MARCH 14, 2023 – For the first time in over two decades, Marine Barracks Washington is touring the Pacific Northwest.
The barracks’ two-week tour included performances in Alaska, Oregon and Washington.
This unit consists of The Silent Drill Platoon, The Commandant’s Own Drum & Bugle Corps and the official Marine Corps Color Guard.
Marines of The Silent Drill Platoon are infantrymen hand selected from the unit’s marching companies to perform ceremonial drill. Experienced Marines have the opportunity for selection as one of the two rifle inspectors, or drill master.
“You have to be selected, but you can choose to be part of the silent drill once you become a ceremonial marcher,” said Cpl. Benjamin Gabica, the drill master of the platoon. Gabica is also a native of Issaquah, Washington.
Of the 24-man team who perform during hundreds of ceremonies and events across the country, 36 Marines are capable of performing. These 36 Marines compete each year to be selected as one of the 24 who travel the country.
Gabica has spent the last three years with the Silent Drill Platoon. Arriving at the unit as a private first class, his diligence toward perfecting his uniform every day and performing the drill sequences to near perfection has earned him the job title- drill master. Not only has he competed to be one of the 24 performers, he competed for the title, assistant drill master, during his second year. Now in his third year with the unit, he has been hand selected to become the unit’s drill master.
Some of his duties as drill master include creating drill sequences, teaching his Marines to perfect those sequences, and warming the team up before each performance. Another duty he has is to conduct uniform inspections on his Marines prior to each performance.
While a uniform inspection may seem insignificant to some, Marines pride themselves on achieving perfection. A Marine’s attention to small details is what makes them part of America’s elite fighting force.
“We always get inspected before we go anywhere, and the drill masters are incredibly meticulous on the tiniest little things,” Gabica said. “Being with this unit has taught me that the little things matter. Our rifles even get inspected.”
Now nearing the end of his tour with the unit, Gabica reminisces the personal and professional growth he experienced.
“I’ve come a long way since I first got to Marine Barracks Washington,” Gabica said delightfully. “Being out in public, being in uniform representing what we are supposed to represent has taught me to stand taller, to be more respectful and be a gentleman.”
He also gets motivated when attendees, both Marine and civilian, who come up and speak with him after his performances.
“I’ve had 8-year-old kids come up to me and say, ‘wow, that was so cool’,” said Gabica. “I’ve had Marines say, ‘wow, that made me want to reenlist’. Hearing that really motivates me. I’ve even had veterans come up to me with tears in their eyes, and tell me that, ‘it reminds me of my brothers who I served with 50-60 years ago while wearing the dress blues’. It definitely makes me feel pretty good, and I get a lot of satisfaction out of this job.”
Cpl. Gabica has pride and dedication toward his work, however, there was an attendee present who was filled with overwhelming pride. This attendee was a mother, Gabica’s mother.
“I’m extremely proud of him,” said Kim Denny, a native of Bellevue, Washington. “It’s been a whirlwind of three years watching him really work hard and put his all into the silent drill platoon while earning awards for it. It’s also been really fun to watch.”
Denny has been all over the country to watch her son perform from Washington D.C. to Manhattan, and now in Snohomish, Washington, near his hometown.
Of the six performances Denny has traveled to attend, this was the first performance where Gabica wasn’t on stage. Instead, this was the first performance where she witnessed Gabica as a leader.
“What was fun is that I’ve seen him perform in shows, but this was my first time watching him in a leadership role,” said Denny with a smile on her face. “I’ve never seen him, at the age of 22, being in charge of so many people with similar skills. He is in charge of them, he is running the show. They show such respect to each other and to Ben. It’s been really fun to watch and see his growth over the past few years. I don’t think he could have traded these growth and leadership opportunities for anything else.”
If you are interested in having Marine Barracks Washington perform at an event in the Pacific Northwest, you can reach out to this unit at: https://www.marines.mil/community/asset-requests/non-aviation-requests/
Story by Sgt. Stephen Campbell
12th Marine Corps District