(e) In movements from line into column, and in other similar movements, if executed at attention, the troopers while waiting to take their places in the column do not halt unless halt be commanded by a platoon (or troop) commander. They mark time instead if necessary for the execution of the movement.
(f) In applying the rules for mounted movements to movements on foot quick time will be understood where walk is referred to and double time where any faster gait is referred to.
(g) Any exceptions to the above rules are stated where they occur.
Section 7. The School of the Squad.
340. As soon as the troopers are sufficiently advanced in their instruction in the School of the Trooper they will be grouped into temporary squads for elementary collective instruction. This instruction will be conducted in accordance with the general principles indicated in par. 42; progress therein should be so regulated that no collective movement will be taken up until the trooper, by previous individual instruction, has been properly prepared for its execution.
341. Instruction in the School of the Squad is intended primarily to teach recruits the elementary movements upon which the entire drill is based. It may be recurred to whenever necessary in cases where troopers evidence the need of further elementary work.
342. For elementary collective instruction groups of not to exceed six or eight men can be used to best advantage. The actual instruction of each group should be conducted by a noncommissioned officer, but the instruction must be closely supervised by a commissioned officer (par. 37).
343. The system of drill contained in these regulations is based largely upon the actual leading of units by their respective chiefs or commanders. During the elementary instruction of recruits, both mounted and dismounted, leading will be emphasized as indicated in par. 344. Thereafter the application of leading will conform to pars. 448 to 456.
344. The first collective instruction will, therefore, be in conforming to the march of a leader, thus confirming and extending the instruction given in the School of the Trooper (pars. 295, 298); and reasonable proficiency in this instruction must be secured before any attempt is made to utilize either commands or signals in the execution of collective movements, except, as prescribed in par. 363.
345. It is difficult for a leader to lead the squad properly and at the same time to supervise the march and correct the errors of individual troopers. For this reason it is desirable, especially in the earlier collective drills, that the instructor have as an assistant another noncommissioned officer or a well-instructed trooper. The instructor then leads the squad and requires his assistant (who takes the positions best adapted for the purpose in view) to supervise closely the movements of the troopers and to correct errors by means of cautions addressed quietly by name to the individual man or men concerned. Later the instructor similarly supervises the execution of the march while requiring his assistant to lead the squad. As the troopers advance in the instruction the instructor should give each of them such practice in leading the squad as the progress of the individual trooper concerned may appear to justify.