The best video I’ve seen is this one- Silent Drill Platoon at Gallatin High School 2016. Inside a gym on hardwood floors. Amazing!

Fun Facts: 1. Ceremonial drill units like this used to be pretty common in world armies, but started to fade away after WW2. The Silent Drill Platoon is one of the very few truly good units remaining. 2. The red-jacketed ("blouses", in the Marine Corps) bandsmen are the Marine Corps Drum and Bugle Corps, formed in 1934. They are all professional-quality musicians, and are formally known as _"The Commandant's Own",_ and are an adjunct to the United States Marine Band (formed in 1798), known as _"The President's Own"_ from 1801. 3. The march being played at the opening is _"Stars and Stripes Forever",_ composed by John Philip Sousa in 1896 (lyrics in 1897); by an Act of Congress in 1987 (while I was in Okinawa), it was made the official _National March of the United States of America._ 4. The white trousers worn by the Platoon used to be common for ceremonial posts like various Marine Barracks around the world. I've been out for a long while, but I am reasonably certain that aside from possibly the Marine Barracks in Darwin, Adak and Jacksonville (I don't think Quantico is actually a "Barracks" in the ceremonial sense), 8th & I (where this was shot) is the only remaining Barracks in the world where you will ever see this uniform in common use, although 8th & I Marines wear them at certain sites, like the White House and Camp David. 5. Their rifles are M1 Garand's, used in WW2 and Korea. Each rifle weighs about 9.5lbs/4.3kg. 6. _Uncommon Valor Was A Common Virtue,_ is attributed to Admiral Chester Nimitz in WW2, remarking about the Marine assault on Iwo Jima, which was one of the Corps' bloodiest battles. That is also the monument shown in places in the video, where it is inscribed on the monument's base. _Disclaimer: I played trombone for seven years, growing up, and come from a Marine Corps family, which is why I know #'s 2 & 3._

"This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine. My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my life. Without me my rifle is useless. Without my rifle, I am useless. I must fire my rifle true. I must shoot straighter than the enemy who is trying to kill me. I must shoot him before he shoots me. I will. My rifle and I know that what counts in war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, or the smoke we make. We know that it is the hits that count. We will hit..." A Marine learns this during basic training and always keeps true to it as our lives depend on them.

No, in the military guns means artillery, like howitzers, cannons, etc. Not small arms.

Ask your fiance to explain the phrase, "This is my rifle, this is my gun." You will realize how important it is to call it the right thing.

Used in movies, but I heard it all through Basic Training in 1988.. "This is my rifle, and this is my gun, One is for fighting, and one is for fun."

One of my Marines served with the Silent Drill Platoon. The day he checked in, another squad leader and I overheard him introduce himself as Rich then tell some of the boys never to call him Dick or Richard. He turned out to be an outstanding leader and is a credit to the Corps. I am very proud to have served with him. His name is still Dickard in my phone.

Every American should bow down and kiss the feet of these guys who dedicate their lives...and willingly give up their lives...to protect American lives and American values. They’re not war mongers. They’re war stoppers. And they are, by far, the most brutal warriors on planet earth, so don’t fuck with them. Your health is better assured by just running away.

Anyone agree that the road to Heaven is guarded by Marines

When I was in the Navy, we fired guns. We had 2-5” guns. One was on the front ( forward) part of the ship and the other was on the back (aft). The shells were about the size of my leg. When either was fired, it would shake the entire ship. These weren’t even close to the biggest. The Missouri, Wisconsin, Iowa and New Jersey each had 9-16 “ guns. Any one of them could fire a projectile the weight of a Volkswagen over the horizon ! The Missouri fired her guns in Desert Storm at Iraqi forces.

You should react to the opening scene of Full Metal Jacket. A Vietnam era Parris Island. The part was played by an actual Vietnam Drill Instructer.

I just enlistd in the army yesterday, just graduated high school

Also, a ' gun ' is an artillery piece, whether towed, self-propelled, or ship-mounted.

