Manual of Military Training - Part 8
Library

Part 8

Eyes Right or Left

=103. 1. Eyes, 2. RIGHT (LEFT), 3. FRONT.=

[Ill.u.s.tration]

At the command =right=, turn the head to the right oblique, eyes fixed on the line of eyes of the men in, or supposed to be in, the same rank. At the command =front=, turn the head and eyes to the front.

(55)

Facings

=104. To the flank: 1. Right (left), 2. FACE.=

Raise slightly the left heel and right toe; face to the right, turning on the right heel, a.s.sisted 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 (left) half face= is executed similarly, facing 45.

"To face in marching" and advance, turn on the ball of either foot and step off with the other foot in the new line of direction; to face in marching without gaining ground in the new direction, turn on the ball of either foot and mark time. (56)

=105.= To the rear: =1. About, 2. FACE.=

Carry the toe of the right foot about a half 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. (57)

Salute with the Hand

=106. 1. Hand, 2. SALUTE.=

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Raise the right hand smartly till the tip of the forefinger touches the lower part of the headdress or forehead above the right eye, thumb and fingers extended and joined palm to the left, forearm inclined at about 45, hand and wrist straight; =at the same time look toward the person saluted=. (=TWO=) Drop the arm smartly by the side. (58)

(For rules governing salutes, see "Military Courtesy," Chapter XI, Part II.)

Steps and Marchings

=107. Steps and marchings begin with left foot.= All steps and marchings executed from a halt, except right step, begin with the left foot. (59)

=108. Length and cadence of full step; indicating cadence.= The length of the full step in quick time is 30 inches, measured from heel to heel, and the cadence is at the rate of 120 steps per minute.

The length of the full step in double time is 36 inches; the cadence is at the rate of 180 steps per minute.

The instructor, when necessary, indicates the cadence of the step by calling =one, two, three, four=, or =left, right=, the instant the left and right foot, respectively, should be planted. (60)

=109. Steps and marchings and movements involving marchings habitually executed in quick time.= All steps and marchings and movements involving march are executed in =quick time= unless the squad be marching in =double time=, or =double time= be added to the command; in the latter case double time is added to the preparatory command.

Example: =1. Squad right, double time, 2. MARCH= (School of the Squad). (61)

Quick Time

=110.= 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 30 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. (62)

=111.= 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. (63)

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. (64)

To Mark Time

=112.= 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 2 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. (65)

The Half Step

=113. 1. Half step, 2. MARCH.=

Take steps of 15 inches in quick time, 18 inches in double time. (66)

=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: =1. Forward, 2.

MARCH.= (67)

Side Step

=114.= Being at a halt or mark time: =1. Right (left) step, 2. MARCH.=

Carry and plant the right foot 15 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.

If at order arms, the side step is executed at trail without command.

(68)