Manual of Military Training Part 142

Special Orders For Sentinels at the Post of the Guard

=1759.= Sentinels posted at the guard will be required to memorize the following:

=Between reveille and retreat to turn out the guard for all persons designated by the commanding officer, for all colors or standards not cased, and in time of war for all armed parties approaching my post, except troops at drill and reliefs and detachments of the guard.=

=At night, after challenging any person or party, to advance no one but call the corporal of the guard, repeating the answer to the challenge.= (199)

=1760.= After receiving an answer to his challenge, the sentinel calls, "=Corporal of the guard (So and so)=," repeating the answer to the challenge.

He does not in such cases repeat the number of his post. (200)

=1761.= He remains in the position a.s.sumed in challenging until the corporal has recognized or advanced the person or party challenged, when he resumes walking his post, or, if the person or party be ent.i.tled thereto, he salutes and, as soon as the salute has been acknowledged, resumes walking his post. (201)

=1762.= The sentinel at the post of the guard will be notified by direction of the commanding officer of the presence in camp or garrison of persons ent.i.tled to the compliment (Par. 1784.) (202)

=1763.= The following examples ill.u.s.trate the manner in which the sentinel at the post of the guard will turn out the guard upon the approach of persons or parties ent.i.tled to the compliment (Pars. 1784, 1787, and 1788): "=Turn out the guard, Commanding Officer="; "=Turn out the guard, Governor of a Territory="; "=Turn out the guard, national colors="; "=Turn out the guard, armed party="; etc.

At the approach of the new guard at guard mounting the sentinel will call "=Turn out the guard, armed party=." (203)

=1764.= Should the person named by the sentinel not desire the guard formed, he will salute, whereupon the sentinel will call "=Never mind the guard=." (204)

=1765.= After having called "=Turn out the guard=," the sentinel will never call "=Never mind the guard=," on the approach of an armed party. (205)

=1766.= Though the guard be already formed he will not fail to call "=Turn out the guard=," as required in his special orders, except that the guard will not be turned out for any person while his senior is at or coming to the post of the guard. (206)

=1767.= The sentinels at the post of the guard will warn the commander of the approach of any armed body and of the presence in the vicinity of all suspicious or disorderly persons. (207)

=1768.= In case of fire or disorder in sight or hearing, the sentinel at the guardhouse will call the corporal of the guard and report the facts to him. (208)

Countersigns and Paroles

=1769. Seventy-seventh Article of War.= Any person subject to military law makes known the parole or countersign to any person not ent.i.tled to receive it according to the rules and discipline of war, or gives a parole or countersign different from that which he received, shall, if the offense be committed in time of war, suffer death or such other punishment as a court-martial may direct. (See Par. 1732.) (209)

=1770.= The =countersign= is a word given daily from the princ.i.p.al headquarters of a command to aid guards and sentinels in identifying persons who may be authorized to pa.s.s at night.

It is given to such persons as may be authorized to pa.s.s and repa.s.s sentinels' posts during the night, and to officers, noncommissioned officers, and sentinels of the guard. (210)

=1771.= The =parole= is a word used as a check on the countersign in order to obtain more accurate identification of persons. It is imparted only to those who are ent.i.tled to inspect guards and to commanders of guards.

The parole or countersign, or both, are sent sealed in the form of an order to those ent.i.tled to them. (211)

=1772.= When the commander of the guard demands the parole, he will advance and receive it as the corporal receives the countersign. (See Par. 1695.) (212)

=1773.= As the communications containing the parole and countersign must at times be distributed by many orderlies, the parole intrusted to many officers, and the countersign and parole to many officers and sentinels, and as both the countersign and parole must, for large commands, be prepared several days in advance, there is always danger of their being lost or becoming known to persons who would make improper use of them; moreover, a sentinel is too apt to take it for granted that any person who gives the right countersign is what he represents himself to be; hence for outpost duty there is greater security in omitting the use of the countersign and parole, or in using them with great caution. The chief reliance should be upon personal recognition or identification of all persons claiming authority to pa.s.s.

