SCHOOL OF THE SQUAD
Based on the Infantry Drill Regulations
CLOSE ORDER DRILLS
For several days after reporting you will undergo many hours of close
order drill. You will ask yourself, "Why is all this mental and physical
strain necessary when these exercises are not used in battle?" The
answer is: they are disciplinary exercises and are designed to inculcate
that prompt and subconscious obedience which is essential to proper
military control and to teach you precise and soldierly movements;
hence, they are executed at attention.
DEFINITIONS
Deploy. To extend the front. A squad deploys when it goes "As
skirmishers." A company likewise deploys when it goes from column into
line.
File. Two men, the front rank man and the corresponding man in the
rear rank. The front rank man is the file leader. A file which has no
rear rank man is a blank file.
Interval. Space between elements of the same line. The interval
between men in ranks is 4 inches and is measured from elbow to elbow. It
is to get this interval that each man is required to raise his arm when
the company is formed.
Distance. Space between elements in the direction of depth. It is
measured from the back of the man in front to the breast of the man in
rear. The rear rank when in line or column is 40 inches from the front
rank.
The guide of a squad in line is right unless otherwise announced.
The guide of a squad deployed, (i.e., skirmishers) is center unless
otherwise announced.
TO FORM THE SQUAD
To form the squad the instructor places himself 3 paces in front of
where the center is to be and commands: Fall in.
The men assemble at attention, pieces at the order, and are arranged by
the corporal in double rank, as nearly as practicable in order of height
from right to left, each man dropping his left hand as soon as the man
on his left has his interval. The rear rank forms with distance of 40
inches.
The instructor then commands: Count off.
At this command all except the right file execute eyes right, and
beginning on the right, the men in each rank count one, two, three,
four--one, two, three, four; each man turns his head and eyes to the
front as he counts.
Pieces are then inspected.
[Illustration]
The purpose of putting the left hand on the hip is to get enough elbow
room. A man should have sufficient space to operate his piece. These
four-inch intervals give it to him.
[Illustration]
Note the space between elbows (interval) is 4 inches. The space between
the front and rear rank (distance) is 40 inches, and is measured from
the back of the man in front to the breast of the man in the rear.
ALIGNMENTS
To align the squad, the base file or files having been established: 1.
Right (left), 2. DRESS, 3. FRONT.
At the command dress, all men place the left hand upon the hip (whether
dressing to the right or left); each man, except the base file, when on
or near the new lines executes eyes right, and, taking steps of 2 or 3
inches, places himself so that his right arm rests lightly against the
elbow of the man on his right (vice versa in left dressing), and so that
his eyes and shoulders are in line with those of the men on his right,
and also that each man can see the eyes of at least two men on his
right.
[Illustration]
The instructor verifies the alignment of both ranks from the right flank
and orders up or back such men as may be in the rear, or in advance, of
the line; only the men designated move.
At the command front, given when the ranks are aligned, each man turns
his head and eyes to the front and drops his left hand by his side.
There are in dressing a number of common errors that we should try to
avoid. Don't jab the man on your left with your elbow. If you are not on
the line, move your feet. Don't lean forward or backward. Be sure to
touch gently the man on your right with your right arm. Be certain to
keep your left elbow forced well to the front. This is a little
uncomfortable at first, but unless we do this our arms will not measure
the 4 inches correctly. Don't hump up the left shoulder, and don't turn
the shoulders to the right. Keep fingers of left hand extended and
joined.
We want to place especial stress on the importance of three movements
in the school of the squad. When you have thoroughly mastered these
three, you will have a splendid basis for the remainder of the School of
the Squad, the full value of which you will later appreciate. These are:
Squad right, Squad right about, and Right turn.
The first line drawing in this chapter shows correct proportions of
interval and distance. To save space and for convenience, the drawings
hereafter are made without regard to proportions (intervals and
distances).
First Movement
SQUAD RIGHT
Being in line, to turn and march: 1. Squad right (left), 2. MARCH.
In this movement many instructors have recruit squads step off on the
7th count. When the drill progresses the squad should step off on the
5th count.
[Illustration: This is what we have
This is what we want]
At the command march, No. 1 in the front rank faces to the right in
marching and marks time; Nos. 2, 3, and 4 of the front rank turn 45
degrees to the right (right oblique), place themselves abreast (on the
same line) of No. 1 and mark time.
Now it is difficult quickly to understand the movements of the rear
rank. Give them a lot of study and don't go on until you are certain
that you understand.
[Illustration: This is the way it is done.]
No. 3 moves straight to the front.
No. 2 follows No. 3.
No. 1 follows No. 2.
When they (Nos. 3, 2 and 1) arrive in rear of their file leaders, (Nos.
3, 2 and 1, front rank) they face to the right in marching and mark
time.
No. 4 of the rear rank moves straight to the front four paces, and
places himself abreast of No. 3, rear rank.
