Materials for a Successful Color Guard

Here is a list of items that you can put in a box that will help you have a successful color guard.

• Fat Max Box: these can be purchased on line or at one of your favorite home improvement stores. They lock and can be moved easily.
• Velcro: get some of the 2” wide, black Velcro that comes in a strip. The little button ones will not give you the hold you need. Black works best when it comes hiding it under the flags.
• Super Glue: for obvious reasons! It is a great way to seal the end of belts in a hurry.
• Extra screws that fit the cones in case one pops out. Get some that are slightly larger so you can use it to attack the flags too.
• Leather whole punch: This will allow you to make adjustments to your harnesses.
• Black, gold or pewter buttons: These are the ones that come with the chief/offers covers. If you put a hole in the back of the harness where they crisscross and place the buttons there it will keep them from sliding off the shoulders.
• Gloves: some form of cotton gloves so you do not smear your brass when putting the guard belts on. Usually 5 sets, 4 for the team members and one for the instructor.
• Extra cones, spear tips or battle axes. I have two of each in case both brake. If I have more than one team on the deck I will keep the same number of tips needed to support every pole.
• Extra harness in case one busts.
• Extra duty belts (2) in case one gets dirty or yellows. I also bring two sets of extra polished brass pieces for the belts.
• Teflon tape: this can be used to keep the poles from backing out of themselves when doing the Army case and uncase. It is also easier to remove from the threads if it jams up in there.
• Small/medium screw drivers for putting things together to include the duty belts.
• Scissors for cutting the Velcro and other stuff.
• Extra cases for the flags when comp cases are needed.
• Extra US flag and organizational flag in case one is damaged or dirtied.
• Small Gold Bond powder: I use it on the cadets hands to absorb sweat so their hands do not stick to the poles.
• Micro cloth: this is for shining up the poles, removing sweat marks from the poles and shining up the brass and plastic cone tips.
• One roll of black electrical tape: this can be used on the harnesses to hide unused wholes, old wholes or cuts in the leather.
• Hair ties: Hair ties work better than rubber bands because of their width and lack of compression on the flag. If you use a hair tie to keep the flag rolled on the pole you will a small or non-existent crease in the flag.