Bearing

Something must be said for appropriate military bearing in Pathfinder drill.
Military bearing is a concept not often taught to Pathfinders but is an essential part of any team wishing to push past mediocrity. It is a essential for effective Drill Instructors.

How should we define bearing? Most of the time it has the word "military" in front of it and that may turn some people off. Don't let that happen. It's simply there because its from the military that we get our most recognizable definition of the type of bearing we want in Pathfinder drill.

Think about what you know of high profile military personnel. Have you seen a Tomb Guard at Arlington National Cemetery? Perhaps a performance of the United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon. Maybe pictures of embassy guards or professional graveside service members. All of these individuals were chosen in some part because of their bearing. There are three main elements that are essential: attitude, discipline, and appearance. Put all these together in an appropriate fashion and you will have Pathfinder bearing.

Attitude
You must exude the proper attitude. This would include confidence, courtesy, and professionalism. They way you interact with others goes a long way to promoting good will; and someone who has those qualities will be respected in their field.

Discipline
Discipline comes in two parts: mental and physical. They go hand-in-hand when it comes to drill.

Physical discipline involves they way you move and the way you carry yourself. This is the quality that people will see from across the room and know who you are that you are in charge. It means always walking with a confident step. A step taken as if you know exactly where you are going, how to get there, and what's going to happen when you arrive. It means that the shoulders are back, your are standing straight and tall, your head is up, and you are always aware of your surroundings ( It sounds like I've just described the look of a nervous prairie dog, but I assure you, you wont look like Timon). This is a quality of all successful people and instructing drill is no different. Avoid slouched postures that close yourself off. This doesn't mean you have to march everywhere you go and sit at attention for every meal, but let that posture and discipline training come out and be noticed.

Mental discipline comes from those hours spent on the drill field practicing, drilling, and perfecting all those movements, positions, and commands. It's the thing that allows you to stand at attention for longer than usual. And it's the quality that allows you to discuss subjects with grace. The exact quality will be a little different for every Pathfinder and Instructor but in order to perfect the physical discipline, you must have that mental component to match.

Appearance
Among the most visual parts of military bearing is ones outward appearance. Essentially this is the clothes he/she is wearing and how they are worn. I don't have to mention the importance of having a perfectly squared away uniform that is above an beyond anything you would expect of your Pathfinders. You will use those "tricks of the trade" to make this happen. Beyond the dress uniform, one should always strive to have appropriate, neat, and professional attire given the circumstances. Your clothing should be clean, well fitted, and free of wrinkles. Noting too difficult here. Footwear should be appropriate. Bear in mind that sandals or flip flops are never appropriate drill attire. Shorts should be reserved for days above 80 degrees or when engaged in activities such and hiking. Leave the bedazzled sunglasses, the wristbands, and neon colored belts at home and opt for a more conservative alternative. Oh, and wear a wristwatch.... your phone is not an appropriate time keeping device.

Bearing takes practice and conscious effort to develop. Done well, it can add a whole new level to your instruction. If you teach it to your Pathfinders, their ability to drill will increase and they will look much better.

Cite Your Sources

As an instructor who has had the privilege of doing work in many different places and with many different people and coupled with more than a decade of experience, I have come across all kinds of rules that I have never heard of before. I always ask the same question and get the same answer: "Where did you come up with that?" And I get the same response: "It's what I was taught", or "It's just common knowledge." Wrong! You don't have to live very long to realize that a lot of people believe things that are downright false. Why should the world of drill be any different?

Because Pathfinder drill has a history that has been contributed to by a vast number of individuals with every color of experience, training, and background; it is reasonable to assume that some inaccurate information slips in. However, in this digital age where so much information is at our fingertips wherever we may be, there is no excuse for perpetuating inaccurate information.

As Drill Instructors, you have a responsibility to continually purify Pathfinder drill. Weeding out all the little inaccuracies, false beliefs, and poor technique. And this includes dumping any rule that you cannot verify through appropriate sources. Appropriate sources are never Pathfinder published. They are often published by the government (in the form of the United States Flag Code), or manuals published by various branches of the Armed Forces (ie. Army Drill and Ceremonies Manual) or professional drill organizations (Think New Guard America). Plain and simple: never teach anything as a hard and fast rule that you cannot find in these resources. That's not to say you should never adapt or create rules for special circumstances.

