questions you might have!
Attach these LED lights to the ends of your drill rifle using either tape or the included rubber wristband and be the envy of your unit! These lights are activated with motion which means every spin, stop, and slam causes a flash of light. Available in red, white, blue, and green, the Drill-Team Dynamics Inc. staff was surprised to learn that a current Nationals Head Judge would even add showmanship points for using these on the drill deck were he evaluating that particular driller provided the rest of the rifle was well-prepared! (Compete at your own risk!)
These LED Lights are a Glendale ParadeStore exclusive product and you can order yours by CLICKING HERE!
We’re getting closer to Christmas and closer to wrapping up our list of amazing drill-related gifts! Today’s featured item is another awesome one from For the Art Drill Clothing! The “All I Do Is Drill” tee is a great way to proclaim the obvious!
You can get this All I Do Is Drill Tee exclusively from For the Art and you can order yours by CLICKING HERE!
All one needs to do is turn on the news to realize that firearms safety is a huge – and ever-growing – concern. And it’s not always apparent that your drill rifle can’t fire, even when it’s being thrown into the air. The safest and most effective way to transport your drill rifle is in an airline approved hard-sided rifle case. This case is lockable so transporting it in flight is easy and no part of your rifle is visible so moving it from place to place (even from your mom’s car into the school for practice) will be much safer!
These Airline Approved Rifle Cases are available in both single and double-rifle models and you can order yours by CLICKING HERE!
Look as stylish off the drill deck as you do on it! This brand new snapback from FTA Clothing comes in 3 different styles. Show your loyalty to drill by sporting one of these at your next drill meet: it’s sure to turn some heads!
The For the Art Drill Clothing Snapback is available exclusively through FTA Clothing online and you can order yours by CLICKING HERE!
For the cadet or driller looking to deck out their exhibition uniform, a braided shoulder cord could be the perfect finishing touch. Available in a wide array of styles and completely customizable color combination, these cords are handmade by a family-owned company specifically for Glendale ParadeStore. These cords can be seen on the shoulders of many of the most decorated units in the nation!
These handmade cords come in a HUGE variety of styles and you can browse Glendale ParadeStore’s selection by CLICKING HERE!
This is the stocking stuffer to end all stocking stuffers! Not only do you get an awesome custom drill stocking to use for years to come, you also get a grab bag of awesome items including a Glendale LED rifle light, Revolution sticker, FTA wristband, and a copy of the Best of Armed Exhibition Drill DVD!
This stocking from For the Art Drill Clothing is a limited-time, limited supply item and you can order one by CLICKING HERE!
There is nothing that makes a better impression on a judge than a well-tailored uniform. These Shirt Stays are the universal solution to an unsightly, loose uniform shirt. Simply attach one end to the top of your socks and the other to the bottom of your shirt and let the elastic keep your shirt neatly tucked into your trousers. Keep the cadet in your life looking sharp with this handy stocking stuffer!
These Shirt Stays are available exclusively through Glendale ParadeStore and you can order them by CLICKING HERE!
When it comes to exhibition drill, it’s the small things that set drillers apart. Surprise the driller in your life this holiday season with a set of Glendale Cheater Bars! These are metal bars that affix with screws to the inside of each heel; the the driller comes to attention, the accompanying “click” of the heels is sure to set them apart. These cheater bars are designed to fit any military-grade dress shoes though sometimes you’ll find our nerdy staff rocking these on their normal shoes as a statement that they are, in fact, a driller through and through!
These Cheater Bars are available exclusively through Glendale ParadeStore and you can order them by CLICKING HERE!
And for those drillers looking to add some additional flair to their rifle without the hassle and messiness of spray paint, internationally touring civilian drill team New Guard America also offers the durability of the High Impact stocks but in unique color combinations. Dubbed the “Constantine Collection,” each one of these stocks is unique in its shading, swirling, and combination of colors. There are many options to choose from with each unique stock varying slightly for a custom look with the durability of a High Impact drill stock. No need to worry about paint chipping away with these designer stocks! Staff Members Samuel Gozo and Matthew Wendling both have Springfield rifles sporting these custom stocks.
The Constantine Collection of designer High Impact stocks are available in a variety of colors and you can order them by CLICKING HERE!
For those drillers who have demilitarized M1903A3 Springfield rifles (the real ones), finding a stock that will take the abuse of exhibition rifle drill can be tough. And for the teams who are still using these non-firable antiques, it’s even more difficult to keep rifles together under the constant rigor of practice and performance. Luckily, there’s a solution in the new High Impact drill stocks available through Glendale ParadeStore. These stocks were specially formulated and tested for exhibition drill and WOW do they stand up! You can see this stock being demonstrated by Constantine H. Wilson of the internationally renowned drill team New Guard America here:
The High Impact stocks are available in black or brown and you can order them by CLICKING HERE!
