The Plattsburg Manual Part 2

The uniform you will wear stands for Duty, Honor, and Country. You should not disgrace it by the way you wear it or by your conduct any more than you would trample the flag of the United States of America under foot. You must constantly bear in mind that in our country a military organization is too often judged by the acts of a few of its members. When one or two soldiers in uniform conduct themselves in an ungentlemanly or unmilitary manner to the disgrace of the uniform, the layman shakes his head and condemns all men wearing that uniform. Hence, show by the way in which you wear your uniform that you are proud of it; this can be best accomplished by observing the following rules:

1. Carry yourself at all times as though you were proud of yourself, your uniform, and your country.

2. Wear your hat so that the brim is parallel to the ground.

3. Have all b.u.t.tons fastened.

4. Never have sleeves rolled up.

5. Never wear sleeve holders.

6. Never leave s.h.i.+rt or coat unb.u.t.toned at the throat.

7. Have leggins and trousers properly laced.

8. Keep shoes s.h.i.+ned.

9. Always be clean shaved.

10. Keep head up and shoulders square.

11. Camp life has a tendency to make one careless as to personal cleanliness. Bear this in mind.

SALUTING

The military salute is universal. It is at foundation but a courteous recognition between two individuals of their common fellows.h.i.+p in the same honorable profession, the profession of arms. Regulations require that it be rendered by both the senior and the junior, as bare courtesy requires between gentlemen in civil life. It is the military equivalent of the laymen's expressions "Good Morning," or "How do you do?"

Therefore be punctilious about saluting; be proud of the manner in which you execute your salute, and make it indicative of discipline and good breeding. Always look at the officer you are saluting. The junior salutes first. It is very unmilitary to salute with the left hand in a pocket, or with a cigarette, cigar, or pipe in the mouth. Observe the following general rules:

1. Never salute an officer when you are in ranks.

2. Indoors (in your tent) unarmed, do not salute but stand at attention, uncovered, on the entrance of an officer. If he speaks to you, then salute.

3. Indoors, armed, render the prescribed salute, i.e., the rifle salute at order arms or at trail.

4. Outdoors, armed, render the prescribed salute, i.e., the rifle salute at right shoulder arms.

5. Outdoors, unarmed, or armed with side arms, salute with the right hand.

ARMY SLANG

The following army slang is universally employed:

"Bunkie"--the soldier who shares the shelter half or tent of a comrade in the field. A bunkie looks after his comrade's property in the event the latter is absent.

"Doughboy"--the infantryman.

"French leave"--unauthorized absence.

"Holy Joe"--the chaplain.

"K.O."--the commanding officer.

"On the carpet"--a call before the commanding officer for admonition.

"Q.M."--quartermaster.

"Rookie"--a new recruit.

"Sand rat"--a soldier on duty in the rifle pit during target practice.

"Top sergeant"--the first sergeant.

"Come and get it"--the meal is ready to be served.

HOW TO CLEAN A RIFLE AND BAYONET

Get a rag and rub the heavy grease off; then get a soft pine stick, pointed at one end, and with this point remove the grease from the cracks, crevices and corners. Clean the bore from the breech. When the heavy grease has been removed, the metal part of the gun, bore included, should be covered with a light coating of "3-in-1" oil. Heavy grease can be removed from the rifle by rubbing it with a rag which has been saturated with gasoline or coal oil.

FRIENDS

There are a few men in all companies who play, loaf, and who are constantly in trouble. As the good men in each company will not become friendly with them, they seek their acquaintances among the new men on whom they have a baneful influence. We wish to warn you about making friends too quickly.

FINAL SUGGESTIONS

Don't be profane or tell questionable stories to your bunkies or around the company. There is a much greater number of silent and unprotesting men in camp than is generally supposed, to whom this is offensive. Keep everything on a high plane.

CHAPTER II[1]

Read this chapter as soon as you decide to attend a Camp.