The NCOs of my escolta had done an excellent job instructing the recruits in the drills and formations they had learned in Malolos. By the third day of Week 1, they looked sharp and cohesive—a spectacle for the townsmen as they marched and drilled in the plaza.
The drills and formations, derived from Spanish military doctrine, were ideal for instilling discipline, building a sense of identity, and teaching obedience to command. They also served well in introducing military customs and culture.
However, the war that was likely to come would prove this doctrine obsolete outside the parade grounds. It was a system created in the time of single-shot rifles and smoothbore cannons. The tight and rigid drills and formations would spell disaster and slaughter once faced with repeater rifles like the Krag and the Mauser—and against the destructive power of the overpowered American artillery.
