Scouting For Girls, Official Handbook of the Girl Scouts

by Girl Scouts of the United States of America

SECTION IX

GIRL SCOUT DRILL

Although the simple exercises in opening and closing a meeting are the only formal work necessary for Scouts, the Scout Drill outlined in this Handbook is added for Captains as a suggestion for handling one or more Patrols in the club room, or on the street, in an orderly dignified manner.

Where the Troop and Captain are interested in this form of activity, it adds a great variety to the Scout meetings, and its value in giving an erect carriage, alert habit of obedience, and ability to think and act quickly are undoubted.

In case of rallies and parades it is practically the only way of handling large bodies of Scouts from different localities.

Every order and formation here recommended is taken from the United States Infantry Drill Regulations, and it is now possible for Captains in all localities to secure the assistance of some returned soldier glad to give a half hour occasionally to drilling the Scouts.

The simple formations selected have been divided into Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class groups entirely for the convenience of the Captain; none of the work is too difficult for a Second Class Scout and there is nothing to prevent a Tenderfoot from taking all of it, if the troop should be particularly interested in drilling.

Commands are divided into two classes:
(a) The preparatory, to tell the Scout what to do, and
(b) The command of execution, to tell how to do it.

Tenderfoot Drill Schedule

"FALL IN"

At this command each Scout immediately takes her position in the Patrol to which she belongs (the captain having already assigned to each Scout her exact place), and without further order assumes the position of "Attention" three paces in front of Captain.

The position of Attention is: body and head erect, head, shoulders and pelvis in same plane, eyes front, arms hanging easily at the sides, feet parallel and about four inches apart; perfect silence to be maintained.

Patrol formation, two ranks (rows) of four Scouts each, forty inches between front and rear ranks. The patrol corresponds to the military unit of the squad.

Other patrols will fall in on the left of patrol No. 1 and on a line with it, in their numerical order. When assembled a troop of four patrols will be in the position indicated by the following diagram, and facing the captain.

5678	5678	5678	5678
1234	1234	1234	1234
	Lieut.	Capt.

If the Captain prefers, and where there are only a few Scouts to be handled, they may be drawn up in a single rank facing the Captain. In either position they are now ready for the preliminaries of military drill.

1. Right (or left) Dress. 2. Front.

At the command "Dress" whether to right or left, all Scouts place the left hand on the hip. Each Scout, except the base file, Scout on right or left end from whom the other take their alignment, when on or near the new line, executes "Eyes Right!" and taking steps of two or three inches, places herself so that her right arm rests lightly against the arm of the Scout on her right, and so that her eyes and shoulders are in line with those of the Scout on her right; the rear rank Scouts cover in file. The instructor verifies the alignment of both ranks from the right flank and orders up or back such Scouts as may be in rear or in advance of the line: only the Scouts designated move.[2]

At the command "Front," given when the ranks are aligned, each Scout turns her head and eyes to the front and drops the hand at her side.

To march the patrol or troop in column of twos, the preliminary commands would be as just given: 1. Fall in. 2. Right Dress. 3. Front.

The troop is then drawn up facing the Captain in two ranks as described. The Captain then commands:

1. Right (or left) Face (According to the direction in which the column is to proceed.)

2. Forward. 3. March.

At the command "March," each Scout steps off smartly with the left foot.

Facings

To the flank: "Right (or left) Face."

Raise slightly the left heel and the right toe; face to the right, turning on the right heel, assisted by a slight pressure on the ball of the left foot; place the left foot by the side of the right. "Left Face" is executed on the left heel in the corresponding manner. Right (or left) Half Face is executed similarly, facing forty-five degrees.

To the rear: About Face.

Carry the toe of the right foot about half a foot length to the rear and slightly to the left of the left heel without changing the position of the left foot; face to the rear, turning to the right on the left heel and right toe; place the right heel by the side of the left.

Eyes Right or Left

1. Eyes Right (or left). 2. Front.

At the command "Right," turn the head to the right oblique, eyes fixed on the line of Scouts in, or supposed to be in, the same rank. At the command "Front" turn the head and eyes to the front.

The Rests

Being at halt, the commands for the different rests are as follows:

Fall Out, Rest, At Ease and 1 Parade, 2 Rest.

At the command Fall Out, the Scouts may leave the ranks, but are required to remain in the immediate vicinity. They resume their former places, at attention at the command "Fall In."

At the command "Rest" each Scout keeps one foot in place, but is not required to keep silence or immobility.

At the command "At Ease" each Scout keeps one foot in place and is required to keep silence but not immobility.

1 Parade, 2 Rest.

Carry the right foot six inches straight to the rear, left knee slightly bent; clasp the hands, without constraint, in front of the center of the body, fingers joined, right hand uppermost, left thumb clasped by the thumb and forefinger of the right hand; preserve silence and steadiness of position.

To resume the attention: 1 Squad (or Company) 2 Attention.

Steps and Marchings

All steps and marchings executed from the halt, except right step, begin with the left foot.

The length of the full step in "Quick Time" for a Scout is twenty inches, measured from heel to heel, and the cadence is at the rate of one hundred twenty steps per minute.

