By Colonel Leonard A. Blascovich, CAP National Historian
INTERNATIONAL DRILL COMPETITION
Its nice to write, talk and reflect about some of the activities that were available to CAP Cadets & Seniors during CAP's "Golden Age" 1948 to 1962. This is one program that was and I'm sorry to say is no more, a truly outstanding program that had great public relations impact. Matched the best of the best from both sides of the border. But I wonder ...... would it really take too much effort to restart? But to paraphrase the question posed in the Kevin Costner (1989) movie "Field Of Dreams" when he was told "build it and they will come, I wonder now in 2001 if we start the IDC again who would come?
Background:
In 1947 based upon the cadet training program which required proficiency in standard drill "without arms". General Lucas V. Beau the National Commander instituted the National Drill Competition (NDC). Utilizing the rules set up by the U.S. Drill Competition Committee, and input from the United States Air Force Ceremonial Detachment located at Bolling AFB, Washington DC and current Drill & Ceremonies practices of the period as used by the Army ROTC program. Major General Lucas Victor Beau, Commanding General of the Civil Air Patrol, (Oct 1947 to Dec 1955) and a well known figure with countries having aviation cadet programs or showed an interest in establishing one. General Beau was well liked and had a long time association with the Air Cadet League of Canada, an organization started in 1939 and one that the CAP Cadet program was modeled after when it began in October 1942.
The Challenge:
General Beau, while attending a planning meeting in April 1947 held in Canada to help organize the first International Air Cadet Exchange Program which was scheduled to start in the summer of 1948 between the and US and Canada. When it was mentioned that CAP was establishing a National Drill Competition event similar to and along the lines of the annual drill competition and exhibition that was held in Canada for the Air League. A point was made that the CAP Cadets were excellent marchers, and the Canadians counted that they too were suburb Drill men.
An thus began the challenge
.
The Trophy:
General Beau donated in 1948 for presentation at the first meet held in conjunction with the New York City Jubilee at Idlewild Airport Jamaica, Long Island, (
later to become JFK International Airport)
a heavy Sterling Silver trophy. This distinctive trophy which is shaped in the form of the
circular CAP Shoulder patch
, 12 inches in diameter and 1 inch thick, the top of the circle is an arc with engraved relief block letters that spell out the words "
CIVIL AIR PATROL
". For the trophy center piece is a highly polished raised isosceles triangle, set on a circular blue background with raised 1/4" border, within its center is a raised red 3 bladed propeller, and the raised block letters "
US
" is centered on the on the lower half of the blue. The entire circular emblem is mounted on a 18’’ by 6" wide and 2 inch high base, which has across its front and back sides 3 raised triangles, and at each end has 2 triangles for a total of 10 triangles all around. On each of these triangles will be engraved with the year (above) and the country (below) of the winner, i.e
.
1949
top,
CANADA
below. On the top of this base is a silver plate engraved with the following:
"
MAJOR GENERAL LUCAS V BEAU INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE TROPHY
".
Thanks to the Air League Of Canada for the great photo
Award Rules:
The International Drill Competition (IDC) winning team earns the right to hold the Major General Lucas V. Beau Challenge Trophy for
one year,
after which it is put up again for competition. The Trophy would be retired in 1957 to the country whose team has won it the greatest number of times.
Rules of Competition:
The Competition was to be judged by four (4) competent Service Judges two (2) from the United States Air Force and two (2) from the Royal Canadian Air Force. These judges shall elect from among themselves one (1) to act as chairman. In addition to the aforementioned, the host country will select an officer of its Air Force to act as Chief Score Keeper and Timer, and the visiting country will select an officer of its Air Force to act as Assistant Score Keeper and Timer. In addition,
none
of these officer shall be current active members of International Drill Competition Committee. This Competition was
strictly
controlled by the "
Articles of Agreement, and Rules of Competition
", International Drill Competition
, prepared by the International Drill Competition Committee and approved by the Civil Air Patrol, and Air Cadet League of Canada. It was amended in 1952, 55 and 56 with some minor revisions but the original intent in scoring and monitoring remained as first approved in Quebec, Canada on 14 March 1950.
Competition Scoring:
For the 1948-50 IDC scoring was based upon standards used for the Civil Air Patrol's National Drill Competition and the individual judge's scoring sheet maximum was 100 points. After the approval of the "
Articles of Agreement, and Rules of Competition
" as amended in 1952 the individual maximum score was slightly modified and raised to 300 points.
