_The Director_: “Now, Lieutenant Hunt, let us assume that you are at the
sentinel post and ready to make your inspection. Just what would you say
to him?”
_Lieutenant Hunt_: “Well, sir, I am free to confess that I do not know
just what I would say, but I would make a stab at something.”
_The Director_: “That is just the point. Our text-books are here
deficient again. They assume that this is so simple that we just
naturally know what to do and what to say. Have you ever seen in any
text book, any where, detailed instructions as to just how to inspect a
sentinel on post. They say: ‘The officer of the day will inspect.’ I
should like for you to be in a concealed position and hear some ‘Officer
of the day’ make his inspection of a sentinel. Try it sometime and see
the results.
“During the time that Corporal Canes is with him the sentinel will not
cease his vigilance. The inspection will be conducted in a low
conversational tone. ‘I am Corporal Canes of visiting patrol No. 3 from
Support No. 2.’ ‘What is the number of your post?’ ‘What is the number
of your outguard?’ ‘Where is it located?’ ‘Do you know the location of
the sentinel posts to your right and left?’ ‘In what direction is the
enemy?’ ‘Where does that road (trail) lead to?’ ‘Do you know what that
light is (pointing)?’ ‘Have you observed any signs of the enemy since
you have been on post?’ ‘What is the countersign (recognition signal)
tonight?’ ‘What would you do if you saw any signs of the enemy out in
front?’ ‘How would you alarm the outguard?’ ‘I have no information of
the enemy on this immediate front.’ ‘When I was at outguard No. 3 of
Support No. 1 the outguard commander told me that an enemy scout had
been picked up near the Outguard No. 1 of their support about an hour
ago?’ ‘Notify your outguard commander when you are relieved that I was
here at —— o’clock.’
“These are some of the things that would be included in the inspection
by the patrol commander.
“Corporal Canes would now go back to the outguard and tell the man on
duty that he is going on with the patrol. If, in his inspection of the
sentinel on post, anything happened that the outguard commander should
know about Corporal Canes would wake him and tell him about it. He will
then join the other members of the patrol and proceed along the route
selected before dark.”
(Note.—To give the Terrain Exercise added interest it may be well to
send two of the members of the class ahead to represent sentinel
post No. 2 and one to represent the outguard. They will take post in
the normal location of those elements of the line of observation.
Then have four members of the class represent the visiting patrol.
Have the leader conduct them just as he would under actual service
conditions. Make the approach to outguard No. 2 in the same manner
as indicated herein and carry out all the details of the situation.)
* * * * *
=Visiting Patrol= =Card No. 3=
=Director’s Key=