The Plattsburg Manual Part 8

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE CORRECT POSITION OF LEFT SHOULDER ARMS]

The incorrect positions are usually the same as are found in the right shoulder arms, and as ill.u.s.trated here.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Being at left shoulder arms: 1. Port, 2. ARMS. It is executed in two counts.

At the command arms, grasp the piece with the right hand at the small of the stock.

At the command two, carry the piece, with the right hand to the position of port arms, regrasp it with the left.

Left shoulder arms may be ordered from the order, right shoulder or present, or the reverse. At the command arms, execute port arms and continue to the position ordered.

Being at order arms: 1. Parade, 2. REST. It is executed in one count.

At the command rest, carry muzzle in front of the center of the body, barrel to the left. Grasp piece with the left hand just below the stacking swivel, and with the right hand below and against the left.

Left knee slightly bent. Carry the right foot 6 inches straight to the rear.

[Ill.u.s.tration: CORRECT POSITION OF PARADE REST]

Being at parade rest: 1. Squad, 2. ATTENTION. Executed in one count.

At the command attention (it is a custom of the service to execute the movement at the last syllable of the command), resume the order, the left hand quitting the piece opposite the right hip.

Being at order arms: 1. Trail, 2. ARMS.

At the command arms, raise the piece, right arm slightly bent, and incline the muzzle forward so that the barrel makes an angle of about 30 with the vertical.

When it can be done without danger or inconvenience to others, the piece may be grasped at the balance and the muzzle lowered until the piece is horizontal; a similar position in the left hand may be used.

[Ill.u.s.tration: CORRECT POSITION OF TRAIL ARMS

Being at trail arms: 1. Order, 2. ARMS.

At the command arms, lower the gun with the right hand and resume the order.]

Being at right shoulder arms: 1. Rifle, 2. SALUTE. It is executed in two counts.

At the command salute, carry the left hand smartly to the small of the stock, forearm horizontal, palm of hand down, thumb and fingers joined, forefinger touching end of c.o.c.king piece. Look toward the person saluted. At the command two, drop the hand by the side; turn the head and eyes to the front.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE CORRECT POSITION OF RIFLE SALUTE, BEING AT RIGHT SHOULDER ARMS.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: COMMON ERRORS IN RIFLE SALUTE AT RIGHT SHOULDER ARMS.

No. 1. Left elbow too low. Forearm should be horizontal.

No. 2. Left elbow too high. Fingers not extended and joined.]

Being at order or trail arms: 1. Rifle, 2. SALUTE.

At the command salute, carry the left hand smartly to the right side, palm of the hand down, thumb and fingers extended and joined, forefinger against piece near the muzzle; look toward the person saluted. At the command two, drop the left hand by the side; turn the head and eyes to the front.

[Ill.u.s.tration: RIFLE SALUTE BEING AT ORDER ARMS]

[Ill.u.s.tration: COMMON ERRORS IN RIFLE SALUTE AT ORDER OR TRAIL ARMS

No. 1. Fingers not extended and joined.

No. 2. Fingers not joined. Gun held too high.]

Being at order arms: 1. Fix, 2. BAYONET.

If the bayonet scabbard is carried on the belt: execute parade rest; grasp the bayonet with the right hand, back of hand toward the body; draw the bayonet from the scabbard and fix it on the barrel, glancing at the muzzle; resume the order.

If the bayonet is carried on the haversack: draw the bayonet with the left hand and fix it in the most convenient manner.

Being at order arms: 1. Unfix, 2. BAYONET.

If the bayonet scabbard is carried on the belt: Execute parade rest; grasp the handle of the bayonet firmly with the right hand, pressing the spring with the forefinger of the right hand; raise the bayonet until the handle is about 12 inches above the muzzle of the piece; drop the point to the left, back of the hand toward the body, and, glancing at the scabbard, return the bayonet, the blade pa.s.sing between the left arm and the body; regrasp the piece with the right hand and resume the order.

If the bayonet scabbard is carried on the haversack: Take the bayonet from the rifle with the left hand and return it to the scabbard in the most convenient manner.

If marching or laying down, the bayonet is fixed and unfixed in the most expeditious and convenient manner and the piece returned to the original position.

Fix and unfix bayonet are executed with promptness and regularity but not in cadence.

Exercises for instruction in bayonet combat are prescribed in the Manual for Bayonet Exercise.

Being at order arms: 1. Inspection, 2. ARMS.

At the command arms, take the position of port arms; at the command two, seize the bolt handle with the thumb and forefinger of the right hand, turn the handle up, draw the bolt back, and glance at the chamber.

Having found the chamber empty, or having emptied it, raise the head and eyes to the front. Keep your right hand on the bolt.

[Ill.u.s.tration: INSPECTION ARMS]

It is a very common error to change the position of the piece while drawing the bolt back. Guard against this.

Being at inspection arms: 1. Order (or right shoulder, or port), 2.

ARMS.

At the preparatory command (i.e., at the command order), push the bolt forward, turn the handle down, pull the trigger, and resume port arms.

At the command arms, complete the movement ordered.

TO DISMISS THE SQUAD