For all the unarmed drillers out there, For the Art offers a line of clothing tailored just to you! Their “Virtues” tee captures the essence of what makes unarmed drill unique! Show your unarmed pride this drill season by rocking this shirt in time for Christmas!
The For the Art Clothing Virtues Tee is available exclusively online through FTA and you can order yours now by CLICKING HERE!
This weekend at the Southwest High School Drill Meet in San Antonio, TX, one of the hottest-selling items in Glendale ParadeStore’s inventory was the “Shut Up and Drill” Tee from drill clothing brand For the Art Clothing! The drill team cadet in your life will LOVE finding this one under the Christmas tree this year!
The For the Art Clothing Shut Up and Drill Tee is available in black or white and you can order yours now by CLICKING HERE or order through Glendale with your next purchase by CLICKING HERE!
While the original Glendale ParadeStore DrillAmerica Springfield 1903 Drill Rifles debuted to an admittedly critical reception owing to issues with their durability for exhibition drill, we were thrilled to discover that the quality of these drill rifles has grown exponentially!
Drill-Team Dynamics Inc. Staff Members have been on the ground level of testing these drill rifles for a mass market and much of the feedback sent to Glendale has been incorporated into their newest line of rifles. It is without reservation that we recommend the Glendale DrillAmerica as the best value on the market today for a replica drill rifle. These aren’t the same rifles they were at their inception and you can rest assured that the customer service you’ll receive, the cost of replacement parts, etc. will make this rifle a great value for the drill team cadet in your life!
Furthermore, with multiple finish options, these rifles not only stand up to the rigors of exhibition drill but are also gorgeous in the regulation, inspection, and color guard phases. For the past 2 years, Glendale’s DrillAmerica rifle played a key role in the attaining of National Championship accolades by the winning Demilitarized Arms drill team at the National High School Drill Team Championships. This unit utilized DrillAmerica rifles finished in woodgrain during both the Inspection and Regulation Drill phases of competition.
EXCLUSIVE: Glendale ParadeStore doesn’t usually have rifles on-site at events to sell but they will have rifles for sale on the spot at a significant discount at Southwest High School in San Antonio, TX on 6 December 2014. Glendale will also be raffling a rifle so stop by their booth see how you could win one!
The DrillAmerica Springfield 1903 Drill Rifle is a Glendale Exclusive product and you can order yours now by CLICKING HERE!
Glendale ParadeStore’s LED Rifle Lights make a great stocking stuffer for the driller in your life. Simply remove the motion-sensitive LED light and affix to the end of your rifle for an awesome visual effect. Line up multiple lights to create unique and stunning combinations. These are great for showing off and while we wouldn’t recommend these for competitive use, the Drill-Team Dynamics Inc. Staff finds these absolutely amazing when it comes to, of all things, Regulation Drill training. Fix a single LED to each rifle and visually watch the timing of each rifle movement. They’re the perfect tool to clean and perfect your basic drill skills! These LED lights are available in red, white, blue, and green.
EXCLUSIVE: Join us at Southwest High School in San Antonio, Texas on 6 December 2014 and purchase some LEDs from Glendale ParadeStore directly!
These LED motion activated lights are a Glendale Exclusive product and you can order yours now by CLICKING HERE!
Training smart is just as important as training hard. For armed drillers, there is no better training aid than Glendale’s one-size-fits-all 2 pound wrist weights. Made of soft, comfortable material, these training aids act like a donut on a baseball bat and help increase your strength, endurance, and power all while you drill! You can find our Staff wearing these all day just to further their ability on the drill deck! These wrist weights are also fantastic for unarmed drillers looking to increase their snap and pop!
EXCLUSIVE: Join us at Southwest High School in San Antonio, Texas on 6 December 2014 and purchase a pair from Glendale ParadeStore directly!
The Glendale ParadeStore 2 Pound Wrist Weights are a Glendale Exclusive product and you can order yours now by CLICKING HERE!
Winter means colder weather but nothing should stop you from drilling in comfort! For the Art Drill Clothing is here to help with their newest line of designer clothing. These sweatpants feature FTA’s signature “Drillife” logo and are a must-have item this holiday season for the driller in your life! You’ll spot some of our Staff rocking these this winter!
The FTA Drillife Sweatpants are available through the FTA website and you can order yours now by CLICKING HERE!
Featuring current World Champion Samuel Gozo alongside multi-time World Champions Michael Renn and Matthew Wendling in conjunction with World Competitor Adam Jeup, “Dream Big” walks you through the world of armed exhibition one trick at a time. Starting from the fundamentals – and loaded with tips from these pros – the DVD takes you all the way through advanced solo tricks. “Dream Big: Creation of a Champion” is the premier instructional exhibition DVD designed to help you on your quest to succeed, one trick at a time!
“Dream Big: Creation of a Champion” is available exclusively through Glendale Paradestore and is available by CLICKING HERE!
