GIRL SCOUT DRILL
Although the simple exercises in opening and closing a meeting are the
only formal work necessary for Scouts, the Scout Drill outlined in this
Handbook is added for Captains as a suggestion for handling one or more
Patrols in the club room, or on the street, in an orderly dignified
manner.
Where the Troop and Captain are interested in this form of activity, it
adds a great variety to the Scout meetings, and its value in giving an
erect carriage, alert habit of obedience, and ability to think and act
quickly are undoubted.
In case of rallies and parades it is practically the only way of
handling large bodies of Scouts from different localities.
Every order and formation here recommended is taken from the United
States Infantry Drill Regulations, and it is now possible for Captains
in all localities to secure the assistance of some returned soldier glad
to give a half hour occasionally to drilling the Scouts.
The simple formations selected have been divided into Tenderfoot, Second
Class and First Class groups entirely for the convenience of the
Captain; none of the work is too difficult for a Second Class Scout and
there is nothing to prevent a Tenderfoot from taking all of it, if the
troop should be particularly interested in drilling.
Commands are divided into two classes:
(a) The preparatory, to tell the Scout _what_ to do, and
(b) The command of execution, to tell _how_ to do it.
Tenderfoot Drill Schedule
"FALL IN"
At this command each Scout immediately takes her position in the Patrol
to which she belongs (the captain having already assigned to each Scout
her exact place), and without further order assumes the position of
"_Attention_" three paces in front of Captain.
The position of _Attention_ is: body and head erect, head, shoulders and
pelvis in same plane, eyes front, arms hanging easily at the sides, feet
parallel and about four inches apart; perfect silence to be maintained.
Patrol formation, two ranks (rows) of four Scouts each, forty inches
between front and rear ranks. The patrol corresponds to the military
unit of the squad.
Other patrols will fall in on the left of patrol No. 1 and on a line
with it, in their numerical order. When assembled a troop of four
patrols will be in the position indicated by the following diagram, and
facing the captain.
5678 5678 5678 5678
1234 1234 1234 1234
Lieut. Capt.
If the Captain prefers, and where there are only a few Scouts to be
handled, they may be drawn up in a single rank facing the Captain. In
either position they are now ready for the preliminaries of military
drill.
1. _Right_ (or left) _Dress_. 2. _Front._
At the command _"Dress"_ whether to right or left, all Scouts place the
left hand on the hip. Each Scout, except the base file, Scout on right
or left end from whom the other take their alignment, when on or near
the new line, executes "_Eyes Right!_" and taking steps of two or three
inches, places herself so that her right arm rests lightly against the
arm of the Scout on her right, and so that her eyes and shoulders are in
line with those of the Scout on her right; the rear rank Scouts cover in
file. The instructor verifies the alignment of both ranks from the right
flank and orders up or back such Scouts as may be in rear or in advance
of the line: only the Scouts designated move.[2]
At the command "_Front,_" given when the ranks are aligned, each Scout
turns her head and eyes to the front and drops the hand at her side.
To march the patrol or troop in column of twos, the preliminary commands
would be as just given: 1. _Fall in._ 2. _Right Dress._ 3. _Front._
The troop is then drawn up facing the Captain in two ranks as described.
The Captain then commands:
1. _Right_ (or left) _Face_ (According to the direction in which the
column is to proceed.)
2. _Forward._ 3. _March._
At the command "_March_," each Scout steps off smartly with the _left_
foot.
Facings
To the flank: "_Right_ (or left) _Face_."
Raise slightly the left heel and the right toe; face to the right,
turning on the right heel, assisted by a slight pressure on the ball of
the left foot; place the left foot by the side of the right. "Left Face"
is executed on the left heel in the corresponding manner. Right (or
left) Half Face is executed similarly, facing forty-five degrees.
To the rear: _About Face._
Carry the toe of the right foot about half a foot length to the rear and
slightly to the left of the left heel without changing the position of
the left foot; face to the rear, turning to the right on the left heel
and right toe; place the right heel by the side of the left.
