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PARADES
Everyone loves a parade. Old and young turn out
for hometown and regional parades. They offer an
excellent opportunity to show off the Navy. As a
recruiting supervisor, you need to be aware of
parades planned in your territory. Work with the
recruiter-in-charge (RINC) to decide on the extent of
participation. There is a multitude of choices for
parade participation. You can request a drill team or
color guard unit from a naval installation if logistics
allow. You can coordinate with local naval reservists
for extra manpower. DEP personnel can be trained in
marching fundamentals. Of course, recruiters
themselves can participate as a marching unit or
color guard.
Drill Teams
Most naval training centers have a drill team
that is available for parades. Work with your PAO to
find out if there is a team in your area. Most teams
have specific mileage limitations on their travel.
Some require funding for meals, lodging, and perhaps
even transportation.
Color Guards
As with the drill team availability, check with
your PAO to find color guard units for parade
participation. In the absence of an assigned color
guard, recruiters can fill this task easily themselves.
Coordinate with local reserve centers for flags,
parade rifles, and leggings. Figure 7-2 shows a proper
color guard formation.
DEP Participation
DEP personnel are normally eager to represent
the Navy. Advance planning is a must to prepare
them for public performance. Marching fundamentals
can be used as general military training (GMT) at
regularly scheduled DEP meetings. Extra practice
will make sure they look professional on the day of
the parade. Have the DEP personnel dress alike.
Navy T-shirts or iron-ons teamed with blue jeans and
a Navy ball cap can become instant uniforms. Check
out the Navy banner from your NRD and you now
have your own performing unit. You might want to
even teach them a couple of cadences fitting for
public marching.
MUSIC FOR RECRUITING
The Music for Recruiting Program is supported
by the U.S. Navy Band in Washington, DC, and by
field
bands
located
across
the
nation.
COMNAVCRUITCOM coordinates the U.S. Navy
Band national tours in support of recruiting. The
CHINFO
funds
Navy
recruiting
Areas
(NAVCRUITAREAs) for use of the regional Navy
bands.
Figure 7-2.—Color guard formation.
7-6
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