Color guard

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This article is about the military Color guard. For information about the flag-spinning activity associated with high school and university marching bands, see Color guard (flag spinning).
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United States Joint Service Color guard on parade at Fort Myer, VA.
United States Joint Service Color guard on parade at Fort Myer, VA.

In the US military and other similar organizations, the Color guard carries the National Color and other flags appropriate to its position in the chain of command. Typically these include a unit flag and a departmental flag (Army, Navy, or Air Force). In addition to the flag bearers, who are positioned in the center of the Color guard, there are 2 individuals who carry rifles.

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[edit] Composition

Pershing Rifles Color guard
Pershing Rifles Color guard
horse-mounted color guard from MCLB Barstow
horse-mounted color guard from MCLB Barstow

Traditionally, the unit's sergeant major is responsible for the safeguarding, care, and display of the organizational colors. He is also responsible for the selection, training, and performance of the members.[1] The Color guard consists of enlisted members and is commanded by the senior (Color) Sergeant, who carries the National Color and gives the necessary commands for movements and rendering honors during drill exercises or parade ceremonies.[2]

Being assigned to the Color guard is considered an honor due to the fact that these individuals present and carry the symbols of their unit and country. Depending on the circumstance and subject to the orders of their commander, members may wear full dress or less formal uniforms. It is mandatory for all members of the Color guard to wear headgear, for example, a garrison cap, beret, or service cap. On occasion, certain color guards can be horse-mounted.


[edit] Maneuvering

United States Federal Protective Service Color guard.
United States Federal Protective Service Color guard.

The Color guard is formed and marched in one rank at close interval (shoulder-to-shoulder). Since the National Colors must always be in the position of honor on the right,[3] the Color guard must execute a special movement to reverse direction. It does not execute rear march, nor does it execute about face. Rather, it performs a maneuver derived from the standard countercolumn command, generally known as counter march or colors reverse march.

Other drill movements performed by the Color guard include presenting arms, left and right wheel marches, eyes right (upon passing the reviewing stand during a parade), casing/uncasing the Colors, and fixing/unfixing bayonets (by the arms bearers).


[edit] Rendering Honors

USMC Color guard during the playing of The Star-Spangled Banner. Note that the national flag does not dip.
USMC Color guard during the playing of The Star-Spangled Banner. Note that the national flag does not dip.

[edit] By the Color Guard

The Color guard renders honors when the national anthem is played or sung, when passing in review during a parade, or in certain other circumstances. In these cases, the unit and departmental flags salute by dipping (leaning the flag forward). However, with the exception of a response to a naval salute, the United States national flag renders no salute. This tradition comes from the 1908 Summer Olympics in London, where countries were asked to dip their flag to King Edward VII: the American team captain Martin Sheridan refused, famously proclaiming that "this flag dips to no earthly king."[4]

[edit] To the Color Guard

In the U.S. military, individuals or units passing or being passed by uncased (unfurled) Colors render honors when outdoors. Individuals who are not part of any formation begin the salute when the Colors are six paces distant and hold it until they have passed six paces beyond the Colors.[5]

Civilians and those otherwise not in uniform are expected to stand at the position of attention with their right hand placed over their heart for the same period. It also represents the United States.



[edit] References

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ FM 22-5, Section 9, Paragraph 43 (e) (United States Department of the Army)
  2. ^ FM 22-5, Section 9, Paragraph 45 (a) (United States Department of the Army)
  3. ^ FM 22-5, Appendix E, Section 4 (United States Department of the Army)
  4. ^ London Olympics 1908 & 1948
  5. ^ FM 22-5, Section 9, Paragraph 43 (c) (United States Department of the Army)

[edit] External links

[edit] See also

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