Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Cavalry of the Army / of the United States 1917. To be also used by Engineer Companies (Mounted) for Cavalry Instruction and Training

by United States. War Department

The squad in column of twos is in order when the twos of each four are next to each other in the column, odd numbers on the right, and each trooper knows his number.

When the two composed of 1 and 2 is in front, the column is said to be right in front; when the two composed of 3 and 4 is in front, the column is said to be left in front.

The squad in column of troopers is in order when the troopers of each four are next to one another in the column, are arranged from front to rear in the order 1, 2, 3, 4, or 4, 3, 2, 1, and each trooper knows his number. When the order is 1, 2, 3, 4, the column is said to be right in front; when the order is 4, 3, 2, 1, left in front.

It is not necessary to order in the squad, in any of the above formations, that a particular trooper or troopers be in any designated four, nor that the fours have any special relative order from right to left or front to rear.

Guide of the Squad.

(see also Def. [Base], and par. 326.)

371. At the original formation of the squad in line, the leader designates a trooper by name as guide of the squad. The guide of the squad in line and foragers is habitually a trooper at or near the center of the squad; any trooper may, however, be designated as guide.

372. A trooper having once been designated as guide of the squad in line continues to act as such, in line or foragers, until another trooper be specifically designated as guide. With a view, however, to avoiding possible doubt as to the identity of the guide, the leader at each change of formation that terminates in line or foragers habitually indicates the guide of the new formation.

373. To designate the guide the leader cautions: (So-and-so) THE GUIDE, and habitually places himself 3 yards in front of the trooper named if not already in that position. A trooper designated as guide will, at the time of the designation, raise his hand or weapon to a position vertically above his head, hold the position for a moment, and then lower his arm to his side without further command. The leader or his assistant may at any time cause the guide thus to indicate his identity to the other troopers by cautioning: GUIDE. The leader may change the guide of the squad in line at any time by indicating disregard (par. 990), placing himself in front of another trooper and designating the latter as guide in the manner prescribed above.

374. The base of the squad in each of the column formations is the leading element (four, two, or trooper, respectively).