MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT, San Diego -- Rifles and drum beats soared into the air at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, March 12, as the Marines of the Battle Color Detachments put on a thrilling display of precision drill and harmonious music.
The Drum and Bugle Corps opened the program with the popular Broadway song “Don’t Rain on my Parade.” This piece was made famous by Barbra Streisand who performed it in both the Broadway musical and the film version of ‘Funny Girl.’
Then the Commandant’s Own marched onto the parade deck as they rounded the flagpole in a crisp formation, making their way into the crowd’s view on the parade deck. They continued with four other songs and finished their performance with the 1896 John Philip Sousa classic “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” as they made way for the second half of the program.
After waiting at parade rest, the Silent Drill Platoon popped to attention and entered the reviewing area. They began their performance of complex drill movements across the black parade deck. Wearing sharp dress blue uniforms, they slapped their gloves against hand-polished, 10-and-a-half-pound M1 Garand rifles to stay in harmony with one another.
The Silent Drill Platoon consists of 24-riflemen who conduct an intense-drill performance without spoken cadence. The Marines drill with the M1 Garand affixed with bayonets and their performance always includes an impressive rifle inspection sequence involving complex rifle spins and tosses.
The purpose of the Silent Drill Platoon is to showcase the discipline and professionalism of the Marine Corps, which is exactly what was displayed on the depot’s parade deck.
“We spend countless hours of drilling and perform more than 100 shows a year,” said Cpl. Austin Gullett, a Silent Drill Platoon member from Phoenix.
In 1948, the Silent Drill Platoon was put together for a one time demonstration for an evening parade, but due to the overpowering response, they soon became a regular part of the routine for the parades at Marine Barracks, Washington D.C.
The Marines chosen for this platoon are selected from the School of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, Calif., and Camp Lejune, N. C., through interviews and background screenings conducted by barracks personnel.
The basic requirements include height ranging from 5’11” to 6’1” and maintain strict adherences to height and weight requirements. Unless selected to become one of the two rifle inspectors, they serve a ceremonial tour of two years.
Cpl. Michael Hintz, drill master and rifle inspector from Capers Villa, Mich., is on his third year assigned to the Silent Drill Platoon.
“Our performances are what reflect our intense long practices,” said Hintz.
While performing at numerous events throughout America, the Marines still maintain their infantry skills throughout the year at the Marine Corps Combat Development Command in Quantico, Va., and other bases.
After giving the depot a show, the Battle Color Detachment headed to Atlanta for their next performance.