Drill Reference:
Civil Air Patrol trained for standard, in-place and marching maneuvers by using the "
U.S. Army Field Manual FM 22-5
" (Drill and Ceremonies), the Air Cadet League trained by using the "
Royal Army Manual for Field Drill
" as its reference.
Event Schedule:
It was decided that the competition would be held annually in the months of July or August of each year and will be held in the United States of America in the
even
numbered years, and in Canada on the
odd
numbered years.
Trophy Location:
The Trophy presently resides in a display case at the Headquarters of the Air League of Canada, 424 Metcalfe Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K2P 2C3, phone (613) 235-1409.
Canadian Training:
The Royal Canadian Air Cadets from the League were selected by competition from various squadrons all over Canadian Provinces and from the Drill Instructors Course which usually was held at Greenwood, N.S. outside of Toronto, or Abbotsford B.C., The 40 selected Cadets then undergo special training to prepare them for the International Competition under the control of the Royal Canadian Air Force instructors. For the International Drill Competition held In the United States Teams from the East and West of Canada usually compete and the winning team went onto represent Canada in the Competition. Furthermore, each Royal Canadian Air Cadets who participate in the IDC received all uniforms and accessories plus were given a $100.00 Canadian Savings Bond upon completion of training program.
Canadian Uniforms:
The Royal Canadian Air Cadets wore the standard Canadian Air Cadet blue green tunic and matching pants with flight cap, standard rank and hat insignia including the League shoulder flash. For the competition the cadet wore a wide white tight mesh web dress belt with brass buckle, and white gloves. White leggings were an option on some of the teams; typical black Canadian military shoes were the norm with a very high "spit shine". Each cadet after training for the Drill Instructor Course and the IDC was awarded a
white whistle cord
that was worn around the left arm. This white cord along with the dated IDC certificate presented at the competition dinner signified that the cadet was a participant at the International Drill Competition for that year.
Civil Air Patrol Training:
Whereas, the 40 CAP Cadets were selected primarily from the team that won the National Drill Competition in total. After the 1950 International Drill Competition in some instance the cadets were hand picked from other teams that participated at the NDC. This became the norm after the 1956 National Drill Competition (NDC) when the team’s size was reduced from 40 to 25 members. Starting with the 1950 IDC, NDC Champions along with selected Cadets were trained under the control of the United States Air Force Drill Team Instructors from the USAF Ceremonial Detachment located at Bolling AFB, Washington DC. Prior to 1949 IDC the instructor were usually only advisors to the USAF-CAP and the teams were trained under their CAP trainers from the Wing that prepared them for the NDC.
CAP Uniforms:
Starting with the 1950 IDC CAP cadet were each issued Air Force uniforms either the shade "1" khaki's or the Blue shade 84 Air Force "Ike" jacket or blouse type of uniform jacket and pants. Each uniform was custom fitted and tailored. The only distinguishing items added were the CAP Cadet Breast Patch, and CAP Buttons if needed, usually
no
ribbons, aeronautical awards or wing patches were worn, while performing in the Drill Competition. Furthermore, the cadets also were issued 2 sets of Jump Boots or low quarters shoes, one pair they usually wore out after almost 4 weeks of constant drilling and practice and the other one was spit shined and to be worn while in competition. Jump boots were dressed with white laces and white leggings were always worn with boots or low quarters while in competition uniform. Each cadet also received a large (2") white belt with chrome buckle and white gloves. This belt, buckle and gloves was the influence of the USAF Drill Team advisors and a trademark of the United States Air Force Ceremonial Detachment which besides the Drill Team included the Band, Drum & Bugle Corp., Honor Guard and the Fife & Drum Corp. The CAP Cadet uniform hat was first the authorized khaki flight cap (48, 49) with the CAP cadet emblem, later (50) it became the blue shade 84 flight cap when the new USAF uniform was authorized replacing the Army type. Again influenced by the USAF Drill Team a service cap with white front chin strap and a white rear chin strap,
this was a special modification to the standard CAP Cadet uniform, service caps were not allowed for cadet wear
. The selected special service hat emblem was either the World War 2 up swept wings CAP Senior Officer Hat device, or the round senior enlisted device. The 1950 IDC CAP team wore white helmet liners; this was
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