Let me use and example: Flag Position in an Auditorium. A simple task for sure. But there is always someone who will make their beliefs known to all if the flags are set up in a way that is inconsistent with what he/she believes. Let the bickering commence. No one can say where they got their ideas from but everyone is positive they are correct and sometimes even invent sources (such as the flag code). Believe it or not, these kind of quarrels have causes rifts in Pathfinder organizations. Don't be that guy.

Arm yourself with the resources available to you. Challenge everything you have been taught. Understand that it may not always be correct. And don't cling to incorrect ideas when you discover you are in error. You will destroy your reputation as an instructor. Cite your source and have the professional ethic to admit when you may be wrong.

Your Toolbox

As leaders, Drill Instructors are asked to perform many tasks as part of a Pathfinder program. This may be in the form of other offices: counselors, instructors, etc. Whatever the role, there is always a goal... a "why" to your Pathfinder program. That why will change from club to club and conference to conference. But a general purpose is common to all Pathfinder programs: Lead young people to Christ, Provide an environment where useful and enjoyable skills can be learned, and do all this in a positive way. Take away any of these three elements and Pathfinders ceases to be Pathfinders.

So how do staff and instructors accomplish these goals? Just like you accomplish anything: You gather the tools you need, ready the needed materials, then get put in some elbow greases and get sweaty. You have a set of tools that have been given throughout your Pathfinder career. These are things like instructional methods, knowledge about child psychology, safety protocols, experience, Sabbath school lessons, etc. These are things that are offered at training events, skills you have developed outside of Pathfinders, and stuff simply learned through experience. These things are what you will use to accomplish the goals. The materials are your Pathfinders, your staff, nature, and even physical materials like wax, construction paper, or wood. Then there is the element unique to you: the effort and time you put into your club. All of these things come together to create a good Pathfinder program and accomplish your goals.

What does all this have to do with drill? Drill is one of many tools you should have in your toolbox. It is nothing more and nothing less. Just like actual tools, if you use them inappropriately you risk destroying what you are working with. In this case it's the staff and Pathfinders you have to worry about. Inappropriately applied drill can cause irreversible damage to Pathfinders. Never forget that the well being of your Pathfinders is your highest priority. Audit your drill program from time to time to make sure you are doing it right. Then take immediate action on anything you find that is not working. Even if that means shutting your program down all together.

Don't be one of those leaders stuck in the mud of the past. Just because that's the way you leaned it, doesn't give you the right to harm Pathfinders. Believe people when they tell you that something you are doing is not effective or correct. You will alienate yourself as a staff and instructor, you will loose all credibility with your Pathfinders, and you will find yourself alone in the club. That does not allow you to be effective at reaching those overall goals.

Drill is a tool. Use it properly and it can be highly beneficial. Use it inappropriately, and you will destroy all the things you are working towards. Like actual tools, not all tools have to be used in a particular job.... even if that is the only tool you know how to use.

Back to Basics

Pathfinders and instructors must always get back to the basics every once in a while. And younger Pathfinders even more often. It is foolish to think that just because you were good at marching once and have since moved on to complex triple time, double to-the-real march, swash salutes that you are exempt from the basics. Professionals who know the value of basic skills will ensure they are always proficient. A brain surgeon who can no longer remember how to suture properly is a bad surgeon.

So what am I talking about here? What are the basics of drill? It's quite simple: Everything you teach to a junior Pathfinder in their first year. That's the position of attention, the marching step, facing movements, salutes, etc. Instructors need to always be practicing these skills because, as we progress in our careers, we are required to perform them less and less until the day comes when we try to march on formation and we are incompetent fools. Take time to perfect the basics. Use that practice to be better at instructing those skills, review the manuals on each movement to further enforce the proper methods and terminology.

Want to know the best way to test yourself? Participate in a game of Simon Says with your junior Pathfinders and your Teen Pathfinders. Give instruction to the Teen or TLT calling commands to stick to basic commands. See how far you get. If you cannot consistently remain in the top three participants, you need to go to the deck and spend some time mastering those skills again.

Never forget the danger of becoming an armchair drill instructor. They are a destructive element. Armchair instructors who have "seen and done it all" so many times that they do not feel the need to get back on the deck are the weight around the neck of a Pathfinder Drill Program. They will be the death of a good program by criticizing things they haven't done in years. They will sit and critique based on personal biases and in the realm of new things that they have never experienced. Nowhere in the professional world are experts allowed to judge, critique, offer opinions, or instruct on topics they are not demonstrated experts themselves. To be in such a position is unethical. Don't be that guy.

