Manual of Military Training Part 55

=842. 1. Breathing exercise, 2. INHALE, 3. EXHALE.=

At =inhale= the arms are stretched forward overhead and the lungs are inflated; at =exhale= the arms are lowered laterally and the lungs deflated; execute slowly; repeat four times.

TOE EXERCISE

=843. 1. Arms backward, 2. CROSS, 3. RISE ON TOES.=

Two counts; repeat 8 to 10 times, Fig. 14.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 14]

The body is raised smartly until the toes and ankles are extended as much as possible; heels closed; head and trunk erect; in recovering position heels are lowered gently; breathe naturally.

COMBINATION EXERCISE

=844.= This exercise brings into play practically all of the muscles that have been used in the preceding exercises.

=1. LEANING REST IN FOUR COUNTS.=

Repeat 6 to 8 times, Figs. 15, 16.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 15]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 16]

At =one= knees are bent to squatting position, hands on the ground between knees; at =two= the legs are extended backward to the leaning rest; at =three= the first position is resumed, and at =four= the position of attention; hands should be directly under shoulders; back arched; knees straight; head fixed; execute moderately fast; breathe naturally.

WALKING AND MARCHING

=845.= 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.

Proper posture and carriage have ever been considered very important in the training of soldiers. In marching, the head and trunk should remain immobile, but without stiffness; as the left foot is carried forward the right forearm is swung forward and inward obliquely across the body until the thumb, knuckles being turned out, reaches a point about the height of the belt plate. The upper arm does not move beyond the perpendicular plane while the forearm is swung forward, though the arm hangs loosely from the shoulder joint. The forearm swing ends precisely at the moment the left heel strikes the ground; the arm is then relaxed and allowed to swing down and backward by its own weight until it reaches a point where the thumb is about the breadth of a hand to the rear of the b.u.t.tocks. As the right arm swings back, the left arm is swung forward with the right leg. The forward motion of the arm a.s.sists the body in marching by throwing the weight forward and inward upon the opposite foot as it is planted. The head is held erect; body well stretched from the waist; chest arched; and there should be no rotary motion of the body about the spine.

As the leg is thrown forward the knee is smartly extended, the heel striking the ground first.

The instructor having explained the principles and ill.u.s.trated the step and arm swing, commands: =1. Forward, 2. MARCH=--and to halt the squad he commands: =1. Squad, 2. HALT.=

In executing the setting-up exercises on the march the cadence should at first be given slowly and gradually increased as the men become more expert; some exercises require a slow and others a faster pace; it is best in these cases to allow the cadence of the exercise to determine the cadence of the step.

The men should march in a single file at proved intervals. The command that causes and discontinues the execution should be given as the left foot strikes the ground.

On the march, to discontinue the exercise, command: =1. Quick time, 2.

MARCH=, instead of =HALT=, as when at rest.

All of the arm, wrist, finger, and shoulder exercises, and some of the trunk and neck, may be executed on the march by the same commands and means as when at rest.

The following leg and foot exercises are executed at the command march; the execution always beginning with the left leg or foot.

1. =1. On toes, 2. MARCH.= 2. =1. On heels, 2. MARCH.= 3. =1. On right heel and left toe, 2. MARCH.= 4. =1. On left heel and right toe, 2. MARCH.= 5. =1. On toes with knees stiff, 2. MARCH.= 6. =1. Swing extended leg forward, ankle high, 2. MARCH.= 7. =1. Swing extended leg forward, knee high, 2. MARCH.= 8. =1. Swing extended leg forward, waist high, 2. MARCH.= 9. =1. Swing extended leg forward, shoulder high, 2. MARCH.= 10. =1. Raise heels, 2. MARCH.= 11. =1. Raise knees, thigh horizontal, 2. MARCH.= 12. =1. Raise knees, chest high, 2. MARCH.= 13. =1. Circle extended leg forward, ankle high, 2. MARCH.= 14. =1. Circle extended leg forward, knee high, 2. MARCH.= 15. =1. Circle extended leg forward, waist high, 2. MARCH.= 16. =1. Swing extended leg backward, 2. MARCH.= 17. =1. Swing extended leg sideward, 2. MARCH.= 18. =1. Raise knee and extend leg forward, 2. MARCH.= 19. =1. Raise heels and extend leg forward, 2. MARCH.=

DOUBLE TIMING

=846.= The length of the step in double time is 36 inches; the cadence is at the rate of 180 steps per minute. To march in double time the instructor commands: =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 inward and upward in the direction of the opposite shoulder.

In 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.

When marching in double time and in running the men breathe as much as possible through the nose, keeping the mouth closed.

A few minutes at the beginning of the setting-up exercises should be devoted to double timing. From lasting only a few minutes at the start it may be gradually increased, so that daily drills should enable the men at the end of five or six months to double time 15 or 20 minutes without becoming fatigued or distressed.

After the double time the men should be marched for several minutes at quick time; after this the instructor should command:

=1. Route step, 2. MARCH.=

In marching at route step, the men are not required to preserve silence nor keep the step; if marching at proved intervals, the latter is preserved.

To resume the cadence step in quick time, the instructor commands: =1.

Squad, 2. ATTENTION.=

Great care must be exercised concerning the duration of the double time and the speed and duration of the run. The demands made Upon the men should be increased gradually.

When exercise rather than distance is desired, the running should be done on the b.a.l.l.s of the feet, heels raised from the ground.

DOUBLE TIMING EXERCISES

While the men are double timing the instructor may vary the position of the arms by commanding:

1. =1. Arms forward, 2. RAISE.= 2. =1. Arms sideward, 2. RAISE.= 3. =1. Arms upward, 2. RAISE.= 4. =1. Hands on hips, 2. PLACE.= 5. =1. Hands on shoulders, 2. PLACE.= 6. =1. Arms forward, 2. CROSS.= 7. =1. Arms backward, 2. CROSS.=

At the command =down=, the double-time position for the arms and hands is resumed.

RIFLE EXERCISES

=847.= The object of these exercises, which may also be performed with wands or bar bells, is to develop the muscles of the arms, shoulders, and back so that the men will become accustomed to the weight of the piece and learn to wield it with that "handiness" so essential to its successful use. When these exercises are combined with movements of the various other parts of the body, they serve as a splendid, though rather strenuous, method for the all-round development of the men. As the weight of the piece is considerable, instructors are cautioned to be reasonable in their demands. Far better results are obtained if these exercises are performed at commands than when they are grouped and performed for spectacular purposes.

All the exercises start from the starting position, which is the low extended arm horizontal position in front of the body, arms straight; the right hand grasping the small of the stock and the left hand the barrel; the knuckles turned to the front and the distance between the hands slightly greater than the width of the shoulders. Fig. 17.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 17]

This position is a.s.sumed at the command: =1. Starting, 2. POSITION=; at the command =position= the piece is brought to the port and lowered to the front horizontal snappily.