Manual of Military Training Part 140

Orderlies and Color Sentinels

=1702.= When so directed by the commanding officer, the officer who inspects the guard at guard mounting will select from the members of the new guard an orderly for the commanding officer and such number of other orderlies and color sentinels as may be required. (140)

For these positions the soldiers will be chosen who are most correct in the performance of duty and in military bearing, neatest in person and clothing, and whose arms and accouterments are in the best condition. Clothing, arms, and equipments must conform to regulations.

If there is any doubt as to the relative qualifications of two or more soldiers, the inspecting officer will cause them to fall out at the guardhouse and to form in line in single rank. He will then, by testing them in drill regulations, select the most proficient. The commander of the guard will be notified of the selection. (141)

=1703.= When directed by the commander of the guard to fall out and report, an orderly will give his name, company, and regiment to the sergeant of the guard, and, leaving his rifle in the arm rack in his company quarters, will proceed at once to the officer to whom he is a.s.signed, reporting: "=Sir, Private ----, Company ----, reports as orderly.=" (142)

=1704.= If the orderly selected be a cavalryman, he will leave his rifle in the arm rack of his troop quarters, and report with his belt on, but without side arms unless specially otherwise ordered. (143)

=1705.= Orderlies, while on duty as such, are subject only to the orders of the commanding officer and of the officers to whom they are ordered to report. (144)

=1706.= When an orderly is ordered to carry a message, he will be careful to deliver it exactly as it was given to him. (145)

=1707.= His tour of duty ends when he is relieved by the orderly selected from the guard relieving his own. (146)

=1708.= Orderlies are members of the guard, and their name, company, and regiment are entered on the guard report and lists of the guard.

(147)

=1709.= If a color line is established, sufficient sentinels are placed on the color line to guard the colors and stacks. (148)

=1710.= Color sentinels are posted only so long as the stacks are formed. The commander of the guard will divide the time equally among them. (149)

=1711.= When stacks are broken, the color sentinels may be permitted to return to their respective companies. They are required to report in person to the commander of the guard at reveille and retreat. They will fall in with the guard, under arms, at guard mounting. (150)

=1712.= Color sentinels are not placed on the regular reliefs, nor are their posts numbered. In calling for the corporal of the guard, they call: "=Corporal of the guard. Color line.=" (151)

=1713.= Officers or enlisted men pa.s.sing the uncased colors will render the prescribed salute. If the colors are on the stacks, the salute will be made on crossing the color line or on pa.s.sing the colors. (152)

=1714.= A sentinel placed over the colors will not permit them to be moved, except in the presence of an armed escort. Unless otherwise ordered by the commanding officer, he will allow no one to touch them but the color bearer.

He will not permit any soldier to take arms from the stacks, or to touch them, except by order of an officer or noncommissioned officer of the guard.

If any person pa.s.sing the colors or crossing the color line fails to salute the colors, the sentinel will caution him to do so, and if the caution be not heeded he will call the corporal of the guard and report the facts. (153)

Privates of the Guard

=1715.= Privates are a.s.signed to reliefs by the commander of the guard, and to posts, usually, by the corporal of their relief. They will not change from one relief or post to another during the same tour of guard duty unless by proper authority. (154)

Orders for Sentinels

=1716.= Orders for sentinels are of two cla.s.ses: General orders and special orders. General orders apply to all sentinels. Special orders relate to particular posts and duties. (155)

=1717.= Sentinels will be required to memorize the following:

My general orders are:

=1. To take charge of this post and all Government property in view.=

=2. To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.=

=3. To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.=

=4. To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guardhouse than my own.=

=5. To quit my post only when properly relieved.=

=6. To receive, obey, and pa.s.s on to the sentinel who relieves me all orders from the commanding officer, officer of the day, and officers and noncommissioned officers of the guard only.=

=7. To talk to no one except in line of duty.=

=8. In case of fire or disorder to give the alarm.=

=9. To allow no one to commit a nuisance on or near my post.=

=10. In any case not covered by instructions to call the corporal of the guard.=

=11. To salute all officers, and all colors and standards not cased.=

=12. To be especially watchful at night, and, during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post, and to allow no one to pa.s.s without proper authority.= (156)

Regulations Relating to the General Orders for Sentinels

=1718.= No. 1: =To take charge of this post and all Government property in view.=

All persons, of whatever rank in the service, are required to observe respect toward sentinels and members of the guard when such are in the performance of their duties. (157)

=1719.= A sentinel will at once report to the corporal of the guard every unusual or suspicious occurrence noted. (158)

=1720.= He will arrest suspicious persons prowling about the post or camp at any time, all parties to a disorder occurring on or near his post, and all, except authorized persons, who attempt to enter the camp at night, and will turn over to the corporal of the guard all persons arrested. (159)

=1721.= The number, limits, and extent of his post will invariably const.i.tute part of the special orders of a sentinel on post. The limits of his post should be so defined as to include every place to which he is required to go in the performance of his duties.

No. 2: =To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.= (160)

=1722.= A sentinel is not required to halt and change the position of his rifle on arriving at the end of his post, nor to execute =to the rear, march=, precisely as prescribed in the drill regulations, but faces about while walking, in the manner most convenient to him, and at any part of his post as may be best suited to the proper performance of his duties. He carries his rifle on either shoulder, and in wet or severe weather, when not in a sentry box, may carry it at a secure. (161)

=1723.= Sentinels when in sentry boxes stand at ease. Sentry boxes will be used in wet weather only, or at other times when specially authorized by the commanding officer. (162)

=1724.= In very hot weather, sentinels may be authorized to stand at ease on their posts, provided they can effectively discharge their duties in this position, but they will take advantage of this privilege only on the express authority of the officer of the day or the commander of the guard. (163)

=1725.= A mounted sentinel may dismount occasionally and lead his horse but will not relax his vigilance.

No. 3: =To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.= (164)