Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Cavalry of the Army Part 27

(_c_) The leader so controls the movements of the base as to facilitate the execution of the movement in accordance with (_b_), above. This will involve halting the base whenever certain movements (e.g., those from column into line) are executed in =quick time=.

(_d_) If =double time= be included in the preparatory command for a movement, the indication is obeyed in accordance with the principles of par. 337.

(_e_) In movements from line into column, and in other similar movements, if executed at =attention=, the troopers while waiting to take their places in the column do not =halt= unless halt be commanded by a platoon (or troop) commander. They =mark time= instead if necessary for the execution of the movement.

(_f_) In applying the rules for mounted movements to movements on foot =quick time= will be understood where =walk= is referred to and =double time= where any faster gait is referred to.

(_g_) Any exceptions to the above rules are stated where they occur.

=Section 7. The School of the Squad.=

=340.= As soon as the troopers are sufficiently advanced in their instruction in the =School of the Trooper= they will be grouped into temporary squads for elementary collective instruction. This instruction will be conducted in accordance with the general principles indicated in par. 42; progress therein should be so regulated that no collective movement will be taken up until the trooper, by previous individual instruction, has been properly prepared for its execution.

=341.= Instruction in the =School of the Squad= is intended primarily to teach recruits the elementary movements upon which the entire drill is based. It may be recurred to whenever necessary in cases where troopers evidence the need of further elementary work.

=342.= For elementary collective instruction groups of not to exceed six or eight men can be used to best advantage. The actual instruction of each group should be conducted by a noncommissioned officer, but the instruction must be closely supervised by a commissioned officer (par. 37).

=343.= The system of drill contained in these regulations is based largely upon the actual leading of units by their respective chiefs or commanders. During the elementary instruction of recruits, both mounted and dismounted, leading will be emphasized as indicated in par. 344. Thereafter the application of leading will conform to pars.

448 to 456.

=344.= The first collective instruction will, therefore, be in conforming to the march of a leader, thus confirming and extending the instruction given in the =School of the Trooper= (pars. 295, 298); _and reasonable proficiency in this instruction must be secured before any attempt is made to utilize either commands or signals in the execution of collective movements_, except, as prescribed in par. 363.

=345.= It is difficult for a leader to lead the squad properly and at the same time to supervise the march and correct the errors of individual troopers. For this reason it is desirable, especially in the earlier collective drills, that the instructor have as an a.s.sistant another noncommissioned officer or a well-instructed trooper. The instructor then leads the squad and requires his a.s.sistant (who takes the positions best adapted for the purpose in view) to supervise closely the movements of the troopers and to correct errors by means of cautions _addressed quietly by name to the individual man or men concerned_. Later the instructor similarly supervises the execution of the march while requiring his a.s.sistant to lead the squad. As the troopers advance in the instruction the instructor should give each of them such practice in leading the squad as the progress of the individual trooper concerned may appear to justify.

=346.= When instruction in leading (par. 367) has advanced to the point where the guide can preserve his proper distance from the leader and conform promptly and smoothly to the latter's movements, the other troopers meantime preserving their interval and alignment without undue constraint or unnecessarily abrupt changes of gait or pace, the instruction is extended progressively to include, in accordance with the methods prescribed in par. 347, the execution of the movements prescribed for the squad.

=347.= Throughout the instruction prescribed by par. 346 the squad will continue as before to be _led_. In teaching each new movement the example and movements of the instructor as leader will be supplemented at first by oral commands only, then by oral commands accompanied by the corresponding arm signals for those movements for which such signals are provided (_see_ Signals, pars. 988-996), then by signals alone. _The commands and signals will be given by the actual leader._ When the instructor is not actually leading (par. 345) he may either indicate to the leader the movements to be executed or else leave to him the selection of such movements.