The length of the full step in "Double Time," for a Scout, is about twenty-four inches; the cadence is at the rate of one hundred eighty steps per minute.

The instructor, when necessary, indicates the cadence of the step by calling "One, Two, Three, Four," or "Left, Right, Left, Right," the instant the left and right foot, respectively, should be planted.

All steps and marchings and movements involving march are executed in "Quick Time" unless the squad (or company) be marching in "Double Time."

Quick Time

Being at a halt, to march forward in quick time: 1 Forward, 2 March.

At the command "Forward," shift the weight of the body to the right leg, left knee straight.

At the command "March" move the left foot smartly straight forward twenty inches from the right, sole near the ground, and plant it without shock; next, in like manner, advance the right foot and plant it as above; continue the march. The arms swing naturally.

Being at a halt, or in march in quick time, to march in double time; 1 Double time, 2 March.

If at a halt, at the first command shift the weight of the body to the right leg. At the command "March" raise the forearms, fingers closed to a horizontal position along the waist line; take up an easy run with the step and cadence of double time, allowing a natural swinging motion to the arms.

If marching in quick time, at the command "March," given as either foot strikes the ground, take one step in quick time, and then step off in double time.

To resume the quick time: 1 Quick Time, 2 March.

At the command March, given as either foot strikes the ground, advance and plant the other foot in double time; resume the quick time, dropping the hands by the sides.

To Mark Time

Being in march: 1 Mark Time, 2 March.

At the command March, given as either foot strikes the ground, advance and plant the other foot; bring up the foot in rear and continue the cadence by alternately raising each foot about two inches and planting it on line with the other.

Being at a halt, at the command March, raise and plant the feet as described above.

The Half Step

1 Half Step, 2 March.

Take steps of ten inches in quicktime, twelve inches in double time. Forward, Half Step, Halt and Mark Time may be executed one from the other in quick or double time.

To resume the full step from half step or mark time: Forward March.

Side Step

Being at halt or mark time: 1 Right (or left) Step, 2 March. Carry and plant the right foot twelve inches to the right; bring the left foot beside it and continue the movement in the cadence of quick time.

The side step is used for short distances only and is not executed in double time.

Back Step

Being at a halt or mark time: 1 Backward, 2 March. Take steps of twelve inches straight to the rear. The back step is used for short distances only and is not executed in double time.

To Halt

To arrest the march in quick or double time: 1 Squad (or if the full troop is drilling Company), 2 Halt.

At the command Halt, given as either foot strikes the ground, plant the other foot as in marching; raise and place the first foot by the side of the other. If in double time, drop the hands by the sides.

To March by the Flank

Being in march: 1 By the Right (or left) Flank, 2 March.

At the command March, given as the right foot strikes the ground, advance and plant the left foot, then face to the right in marching and step off in the new direction with the right foot.

To March to the Rear

Being in march: 1 To the Rear, 2 March.

At the command March, given as the right foot strikes the ground, advance and plant the left foot; turn to the right about on the balls of both feet and immediately step off with the left foot.

If marching in double time, turn to the right about, taking four steps in place, keeping the cadence, and then step off with the left foot.

Change Step

Being in march: 1 Change Step, 2 March.

At the command March, given as the right foot strikes the ground, advance and plant the left foot; plant the toe of the right foot near the heel of the left and step off with the left foot.

The change on the right foot is similarly executed, the command March being given as the left foot strikes the ground.

SECOND CLASS DRILL

Fall In. (Described in Tenderfoot Drill.)

Count Off.

At this command all except the right file execute Eyes Right, and beginning on the right, the Scouts in each rank count One, Two, Three, Four; each turns her head and eyes to the front as she counts.

GIRL SCOUT UNIFORM—ONE PIECE

Alignments

1 Right (or Left) Dress, 2 Front. (Described in Tenderfoot Drill.)

To preserve the alignment when marching; Guide Right (or left). The Scouts preserve their intervals from the side of the guide, yielding to pressure on that side and resisting pressure from the opposite direction; they recover intervals, if lost, by gradually opening out or closing in; they recover alignment by slightly lengthening or shortening the step; the rear rank Scouts cover their file leaders at forty inches.

To Take Distance

(Formation for signalling or for setting-up exercises.)

Being in line at a halt having counted off: 1 Take Distance at four paces, 2 March; 3 Squad (or company), Halt.

At the command March, each Scout in succession starting at four paces apart and beginning with No. 1 of the front rank, followed by 2, 3, 4 and 1, 2, 3, 4 of the rear rank, marches straight forward until the order Squad, Halt is given. The command Halt is given when all have their distances.

(Word to instructors: Where the floor space is limited it is advisable to have the Scouts take the half step in executing this formation or move at two paces.)

If more than one squad is in line, each squad executes the movement as above simultaneously.

Being at distances, to assemble the squad (or company):

1 Assemble, 2 March.

At the command March, No. 1 of the front rank stands fast; the other members move forward to their proper places in the line.

The Oblique March

For the instruction of the recruits, the squad being in column or correctly aligned, the instructor causes the Scouts to face half right and half left, points out to them their relative positions, and explains that these are to be maintained in the oblique march.

