Silent Platoon Drops Rifle And It Breaks

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Silent Platoon Drops Rifle And It Breaks | Frontline Videos

OutOfRegs

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Their History

The United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon or The Marching Twenty-four as it’s often called is where perfection happens. Their purpose is “to exemplify the discipline and professionalism of the Marine Corps” and it’s something they excel at.

A U.S. Marine Corps C-130T Hercules aircraft with the Blue Angels, the Navy’s flight demonstration squadron, flies over Marines with the Silent Drill Platoon at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Arizona. | Staff Sgt. Oscar L. Olive IV / Public Domain

The platoon was formed in 1948 and was supposed to be a one time show, however, people were so impressed by their showmanship that the drill never stopped. Watching them is mesmerizing, as each move is carefully calculated, including the clicks of their rifles when they’re caught.

The Incident

When searching the internet, we stumbled upon this clip, however. We, and most likely you, have seen hundreds of these videos where everything goes as planned. They do after all practice their routine year round and the selection process is grueling. Someone caught what happens when things don’t go as well, however.

M1 Garand rifle, USA. Caliber .30-06. From the collections of Armémuseum (Swedish Army Museum), Stockholm. | The Swedish Army Museum / Public Domain

During on overhead throw of their M1 Garand, one of the Marines missed catching his rifle. It smashed behind him as people gasped in disbelief. This almost never happens.

The Marine who threw the rifle in the first place stopped in his tracks, turned around to retrieve it and tried it again. It was broken, however (thank goodness HE didn’t drop it when the butt of the rifle came off,) so he just returned it to its owner.

Does anyone know what happens when an incident like that occurs? We’re sure he was chewed out, but does he lose his spot after just one mistake? Your comments would be appreciated.

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