CHAPTER III
SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER
Based on the Infantry Drill Regulations
Success in battle is the ultimate object of all military training; hence the excellence of an organization is judged by its field efficiency. Your instruction will be progressive in character, and will have as its ultimate purpose the creation of a company measuring up to a high standard of field efficiency.
The Preparatory Command, such as Forward, indicates the movement that is to be executed.
The Command of Execution, such as MARCH, HALT, or ARMS, commences the execution of the movement.
Preparatory Commands are distinguished by bold face, those of execution by capitals. As, 1. Forward, 2. MARCH.
The average man understands better and learns faster when you show him how a thing is done. Don't be content with telling him how. Bear this in mind when you become an instructor.
On account of the absence of the Regular Army on the border, it was not practical to obtain photographs of regular troops with which to illustrate this book. The photographs used were taken under the direct supervision of the authors.
POSITION OF A SOLDIER AT ATTENTION
No. 1. Eyes to the front. Hands hang naturally. Rest weight of the body equally on feet. Feet turned out making angles of 45°.
No. 2. Head erect. Shoulders down and back. Chest out. Stomach up. Thumb along the seams of trousers. Knees straight, not stiff. Heels on line and together. Do not stiffen the fingers: The mind ought also to be at attention.
No. 1. Don't gaze about. That's not playing the game. Don't turn your feet out making an angle of 100°.
No. 2. Don't slouch. Hold yourself up. Keep your eyes off the ground.
These are the common errors of beginners.
1. Parade, 2. REST.
No. 1. Clasp hands without constraint in front of center of body. Left hand uppermost. Fingers joined. Thumb and fore finger right hand clasps the left thumb.
No. 2. Bend left knee slightly. Right foot is carried 6 inches straight to the rear.
No. 1. Not looking straight to the front. Right foot not carried straight to the rear.
No. 2. Leaning back too far. Right foot carried back too far.
1. Hand, 2. SALUTE.
No. 1. Look toward the person saluted.
No. 2. Tip of forefinger right hand touches cap or hat above right eye. Thumb and forefingers extended and joined. Hand and wrist straight. Palm to the left.
No. 1. Palm of the hand to the front and fingers not joined.
No. 2. Arm held too high. Fingers not perfectly joined.
No. 3. Fingers not extended and joined. Left hand not by side while salute is being made.
Some beginners forget, while saluting, to remove their pipes, cigarettes, or cigars from their mouths. This proves clearly that they are beginners, for trained and experienced men are careful about military honors and salutes.
THE RESTS
Being at a halt, the commands are: FALL OUT; REST; AT EASE; and 1. Parade, 2. REST.
At the command fall out, the men 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 man keeps one foot in place, but is not required to preserve silence or immobility.
At the command at ease, each man keeps one foot in place and is required to preserve silence, but not immobility.
1. Parade, 2. REST. Previously explained.
To resume the attention: 1. Squad, 2. ATTENTION. The men take the position of the soldier.
EYES RIGHT OR LEFT
1. Eyes, 2. RIGHT (LEFT), 3. FRONT.
At the command right, turn the head to the right oblique, eyes fixed on the line of eyes of the men in, or supposed to be in, the same rank. At the command front, turn the head and eyes to the front. Notice the right file does not turn the eyes to the right.
FACINGS
To the flank: 1. Right (left), 2. FACE.
Raise slightly the left heel and 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 (left) Half Face is executed similarly, facing 45°.
To the rear: 1. About, 2. FACE.
Carry the toe of the right foot about a half 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. There is no left about face.
STEPS AND MARCHINGS
All steps and marchings executed from a halt, except right step, begin with the left foot.
The length of the full step in quick time is 30 inches, measured from heel to heel, and the cadence is at the rate of 120 steps per minute.
The length of the full step in double time is 36 inches; the cadence is at the rate of 180 steps per minute.
The instructor, when necessary, indicates the cadence of the step by calling one, two, three, four, or 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 be marching in double time, or double time be added to the command; in the latter case double time is added to the preparatory command. Example: 1. Squad right, double time, 2. MARCH (School of the Squad).
