An Oakland Christian drill team has God on their side.

Precision Drill Ministries, also known as PDM, is a nonprofit organization that drills in small churches as well as huge parades.

The group is located at 7300 Bancroft Ave. in Oakland, where everyone on the team gets closer through practicing four times a week.

“I love PDM, because ... they treat me like family,” said drill member Reid Alexander, a soon-to-be senior at The Media Academy in Oakland.

CEO Dartagnan Charles McGlothen, who is known as "Brother Chucky" by many, created the team in 1999, when he had a vision from God asking him to “Bring youths together from all nationalities and (spread) the words of God.”

The first team originally started off with seven people, all family and friends whose ages ranged from 17 to 42. As the years passed, the age difference became more flexible for kids to join. They now have kids starting at the age of 10, who all drill and march along with drumming.

The team is also known for its mentoring program, where time is set aside for members to gather and discuss issues like their education or the subjects they need help in. McGlothen usually makes phone calls to find help for them.

Alexander said he believes PDM has helped him a lot. After being tutored by PDM, he was able to raise his GPA up to a 3.0.

“What I basically want to do is see everyone succeed, (and) then I know I’ve done my job. That’s what this is all about,” said McGlothen, who is the team’s commander and leader.

McGlothen’s dream is to get the best out of kids and hope for them to be able to succeed in life. During practice and the time spent with the team, McGlothen has a policy against smoking, drugs, and any type of fighting.

“It will help me in the future because it (PDM) gives me something to do other than doing bad stuff,” said Martell Payne, a color guard and flag escort for PDM.

“They got me away from the streets in Oakland,” said Alexander, a “Thrank” driller in their last parade.
According to Alexander, "Thrank" means "third rank."

PDM was asked to perform in the Grand Floral Parade in Portland, Ore. on June 11. On July 30, the group is scheduled to perform in Seattle.

“It was the longest parade we’ve been in. It was 4.5 miles!” said Meisha McGlothen a professional woman driller, who’s also the niece of CEO McGlothen. “We made headlines (at) the parade.”

During any parade, performers feel their best.

PDM thrives off their cheering fans' energy, who shout and make noise for them.

“While I am in the parade, I feel like a superstar because of how the crowd reacts to the moves that we do,” said Meisha.

Meisha is also proud of the team because it’s Christian based and is very diverse.

“You get a chance to travel and we become one big family,” she said.

Payne said he believes their choreographed moves make PDM unique. “Originality. (It's) how they create all their routines,” said Payne.

“I’m very proud of the group," said McGlothen. "We bring all nationalities together and they work together as a team.”

PDM is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, which means it doesn’t earn money for itself so it gets help from the city.

But even with limited profits, the kids still enjoy their time spent with each other and their instruments. “Everyone loves me,” said Alexander, who knows he is accepted as a member of the team.

McGlothen also loves to have fun, especially with the kids. But he has a certain expectation he wants everyone to reach.

“Just a hundred percent of participation," said McGlothen. "There’s no failure because anyone can make this squad as long as they give their very best.”