Persons whose sole means of identification is the countersign, or concerning whose authority to pa.s.s there is a reasonable doubt, should not be allowed to pa.s.s without the authority of the corporal of the guard after proper investigation; the corporal will take to his next superior any person about whom he is not competent to decide. (213)

=1774.= The =countersign= is usually the name of a battle; the =parole=, that of a general or other distinguished person. (214)

=1775.= When they can not be communicated daily, a series of words for some days in advance may be sent to posts or detachments that are to use the same parole or countersign as the main body. (215)

=1776.= If the countersign be lost, or if a member of the guard desert with it, the commander on the spot will subst.i.tute another for it and report the case at once to headquarters. (216)

=1777.= In addition to the countersign, use may be made of preconcerted signals, such as striking the rifle with the hand or striking the hands together a certain number of times, as agreed upon.

Such signals may be used only by guards that occupy exposed points.

They are used before the countersign is given, and must not be communicated to anyone not ent.i.tled to know the countersign. Their use is intended to prevent the surprise of a sentinel.

In the daytime signals such as raising a cap or a handkerchief in a prearranged manner may be used by sentinels to communicate with the guard or with each other. (217)

Guard Patrols

=1778.= A guard patrol consists of one or more men detailed for the performance of some special service connected with guard duty. (218)

=1779.= If the patrol be required to go beyond the chain of sentinels, the officer or noncommissioned officer in charge will be furnished with the countersign, and the outposts and sentinels warned. (219)

=1780.= If challenged by a sentinel, the patrol is halted by its commander, and the noncommissioned officer accompanying it advances alone and gives the countersign. (220)

Watchmen

=1781.= Enlisted men may be detailed as watchmen or as overseers over prisoners, and as such will receive their orders and perform their duties as the commanding officer may direct. (221)

Compliments From Guards

=1782.= The compliment from a guard consists in the guard turning out and presenting arms. (See Par. 1612.) No compliments will be paid between retreat and reveille except as provided in paragraphs 361 and 362, nor will any person other than those named in paragraph 224 receive the compliment. (222)

=1783.= Though a guard does not turn out between retreat and reveille as a matter of compliment, it may be turned out for inspection at any time by a person ent.i.tled to inspect it. (223)

=1784.= Between reveille and retreat the following persons are ent.i.tled to the compliment: The President, sovereign or chief magistrate of a foreign country, and members of a royal family; Vice-President; President and President pro tempore of the Senate; American and foreign amba.s.sadors; members of the Cabinet; Chief Justice; Speaker of the House of Representatives; committees of Congress officially visiting a military post; governors within their respective States and Territories; governors general[20]; a.s.sistant Secretary of War officially visiting a military post; all general officers of the Army; general officers of foreign services visiting a post; naval, marine, volunteer, and militia officers in the service of the United States and holding the rank of general officer; American or foreign envoys or ministers; ministers accredited to the United states: charges d'affaires accredited to the United States; consuls general accredited to the United States; commanding officer of a coast artillery district, coast defense command, post, fort or camp; officer of the day. (224) (C. M. I. G. D., No. 1, Feb. 24, 1915.)

=1785.= The relative rank between officers of the Army and Navy is as follows: General with admiral, lieutenant general with the vice admiral, major general with rear admiral, brigadier general with commodore,[21] colonel with captain, lieutenant colonel with commander, major with lieutenant commander, captain with lieutenant, first lieutenant with lieutenant (junior grade), second lieutenant with ensign. (A. R. 12.) (225)

=1786.= Sentinels will not be required to memorize paragraph 1784, and except in the cases of general officers of the Army, the commanding officer, and the officer of the day, they will be advised in each case of the presence in camp or garrison of persons ent.i.tled to the compliment. (226)

=1787.= Guards will turn out and present arms when the national or regimental colors or standards, not cased, are carried past by a guard or an armed party. This rule also applies when the party carrying the colors is at drill. If the drill is conducted in the vicinity of the guardhouse, the guard will be turned out when the colors first pa.s.s, and not thereafter. (227)

=1788.= In case the remains of a deceased officer or soldier are carried past, the guard will turn out and present arms. (228)

=1789.= In time of war all guards will turn out under arms when armed parties, except troops at drill and reliefs or detachments of the guard, approach their post. (See Par. 1615.) (229)

=1790.= The commander of the guard will be notified of the presence in camp or garrison of all persons ent.i.tled to the compliment, except general officers of the Army, the commanding officer, and the officer of the day. Members of the guard will salute all persons ent.i.tled to the compliment and all officers in the military or naval service of foreign powers, officers of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps, officers of volunteers, and officers of militia when in uniform. (230)