What should a cadet do if they are late to a drill?

• A. Walk in early and loudly announce their lateness
• B. Leave the drill area and skip formation
• C. Apologize briefly, explain if appropriate, and quickly join the formation without causing disruption
• D. Assert that the drill already started and refuse to join

Answer: (C)

When you’re late to a drill, the priority is to minimize disruption and show accountability. The best approach is to offer a brief apology, provide a short, to-the-point explanation if it’s appropriate, and then quickly rejoin the formation without causing a scene. This demonstrates respect for the chain of command, keeps the drill on track, and preserves unit discipline. Enter and rejoin with calm, purposeful movement, and avoid drawing extra attention or arguing about the delay.

Loudly announcing lateness, walking in to disrupt the cadence, or leaving the drill area and skipping the formation undermines order and can be viewed as disrespect or insubordination. Refusing to join because you think the drill already started also disrupts the mission and challenges leadership. The calm, responsible re-entry keeps things running smoothly and shows you take duty seriously.