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 30 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 2 inches and planting it on line with the other.
Being at a halt, at the command march, raise and plant the feet as prescribed above. Common errors are to raise the feet several inches and to run up the cadence, i.e., go too fast.
Take steps of 15 inches in quick time, 18 inches in double time.
Forward, half step, halt, and mark time may be executed one from the other in quick or double time. Any step less than the full step (i.e., half step, right step, or backward) is apt to be too fast, i.e., greater than 120 steps a minute.
To resume the full step from half step or mark time: 1. Forward, 2. MARCH.
SIDE STEP
Being at a halt or mark time: 1. Right (left) step, 2. MARCH.
Carry and plant the right foot 15 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.
If at order arms, the side step is executed at trail without command.
BACK STEP
Being at a halt or mark time: 1. Backward, 2. MARCH.
Take steps of 15 inches straight to the rear.
The back step is used for short distances only and is not executed in double time.
If at order arms, the back step is executed at trail without command.
TO HALT
To arrest the march in quick or double time: 1. Squad, 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 (left) flank, 2. MARCH.
The command march must be given when the right foot is on the ground as shown in No. 1. Then advance and plant the left foot and turn on the toes to right as shown in No. 2, and step off 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.
The turn is made on the toes as shown.
The command march must be given when the right foot is on the ground. The left foot is then advanced to the position shown.
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.
MANUAL OF ARMS
To acquire proficiency in the Manual of Arms, you should practice, practice, and practice.
Position of order arms standing, i.e., the position of attention under arms.
No. 1. Arm and hands hang naturally. Right hand holding piece between thumb and fingers. Butt rests evenly on ground. Barrel to the rear.
No. 2. Toe of the butt on a line with toe of and touching the right shoe.
To execute the movements in detail, the instructor first cautions: "By the Numbers"; all movements divided into motions, are then executed singly. That is to say, make one motion and then wait until a further command for another. This is for the purpose of correcting erroneous positions and giving detailed instructions. We are explaining the manual by the numbers.
Being at order arms: 1. Present, 2. ARMS. It takes two counts.
At command arms, with the right hand carry the piece in front of the center of the body. Barrel to the rear and vertical. Grasp it with left hand at the balance. Left forearm is horizontal and rests against body. The balance of the piece is approximately the position of the rear sight.
At command two, grasp the small of the stock with the right hand.
No. 1 No. 2 No. 3
INCORRECT POSITION OF PRESENT ARMS
These are the common errors made by beginners." />
No. 1 No. 2 No. 3
INCORRECT POSITION OF PRESENT ARMS
These are the common errors made by beginners.
No. 1. Thumb along barrel.
No. 2. Piece held too low. The front sight will be a little above the eyes when the left fore arm is horizontal.
No. 3. Piece not vertical; too close to body.
Being at order arms: 1. Port, 2. ARMS. It takes one count.
At the command ARMS, with the right hand raise and throw the piece diagonally across the body, grasp it smartly with both hands; the right; palm down, at the small of stock; the left, palm up, at the balance; barrel up, sloping to the left and crossing opposite the junction of the neck with the left shoulder; right forearm horizontal; left forearm resting against the body. The rifle is held in a vertical plane parallel to the front.
In executing this movement, it is a common error with beginners to raise the piece as though it weighed much more than it does. No part of the body should move except the arms, in coming to "port arms" from "order arms."
No. 1. Arms held away from side.
No. 2. Piece held too low and too close to body.
No. 3. Piece held too high and not in a vertical plane parallel to the body.
Being at present arms: 1. Port, 2. ARMS. It is executed in one count. At the command arms, carry the piece diagonally across the body and take the position of "port arms."
Being at port arms: 1. Present, 2. ARMS. It is executed in one count. At the command arms, carry the piece to a vertical position in front of the center of the body and take the position of present arms.
Being at present or port arms: 1. Order, 2. ARMS. It is executed in two counts.