=348.= After the oral commands and arm signals are thoroughly understood the instructor will practice the squad in pa.s.sing from one formation to another, using oral commands for some movements, signals for some, and causing some (e.g., changes of direction) to be executed by conforming to the movements of the leader without the additional indication of either oral commands or signals.

=349.= The troopers must be accustomed to conforming, _without the a.s.sistance of any command or signal given to the squad as a whole_, to simple movements (e.g., movements =front into line=) initiated at the head of a column formation by a command so given as to be heard by only the leading troopers.

With reasonable practice the more essential changes of formation that are executed toward the direction of march can readily be taken by the squad by conforming, without other indication, to the movements of the troopers nearest the leader. As many movements in service must be executed under conditions of noise, dust, etc., that will render it difficult for the commands or signals of the leader to be understood except by those near him, _practice, in conforming promptly and intelligently to the movements of the elements nearest the leader is important and must be given careful attention_.

The object ultimately to be sought in the instruction is the quiet, rapid, and effective handling of the squad with a _minimum of either oral commands or signals_. The squad is required to pa.s.s rapidly from one formation to another, a new movement being occasionally initiated before the execution of the one preceding it has been completed.

TO FORM THE SQUAD, MOUNTED.

=350.= To form the squad =in line= (par. 368-_a_), the leader (instructor) designates a trooper to act as the base of the formation, indicates to such trooper the point where the right of the squad is to rest and the direction in which the line is to face, takes position at a convenient distance in front of and facing the point where the center of the squad is to rest, and commands: =LEAD INTO LINE=. The base trooper =leads out= (par. 188) and takes position as indicated; the other troopers lead out so as to approach the line _successively directly from the rear_ and in single rank form on the line established by the base trooper, in order from right to left. The troopers form at stand to horse (par. 187) with intervals of 18 inches between horses.

The line having thus formed, the leader calls the roll and commands, =COUNT FOURS= (par. 84).

Where there is an incomplete four the troopers in it are cautioned as to the numbers finally a.s.signed them (par. 368-_b_).

When but a single trooper is available for an incomplete four the four is habitually broken up and a trooper is placed as an extra file closer. This rule may, however, be modified in connection with the instruction of recruits.

The squad having counted fours, the leader causes the squad to mount (par. 358).

=351.= =The formation in column of fours, twos, or troopers= (par.

368-_b_, _c_, _d_) is similarly executed. The leader commands: =LEAD INTO COLUMN (COLUMN OF TWOS, COLUMN OF TROOPERS)=. The trooper upon whom the formation is based (par. 350) becomes No. 1 of the leading four. The elements of the column form, in order from front to rear, with distances of 4 feet between successive, fours, twos, or troopers.

In column of fours or twos each four or two forms on its right trooper as in line.

When the formation is in column of _fours_ the command =COUNT FOURS= is omitted. The leader cautions: =NOTE YOUR NUMBERS=.

=352.= =The squad may also form in similar manner after the troopers mount.= In this case the leader causes the troopers to mount individually after saddling and commands: =RIDE INTO LINE (COLUMN, COLUMN OF TWOS, COLUMN OF TROOPERS).= The interval between the mounted troopers is 6 inches from knee to knee.

TO FORM THE SQUAD, DISMOUNTED.

=353.= For the dismounted formation of the squad, =in line=, when not armed with the rifle, the leader designates the trooper to act as the base, indicates the latter's position, and takes his own position as described in par. 350, above. He then commands: =FALL IN=. The troopers form as in pars. 57 and 58. The leader then calls the roll and causes the squad to count fours.

If armed with the rifle, the troopers fall in with rifles at the _order_. As soon as the line or column is formed the leader commands: 1. =Inspection=, 2. =ARMS=, 3. =Right shoulder=, 4. =ARMS= (par.

91-_2d_), and calls the roll. Each man, as his name is called, answers =here= and executes =order arms=.

The formation in column of fours, twos, or troopers is conducted in accordance with the modifications indicated. The commands of the leader are: =FALL IN, IN COLUMN (COLUMN OF TWOS, COLUMN OF TROOPERS)=.

