On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
(NOTE: I filmed and wrote this before our Navy started murdering random people on the high seas. My first impulse was to discard the submission but I reconsidered. I thought the man in charge of carrying out the strike orders, Admiral Daryl Caudle, might be of interest to you.)
This year’s Fleet Week was an interesting mix. On the one hand it rained for almost all the drill team performances, making it that much more challenging for the service members to showcase their skills. The Marines and the Navy did perform in the rain, but the Coast Guard cancelled its Times Square appearance.
I didn’t mind the rain at all because it was the perfect backdrop, and I managed to get some great footage. (If Fleet Week isn’t about me and my filming convenience, what is it even about?) Unlike me, the drill teams were not too keen on the rain.
On the other hand, I think the Coast Guard felt so bad about their cancelled show that they did tell me about an unpublicized upcoming performance at Ground Zero. And this is how I ended up filming a joint naval forces reenlistment and promotions ceremony.
We had the Navy, the Marines, and the Coast Guard, and the presiding officer was Admiral Daryl Caudle. The Coast Guard team opened the ceremony with a silent drill performance. Then a brief speech from a 9/11 Museum person and the Admiral, followed by the reenlistment and promotions ceremonies for all three branches (the Marines and the Coast Guard had their own presiding officers).
The ceremony was memorable, solemn, especially given the location, but also filled with warmth. The pride and joy beaming from the friends and family who were there to support their loved ones were palpable.
Notwithstanding the serious nature of the event, I do have a few observations.
For example, when the drill team practiced “the walk” it was flawless. But during the actual performance, the poor officer’s hat was hit a couple of times by the flying rifles rendering it askew. He wasn’t hurt, and he discreetly rearranged his hat so all was well. Except maybe the chat he had with the team after the performance was over. They did seem to leave in a hurry once they were done.
I also noticed that, when Admiral Caudle’s credentials were being read, the list went on and on – commanded ships and submarines, then fleets of ships and submarines, and now, all the US fleet forces (I think this means the entire Navy?).
At one point in his speech, U.S. Marine Corps Brig. Gen. Thomas M. Armas said, and I quote: When most Americans put their hands out, these young Americans put their hands up. I did not care for that phrasing.
There was an interesting moment when all the navy people there to reenlist had to first be discharged from the Navy before they could enlist again. Apparently, it’s a Navy tradition.
A funny moment happened when Coast Guard Vice Adm. Moore asked for people who are reenlisting to raise their hand and nobody did because they were all there to be promoted, not to reenlist. Once that was cleared up, they took their oath and their family and friends pinned insignia on them.
One more observation. At the end, I filmed the Admiral surreptitiously handing something (looked like a big coin) to all the people who reenlisted as he was shaking hands and congratulating them. I am sure it’s some type of tradition but what I found interesting was the “secret spy passing a message” feel of the exchange.
And now, without further ado, I give you twirling rifles in the rain with great skill and precision. Which one was your favorite, the Marines, the Navy, or the Coast Guard?
USMC Drill Team in Times Square (11:32 min)
Navy Ceremonial Guard Drill Team in Times Square (5:05 min)
US Coast Guard Drill Team and Ground Zero (27:43 min)
(all the clips linked below are only a few seconds long)
Everyone from the Navy, from the sword wearing person in charge of the drill team, to the diver in the dive tank were super nice and friendly.
No mistakes were made, despite a few close calls.
The Marines, throwing rifles around with abandon in Times Square.
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Remember this unidentified twirler from last year? Turns out she is a member of the Coast Guard drill team.
Only the hat was harmed in the making of this video.
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Admiral Daryl Caudle, secret spy!
Tony Jay
theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/16/admiral-alvin-holsey-caribbean-venezuela
This may be relevant
raven
This is my drill sergeant from basic training at Ft Campbell, KY in 1966, Dallas Pinkney. It is the United States Army Europe Drill Team!
raven
dupe
Dave
The General’s rhetoric has been a thing for a while now. At least as far back as the late 90’s and turbocharged by GWOT.
Even as a dumbass teenager, as opposed to the dumbass middle-aged dude I am know, it didn’t sit well.
I understand the intent behind it but the knock on effects are not great.
Betty
I would think that doing those drills in Times Square with all those large, bright moving images around you would require extra special focus. Congratulations to the drill teams! And thanks, Ema!
1,000 flouncing lurkers (was fidelioscabinet)
Admiral Caudle’s “secret item” was almost certainly a challenge coin, a military tradition that verifiably dates back to the 1950s, and maybe farther back than that.
They have become a big thing, and are now a collectible item, as well as having been picked up by non-military organizations.
ema
Thank you!
bluefoot
@raven: That photo is excellent.
ema, thanks for the photos and videos. I’ve always had a weakness for drill teams. This reminds me of something my sister said when we were in CT for Memorial Day and heard the USCG band: As a former member of an orchestra, she loves watching/listening to military bands because all the musicians come in exactly on time.
Paul in KY
@raven: Those are 1903 A3s they are chucking around. Each one weighs about 10 lbs. I drilled in college (Pershing Rifles) with them.
TheOtherHank
@1,000 flouncing lurkers (was fidelioscabinet):
They have spread beyond the military. I have a couple from a big project I was worked on when I worked at a large biotech based in South San Francisco.
Matt McIrvin
@1,000 flouncing lurkers (was fidelioscabinet): Yes, and we had a thread a little while ago about Kash Patel turning the tradition for himself into an embarrassing, tacky thing like a prize you’d get from a gumball machine.
Torrey
@Dave:
It’s not just his rhetoric. It’s his cultural awareness. Also, his thinking about what he’s gonna say before he says it. When I first read the quote, I had a double-take, reflexively thinking of “putting their hands out” as a gesture of friendship, and “putting their hands up” as a gesture of surrender.
I clearly hang out with a different bunch of Americans than does the good(?) general.
1,000 flouncing lurkers (was fidelioscabinet)
@Matt McIrvin: So very Kash Patel.
Ruckus
There was an interesting moment when all the navy people there to reenlist had to first be discharged from the Navy before they could enlist again. Apparently, it’s a Navy tradition.
I don’t remember this but then I didn’t reenlist, one enlistment was enough for me. More than enough actually. I far more now understand that it wasn’t all bad but boy did it have its moments. Of course my last 6 and 1/2 months was fun! Oh wait, no it was not! My last day was very much OK though! I ENJOYED getting all the things that needed to be signed, signed! And then walking away….without looking back.