At the command arms, let go with the right hand; lower and carry the piece to the right with the left hand; regrasp it with the right hand just above the lower band; let go with the left hand and take the position shown here, which is the next to the last position in coming to the order. The left hand should be above and near the right, steadying the gun, fingers extended and joined, forearm and wrist straight and inclined downward. Barrel to the rear. All the fingers of the right hand grasp the gun. Butt about 3 inches from the ground.
Being in the above position, at the command Two, lower the piece gently to the ground with the right hand, drop the left hand quickly by the side, and take the position of order arms.
The common errors are to slam the gun down on the ground and to drop the left hand by the side in a slow and indifferent manner.
Common errors in the next to the last positions of order arms.
No. 1. Thumb is up. Gun too far from the ground.
No. 2. Gun too near to ground. Thumb is up. Butt of gun too far to the right.
No. 3. Gun held too high and too far away from body.
Being at order arms: 1. Right shoulder, 2. ARMS. It is executed in three counts.
At the command arms, with the right hand raise and throw the piece diagonally across the body; carry the right hand quickly to the butt, and at the same time grasp the heel between the first two fingers as shown. Note the position of the first two fingers of right hand.
At the command two, without changing the grasp of the right hand, place the piece on the right shoulder, right elbow near the side, the piece in a vertical plane perpendicular to the front; carry the left hand, thumb and fingers extended and joined, to the small of the stock, wrist straight and elbow down. Barrel up, and inclined at an angle of about 45° from the horizontal. Trigger guard in the hollow of the shoulder, tip of forefinger touching the cocking piece. Right fore arm horizontal.
No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 COMMON ERRORS IN THE NEXT TO THE LAST POSITION OF RIGHT SHOULDER ARMS
No. 1. Right arms not by side. Left arm too high. Remember that the left arm rests on the chest. This is very commonly confused with the rifle salute.
No. 2. Thumb is up. Butt of rifle carried to the right.
No. 3. Trigger guard not against shoulder. Butt held too low. Hand not straight.
At the command three, drop the left hand by the side.
No. 1 No. 2 No. 3
INCORRECT POSITION OF RIGHT SHOULDER ARMS
No. 1. Right arm not by side. Right forearm not horizontal.
No. 2. Heel of gun too far to left.
No. 3. Trigger guard not against shoulder. Butt held too low.
Being at right shoulder Arms: 1. Order, 2. ARMS. It is executed in 3 counts.
Press the butt down quickly and throw the gun diagonally across the body, to the position shown here.
At the command two, lower the gun and assume the next to the last position of order arms. At the command three, come to the order arms.
The common errors in this movement are to move the head to the left and to throw the gun too far to the front.
Being at port arms: 1. Right shoulder, 2. ARMS. It is executed in three counts.
At the command arms, change the right hand to the butt.
At the command two and three, come to the right shoulder as from order arms.
Being at right shoulder arms: 1. Port, 2. ARMS. It is executed in two counts.
At the command arms, press the butt down quickly and throw the piece to the diagonal position across the body with the left hand grasping it at the balance; the right hand retaining its grasp of the butt.
At the command two, change the right hand to the small of the stock.
Being at right shoulder arms: 1. Present, 2. ARMS. It is executed in three counts.
At the command arms, execute port arms. (This requires two counts.) At the command three, execute present arms.
Being at present arms: 1. Right shoulder, 2. ARMS. It is executed in four counts.
At the command arms, execute port arms. At the command two, three, four, execute right shoulder arms as from port arms.
Being at port arms: 1. Left shoulder, 2. ARMS. It is executed in two counts.
At the command ARMS, carry the piece with the right hand and place it on the left shoulder; at the same time grasp the butt with the left hand, heel between first and second fingers. Thumb and fingers of right hand closed on the stock. Barrel up, trigger guard in the hollow of the shoulder.
No. 1 No. 2 No.3
COMMON ERRORS IN THE NEXT TO THE LAST POSITION OF LEFT SHOULDER ARMS
No. 1. Right arm too high. Butt too high.
No. 2. Butt too close to center of body. Not grasping gun correctly with fingers of left hand.
No. 3. Right arm too high. Butt too high.
