I think the horns, drums, and guard are fine, you add a world class visual program to that and a lot of the problems would disappear. I'm sure this is not the situation the Regiment would like to be in, they picked the wrong drill person, and they are paying the price.
Just remember that Fire Of Eternal Glory was not all that "magical" until Drums along the Rockies when they changed the drill and took the helmets off for the first time.