Infantry Drill Regulations, United States Army, 1911 Part 13

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.

182. Being in column of squads, to form line of platoons or the reverse: 1. _Platoons, column right (left)_, 2. _MARCH_.

Executed by each platoon as described for the company.

183. 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_.

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 right squad, takes four short steps, then resumes the full step; the right squad conforms.

184. 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_.

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

_Facing or Marching to the Rear._

185. 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. _Squads 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. (_C.I.D.R., No.

2._)

186. 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.

_On Right (Left) Into Line._

187. 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_.

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 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.

_Front Into Line._

188. 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.

189. Being in column of squads to form column of platoons, or being in line of platoons, to form the company in line: 1. _Platoons, right (left) front into line_, 2. _MARCH_, 3. _Company_, 4. _HALT_, 5.

_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.

_AT EASE AND ROUTE STEP._

190. The column of squads is the habitual column of route, but _route step_ and _at ease_ are applicable to any marching formation.

191. 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_.

192. 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_.

193. Marching at route step or at ease: 1. _Company_, 2. _ATTENTION_.

At the command _attention_ the pieces are brought to the right shoulder and the cadenced step in quick time is resumed.

_TO DIMINISH THE FRONT OF A COLUMN OF SQUADS._

194. Being in column of squads: 1. _Right (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 left 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. (_C.I.D.R., No. 2._)

195. Being in column of squads or twos: 1. _Right (left) by file_, 2.

_MARCH_.

At the command _march_, all files execute _in place halt_ except the right file of the leading two or squad. The left file or files of the leading two or squad oblique successively to the right when disengaged and each follows the file on its right at the shortest practicable distance. The remaining twos or squads follow successively in like manner. (_C.I.D.R., No. 2._)

196. Being in column of files or twos, to form column of squads; or, being in column of files, to form column of twos: 1. _Squads (Twos), right (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 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.

197. The movements prescribed in the three preceding paragraphs are difficult of execution at attention and have no value as disciplinary exercises.

198. Marching by twos or files can not be executed without serious delay and waste of road s.p.a.ce. Every reasonable precaution will be taken to obviate the necessity for these formations.