Knees straight without stiffness.
The body erect on the hips, the spine extended throughout its entire length.
The shoulders falling naturally, are forced back until they are square.
Chest arched and slightly raised.
The arms hang naturally; thumbs along seams of trousers; back of hands out and elbows turned back.
Head erect, chin drawn in so that the axis of the head and neck is vertical; eyes straight to the front and, when the nature of the terrain permits it, fixed on an object at their own height.
Too much attention can not be given to this position, and instructors are cautioned to insist that the men accustom themselves to it. As a rule, it is so exaggerated that it not only becomes ridiculous, but positively harmful. The men must be taught to assume a natural and graceful position, one from which all rigidity is eliminated and from which action is possible without first relaxing muscles that have been constrained in an effort to maintain the position of attention. In other words, coördination rather than strength should be depended upon.
In the position described the weight rests principally upon the balls of the feet, the heels resting lightly upon the ground.
The knees are extended easily, but never locked.
The body is now inclined forward until the front of the thighs is directly over the point of the toes; the hips are square and the waist is extended by the erection of the entire spine, but never to such a degree that mobility of the waist is lost.