Talk:Silent Drill Platoon

MERGE
Yes, merge the USMC "Silent Drill Team" into this article. It appears to me that the Silent Drill Team is more or less a subset of the USMC Drill Team. If not in official chain of command and organizational structure, certainly in function -- to non-vet civilians.TGC55 17:38, 9 February 2006 (UTC)

Perhaps not - to the merge and to "...the Silent Drill Team is more or less a subset of the USMC Drill Team."

Firstly, let's get its name straight - it is "The Silent Drill Platoon." As to why I believe it should not be merged (and, perhaps, more should be written:

--ALPHA COMPANY - Silent Drill Platoon

http://www.mbw.usmc.mil/organizations/sdpdefault.asp

1 - "The United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon is a 24-man rifle platoon that performs a unique precision drill exhibition."

2 - "Once the year’s Silent Drill Platoon Marines are selected each fall, they begin their rigorous training at Marine Barracks, Washington D.C. and later move to Marine Corps Air Station, Yuma, AZ"

--Profile 11/2001 - Drill is Life - White-gloved Marine master razor sharp techniques

http://www.spear.navy.mil/PROFILE/profile/nov01/pages/page12.html

Profile - VOLUME 45 NUMBER 1 NOVEMBER 2001 (pdf file of complete issue)

http://www.spear.navy.mil/PROFILE/nov01/pages/Profile%20Mag%20Nov%2001

1 - "One error could thwart the reputation of the entire team and a legacy of more than 50 years of perfection."

2 - "To be a part of the Silent Drill Platoon, you must complete Silent Drill School, three months of intensive training and drilling more than nine hours each day."

--Battle Color Detachment storms station - MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. (Feb. 17, 2006)

http://www.usmc.mil/marinelink/mcn2000.nsf/ac95bc775efc34c685256ab50049d458/abafc9330043427685257118007f4f08?OpenDocument

1 - "The Marine Corps Battle Color Detachment arrived on station Feb. 6 for training that will last until March 3. The Battle Color Detachment is comprised of “The Commandant’s Own” Marine Drum and Bugle Corps, Silent Drill Platoon and the Marine Corps Color Guard from Marine Barracks 8th and I, Washington, D.C. The time spent in Yuma marks the initial training for new members of the Battle Color Detachment"

2 - "The Silent Drill Platoon, known for performing without verbal commands and using operational 10.5 pound M-1 Garand rifle, with fixed bayonet, spends approximately 13 hours a day, seven days a week practicing, including physical training. 'We are here to get to the point where we can do a show in front of thousands of people,' said Cpl. Tim Maurer, drill master, Silent Drill Platoon. “While we are here in Yuma, the Marines don’t get much liberty because our purpose here is to train. Once we start the show season, the Marines will have plenty of opportunities to enjoy their surroundings.'"

And as to the comment "If not in official chain of command and organizational structure, certainly in function -- to non-vet civilians." - yeah, well...

Walt Schmidt

Veteran Services Officer

Veterans Services Division

Town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County, Long Island, New York, USA

http://tobaysvets.blogspot.com/

--Walts0042 14:22, 1 March 2006 (UTC)


 * Keep & Improve/Clarify -- At first glance, I thought this was a slam dunk merge. But, after reading Walt's notes, and then reviewing the information about the sub-units within Alpha Platoon,   and, I realized I that would be incorrect.  To ease searching, possibly a redirect for both United States Marine Corps Drill Team and Silent Drill Platoon (which should probably become United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon), to an expanded Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. article would cover all the bases.  Comments welcome, here or on my talk page -- MrDolomite | Talk 17:34, 9 July 2006 (UTC)

POV words need removed: for ex. "highly disciplined platoon exemplifies professionalism"   Desertsky85451 20:43, 26 August 2006 (UTC)

Well, the whole text seems to be lifted from the Marine Corps' website on the platoon (see External links). The whole page should probably rewritten, using the website as a reference. JohnnE 18:24, 10 May 2007 (UTC)