At the command two, drop the right hand by the side.
The incorrect positions are usually the same as are found in the right shoulder arms, and as illustrated here.
Being at left shoulder arms: 1. Port, 2. ARMS. It is executed in two counts.
At the command arms, grasp the piece with the right hand at the small of the stock.
At the command two, carry the piece, with the right hand to the position of port arms, regrasp it with the left.
Left shoulder arms may be ordered from the order, right shoulder or present, or the reverse. At the command arms, execute port arms and continue to the position ordered.
Being at order arms: 1. Parade, 2. REST. It is executed in one count.
At the command rest, carry muzzle in front of the center of the body, barrel to the left. Grasp piece with the left hand just below the stacking swivel, and with the right hand below and against the left. Left knee slightly bent. Carry the right foot 6 inches straight to the rear.
Being at parade rest: 1. Squad, 2. ATTENTION. Executed in one count.
At the command attention (it is a custom of the service to execute the movement at the last syllable of the command), resume the order, the left hand quitting the piece opposite the right hip.
Being at order arms: 1. Trail, 2. ARMS.
At the command arms, raise the piece, right arm slightly bent, and incline the muzzle forward so that the barrel makes an angle of about 30° with the vertical.
When it can be done without danger or inconvenience to others, the piece may be grasped at the balance and the muzzle lowered until the piece is horizontal; a similar position in the left hand may be used.
CORRECT POSITION OF TRAIL ARMS
Being at trail arms: 1. Order, 2. ARMS.
At the command arms, lower the gun with the right hand and resume the order.
Being at right shoulder arms: 1. Rifle, 2. SALUTE. It is executed in two counts.
At the command salute, carry the left hand smartly to the small of the stock, forearm horizontal, palm of hand down, thumb and fingers joined, forefinger touching end of cocking piece. Look toward the person saluted. At the command two, drop the hand by the side; turn the head and eyes to the front.
THE CORRECT POSITION OF RIFLE SALUTE, BEING AT RIGHT SHOULDER ARMS.
COMMON ERRORS IN RIFLE SALUTE AT RIGHT SHOULDER ARMS.
No. 1. Left elbow too low. Forearm should be horizontal.
No. 2. Left elbow too high. Fingers not extended and joined.
Being at order or trail arms: 1. Rifle, 2. SALUTE.
At the command salute, carry the left hand smartly to the right side, palm of the hand down, thumb and fingers extended and joined, forefinger against piece near the muzzle; look toward the person saluted. At the command two, drop the left hand by the side; turn the head and eyes to the front.
COMMON ERRORS IN RIFLE SALUTE AT ORDER OR TRAIL ARMS
No. 1. Fingers not extended and joined.
No. 2. Fingers not joined. Gun held too high.
Being at order arms: 1. Fix, 2. BAYONET.
If the bayonet scabbard is carried on the belt: execute parade rest; grasp the bayonet with the right hand, back of hand toward the body; draw the bayonet from the scabbard and fix it on the barrel, glancing at the muzzle; resume the order.
If the bayonet is carried on the haversack: draw the bayonet with the left hand and fix it in the most convenient manner.
Being at order arms: 1. Unfix, 2. BAYONET.
If the bayonet scabbard is carried on the belt: Execute parade rest; grasp the handle of the bayonet firmly with the right hand, pressing the spring with the forefinger of the right hand; raise the bayonet until the handle is about 12 inches above the muzzle of the piece; drop the point to the left, back of the hand toward the body, and, glancing at the scabbard, return the bayonet, the blade passing between the left arm and the body; regrasp the piece with the right hand and resume the order.
If the bayonet scabbard is carried on the haversack: Take the bayonet from the rifle with the left hand and return it to the scabbard in the most convenient manner.
If marching or laying down, the bayonet is fixed and unfixed in the most expeditious and convenient manner and the piece returned to the original position.
Fix and unfix bayonet are executed with promptness and regularity but not in cadence.
Exercises for instruction in bayonet combat are prescribed in the Manual for Bayonet Exercise.