Eyes Right or Left
1. _Eyes Right_ (or left). 2. _Front._
At the command "Right," turn the head to the right oblique, eyes fixed
on the line of Scouts in, or supposed to be in, the same rank. At the
command "_Front_" turn the head and eyes to the front.
The Rests
Being at halt, the commands for the different rests are as follows:
FALL OUT, REST, AT EASE and 1 PARADE, 2 REST.
At the command _Fall Out_, the Scouts may leave the ranks, but are
required to remain in the immediate vicinity. They resume their former
places, at attention at the command "_Fall In_."
At the command "_Rest_" each Scout keeps one foot in place, but is not
required to keep silence or immobility.
At the command _"At Ease"_ each Scout keeps one foot in place and is
required to keep silence but not immobility.
_1 Parade, 2 Rest._
Carry the right foot six inches straight to the rear, left knee slightly
bent; clasp the hands, without constraint, in front of the center of the
body, fingers joined, right hand uppermost, left thumb clasped by the
thumb and forefinger of the right hand; preserve silence and steadiness
of position.
To resume the attention: _1 Squad (or Company) 2 Attention._
Steps and Marchings
All steps and marchings executed from the halt, except right step, begin
with the left foot.
The length of the full step in "_Quick Time_" for a Scout is twenty
inches, measured from heel to heel, and the cadence is at the rate of
one hundred twenty steps per minute.
The length of the full step in "_Double Time_," for a Scout, is about
twenty-four inches; the cadence is at the rate of one hundred eighty
steps per minute.
The instructor, when necessary, indicates the cadence of the step by
calling "One, Two, Three, Four," or "Left, Right, Left, Right," the
instant the left and right foot, respectively, should be planted.
All steps and marchings and movements involving march are executed in
"Quick Time" unless the squad (or company) be marching in "Double Time."
Quick Time
Being at a halt, to march forward in quick time: 1 _Forward_, 2 _March_.
At the command "_Forward_," shift the weight of the body to the right
leg, left knee straight.
At the command "_March_" move the left foot smartly straight forward
twenty inches from the right, sole near the ground, and plant it without
shock; next, in like manner, advance the right foot and plant it as
above; continue the march. The arms swing naturally.
Being at a halt, or in march in quick time, to march in double time; 1
_Double time_, 2 _March_.
If at a halt, at the first command shift the weight of the body to the
right leg. At the command "_March_" raise the forearms, fingers closed
to a horizontal position along the waist line; take up an easy run with
the step and cadence of double time, allowing a natural swinging motion
to the arms.
If marching in quick time, at the command "_March_," given as either
foot strikes the ground, take one step in quick time, and then step off
in double time.
To resume the quick time: 1 _Quick Time_, 2 _March_.
At the command _March_, given as either foot strikes the ground, advance
and plant the other foot in double time; resume the quick time, dropping
the hands by the sides.
To Mark Time
Being in march: 1 _Mark Time_, 2 _March_.
At the command _March_, given as either foot strikes the ground,
advance and plant the other foot; bring up the foot in rear and continue
the cadence by alternately raising each foot about two inches and
planting it on line with the other.
Being at a halt, at the command _March_, raise and plant the feet as
described above.
The Half Step
1 _Half Step_, 2 _March_.
Take steps of ten inches in quicktime, twelve inches in double time.
_Forward_, _Half Step_, _Halt_ and _Mark Time_ may be executed one from
the other in quick or double time.
To resume the full step from half step or mark time: _Forward March._
Side Step
Being at halt or mark time: 1 _Right (or left) Step_, 2 _March_. Carry
and plant the right foot twelve inches to the right; bring the left foot
beside it and continue the movement in the cadence of quick time.
The side step is used for short distances only and is not executed in
double time.
Back Step
Being at a halt or mark time: 1 _Backward_, 2 _March_. Take steps of
twelve inches straight to the rear. The back step is used for short
distances only and is not executed in double time.
