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 guide of the leading (base) element is also the guide of the squad. In each four No. 2 is the guide; in each two the right trooper (No. 1 or No. 3). In an incomplete four or two the position of the guide is always filled. The guide of each element in rear of the base follows in the trace of the guide of the base (leading) element at the prescribed distance.

375. Whenever in the execution of any movement a four or two moves to its new position by an oblique (or movement approximating an oblique) the trooper on the side toward which the oblique is made acts as guide of the element during the oblique. At all other times the guide in a four or two is as indicated in par. 374 unless specially otherwise stated.

376. The guide of the squad habitually follows the leader at 3 yards distance, but the leader may designate a greater distance, in which case the guide marches accordingly.

377. When a guide temporarily is directing guide (par. 324), it is necessary that he continue accurately in the direction of march or in the direction indicated for him by the leader. This is an application of the marching upon fixed points prescribed in the School of the Trooper (par. 232).

Movements Executed by the Squad.

378. Any formation (close or extended order) prescribed for the squad may be taken directly from any other close-order formation. Being in extended order the squad, to pass directly to close order, must execute the assembly or rally.

379. Subject to such modifications as are indicated under the respective paragraphs describing the movements, the dismounted squad executes, at the same commands as prescribed for the mounted squad, such movements as are not obviously inapplicable to dismounted duty. The execution of the dismounted movements will, where differences in the mounted and dismounted methods necessarily exist, be in accord with the principles explained in the School of the Trooper, Dismounted, corresponding changes in the details of execution being made.

380. The general principles regulating gait and pace for both mounted and dismounted movements are stated in pars. 333-339. Modifications of those principles, if any, are stated under the corresponding paragraphs in the School of the Squad.

Commands and Corresponding Arm Signals.

381. Following is a list of the principal commands employed in the School of the Squad, together with the corresponding arm signals, if any. The list includes only a few of the commands also found in the School of the Trooper (mounted or dismounted.) The commands are arranged alphabetically for convenient reference. The description of the signals will be found in par. 990.