DRILL REQUIREMENTS

• FALL IN: Fall in a platoon sized unit and take the REPORT.
• INSPECTIONS: OPEN RANKS and inspect your unit. Procedure to be followed:
1. Open ranks is executed from a line formation while at the halt. It may be executed while at any of the prescribed intervals. The commands for these movements are OPEN RANKS, MARCH and CLOSE RANKS, MARCH.
2. On the command of OPEN RANKS! (pause) MARCH! the front rank takes two steps forward, the second rank takes one step forward, the third rank stands fast and the fourth rank takes two small steps backward. (Note: After taking the prescribed steps, the men do not raise their arms and do an automatic dress right, dress.)
3. If the inspecting officer wants exact interval or alignment, he can command AT CLOSE INTERVAL… (pause) DRESS RIGHT…(pause) DRESS!
4. To close ranks, the command is CLOSE RANKS…! (pause) MARCH! On the command of execution MARCH the first rank takes four small steps backwards, the second rank takes two small steps backwards, the third rank stands fast and the fourth rank takes one step forward.
• FACING MOVEMENTS
1. LEFT FACE
2. RIGHT FACE
3. ABOUT FACE
• MARCHING
1. FORWARD MARCH
2. COLUMN RIGHT and LEFT
3. HALT
4. REAR MARCH
5. ROUTE STEP MARCH
6. PRESENT ARMS
7. ORDER ARMS
8. PARADE REST
9. AT EASE
10. FALL OUT

For a little fun, click on one of the following Field Manuals--learn these drills and impress the General with your swordplay:

Manual of the Saber, The Field Artillery School, Fort Sill, Oklahoma, (1935)

Partly Complete: Provisional Regulations for Saber Exercise, United States Army (1907) for saber thrusts, cuts and more.