1 Right (or Left) Oblique, 2 March.

At the command March, each Scout steps off in a direction forty-five degrees to the right of her original front. She preserves her relative position, keeping her shoulders parallel to those of the guide, and so regulates her steps that the ranks remain parallel to their original front.

At the command Halt the Scouts face to the front.

To resume the original directions: 1 Forward, 2 March.

The Scouts half face to the left in marching and then move straight to the front.

To Turn on Moving Pivot

Begin in line: 1 Right (or left) Turn, 2 March.

(This applies to the single squad; if the whole troop is drilling and is in column of squads, or twos, the command would be: 1 Column Right (or left), 2 March.)

The movement is executed by each rank successively and on the same ground. At the second command, the pivot Scout of the front rank faces to the right in marching and takes the half step; the other Scouts of the rank oblique to the right until opposite their places in line, then execute a second right oblique and take the half step on arriving abreast of the pivot Scout. All glance toward the marching flank while at half step and take the full step without command as the last Scout arrives on the line.

Right (or left) Half Turn is executed in a similar manner. The pivot Scout makes a half change of direction to the right and the other Scouts make quarter changes in obliquing.

To Turn on a Fixed Pivot

Being in line, to turn and march: 1 Squad Right (or left), 2 March.

At the second command, the right flank Scout in the front rank faces to the right in marching and marks time; the other front rank Scouts oblique to the right, place themselves abreast of the pivot, and mark time. In the rear rank the third Scout from the right, followed in column by the second and first, moves straight to the front until in the rear of her front rank Scout, when all face to the right in marching and mark time; the other number of the rear rank moves straight to the front four paces and places herself abreast of the Scout on her right. Scouts on the new line glance toward the marching flank while marking time and, as the last Scout arrives on the line, both ranks execute Forward March without further command.

Being in line to turn and halt: 1 Squad Right (or left), 2 March, 3 Squad, 4 Halt.

The third command is given immediately after the second. The turn is executed as prescribed in the preceding paragraph except that all Scouts, on arriving on the new line mark time until the fourth command is given, when all halt. The fourth command should be given as the last Scout arrives on the line.

Being in line to turn about and march: 1 Squad Right (or left) About, 2 March.

At the second command the front rank twice executes Squad Right initiating the second Squad Right when the Scout on the marching flank has arrived abreast of the rank. In the rear rank the third Scout from the right, followed by the second and first in column, moves straight to the front until on the prolongation of the line to be occupied by the rear rank; changes direction to the right; moves in the new direction until in the rear of her front rank Scout, when all face to the right in marching, mark time, and glance toward the marching flank. The fourth Scout marches on the left of the third to her new position; as she arrives on the line, both ranks execute Forward March without command.

FIRST CLASS DRILL

On Right (or left) Into Line.

Being in columns of squads, to form line on right or left; 1 On Right (or left) Into Line, 2 March, 3 Company, 4 Halt, 5 Front.

At the first command the leader of the leading unit commands: Right Turn. The leaders of the other units command: Forward, if at a halt. At the second command the leading unit turns to the right on moving pivot. The command Halt is given when the leading unit has advanced the desired distance in the new direction; it halts; its leader then commands: Right Dress.

The units in the rear continue to march straight to the front; each, when opposite its place on the line, executes Right Turn at the command of its leader; each is halted on the line at the command of its leader, who then commands: Right Dress. All dress on the first unit on the line.

If executed in double time, the leading squad marches in double time until halted.

Front Into Line.

Being in columns of squads, to form line to the front; Right (or left) Front Into Line, 2 March, 3 Company, 4 Halt, 5 Front.

At the first command the leaders of the units in the rear of the leading one command: Right Oblique. If at a halt, the leader of the leading unit commands: Forward. At the second command the leading unit moves straight forward: the rear units oblique as indicated. The command Halt is given when the leading unit has advanced the desired distance; it halts; its leader then commands: Left Dress. Each of the rear units, when opposite its place in line, resumes the original direction at the command of its leader; each is halted on the line at the command of its leader, who then commands: Left Dress. All dress on the first unit in line.

To Diminish the Front of a Column of Squads

Being in column of squads: 1 Right (or left) By Twos, 2 March. At the command March, all files except the two right files of the leading squad execute In Place Halt; the two right files of the leading squad oblique to the right when disengaged and follow the right files at the shortest practicable distance. The remaining squads follow successively in like manner.

Being in columns of twos: (1) Right (or left) By File, 2 March. At the command March, all files execute In Place Halt, except the right file of the leading two oblique successively to the right when disengaged and each follows the file on its right at the shortest practicable distance. The remaining twos follow successively in like manner.

Being in column of files of twos, to form column of squads; or being in column of files, to form column of twos: 1 Squads (Twos) Right (or left) Front Into Line, 2 March.

At the command March, the leading file or files halt. The remainder of the squad, or two, obliques to the right and halts on line with the leading file or files. The remaining squads or twos close up and successively form in the rear of the first in like manner.

The movement described in this paragraph will be ordered Right or Left, so as to restore the files to their normal relative positions in the two or squad.

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