The United States Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon is a 24-man rifle platoon led by a Captain and Platoon Sergeant of the United States Marine Corps (USMC).
Often referred to as The Marching Twenty-Four, the unit performs a unique silent precision exhibition drill. The purpose of the platoon is to exemplify the discipline and professionalism of the Marine Corps. The Silent Drill Platoon, which first performed in November 18, 1928, originally as a one-time show, received such an overwhelming response that it soon became part of the routine parades at Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C.
In 2022 Captain Kelsey M. Hastings became the first woman to command the Silent Drill Platoon.[1][2]
- ^ "The Bunker: Auditing Pentagon Innovation". Project On Government Oversight.
- ^ "Marine Corps' First Female Silent Drill Platoon Commander". DVIDS.