Adjust the carrier so the drum is at the right height. You arms should be bent at your elbows, and your forearms should be straight out. Make sure the drum is high enough so you can comfortably march without hitting your knees on the bottom of the drum.
Stick your chin slightly up. Like other members of the marching band, snare drum players are typically expected to look straight ahead during a performance and not down at their instrument.
Hold your sticks in set position, which means holding them pressed against each other, side by side, in opposite directions (the tip of one stick should be right next to the butt of the other). The right stick should be in front of the left. Your hands should be on the sticks a few inches apart from each other, and the sticks should be positioned a few inches in front of your stomach and a couple inches above the drum.
Flick your drum sticks out into playing position, making sure your left hand is flicking out the left stick (so the tip is now near the center of the drum) and your right hand is flicking out the right stick. Your sticks should make a V shape with the tips of each stick about an inch away from the other.
Hit the drum near its center, except for specialized hits that call for different locations. Rely on your wrists and fingers for power. Generally, your arms should not be moving much, except for very loud hits or visuals.