When No. 4, front rank, and No. 4, rear rank, are on the line, (and the
remainder of the squad must glance toward them to see when that is
true), the whole squad moves forward without further command.
Note that we have said that No. 1 front rank marks time. We see that he
becomes, temporarily, an immovable pivot for his squad. We, therefore,
call him a fixed pivot.
Had the command been squad left, instead of squad right, No. 4 would
have been the fixed pivot instead of No. 1.
Being in line, to turn and halt: 1. Squad right (left), 2. MARCH, 3.
Squad, 4. HALT.
The turn is executed as prescribed in the preceding case except that all
men, on arriving on the new line, mark time until the command halt is
given, when all halt.
Whenever the third command (i.e., squad) is given means that the command
halt is to follow. This is caution to the squad to prepare to halt. The
command halt should be given as No. 4 arrives on the line.
Second Movement
SQUAD RIGHT ABOUT
Being in line, to turn about and march: 1. Squad right (left) about, 2.
MARCH.
[Illustration:
This is what we have
This is what we want]
At the command march, the front rank twice executes Squad right,
initiating (starting) the second Squad right when No. 4 has arrived on
the line. That much is very simple.
The rear rank has a harder task. Let us have the front and rear rank
execute the movement separately:
[Illustration]
The rear rank is to take its place on the dotted line a b.
No. 3 rear rank moves straight to the front until in prolongation of
the line to be occupied by the rear rank.
No. 2 follows No. 3.
No. 1 follows No. 2.
When No. 3 arrives on the line to be occupied by the rear rank he
changes direction to the right; he moves in the new direction until in
rear of No. 3, front rank, when Nos. 3, 2, and 1, rear rank, are in rear
of Nos. 3, 2, and 1, front rank, (i.e., when they are in rear of their
front rank men), they face to the right in marching and mark time. No. 4
marches on the left of No. 3 to his new position. As he arrives on the
line, both ranks execute forward march without command, For the
remainder of the squad to know when No. 4 front and rear rank have
arrived on the line, they glance to see. The squad should step off on
the 9th count.
Third Movement
RIGHT TURN
Being in line: 1. Right (left) turn, 2. MARCH.
[Illustration: THIS IS THE WAY IT IS DONE]
At the command march, No. 1 front rank faces to the right in marching
and takes the half step. Nos. 2, 3, and 4 front rank right oblique
(turn 45 degrees to the right) until opposite their places in line, then
execute a second right oblique and take the half step on arriving
abreast of the pivot man. When No. 4 arrives on the line Nos. 1, 2, 3,
and 4 take the full step without further command. (To know when No. 4
arrives on the line it is necessary to glance in his direction.) Full
step on the 7th count.
The rear rank executes the movement in the same way and turns on the
same ground as the front rank. The rear rank, therefore, moves forward
at the command march, or continues to move forward, if already marching,
until it arrives at the place where the front turned, when it turns.
Note that the squad turns on No. 1 front rank but that he does not
remain in his position even temporarily, as in squad right; he is,
therefore, called the moving pivot. No. 4 is called the marching flank.
Had the command been left turn, No. 4 would have been the moving pivot,
and No. 1 the marching flank.
Knowing the three above movements, we are prepared for the following:
Being in line at a halt: 1. Take interval, 2. To the right (left), 3.
MARCH, 4. Squad, 5. HALT.
[Illustration: BEING IN THIS FORMATION]
At the command to the right (left), the rear rank men march backward
four steps (15 inches each step) and halt.
[Illustration: LIKE THIS
Note that the actual distance from the front rank to the rear rank is
now 40 plus 4x15 inches, i.e., 100 inches.]
At the command march, all face to the right and No. 1 front and rear
rank step off. No. 2, front and rear rank, follow No. 1, front and rear
rank, at a distance of four paces. Likewise with the other numbers.
[Illustration: Like this, when No. 1 front and rear rank have gained
four paces distance.]
At the command halt, given when No. 3 is three paces distant from No. 4,
all halt and face to the front.
[Illustration: The squad looks like this when the movement is
completed.]
Being at intervals: 1. Assemble, to the right, (left), 2. MARCH.
At the command march, No. 1 front rank stands fast. No. 1 rear rank
closes to 40 inches. The other men face to the right, close by the
shortest line, and face to the front.
[Illustration]
Being in line at a halt: 1. Take distance, 2. MARCH, 3. Squad, 4. HALT.
At the command march, No. 1 of the front rank moves straight to the
front; Nos. 2, 3, and 4 of the front rank and Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the
rear rank, in the order named, move straight to the front, each stepping
off so as to follow the preceding man at four paces. The command halt is
given when all have their distances.
In case more than one squad is in line, each squad executes the movement
as above. The guide of each rank of numbers is right.
