Drill and Instruction Ditties
Ditties:
Ditties are a good tool for instructing cadets. A ditty is a phrase or saying that is used
just after the preparatory command or after the command of execution while the
movement is being executed. A ditty can also be a cadence to help keep correct dress,
cover, interval and distance or to keep cadets in step. Ditty’s can be turned on and off at
will by the instructing cadet. Ditties are usually kept on until the cadets become
comfortable with the movement and a majority of the flight is doing the movement
correctly. Ditties are fun and motivating and allow cadets to strengthen their voices while
in formation. Below is the full dialog for all the ditties I know and you can make up your
own or modify the ones below to suite your needs. Cadets response will be in italics.
Facing Movements: The ditties for facing movements are composed of a repeat of the
preparatory command (this ensures the cadets know what is coming next) and a
movement ditty that is said while going through the movement (this will phase the
movements of the cadets together and eventually have them moving as a cohesive unit
and it makes them think about what they need to do with their feet).
Right Face:
-Right, Right, Hace: Cock and Drive
Left Face:
-Left, Left, Hace: Cock and Drive
About Face
-About, About, Hace: Trace the C, Ease About
Position of Attention: Ditties for the position of attention are reminders that correct
common mistakes such and thumb placement, slouching, talking, and bearing. As I
mentioned about the ditties can be changed as the instructing cadet sees fit.
Attention:
-Flight (Detail ect…), Tench Hut!
Our Backs are Straight Our Mouths are Shut, Our Eyes are Caged to the Front. ( Said
Very Quickly)
Thumb Placement:
-Thumbs! Trouser seems Sir (Ma’am). Cadets then tap thumbs on trouser seems 3 times.
Attention Getters:
-Eyes! Snap Sir (Ma’am). Cadets will then un-cage their eyes and look and the instructor.
-Lock-it-Up! (Said quickly) Locked Sir (Ma’am). Cadets will cage their eyes.
-Ears! Open Sir (Ma’am). Cadets will listen to the instructing cadet (they will not un-cage
their eyes unless the command “Eyes!” is given.)
Marching Ditties: These are ditties and cadences that will help a flight while on the
march. Like the ditties above there are some called in response to commands and other
that will be said by the cadets or instructing cadet while the flight executes a movement.
They will get your cadets in time with one another.
Forward March:
-Forward! Stand Tall, Harch
To the Rear March:
-To the Rear, Pin-the-Arms, Harch, Chop, Ease, Half Step, Full Step.
Column Movements:
-Column Right (Left), Pin-the-Arms, Harch.
Pivot and Kick, Pivot and Kick, Everybody Half Step, Cover and Alignment
-Column Half Right (Left), 45, Harch
Flanking Movements:
-Right (Left) Flank, All-Together, Harch, Pivot
Extend March:
-Extend, To-the-Left, Harch, One and Three with a Full Step, Half Step.
Close March:
-Close, To-the-Right, Harch, One and Three with a Full Step, Half Step.
Change Step March:
-Change Step, Harch, Step, Place, Step
Half Step March:
-Half Step, 12 inches, Harch¸ Full Step, Half Step
Mark Time March:
-Mark Time, Mark It, Harch, Step Together and Up, Pick Up the Toes, Boot Top High
Flight (Detail) Halt:
-Flight, Halt, Step, Freeze, Cover,
Short Choppy Steps, Align to the Right, Cover to the Front (said very quickly with in 23 seconds) Cadets should be covered down by the time they are done with the ditty.
In Transit: Use anytime in transit when corrections need made.
DCID:
-Cover and Alignment, That’s My Assignment.
- Alignment’s to the, Right, to the, Right, to the, Right, and Cover’s to the, Front, to the,
Front, to the, Front.
-40 inches, Back to Chest, 40 inches, All Around.
Out of Step:
-When I say Left your Left Foot Strikes the Deck, Left Right Left (Use for Very Novice
Marchers)
-Drive Your Heels, To the Deck, Let me Hear the Thunder, Let me Hear the, Boom, Hear
the, Boom, Hear the, Boom. (“Hear the” should be on the right foot, “Boom” should be
on the left.)
Bouncing:
-Walk that Tight Rope, Walkin’ That Tight Rope, Walk that Tight Rope, Crack that Whip.
- Roll Your Heels, Nice and Smooth, Roll Your Heels, Like Walkin’ on Glass.
Arm Swing:
-Arm Swing is, Six to the Front, Three to the Rear.
-Six to the Front, Three to the Rear, That’s the Way We Do it Here.
Length of Stride:
-Take a Full Step, A 24 inch Step
-Take a Half Step, A smaller 12 inch Step
Kicking Knowledge: There shouldn’t be any down time in training; every minute can be
used effectively. The FTM and Airman’s Manual hold a lot of needed information and
should be reviewed constantly. Kicking knowledge is an effective was to plant the
information in the cadets Brain Housing Group. Key words (acronyms) are good for
things with steps. Also breaking information up and reciting it with a specific beat helps
are well. If you get them with those a lot test scores will be high and they will remember.
Here are some examples:
4 Life Save Steps
- 4 Life Saving Steps! Sir (Ma’am) The Four Life Saving Steps are: Stop the Bleeding,
Start the Breathing, Protect the Wound and Treat for Shock, Sir (Ma’am)
Rank Structure:
- E-1 in the Air Force, Sir (Ma’am) an E-1 in the Air Force is, an Airman Basic, They
Wear No Rank Insignia Sir (Ma’am)
-E-2 in the Air Force, Sir (Ma’am) an E-2 in the Air Force is, an Airman, They Wear one
Stripe up with a Five Point Star in the Center
- O-6 in the Air Force, Sir (Ma’am) an O-6 in the Air Force is, a Colonel, They Wear a
Silver Eagle Sir (Ma’am)
Other Warrior Knowledge:
-First Article of the Code of Conduct, Sir (Ma’am) the First Article of the Code of
Conduct is, I am an American, Fighting in the Forces Which Guard my Country and
Our Way of Life, I am Prepared to Give Up my Life in Their Defense.
-Mission of the Air Force, Sir (Ma’am) the Missions of the Air Force is, To Deliver
Sovereign Options for the Defense of the United States of America and its Global
Interests-to Fly and Fight in Air, Space, and Cyber-Space.