First Female USMC Silent Drill Platoon Commander
by U.S. Marine Corps 1st Lt. Kayla Haas November
23,
2022
A female artillery officer made history on
November 21, 2022 when she became the first woman to command the
Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon.
Capt. Kelsey M. Hastings,
a native of Seattle, Washington, was selected to serve as the Silent
Drill Platoon Commander for the Marine Barracks Washington 2023
parade season.
 Capt. Kelsey M. Hastings, a native of Seattle, Washington, was selected to serve as the Silent Drill Platoon Commander for the Marine Barracks Washington 2023 parade season. She
is the first woman to command the platoon starting on on November 21, 2022. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by 1st Lt. Kayla Haas
on November 15, 2022.)
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The Silent Drill Platoon is a 24-Marine
rifle platoon that performs a unique precision drill exhibition
without verbal cadence or commands. The Marines execute a series of
calculated drill movements and precise handling of their
hand-polished, 10-and-one-half pound M1 Garand rifles with fixed
bayonets. The highly disciplined platoon performs as part of the
historic Friday Evening Parade, Tuesday Sunset Parade, and at
ceremonies throughout the nation.
“Kelsey displays a tireless
work ethic and high standard of performance that makes her a
stand-out performer at Marine Barracks Washington,” said Col. Robb Sucher, commanding officer of Marine
Barracks Washington. “I’m excited for her to represent Marine
Barracks Washington as a representative of the Marine Corps in this
role.”
Hastings, a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, was
commissioned in May 2017. Upon graduation from the Marine Artillery
Officer Basic Course at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Hastings reported to
1st Battalion, 12th Marines aboard Marine Corps Base Hawaii where
she served as a platoon commander, fire direction officer, and
battery executive officer.
“It is exciting to be selected as
the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon Commander,” said Hastings.
“SDP is often times the face of the Marine Corps, showing the world
how elite and professional our organization is, and being selected
to lead them is truly an honor. I look forward to working with my
new Marines and being a face that a little girl can see and envision
herself as.”
In 2020 Hastings was selected to serve at
Marine Barracks Washington, where she completed Ceremonial Drill
School, a three-week course that prepares Barracks officers and
staff noncommissioned officers for the unit’s rigorous ceremonial
mission. Marines are evaluated on the fundamentals of marching,
sword manual, voice commands and uniform preparation.
Hastings will return to the Barracks’ hallowed parade deck as a
veteran marcher. She served as a marching platoon commander in 2021
and a marching company executive officer in 2022 before her
assignment as the Silent Drill Platoon Commander.
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without impacting facts.
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