Members of the Silent Drill Platoon are selected from the infantry and must be at least 6 feet tall, pay close attention you may miss some of the slight of hand tricks done during the routine, this video although very clear is heavily edited, the full routine is not at all boring.

This is only part of the routine although it is more "up close" than most. The hardwood floors of a gym performance(someone else referenced that) really amplifies the sound. Keep up the reactions. :-)

Thank you for showing this, I also sent you one of these videos. : ) And Yes it is a Rifle, All Marines are Rifleman first !! Lol. Semper Fi

Hello Courtney, the word guns is slang in the US. A marine would never use the word gun. We use rifle/pistol. Semper Fi BTW, they use the M1 which is quite a heavy rifle. Congrats on the engagement.

I grew up and live outside Washington DC in the shadow of the Pentagon. I have seen this silent drill team perform many times over the years and they never fail to impress. They have slight variations on their drills depending on the venue and on how long they have to “perform”. My favorite is, while marching, the lead Marine will toss his rifle overhead to the person in the rear of the formation. It is so impressive to watch.

My son led his high school JROTC silent drill team for two years. The cadets did all the choreography for their routine and practiced three times a week, at least, along with all the regular duties involved with being in JROTC. It was another way for a core group of cadets to develop trust in each other and pride in their team and the whole JROTC class as a whole. My son now serves at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina with the Marine corps as an Amphibious Assault Vehicle crewman, and we could not be prouder of him.

Lol perfect timing I am a Marine Corps JROTC cadet and I got promoted to cadet seargent yesterday and in about 4 weeks or so i will be commishioned to cadet 2nd leuitenant

The song that the Drum & Bugle Corp is playing after the Silent Drill demonstration is the Marine Hymn("From the halls of Montezuma, to the shores of Tripoli..." etc). In addition to the Sunset Parade that they do by the Marine Corps War Memorial(the statue of them raising the flag at Iwo Jima) in Washington DC, they also have an "Evening Parade"(they do pretty much the same stuff as in the Sunset Parade) that they do at the nearby Marine Corps Barracks at 8th & I, known as the "Oldest Post In The Corps". It's home to the official residence of the Commandant(highest ranking officer) of the Marine Corps, as well as multiple ceremonial units. Besides the Drum & Bugle Corps and the Silent Drill Platoon, it is also houses the Body Bearers, a unit that handles funeral details at Arlington National Cemetary and elsewhere. Tickets for the Evening Parade are free, but usually need to be obtained well in advance. The Sunset Parade is open to the public. If you ever visit Washington, DC on a day when either of the parades is taking place, I highly recommend going. Especially if you can get tickets for the Evening Parade at the Barracks.

Not only did I grow up in a military family, but I also grew up in San Antonio, Texas, which is known as Military City U.S.A. because of the numerous military bases representing the different branches of the military in and around the city. I've gotten to see performances of these various platoons many times at local parades and other public events. It really is quite impressive to see in person.

This was so d*mn cool... I have no words... btw, those were real bayonets on the end of those rifles. One slip and blood is spilled.

A rifle is any long barreled firearm that uses grooves inside the barrel to impart spin onto a projectile. These can include any hand held firearm ( except pistols )or can include large land based or naval pieces. A gun is any long barreled firearm that has a smooth bore. Again this can include hand held firearms and artillary or naval deck mounted pieces.

Long ago I was a member of a rifle drill team. We competed against military drill teams from all over the U.S. Our initial preparation took about 8 weeks (practicing 3 days a week).

Courtney, what you are watching when the silent Platoon is performing is what in the military is referred to as Manual of Arms. It is the way service member are taught to handle and use arms information. It is exactly like a performance of the Blue Angels. Where they use the basic Air Combat maneuvering skills to put on a performance. The Marines practice for countless hours to refine their performance and perfect their skills. The dedication it takes to be part of that Platoon is astonishing.

Glad you did this! Every marine does a form of drill, starting from boot camp onward. But the silent drill platoon is a special assignment that marines volunteer to try out for and if selected, becomes a member of the drill team. This is ALL they train to do. I hated drill when I was there, so I give props to these guys. I had a buddy who was a member of the silent drill platoon and he said that the "noises" you hear from the rifles and whatnot are them actually them hitting/ smacking the rifles and themselves to get that sound.

