close-order drill

close-order drill (countable and uncountable, plural close-order drills)

1. Alternative form of close order drill
   • 1990, David H. Hackworth, Julie Sherman, About Face: The Odyssey of an American Warrior, →ISBN, page 39:

     We had an hour's close-order drill every day, using the drills of the thirties, and if Prazenka didn't like the way we did them, he'd turn back to the old field manual (which read, "Close-order drill is the foundation of all discipline") and throw another hour's worth on top of us.

   • 1996, Robert Cowley, Geoffrey Parker, Readers Companion to Military History, →ISBN, page 142:

     One reason for the survival of old-fashioned close-order drill is that prolonged movement in unison arouses a strong psychological response and creates an esprit de corps among those who drill together that pays off even on modern battlefields.

   • 2004, E. Michael Helms, The Proud Bastards, →ISBN:

     Man, we've done so much close-order drill and manual-of-arms that I think we could do it in our sleep.