Remember your roots. Remember how it felt the first time you learned the position of attention. Remember the first time you called a command as a commander. Remember the time you taught your first movement. Get back to basics.

The Well-rounded DI

Every individual that teaches drill to Pathfinders should take pride in being a well-rounded instructor. That is to say they should have a knowledge and background that is diverse and thorough. This is the key to being a good instructor, a good advanced or fancy drill team coach, and a good administrator for drill related responsibilities.

What does it mean to be well rounded? It means having a wide range of knowledge. The best instructors not only know the drill that they teach, but the drill others teach. More importantly, they know why they teach the way they do and why others teach the way they do. Drill can have many applications and a good instructor must understand them all in order to be most effective. Let's go through a few examples:

1. For teaching the youngest Pathfinders, a good instructor knows that the hard core, Marine DI, methods will not be effective. He or she will end up with a group of crying children who never want anything to do with drill again. Instead, the instructor focuses on easy movements that can be mastered quickly to instill a sense of accomplishment. Instructors will draw upon their knowledge of teaching and leadership to bring the group together and instill pride, esprit de corps, and teamwork. Most of all, those young Pathfinders will come away with a feeling of accomplishment.

2. The older Pathfinders may tend to appreciate a higher standard. Being called out when executing a movement incorrectly. These Pathfinders can handle more advanced and abstract concepts that require thinking on their feet and challenge their mental gymnastics. They relate to a leader who can sympathize with the place they are at in life but can represent a goal to strive towards. Instructors at this level call upon their knowledge of body mechanics, physics, and technical details to give challenges to Pathfinders who have mastered the basics. These Pathfinders may also enjoy the history of drill or explanations of why movements are done the way they are done or called the way they are done. Teens will want to know more of what they will get out of drill than the younger Pathfinders. A good instructor must be ready for questions they will find hard to answer and be willing to say "I don't know". Nothing ruins a leader's image faster than the inability to admit when they are wrong. That being said, a Drill Instructor must strive to be wrong as few times as possible.

3. Advanced or Fancy Drill teams will benefit from a coach that has a diverse knowledge base to draw from to create appealing, and challenging routines. This is where knowledge of competitive drill can be very useful. An Instructor will know where attention should be paid and where things can be more relaxed. They will know how to deal with the nerves associated with competition. They will know how to make uniforms look their best with the tips and "tricks" used by competitive drillers that will make their team stand apart. Knowledge of international drill can be very useful to draw upon for creating new movements and routines that have never been seen before. You can only see so many variations of "To the four winds" before it gets old. Instructors must be guiding figures in this role. They must teach, inspire, and sometimes help carry the team when needed.

4. Special Teams cover instructing responsibilities such as color or honor guards. Instructors will be called upon frequently to advise and train Pathfinders on the proper techniques and movements. Here instructors will benefit from a wide knowledge of material covered in various manuals and publications. Instructors will have to focus on the guiding principles of drill and the basics of patriotism and personal responsibility in order to remain respected in their position. They will be confident in their instruction and not instill a resentment of drill for those they train. Often, the instructor will teach Pathfinders that are not in their club and therefor do not have a rapport. Instructors must let their reputation precede them (if they have one...good or bad) and draw from that to adapt into the teacher that works best. Depending on the situation, you could end up being the terrifying, big, scary guy (who you are pretty sure would rip your head off if given a reason); to the cool guy who's laid back and cracks jokes.

5. Administrative tasks are best accomplished by a leader who is confident in their field. Well-rounded instructors will be able to recall a long list of different ways to do things and be able to pick the variation that best suits the situation. This is where the interaction is mostly with adults and the leadership is different than with teens, TLTs, or Junior Pathfinders. This is, unfortunately, where instructors can make the most enemies by not doing it the "right" way and not listening to the verbal assaults of a rambling idiot and armchair expert on everything. It's a part of the job. You take the good with the bad and learn from every encounter.

A well-rounded instructor will be capable of all the tasks described above. An Instructor who is not may do well at one task but will fail at the others and will tend to leave a sour taste with those they interact with on that level. The damage can be as benign as simply being regarded as a poor instructor or as terrible as creating a loathing of drill in a Pathfinder's mind. Strive to be well rounded and learn beyond your specialty.