I joined the USAF, and had the honor of being chosen to be on the Honor Guard team. Each branch has them in the United States military. All are very well trained and it's an after duty activity, at least in the Air Force. I thought it was a punishment until I did my very first funeral for a veteran. My whole outlook on why I joined changed. Can't even describe it. Trying not to cry and seeing your family in the position of the veteran that passed away was tough for me.. One of the greatest experience's of my life... Taught me how to be very humble... May God bless your Marine fiancé and you... Be always proud of him.... Military life is never easy...

These guys are stationed at 8th and I Street SE Washington DC and have free concerts and demonstrations every Friday night all summer..

a "gun" is a firearm without the rifling twist in the barrel. guns have a smoothbore barrel and fire their rounds in a flat arc. a rifle, pistol, etc. has grooves (or, rifling) which puts a twist on the round which gives it more range, and stability which increases its accuracy at long range. this is what my father taught me. the marines taught me....well, watch full metal jacket if you want to know what the difference between a rifle and a gun.

This was cut & pieced together and really doesn't give the best overall viewing of their performance. Years ago, they had a TV commercial with the guys lined up shoulder to shoulder in various locations around the country. They all did their rifle moves right down the line and was quite impressive. I hope your bf will point you to a complete demonstration that goes start to finish without all the cuts like this video does.

The US Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon, is a specialized unit in the USMC, made up of entirely 0311 or Infantry rifleman and their purpose is more ceremonial, they preform at different events for the Marine Corps, as well as perform around the world and country, such as at sports events etc. Had the honor to watch them in person when I was at MCRD San Diego (Nov 8th 2015-April 16 2016, 3rd Bat Lima CO, PLT 3249, 2nd Bat Echo CO, PLT 2110. Medical ELSed so not a Marine) along with the commandant's own band, the guys in the red blouse you see in the background playing the music.

Nice one Mrs Courtney seen them so many times. This wasn't nearly there best Even. It's when they are in hard top those Sounds you like really come out

In the Marine Corps the rifle is generally referred to as a "weapon". The silent drill platoon stands out from the rest in that no verbal communications are issued. The slaps on the rifle denote the cadence. Someone else pointed out that "guns" are heavy weapons. Artillery for example is a field gun. No it is not a special branch. The branch refers to the service, Army, Gayvy, Chair Force Marines and Puddle Pirates.. It is a special detail all it's own much like the "presidents band". The silent drill platoon brings to light the discipline the Marines pride themselves on and is much a representation of the line infantry styles of the 1700's, the marching to form a line, and the schiltron formation are battle tactics used when the Marine Corps was founded in 1775. Originally their purpose was to serve as marksmen in the rigging of ships to shoot down on the enemy and also served as boarding parties.

You asked if this was a specific branch of the Marines- all members of the Silent Drill Platoon are infantry Marines who went through infantry school at Camp Lejune, North Carolina or Camp Pendleton, California before being selected for the Drill Platoon. Their training is at a Marine Corps base at Yuma, Arizona. There are a few videos on KZfaq about their drill training.

The marine corps band is the first professional band in the USA

To be precize a "Gun" is an artillery piece with a barrel length of 40 calibers or more. A "howitzer" is an artillery piece with a barrel length of 30 calibers or less. Modern artilley is mostly designed with a barrel length between 30 and 40 calibers, making them "gun-howitzers".

The Silent Drill Team was established to showcase the discipline, precision, and Esprit D'Corps of the United States Marine Corps. No finer example exists in the world. Sgt. USMC 1978-1984, 8541

The weapons exchange similates the inspection of the Marines Rifle!

In the Marines, C1968, rifles are weapons carried by ground troops. Guns are carried by ships. Guns are considered to large and heavy to be carried by ground troops.

There is an interesting rumor about that Marine Corps Statue at the beginning of the video: The statue is a replication of an iconic photo taken during the battle of Iwo Jima in WW2 and as in the photo there are 6 Marines raising the flag. The rumor is that the statue was accidentally made with 13 hands in it, which would be one hand too many for the 6 Marines depicted.