Being at order arms: 1. Inspection, 2. ARMS.
At the command arms, take the position of port arms; at the command two, seize the bolt handle with the thumb and forefinger of the right hand, turn the handle up, draw the bolt back, and glance at the chamber. Having found the chamber empty, or having emptied it, raise the head and eyes to the front. Keep your right hand on the bolt.
It is a very common error to change the position of the piece while drawing the bolt back. Guard against this.
Being at inspection arms: 1. Order (or right shoulder, or port), 2. ARMS.
At the preparatory command (i.e., at the command order), push the bolt forward, turn the handle down, pull the trigger, and resume port arms. At the command arms, complete the movement ordered.
TO DISMISS THE SQUAD
Being at a halt: 1. Inspection, 2. ARMS, 3. Port, 4. ARMS, 5. DISMISSED.
Make a point of becoming sufficiently familiar with the different parts of the rifle to obey the following general rules governing the manual.
The following rules govern the carrying of the piece:
First. the piece is not carried with cartridges in either the chamber or the magazine except when specifically ordered. When so loaded, or supposed to be loaded, it is habitually carried locked; that is, with the safety lock turned to the "safe." At all other times it is carried unlocked with the trigger pulled.
Second. Whenever troops are formed under arms, pieces are immediately inspected at the commands: 1. Inspection, 2. ARMS, 3. Order (right shoulder, port), 4. ARMS.
A similar inspection is made immediately before dismissal.
If cartridges are found in the chamber or magazine they are removed and placed in the belt.
Third. The cut-off is kept turned "off" except when cartridges are actually used.
Fourth. The bayonet is not fixed except in bayonet exercise, on guard, or for combat.
Fifth. Fall in is executed with the piece at the order arms. Fall out, rest, and at ease are executed as without arms. On resuming attention the position of order arms is taken.
Sixth. If at the order, unless otherwise prescribed, the piece is brought to the right shoulder at the command march, the three motions corresponding with the first three steps. Movements may be executed at the trail by prefacing the preparatory command with the words at trail; as, 1. At trail, forward, 2. MARCH; the trail is taken at the command march.
When the facings, alignments, open and close ranks, taking interval or distance, and assemblings are executed from the order, raise the piece to the trail while in motion and resume the order on halting.
Seventh. The piece is brought to the order on halting. The execution of the order begins when the halt is completed.
Eighth. A disengaged hand in double time is held as when without arms.
The following rules govern the execution of the manual of arms:
First. In all positions of the left hand at the balance (center of gravity, bayonet unfixed) the thumb clasps the piece; the sling is included in the grasp of the hand.
Second. In all positions of the piece, "diagonally across the body" the position of the piece, left arm and hand are the same as in port arms.
Third. In resuming the order from any position in the manual, the motion next to the last concludes with the butt of the piece about 3 inches from the ground, barrel to the rear, the left hand above and near the right, steadying the piece, fingers extended and joined, forearm and wrist straight and inclining downward, all fingers of the right hand grasping the piece. To complete the order, lower the piece gently to the ground with the right hand, drop the left quickly by the side, and take the position of order arms.
Allowing the piece to drop through the right hand to the ground, or other similar abuse of the rifle to produce effect in executing the manual, is prohibited.
Fourth. The cadence of the motions is that of quick time; the recruits are first required to give their whole attention to the details of the motions, the cadence being gradually acquired as they become accustomed to handling their pieces. The instructor may require them to count aloud in cadence with the motions.
Fifth. The manual is taught at a halt and the movements are, for the purpose of instruction, divided into motions and executed in detail; in this case the command of execution determines the prompt execution of the first motion, and the commands, two, three, four, that of the other motions.
To execute the movements in detail, the instructor first cautions: By the numbers; all movements divided into motions are then executed as above explained until he cautions: Without the numbers; or commands movements other than those in the manual of arms.
Sixth. Whenever circumstances require, the regular positions of the manual of arms and the firings may be ordered without regard to the previous position of the piece.
Under exceptional conditions of weather or fatigue the rifle may be carried in any manner directed.