To Halt
To arrest the march in quick or double time: 1 _Squad_ (or if the full
troop is drilling _Company_), 2 _Halt_.
At the command _Halt_, given as either foot strikes the ground, plant
the other foot as in marching; raise and place the first foot by the
side of the other. If in double time, drop the hands by the sides.
To March by the Flank
Being in march: 1 _By the Right (or left) Flank_, 2 _March_.
At the command _March_, given as the right foot strikes the ground,
advance and plant the left foot, then face to the right in marching and
step off in the new direction with the right foot.
To March to the Rear
Being in march: 1 _To the Rear_, 2 _March_.
At the command _March_, given as the right foot strikes the ground,
advance and plant the left foot; turn to the right about on the balls of
both feet and immediately step off with the left foot.
If marching in double time, turn to the right about, taking four steps
in place, keeping the cadence, and then step off with the left foot.
Change Step
Being in march: 1 _Change Step_, 2 _March_.
At the command _March_, given as the right foot strikes the ground,
advance and plant the left foot; plant the toe of the right foot near
the heel of the left and step off with the left foot.
The change on the right foot is similarly executed, the command _March_
being given as the left foot strikes the ground.
SECOND CLASS DRILL
_Fall In._ (_Described in Tenderfoot Drill._)
_Count Off._
At this command all except the right file execute _Eyes Right_, and
beginning on the right, the Scouts in each rank count _One_, _Two_,
_Three_, _Four_; each turns her head and eyes to the front as she
counts.
[Illustration: GIRL SCOUT UNIFORM--ONE PIECE]
Alignments
1 _Right (or Left) Dress_, 2 _Front_. (Described in Tenderfoot Drill.)
To preserve the alignment when marching; _Guide Right_ (_or left_). The
Scouts preserve their intervals from the side of the guide, yielding to
pressure on that side and resisting pressure from the opposite
direction; they recover intervals, if lost, by gradually opening out or
closing in; they recover alignment by slightly lengthening or shortening
the step; the rear rank Scouts cover their file leaders at forty inches.
To Take Distance
(Formation for signalling or for setting-up exercises.)
Being in line at a halt having counted off: 1 _Take Distance at four
paces_, 2 _March_; 3 _Squad (or company), Halt_.
At the command _March_, each Scout in succession starting at four paces
apart and beginning with No. 1 of the front rank, followed by 2, 3, 4
and 1, 2, 3, 4 of the rear rank, marches straight forward until the
order Squad, Halt is given. The command _Halt_ is given when all have
their distances.
(Word to instructors: Where the floor space is limited it is advisable
to have the Scouts take the half step in executing this formation or
move at two paces.)
If more than one squad is in line, each squad executes the movement as
above simultaneously.
Being at distances, to assemble the squad (or company):
1 _Assemble_, 2 _March_.
At the command _March_, No. 1 of the front rank stands fast; the other
members move forward to their proper places in the line.
The Oblique March
For the instruction of the recruits, the squad being in column or
correctly aligned, the instructor causes the Scouts to face half right
and half left, points out to them their relative positions, and explains
that these are to be maintained in the oblique march.
1 _Right (or Left) Oblique_, 2 _March_.
At the command _March_, each Scout steps off in a direction forty-five
degrees to the right of her original front. She preserves her relative
position, keeping her shoulders parallel to those of the guide, and so
regulates her steps that the ranks remain parallel to their original
front.
At the command _Halt_ the Scouts face to the front.
To resume the original directions: 1 _Forward_, 2 _March_.
The Scouts half face to the left in marching and then move straight to
the front.
To Turn on Moving Pivot
Begin in line: 1 _Right (or left) Turn_, 2 _March_.
(This applies to the single squad; if the whole troop is drilling and is
in column of squads, or twos, the command would be: 1 _Column Right_
(_or left_), 2 _March_.)
