Know What to Say and How to Say it
For Inspection
Your team should have standardized responses for each team member when addressed by an inspector. Something like these would be good:
"Yes, Sir (or Ma'am)!
Or put Sir (or Ma'am) at the beginning and end of each statement: "Sir (or Ma'am), Yes, Sir (or Ma'am)!"
If a team member does not know an answer, standardize a response like this: "Sir, I do not know the answer to your question, but I will find out."
How to report-in and report-out:
Either before or just after the beginning of your performance, center yourself on the head judge and introduce yourself (if performing solo) or your team. Here is what I use when I was commander of my team back in high school: "Sir, the Agua Fria Air Force Junior ROTC Drill Team reports for exhibition drill!" After an acknowledgement, I would say, "Thank you, Sir!" If you report-in before the performance begins, "Sir, The Agua Fria Air Force Junior ROTC Drill Team requests permission to enter Exhibition Drill pad [area, floor!]"
For the report-out:
If it is required, just before you finish your performance, report to the head judge something like this, "Sir, this concludes the Agua Fria Air Force Junior ROTC Drill Team's exhibition drill performance!" After an acknowledgement, "Thank you, Sir!" Don't just march off, perform off, unless your SOP tells you that timing and judging ends there at the report-out.
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