[Illustration]
The front rank men should walk straight to the front and their rear rank
men should cover them accurately.
Being at distances, to assemble the squad: 1. Assemble, 2. MARCH.
No. 1 of the front rank stands fast; the other numbers move forward to
their proper places in line.
THE OBLIQUE MARCH
For the instruction of recruits, the squad being in column or correctly
aligned, the instructor causes the squad to face half right (or half
left), points out to the men their relative positions, and explains that
these are to be maintained in the oblique march.
1. Right (left) oblique, 2. MARCH.
Each man steps off in a direction 45 degrees to the right of his
original front. He preserves his relative position, keeping his
shoulders parallel to those of the guide (the man on the right front of
the line or column), and so regulates his steps that the ranks remain
parallel to their original front.
At the command halt, the men halt faced to the front.
To resume the original direction: 1. Forward, 2. MARCH.
[Illustration]
The men half face to the left in marching and then move straight to the
front.
If at half step or mark time while obliquing, the oblique march is
resumed by the commands: 1. Oblique, 2. MARCH.
TO FOLLOW THE CORPORAL
Being assembled or deployed, to march the squad without unnecessary
commands, the corporal places himself in front of it and commands:
FOLLOW ME.
If in line or skirmish line, No. 2 of the front rank follows in the
track of the corporal at about 3 paces; the other men conform to the
movements of No. 2, guiding on him and maintaining their relative
positions.
If in column, the head of the column follows the corporal.
[Illustration]
Note that No. 4 rear rank takes the place of the corporal when the
corporal is in front of the squad. This a general rule. When any front
rank man is absent his rear rank man steps up in the front rank. When
the squad is following the corporal No. 4 rear rank remains blank (i.e.,
No. 3 does not step to the left and cover No. 4).
TO DEPLOY AS SKIRMISHERS
Being in any formation, assembled: 1. As skirmishers, 2. MARCH.
The corporal places himself in front of the squad, if not already there.
Moving at a run, the men place themselves abreast of the corporal at
half-pace intervals. Nos. 1 and 2 on his right, Nos. 3 and 4 on his
left, rear-rank men on the right of their file leaders, extra men on the
left of No. 4; all then conform to the corporal's gait.
There is a rule of thumb that must be remembered. The rear-rank man is
always on the right of his file leader.
A common error is for beginners to execute the movement at a slow trot
which a run is required.
When the squad is acting alone, skirmish line is similarly formed on No.
2 of the front rank, who stands fast or continues the march, as the case
may be; the corporal places himself in front of the squad when advancing
and in rear when halted.
When deployed as skirmishers, the men march at ease, pieces at the trail
unless otherwise ordered.
The corporal is the guide when in the line; otherwise No. 2 front rank
is the guide. The guide is center.
The normal interval between skirmishers is one-half pace, resulting
practically in one man per yard of front. The front of a squad thus
deployed as skirmishers is about 10 paces.
[Illustration: SQUAD DEPLOYED ON CORPORAL
THIS IS THE WAY IT IS DONE]
The common error is to keep an interval of a very few inches when 15
inches are required.
TO INCREASE OR DIMINISH INTERVALS
If assembled, and it is desired to deploy at greater than the normal
interval; or if deployed, and it is desired to increase or decrease the
interval: 1. As skirmishers, (so many) paces, 2. MARCH.
Intervals are taken at the indicated number of paces. If already
deployed, the men move by the flank or away from the guide.
The above command is used but very little.
THE ASSEMBLY
Being deployed: 1. Assemble, 2. MARCH.
The men move toward the corporal and form in their proper places.
If the corporal continues to advance, the men move in double time, form,
and follow him.
The assembly while marching to the rear is not executed.
Note. It will be better for the beginner to let the remainder of
this chapter go for awhile. Your instructor will explain all of the
following points in a way that will be easier for you than for you
to try to work them out alone. They will come up in the first
month's work and will be explained and shown as you go along. As
you become more proficient we advise you, then, to take up the
remainder of the chapter.
If standing: KNEEL.
Half face to the right; carry the right toe about 1 foot to the left
rear of the left heel; kneel on the right knee, sitting as nearly as
possible on the right heel; left forearm across left thigh; piece
remains in position of order arms, right hand grasping it above the
lower hand.
If standing or kneeling: LIE DOWN.
Kneel, but with right knee against left heel; carry back the left foot
and lie flat on the belly, inclining body about 35 degrees to the
right; piece horizontal, barrel up, muzzle off the ground and pointed to
the front; elbows on the ground; left hand at the balance, right hand
grasping the small of the stock opposite the neck. This is the position
of order arms, lying down.
If kneeling or lying down: RISE.
If kneeling, stand up, faced to the front, on the ground marked by the
left heel.
If lying down, raise body on both knees; stand up, faced to the front,
on the ground marked by the knees.
If lying down: KNEEL.