It really is pretty darn impressive, to be sure, but what makes all the complex and tight, precise movements even MORE impressive is knowing that each rifle has a sharp bayonet on the end of each one.

I am a US Marine Veteran and I have always been so Proud of my BOYZ. We Marines Rock, Semper Fi.

Every member of the Silent Drill Platoon are combat infantry Marines whom were selected out of School of Infantry with specific height and weight standards. You have to be exactly 6 feet to 6 feet 2 inches in height to be ever considered to be in the SLP.

In the military we don't call our weapons a gun because a gun can mean any type of weapon (pistol, rifle ect..). The standard issued weapon for the US army is the M4 carbine, which is refered to as a rifle. Technically a rifle is a gun, but we refer to it as a rifle.

Now, I’ve held an M1 Garand (the rifle they’re using) and it’s NOT a lightweight weapon, 11 pounds may not seem like much, but when you’re flipping and twirling it around with one hand, it’s pretty freakin awesome

So the band is a special part of the USMC. It's a separate MOS (Military Occupational Speciality) and HELLUVA hard to get into. You have to be a damn good musician to be selected. The services' drill teams and honor guards are simply one tour. The person is there for three, maybe four years, usually near the beginning of their careers, and then move on. There are a lot of similar "special duty" tours. But it's a "one and done" thing. So each of these Marines will go on to infantry, armor (well... not any more), combat engineering, or whatever their real MOS is.

Great video...search for the USMC silent Drill Platoon at the Houston Texans football game so you can see an overhead shot to see them all at the same time. You will get a greater appreciation for what they do.

Its so crazy cause there's no beat to follow, no one keeping time, no shouting steps, no cadence.

Hi Courtney. I live near D.C. and have seen them perform at 8th & I. Anyway, I just wanted to say that in the U.S. Army a rifle is an infantryman's weapon and a gun is an artillery weapon, i.e. a cannon. Since there are always exceptions, a machine gun is always a gun no matter who is using it.

Army infantry now but this makes me so proud to have been in the Corps! Semper Fi to all my brothers and sisters!

All those slaps are used for timing purposes as well as sounding cool.

Yes, there is no one person chosen to interact and change rifles with the detachment commander. If he stops in front of you, that Marine has had the same training as the others in the Silent Platoon and can do every maneuver just as any other one can. And, you missed it...the Marine who got his weapon back twirled it to the Marine next to him. Second, I don't know if you get to Australia, but all over the world there is a "Camp Matilda, USMC" in honor of the generous treatment the Australians gave the returning Marines from the battle at Guadalcanal. Somehow the Aussies knew just how to talk to the Marines after battle, most suffering from PTSD, and brought them back into the world.

The military does have guns and use the term. However, they reserve it's use to weapons that are towed or on vehicles. So howitzers, tank main weapon, and ship's weapons are all guns, but nothing carried by a person is a gun.

What’s especially amazing is that these Marines are mostly Lance Corporals, so they’ve been in the Marines for only about 2 years. About 19-21 years of age in average

The band in the red jackets are known as The President's Own. They perform at all Presidential functions in and around DC as well as Marine HQ events. You really missed two things ... the effect of seeing the entire unit perform from a hundred yards away ... and being there in person. During a show there is not one spoken command .... start to finish. It is simply stunning to see ... and I have seen it three times over 30 years.

I was and always will be Air Force. I was a member of the base drill team, and have seen the US Army Presidential drill team. But I have to admit, nobody tops the Marine Corp Silent Drill Team. The dress uniforms, the precision, and dedication, all make them a must see in person.

Love it. I use to be in the Marines myself. But this video was like a summarized version. The longer videos show the entire routine

Thanks for seeing this. The US Marine Corps Silent Drill are based out of Eight and I. A Marine Squad bay or Barracks in Washington D.C. That was not burned by the British Royal Marines in DC when during the war of 1812 they took and burned 90 % of Washington DC. I wish you could have seen this on a hard Deck instead of grass. Semper Fidelis. The Marine Corps Motto, Latin for " Always Faithful."