The movement is executed by each rank successively and on the same
ground. At the second command, the pivot Scout of the front rank faces
to the right in marching and takes the half step; the other Scouts of
the rank oblique 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 Scout. All glance toward the marching flank while
at half step and take the full step without command as the last Scout
arrives on the line.
_Right_ (_or left_) Half Turn is executed in a similar manner. The pivot
Scout makes a half change of direction to the right and the other Scouts
make quarter changes in obliquing.
To Turn on a Fixed Pivot
Being in line, to turn and march: 1 _Squad Right_ (_or left_), 2
_March_.
At the second command, the right flank Scout in the front rank faces to
the right in marching and marks time; the other front rank Scouts
oblique to the right, place themselves abreast of the pivot, and mark
time. In the rear rank the third Scout from the right, followed in
column by the second and first, moves straight to the front until in the
rear of her front rank Scout, when all face to the right in marching and
mark time; the other number of the rear rank moves straight to the front
four paces and places herself abreast of the Scout on her right. Scouts
on the new line glance toward the marching flank while marking time and,
as the last Scout arrives on the line, both ranks execute _Forward
March_ without further command.
Being in line to turn and halt: 1 _Squad Right_ (_or left_), 2 _March_,
3 _Squad_, 4 _Halt_.
The third command is given immediately after the second. The turn is
executed as prescribed in the preceding paragraph except that all
Scouts, on arriving on the new line mark time until the fourth command
is given, when all halt. The fourth command should be given as the last
Scout arrives on the line.
Being in line to turn about and march: 1 _Squad Right (or left) About_,
2 _March_.
At the second command the front rank twice executes Squad Right
initiating the second Squad Right when the Scout on the marching flank
has arrived abreast of the rank. In the rear rank the third Scout from
the right, followed by the second and first in column, moves straight to
the front until on the prolongation of the line to be occupied by the
rear rank; changes direction to the right; moves in the new direction
until in the rear of her front rank Scout, when all face to the right
in marching, mark time, and glance toward the marching flank. The fourth
Scout marches on the left of the third to her new position; as she
arrives on the line, both ranks execute _Forward March_ without command.
FIRST CLASS DRILL
_On Right (or left) Into Line._
Being in columns of squads, to form line on right or left; 1 _On Right
(or left) Into Line_, 2 _March_, 3 _Company_, 4 _Halt_, 5 _Front_.
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._
The units in the rear continue to march straight to the front; each,
when opposite its place on the 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 on
the line.
If executed in double time, the leading squad marches in double time
until halted.
_Front Into Line._
Being in columns of squads, to form line to the front; _Right (or left)
Front Into Line_, 2 _March_, 3 _Company_, 4 _Halt_, 5 _Front_.
At the first command the leaders of the units in the 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.
To Diminish the Front of a Column of Squads
Being in column of squads: 1 _Right (or left) By Twos_, 2 _March_. At
the command _March_, all files except the two right files of the leading
squad execute _In Place Halt_; the two right files of the leading squad
oblique to the right when disengaged and follow the right files at the
shortest practicable distance. The remaining squads follow successively
in like manner.
Being in columns of twos: (1) _Right (or left) By File_, 2 _March_. At
the command _March_, all files execute _In Place Halt_, except the right
file of the leading two oblique successively to the right when
disengaged and each follows the file on its right at the shortest
practicable distance. The remaining twos follow successively in like
manner.
Being in column of files of twos, to form column of squads; or being in
column of files, to form column of twos: 1 _Squads (Twos) Right (or
left) Front Into Line_, 2 _March_.
At the command _March_, the leading file or files halt. The remainder of
the squad, or two, obliques to the right and halts on line with the
leading file or files. The remaining squads or twos close up and
successively form in the rear of the first in like manner.
The movement described in this paragraph will be ordered _Right_ or
_Left_, so as to restore the files to their normal relative positions in
the two or squad.
FOOTNOTE:
[2] _All ranks count off beginning with right end: 1, 2, 3, 4._