Raise the body on both knees; take the position of kneel.
In double rank, the positions of kneeling and lying down are ordinarily
used only for the better utilization of cover.
When deployed as skirmishers, a sitting position may be taken in lieu of
the kneeling position.
LOADINGS AND FIRINGS
The commands for loading and firing are the same whether standing,
kneeling, or lying down. The firings are always executed at a halt.
When kneeling or lying down in double rank, the rear rank does not load,
aim, or fire.
The instruction in firing will be preceded by a command for loading.
Loadings are executed in line and skirmish line only.
Pieces, having been ordered loaded, are kept loaded without command
until the command unload, or inspection arms, fresh clips being
inserted when the magazine is exhausted.
The aiming point or target is carefully pointed out. This may be done
before or after announcing the sight setting. Both are indicated before
giving the command for firing, but may be omitted when the target
appears suddenly and is unmistakable; in such case battle sight is used
if no sight setting is announced.
The target or aiming point having been designated and the sight setting
announced, such designation or announcement need not be repeated until a
change of either or both is necessary.
Troops are trained to continue their fire upon the aiming point or
target designated, and at the sight setting announced, until a change is
ordered.
If the men are not already in the position of load, that position is
taken at the announcement of the sight setting; if the announcement is
omitted, the position is taken at the first command for firing.
When deployed, the use of the sling as an aid to accurate firing is
discretionary with each man.
TO LOAD
Being in line or skirmish line at halt: 1. With dummy (blank or ball)
cartridges, 2. LOAD.
At the command load each front-rank man or skirmisher faces half right
and carries the right foot to the right, about 1 foot, to such position
as will insure the greatest firmness and steadiness of the body;
raises, or lowers, the piece and drops it into the left hand at the
balance, left thumb extended along the stock, muzzle at the height of
the breast, and turns the cut-off up. With the right hand, he turns and
draws the bolt back, takes a loaded clip and inserts the end in the clip
slots, places the thumb on the powder space of the top cartridge, the
fingers extending around the piece and tips resting on the magazine
floor plate; forces the cartridges into the magazine by pressing down
with the thumb; without removing the clip, thrusts the bolt home,
turning down the handle; turns the safety lock to the "safe" and carries
the hand to the small of the stock. Each rear rank man moves to the
right front, takes a similar position opposite the interval to the right
of his front rank man, muzzle of the piece extending beyond the front
rank, and loads.
A skirmish line may load while moving, the pieces being held as neatly
as practicable in the position of load.
If kneeling or sitting, the position of the piece is similar; if
kneeling, the left forearm rests on the left thigh; if sitting the
elbows are supported by the knees; if lying down, the left hand steadies
and supports the piece at the balance, the toe of the butt resting on
the ground, the muzzle off the ground.
STACK AND TAKE ARMS
The subject of stack and take arms is less important than the rest of
this chapter. It is difficult to be learned from a book. Your company
commander will explain it to you. It is given here to serve as a
reference.
Being in line at a halt: STACK ARMS.
Each even number of the front rank grasps his piece with the left hand
at the upper band and rests the butt between his feet, barrel to the
front, muzzle inclined slightly to the front and opposite the center of
the interval on his right, the thumb and forefinger raising the stacking
swivel; each even number of the rear rank then passes his piece, barrel
to the rear, to his file leader, who grasps it between the bands with
his right hand and throws the butt about two feet in advance of that of
his own piece and opposite the right of the interval, the right hand
slipping to the upper band, the thumb and forefinger raising the
stacking swivel, which he engages with that of his own piece; each odd
number of the front rank raises his piece with the right hand, carries
it well forward, barrel to the front; the left hand, guiding the
stacking swivel, engages the lower hook of the swivel of his own piece
with the free hook of that of the even number of the rear rank; he then
turns the barrel outward into the angle formed by the other two pieces
and lowers the butt to the ground, to the right of and against the toe
of his right shoe.
The stacks made, the loose pieces are laid on them by the even numbers
of the front rank.
When each man has finished handling pieces, he takes the position of the
soldier.
Being in line behind the stacks: TAKE ARMS.
The loose pieces are returned by the even numbers of the front rank;
each even number of the front rank grasps his own piece with the left
hand, the piece of his rear-rank man with his right hand, grasping both
between the bands; each odd number of the front rank grasps his piece in
the same way with the right hand, disengages it by raising the butt from
the ground and then, turning the piece to the right, detaches it from
the stack; each even number of the front rank disengages and detaches
his piece by turning it to the left, and then passes the piece of his
rear-rank man to him, and all resume the order.
Should any squad have Nos. 2 and 3 blank files, No. 1 rear rank takes
the place of No. 2 rear rank in making and breaking the stack; the
stacks made or broken, he resumes his post.
Pieces not used in making the stack are termed loose pieces.
Pieces are never stacked with the bayonet fixed.