Keep in mind that they have fixed bayonets which is a knife at the end of their rifles. Each person must do their routine perfectly or run the risk of being harmed or harming someone else. Just flinching might be disastrous

Hearing them on a hardwood floor is 10x better...every step...every slap...every sound they make....all but words.

On the Gun thing, a gun is crew served. A field gun for example is a cannon served by 6 or 8. A machine gun team will be 2 or 3 depending on weight. An M-60 team will be 2, while an M2 heavy machine gun team will be 3. The M-16A2 ( the rifle I carried during my time in the USMC ) was always referred to as a service rifle or service weapon.

Yeah, it's a cool thing to watch. All those dudes (and the rest of the Marines stationed at Marine Barracks at 8th and I in DC) are grunts (infantry). They serve there for two years, and then go to the Fleet grunt units. We had a couple of them in my platoon and company (regular 8th and I guys, none [that I know of] who were on the Silent Drill Team). We called them "Stick Poppers" cause they just drilled all the time instead of doing real grunt things like deploying, although they occasionally do grunt training. It kinda sucked for me cause when I go to my unit (Kilo 3/8, kill) in 2006, a bunch of the Boots (guys who haven't deployed) were from 8th and I and some also had rank, so the rest of us Boots, fresh from SOI (School of Infantry) couldn't make fun of them, while the senior dudes, who had just gotten back from a very rough pump to Ramadi were merciless. It was a good time.

yes, I think it's like color guard in high school... they have to audition and be selected to be in that unit.

I used to be on armed drill team in ROTC we also did silent drill. No bayonets though. We normally learned a new drill for each meet. Won 1st place tandem arms at a state regional with a friend who looked really similar to me.

It's haunting in person and at night. I was privileged to see it in DC at the Marine Parade.

The video of them at a basketball game is soooo much better as you see the whole event. The weapon they are using is the WW2 Garland rifle with a real bayonet.

Going back to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. There’s a video of the bayonet going through the guards foot when the rifle was dropped on accident. His reaction to the bayonet going through his foot is nothing short of amazing!

Just a reminder, all U.S. military branches whether Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines Corps have their own Drill teams silent or not. They periodically travel to promote Esprit de Corps and show the discipline of our Armed forces. Thanks for taking the time to appreciate our nation's finest Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines. ✌🏼🙏🏼❤🇺🇸

My pops was WWII South Pacific Marine. He taught his sons the USMC saying, “this is my rifle, this is my gun. This one’s for fighting, this one’s for fun.” Sorry if that was too rude but that’s it. My youngest brother was top Sgt and DI Camp Pendleton.

submitting request to see reaction to US military aircraft mid-air refueling 🙏

Courtney...if you enjoyed that display, do another search on KZfaq for the Marine Corp Silent Drill and find it performed inside. The sound is amazing. Plus, it is better if it is not shot so close up

The Band is a speperate unit from those doing drills with the weapons. U should see the ones that are just the drill teams when they really get going. This just shows a touch of what they do and can do but they do a lot more stuff that is a lot harder and much more dangerous to do. I am an Army Vet. I like the Army and other branches drill teams but like what the Marines do best and Army 2nd best in this kind of stuff.

All of the armed forces drill teams are amazing,the training and dedication to duty is unbelievable.

ohh rah! I was in the cake cutting ceremony 32 years ago lol!! Remember every Marine...even the clerks are first and foremost riflemen (and WM's). EVERY ONE must qualify with the rifle every year.

I was a 8th and I Marine. They are from the oldest post in the Corps. 1801. I was Brovo Company there is a Alpha there. The marching band is the commandant's own Marine Corps band. Random fact, the Silent Drill team is 3rd Alpha Company

An echo is NOT permitted. When we drilled in boot camp, it was drilled into us that there will be only one clap when the rifle contacted flesh, when your boots hit the ground, when you fist impacted your thigh. If the DI heard an echo, you started the whole thing over again. These guy took it to the extreme. An 'echo" being defined as someone hitting late. Even a fraction of a second was enough to hear the call, "Wrong!! Do it again."