The distance between successive fours is 92 inches; between successive twos, 40 inches; between successive troopers, 14 inches.

TO MOUNT AND DISMOUNT.

=354.= The squad being =in line=, at stand to horse, the habitual commands for mounting are: 1. =Prepare to mount=, 2. =MOUNT=; 3.

=Form=, 4. =RANK.= At the first command the odd numbers lead out 4 yards directly to the front, and all execute the movements and take the final positions prescribed in par. 191-_a_. At the second command all the troopers complete, simultaneously, the movements of mounting as prescribed in par. 191-_b_. At the fourth command the even numbers move up into their intervals in the line. If the squad has dismounted from line and has formed rank (par. 356), the odd numbers stand fast at the command =Prepare to mount= and all mount in place.

If the squad be mounted in column of fours; the third and fourth commands are omitted. At the first command the troopers of each four open out fanwise, Nos. 1 and 2 to the right, Nos. 3 and 4 to the left.

Nos. 1 and 4 open out a little more than Nos. 2 and 3, all opening only enough to permit the troopers to mount without interfering with each other. The troopers habitually straighten their horses in the column as soon as they have mounted, but this requirement may be relaxed whenever mounting in unison is not required (par. 358). The squad in =column of twos= is mounted by commands and methods conforming to those used for mounting from column of fours.

=355.= The preparatory oral command for mounting may be omitted. The squad then executes at the command =MOUNT= all the movements prescribed in par. 354 for the commands, 1. =Prepare to mount=, 2.

=MOUNT.= The troopers mount promptly, but not =in unison=.

The preparatory _signal_ for mounting, when followed _immediately_ by the signal of execution, will be understood as equivalent to the oral command =MOUNT=, and will be executed accordingly.

=356.= The squad being in line, the habitual commands for dismounting are: 1. =Prepare to dismount=, 2. =DISMOUNT=; 3. =Form=, 4. =RANK.= At the first command the odd numbers ride 4 yards directly to the front, regulating on the right, and all the troopers execute the movements and take the final position prescribed in par. 192-_a_. At the second command the troopers execute, simultaneously, the movements prescribed in par. 192-_b_. At the fourth command the even numbers lead into their intervals in the rank. The third and fourth commands are given only in case it is desired to form rank. The squad may be dismounted and, without forming rank, execute =rest= or =at ease= (par. 359), or be inspected, mounted, or dismissed. The modifications indicated for dismounting in column of fours and column of twos correspond to those prescribed in par. 354 for mounting from the corresponding formation, except that the horses are not habitually straightened in the column after dismounting unless the dismounted squad moves forward (the troopers leading their horses).

=357.= The preparatory oral command for dismounting, may be omitted.

The squad then executes at the command =DISMOUNT= all the movements prescribed in par. 356 for the commands: 1. =Prepare to dismount=, 2.

=DISMOUNT.= The troopers dismount promptly but not in unison.

The preparatory _signal_ for dismounting, when followed _immediately_ by the signal of execution, will be understood as equivalent to the oral command =DISMOUNT=, and will be executed accordingly.

=358.= Until the individual instruction of recruits has advanced to a point where they have acquired reasonable proficiency in mounting and dismounting, these movements will be executed at collective as well as at individual instruction by the commands and methods indicated in pars. 355 and 357. After such proficiency has been acquired, mounting and dismounting at close-order drills, at ceremonies, and at all occasions of a ceremonial nature will habitually be executed in unison by the commands and methods prescribed in pars. 354 and 356, respectively. The commands and methods prescribed in pars. 355 and 357, respectively, may, in the discretion of the commander, continue to be employed on all other duty.

THE RESTS AND ROUTE ORDER.

=359.= The mounted squad executes the =rests= and =route order= as prescribed in par. 221. After dismounting from line, =rest= or =at ease= may be given either before or after forming rank.