Miss Cellania
The Late Movies: Drill Teams
by Miss Cellania - September 3, 2010 - 10:00 PM
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Drill Teams come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors. Some have a gimmick and some must rely on talent, practice, and discipline. We have some of each on the Late Movies.

Lawn Mowers

A performance by the Reel Lawnmower Drill Team, who won the Best in Parade title at the 2008 Greenbelt Labor Day Festival.
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Top Secret Drum Corps

Based in Basel, Switzerland, these guy are amazing.
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Shopping Carts

The First Alternative Co-op Shopping Cart Drill team performs in Corvallis, Oregon.

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Lawn Chairs

Appearing on the Steve Harvey TV show.
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Walkers

The Synchronized Granny’s Walker Drill Team performs at the Royal Palm Retirement Center.
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Book Carts

The Warrior Librarians won first place at the Fifth Annual Book Cart Drill Team World Championship in 2009.
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U.S. Navy

A demonstration by the US Navy Presidential Ceremonial Honor Guard Drill Team.
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Strollers

Recorded at Billy Barker Days 2010 in Quesnel, British Columbia.
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Haka

The New Zealand All Blacks rugby team always does the traditional haka (Maori war dance) before games. We can consider them a drill team for those few moments.
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Geometric Walking

I don’t know the name of this Japanese group, but I would guess that they are college students. You can skip the first minute and a half, then the performance starts.
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Stripes

This post would not be complete without the ultimate drill team scene, from the movie Stripes.

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Comments (12)

  1. My 15 year old son is part of a precision drill team with his cadet squadron. They have won their zone competition 11 years in a row. They are very very good. I like the military ones, and the band ones with the drums the best.

    posted by Sandie on 9-3-2010 at 11:11 pm

  2. After watching the japanese team…I gotta say, this is what my son’s team does…basically the same stuff from start to finish…but all from memory…with no commands throughout! Although the Japanese are impressive…I think my boys squadron (with 14-18 year olds) is just as precise and far more impressive. Just had to get the brag in there!!!

    posted by Sandie on 9-3-2010 at 11:24 pm

  3. Two more of my favorites: the Monty Python sketch – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25Qhbdijv5Y

    And the opening scene from A Few Good Men, featuring the Texas A&M University Fish Drill Team (Whoop!)- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjLyz8OAj1s

    posted by Josh on 9-4-2010 at 1:22 am

  4. It ain’t quite a drill team, but howzabout square dancing tractors?

    Originally put together as a one-time thing for the town centennial in 1999, it sort of took on a life of its own. Unfortunately, they called it quits a couple of years, so you can’t see them live any more, but you might as well enjoy the video.

    The Nemaha (Iowa) Farmall Promenade.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcGs_Kw3wxc

    -”BB”-

    posted by Bicycle Bill on 9-4-2010 at 6:56 am

  5. i was in my high school marching band for four years and I have to point out just how hard this stuff is. For every movement, there are actually pages and pages of formations to memorize. We used to spend maybe 10 hours a week doing drill!

    posted by KJ on 9-4-2010 at 9:25 am

  6. That Top Secret Drum Corps is awesome!

    posted by C.A. on 9-4-2010 at 10:30 am

  7. The University of Hawaii football team has been doing their own hakas for several years, albeit not without controversy.
    It really is impressive and is one heck of a morale booster, but they’ve been relegated to doing it facing their fans before the other team enters the field. IIRC, they were even forced by one team to do it outside the stadium before they entered the field. Something about it being deemed as instigating violence.
    Always found it ironic that they didn’t want that done before 22 guys spent 2 hours pummelling each other….lol

    posted by RC on 9-4-2010 at 11:03 am

  8. As a Clemson University Alumni, I must brag about the Pershing Rifle squad. If i remember correctly they won the national championship or something. Pretty awesome what they can do!!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCm4SXDf7bU

    posted by WP on 9-4-2010 at 10:15 pm

  9. Appearance Basel Tattoo 2009 – Switzerland

    better resolution of video, VERY GOOD!!!!

    posted by Big Dog on 9-6-2010 at 12:07 am

  10. I wanted to add the link: “Top Secret” Drum Corps Basel Switzerland.
    Appearance Basel Tattoo 2009 – Switzerland

    http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Top_Secret_DrumCorps.html

    posted by Big Dog on 9-6-2010 at 12:15 am

  11. These are all cool drill teams, but as a Michigan resident, I’m proud of the Fred Hill Briefcase Drill Team from Plymouth, MI. They are a fixture in the Michigan Thanksgiving Day parade in Detroit, and have appeared on Good Morning America and in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade.

    There are lots of videos of them on youtube, but this is the best:
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnMjnVYxf0A

    posted by Tammy King on 9-6-2010 at 11:01 am

  12. Wow. I went to high school in Greenbelt and graduated in ’09. I’ve been to the Labor Day Festival a bunch of times, but I have to admit, I did not see the lawn mower group….It’s pretty cool to see it on Mental Floss, though!

    posted by Kelsey on 9-6-2010 at 2:59 pm

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