Not a "special" branch of the Marine Corps. These guys are based in Washington DC and provide security (in terms of real-live infantry if needed AND the Marines you see at the doors to the White House), also handle (Marine or dignitary) funerals at Arlington Cemetery, and handle any other ceremonial duties needed. Anyone in the Corps can volunteer to do any of these things, and after a test (to see if you have the basic skills and aptitude) you'll be sent to this unit for a couple years and trained.

Thanks for reacting. The Silent Drill Platoon is in the same category as the Air Force Thunderbirds and the Navy Blue Angels as far as the service is concerned - they are for public relations and recruiting. They are still Marines, and would deploy tomorrow if ordered, that just isn't their current mission. The Thunderbirds and Blue Angels make more noise though. Also, the Army has a parachute demo team, same deal. I don't know if the Coast Guard has a demonstration team of any kind, but if they do I'm sure that it's awesome.

Thank your fiancé for his service from all of us and tell him we think his fiancée is cool. Excellent video.

So good to see you taking interest into the career traditions of your fiances job! Soooo important. If you really want to impress him, learn and start using military time and the phonetic alphabet nonchalantly. He'll love you forever!

2:39 fun fact, those bayonets are sharp

You should see the changing of the guard where the sentinel gets stabbed in the foot and doesn’t move

When you visit the USA, be sure to see this in-person. You'll get goosebumps!

At 3:46 of your video when the Marines were in close order shoulder to shoulder you may have noticed that their bayonets had been sheathed. In such close quarters one little mistake with a fixed bayonet could be potentially lethal.

They want you to think the ones chosen for inspection are random but the Marines try out for two separate 4 man inspection teams. The platoon trains for four months until they have gotten the members they all the marching 24 between February and March they perform the battle colors ceremony with the drum and bugle corps and the color guard. Then it's back to DC to do parade season through the spring and summer

Tough Duty to be on that platoon. AKA Monkey Drill. Note also: Bayonetts. Semper Fi.

As a Marine, I heard a member of the press discibe the Marine Corps like this. For those persons or groups who mean the U.S. or her people harm, the Marines are the last people they want to show up!

Notice the bayonet at the end of each rifle? If one Marine is off he can seriously harm his fellow Marine. They must work in unison, with precision and as one unit.

They all learn drills in basic training, this is just taking what they already know to another level. When they enlist, they can pick what job they want to do when they become a Marine. But they don't always qualify for the job they want. One guy I was in the band with in high school, the recruiter told him he could sign up to be in the Marine Corps band. They play at state events like when foreign leaders visit. Long story short, that dude ended up as a field radio operator.

In the military you have rifles or weapons and pistols are side arms dont really want to say what the marines are referring to when they say gun but the rifle is for fighting the gun is for fun but you can watch the movie full metal jacket and they will explain it to you in no uncertain terms

The band in the beginning the The President's Own, they're the Marine band and I believe they travel with the president. The Silent Drill Platoon kicks ass...Little known fact outside of the military, if you stand in formation for an extended period of time with your knees locked, you'll just pass out and faceplant.

The military does use the word "gun", but they use it only for artillery.

It’s a special job within the Marine Corps as a whole. You come from another job and have to tryout. If you are selected then you are put in that job for a certain amount of time.

Nobody calls cadence, issues orders. It is a silent well studied drill sequence. Really impressive live.

Love the Silent Drill Platoon. To me, the SDT exemplifies the idea that a Marine's rifle is an extension of the Marine's body. They are one and the same.

I am an US Army brat who has "Chesty" & :Pappy" as military HEROes.

They call an artillery piece a "gun" it is not a civilian term. I was a radio operator with an artillery unit in the Corps. And those rifles are real. They can be fired if needed. The Silent Drill Platoon is part of an active infantry unit based out of Quantico, Virigina.

Actually, in the military a "gun" is an artillery piece.

The US AMRY has a silent drill team as well and so does the Air Force and Navy.