Request for the USNA Silent Drill Team “Jolly Rogers”

If you would like to request support from the USNA Silent Drill Team, please understand that we are not a professional performance team, and that our ability to support requests for participation is on a not-to-interfere basis with their academic and military requirements as members of the U.S. Naval Academy Brigade of Midshipmen.

Participation in public programs will be allowed when the support is in the best interest of the Department of Defense; the Military Services; is not contrary to law, regulation, or policy; and does not interfere with mission or training programs. This means that if an event is approved and a military operation arises, the support previously approved may be cancelled—even on short notice—to support that operation.

How to submit a request for the SDT

To request the Silent Drill Team:

1. Complete a request form: DD2536, Armed Forces Participation in Public Events - Ceremonial Support (Non-Aviation)

2. Submit the DD Form 2536 to the Silent Drill Team email usnajollyrogers@gmail.com with a brief summary of the event.

What we can support

- Major sporting events accessible to public through television broadcast

- Local drill competitions 

- Civic/business associations/organizations annual conferences/conventions

- Veterans outreach programs

- Military parades 

Unsupportable events

- Fundraising events

- Events that benefit a particular business or company

- Events for a narrow segment of the populace, e.g. a family reunion

- Individual retirement, promotion, farewell, or induction ceremonies

- Support for, or during, a religious service

- Events that are not open and free to the public

- Events that would be detrimental to the interests or values of the Armed Forces

- Events from 01 May through 31 August

- Events from 15 December to 05 January

- Events that would occur during business hours on weekdays from 01 September through 30 April. Exceptions may be considered.

When you should submit a request

Requests should be submitted at least 90 days in advance; however, it is encouraged that requests are submitted upwards of 90 days ahead for events happening outside of the Annapolis Region (defined as within 60 miles of USNA).

Requests received inside of the 60-day time period may not be supported due to the availability and insufficient planning time.

Requests received inside of 30 days will not be considered.

Potential costs associated with support

If the requested event is within the Annapolis Region, the SDT should be able to provide its own transportation without any cost associated with support to a public event. It should be noted that SDT does not have dedicated government transportation assets, and the SDT shares government transportation resources with numerous teams and organizations within the U.S. Naval Academy, including Navy sports teams.

For events outside of the Annapolis Region, the SDT generally can only support an event that is at no-cost to the government, which requires the requestor to provide an unsolicited, non-conditioned gift of travel expenses per the Joint Travel Regulations. Exceptions for out-of-area events with government funded travel may be considered for events approved by the Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy.

For events with unsolicited, non-conditioned gift of travel expenses, a gift offer acceptance package is required.

• Gifts totaling under $3,000 can be approved by the U.S. Naval Academy Chief of Staff following the standard timeline stated above.
• Gifts totaling over $3,000 must be approved by the Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy; allow an additional two weeks for processing.

Events that occur between 15 August and 31 October must be fully funded (USNA Comptroller has the check in hand) prior to 15 July due to Fiscal Year Closeout Processes.

Rough Cost Estimates can be created using the following links:

U.S. Government Service Administration (GSA):  https://www.gsa.gov/travel/plan-a-trip