Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (October 21, 2023):  During the early years of the Revolution, Washington’s Army lacked the structure and discipline to fight superior British forces. In 1778, German born Baron Friedrich von Steuben instituted our nation’s first military drill program to instill order and discipline among Contiental Soldiers. In this photo by Sergeant Kelsey Dornfeld, members of the Silent Drill Platoon perform their elegant and precise movements to the delight of their fellow citizens.

Von Stueben knew that drill movements, done precisely and repetitively, instill discipline, teamwork, and the ability to instantly follow orders. This 24-man ceremonial rifle platoon, which began in 1948 after a one-night performance, now excites audiences around the country.

The Silent Platoon performs with hand-polished, ten-and-one-half pound M1 Garand rifles with fixed bayonets which they spin and toss with amazing accuracy. The routine concludes with a unique rifle inspection sequence that requires hundreds of hours of practice to do properly.

Members of the Silent Platoon are selected from the Schools of Infantry at Camp Pendleton, California and Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. Members serve a 2-year ceremonial tour while also continuing to train as infantry at nearby Quantico, Virginia. Once selected, candidates begin their rigorous training at Marine Barracks Washington and later move to Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona to perfect their routines.

Throughout the year, they perform for hundreds of thousands of spectators at Marine Barracks Washington and at numerous events across the country.