Manual of Military Training Part 18

[Ill.u.s.tration]

At the first command the leader of the leading platoon commands: =Right turn.= At the command =march= the leading platoon turns to the right on moving pivot; its leader commands: =1. Forward, 2. MARCH=, on completion of the turn. Rear =platoons= march squarely up to the turning point of the leading platoons =and turn= at command of their leaders. (180)

=224.= Being in column of squads, to change direction: =1. Column right (left), 2. MARCH.=

[Ill.u.s.tration]

At the second command the front rank of the leading squad turns to the right on moving pivot as in the School of the Squad; the other ranks, without command turn successively on the same ground and in a similar manner. (181)

=225.= Being in column of squads, to form line of platoons or the reverse: =1. Platoons, column right (left), 2. MARCH.=

[Ill.u.s.tration: FROM COLUMN OF SQUADS TO LINE OF PLATOONS.]

Executed by each platoon as described for the company. (182)

=226.= Being in line, to form column of squads and change direction: =1. Squads right (left), column right (left), 2. MARCH=; or, =1. Right (Left) by squads, 2. MARCH.=

In the first case the right squad initiates the =column right= as soon as it has completed the =squad right=.

[Ill.u.s.tration: SQUADS RIGHT COLUMN RIGHT.]

In the second case, at the command =march=, the right squad marches =forward=; the remainder of the company executes =squads right=, =column left=, and follows the right squad. The right guide, when he has posted himself in front of the squad, takes four short steps, then resumes the full step; the right quad conforms. (183)

[Ill.u.s.tration: RIGHT BY SQUADS.]

=227.= Being in line, to form line of platoons: =1. Squads right (left), platoons, column right (left), 2. MARCH=; or, =1. Platoons, right (left) by squads, 2. MARCH=.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FROM LINE TO LINE OF PLATOONS.]

Executed by each platoon as described for the company in the preceding paragraph. (184)

Facing or Marching to the Rear

=228.= Being in line, line of platoons, or in column of platoons or squads, to face or march to the rear: =1. Squads right (left) about, 2. MARCH=; or, =1. Squad right (left) about, 2. MARCH; 3. Company, 4.

HALT.=

Executed by each squad as described in the School of the Squad.

If the company or platoons be in column of squads, the file closers turn about toward the column, and take their posts; if in line, each darts through the nearest interval between squads. (185).

=229.= To march to the rear for a few paces: =1. About, 2. FACE, 3.

Forward, 4. MARCH.=

If in line, the guides place themselves in the rear rank, now the front rank; the file closers, on facing about, maintain their relative positions. No other movement is executed until the line is faced to the original front. (186)

On Right (Left) Into Line

=230.= Being in column of platoons or squads, to form line on right or left: =1. On right (left) into line, 2. MARCH, 3. Company, 4. HALT, 5.

FRONT.=

[Ill.u.s.tration: FROM COLUMN OF PLATOONS TO LINE ON RIGHT.]

At the first command the leader of the leading unit commands: =Right turn.= The leaders of the other units command: =Forward=, if at a halt. At the second command the leading unit turns to the right on moving pivot. The command halt is given when the leading unit has advanced the desired distance in the new direction; it halts; its leader then commands: =Right dress.=

[Ill.u.s.tration: FROM COLUMN OF SQUADS TO LINE ON RIGHT.]

The units in rear continue to march straight to the front; each, when opposite the right of its place in line, executes right turn at the command of its leader; each is halted on the line at the command of its leader, who then commands: =Right dress.= All dress on the first unit in line.

If executed in double time, the leading squad marches in double time until halted. (187)

Front Into Line

=231.= Being in column of platoons or squads, to form line to the front: =1. Right (Left) front into line, 2. MARCH, 3. Company, 4.

HALT, 5. FRONT.=

At the first command the leaders of the units in rear of the leading one command: =Right oblique.= If at a halt, the leader of the leading unit commands: =Forward.= At the second command the leading unit moves straight forward; the rear units oblique as indicated. The command =halt= is given when the leading unit has advanced the desired distance; it halts; its leader then commands: =Left dress.= Each of the rear units, when opposite its place in line, resumes the original direction at the command of its leader; each is halted on the line at the command of its leader, who then commands: =Left dress.= All dress on the first unit in line. (188)

=232.= Being in column of squads to form column of platoons, or being line of platoons, to form the company in line: =1. Platoons, right (left) front into line, 2. MARCH, 3. Company, 4. HALT, 5. FRONT.=

[Ill.u.s.tration: FROM COLUMN OF SQUADS TO LINE TO THE FRONT.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: FROM COLUMN OF PLATOONS TO LINE TO THE FRONT.]

Executed by each platoon as described for the company. In forming the company in line, the dress is on the left squad of the left platoon.

If forming column of platoons, platoon leaders verify the alignment before taking their posts; the captain commands =front= when the alignments have been verified.

When =front into line= is executed in double time the commands for halting and aligning are omitted and the guide is toward the side of the first unit in line. (189)

At Ease and Route Step

=233.= The column of squads is the habitual column of route, but =route step= and =at ease= are applicable to any marching formation.

(190)

To march at route step: =1. Route step, 2. MARCH.=

Sabers are carried at will or in the scabbard; the men carry their pieces at will, keeping the muzzles elevated; they are not required to preserve silence, nor to keep the step. The ranks cover and preserve their distance. If halted from route step, the men stand =at rest=.

(191)

To march at ease: =1. At ease, 2. MARCH.=

The company marches as in route step, except that silence is preserved; when halted, the men remain =at ease=. (192)

Marching at route step or at ease: =1. Company, 2. ATTENTION.=