n.
In military science, the preparation of soldiers for performance of their duties through the practice of prescribed movements.
It trains soldiers in battle formations, familiarizes them with their weapons, and develops a sense of teamwork and discipline. Today close-order drill is used for marching, ceremonies, and parades; combat drill is used to practice the looser routines of battle. It was introduced by the Greeks, who practiced the maneuvers of the phalanx . Careful training of the legions was a major factor in the Roman Empire's dominance. After Rome's decline, drill largely disappeared and battles became free-for-all combats. Gustav II Adolf of Sweden led in reintroducing drill techniques in early 17th-century Europe.