Overview
This is a basic, basic list of gradable components for each command commonly found in Regulation Drill sequences. This list is not compressive nor exhaustive. It’s a basic guideline to inform you about each command.
NOTE FOR ARMED REGULATION DRILL:
For ALL movements conducted with drill rifles, the following are gradable components:
- When grounded, the rifle should maintain contact with the sole of the shoe, ideally with the forward-most point of the rifle’s buttplate (the “toe”) aligned to the toe of the driller’s shoe.
- Rifles should NEVER “bang” against the marching surface; they may make incidental sound when making contact but should never intentionally be forcefully pushed into the ground on any movement.
- Rifles NEVER move on any preparatory command. No service manual describes any motion of the rifle on a preparatory command. For example, “Right” *team raises the rifle* “FACE!”
- When at either Shoulder, all service manuals describe the buttplate of the rifle splitting the INDEX and MIDDLE fingers, never the thumb and index finger (i.e. the “donut.”)
- Rifle carriage, uniformity of positioning, etc. are always gradable components of any movement though the importance of such should be balanced with the clear intention of the drill sequence and SOP.
Commands
Forward March (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- Dress/Cover/Interval/Distance (herein “DCID”)
- Correctness to Service Manual
- Uniformity of Approach to Step
- Attention to Detail on Centering
- Proper Distance from Head Judge (where applicable/physically possible)
- Positioning of Cadet Commander Relative to Formation per Manual
ARMED: Inspection Arms/Port Arms (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- USA/USAF: Correctness to Army TC 3-21.5
- USMC/USN: Uniform and reasonable in procedures
- NO Command of “Ready” Given for “Port, ARMS!”
Report In (VERBAL)
- Verbiage (contains all applicable elements per SOP, especially drill manual)
- Voice Projection
- Cadet Commander Presence/Confidence
Parade Rest (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- Correctness to Service Manual
- Intensity/Snap
- Uniform Timing Between Drillers
- Uniformity of Spacing Between Feet
- Alignment of Heels
- Placement of Hands
Attention (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- Correctness to Service Manual
- Intensity/Snap
- Uniform Timing Between Drillers
- Alignment of Heels
- Attention to Detail on Hand Placement/Shape
ARMED: 15-Count Manual of Arms (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- Precision of Rifle Positions
- Actually 15-Counts Excluding the Conclusion of Lowering Rifle to Marching Surface After Final Count of Order Arms
- Neither Excessively Fast Nor Excessively Slow
- Correctness to Service Manual
- Intensity/Snap
- Uniform Timing Between Drillers
UNARMED: Present Arms (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- Correctness to Service Manual
- Intensity/Snap
- Uniform Timing Between Drillers
- Hand Positioning
- Uniform Approach to Hand Angle
- Arm Alignment
UNARMED: Order Arms (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- Correctness to Service Manual
- Intensity/Snap
- Uniform Timing Between Drillers
- Attention to Detail on Hand Placement/Shape
Count Off (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- Correctness to Service Manual
- No Movement on Preparatory Command “Count”
- USAF Counts in Speaking Tone
- Intensity/Snap
- Uniform Timing Between Drillers
Right/Left/About Face (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- Correctness to Service Manual
- Intensity/Snap
- Uniform Timing Between Drillers
- Heel Alignment
Close March/Close Interval March (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- DCID
- Correctness to Service Manual
- Intensity/Snap
- Uniform Timing Between Drillers
- Alignment
- USMC/USN: Automatic execution of Dress Right Dress should not be timed to be unison.
Extend March/Normal Interval March (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- DCID
- Correctness to Service Manual
- Intensity/Snap
- Uniform Timing Between Drillers
- Alignment
- USMC/USN: Automatic execution of Dress Right Dress should not be timed to be unison.
Open Ranks March (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- DCID
- Correctness to Service Manual
- Intensity/Snap
- Uniform Timing Between Drillers
- Alignment
- USAF: Automatic execution of Dress Right Dress should not be timed to be unison, “Ready, FRONT” command given.
Close Ranks March (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- DCID
- Correctness to Service Manual
- Intensity/Snap
- Uniform Timing Between Drillers
- Alignment
Left/Right Step March (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- DCID
- Correctness to Service Manual
- Intensity/Snap
- Uniform Timing Between Drillers
- Alignment
Platoon/Flight Halt (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- Proper Preparatory Command of “Platoon/Flight” Given
- DCID
- Correctness to Service Manual
- Intensity/Snap
- Uniform Timing Between Drillers
- Alignment
ARMED: Right/Left Shoulder Arms (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- Correct Arm Angles therefore…
- Correct Rifle Angles
- Correct Interpretation of Opposite Arm (Right Shoulder guide hand should be “held down without strain” with fingers and thumb extended and joined, Left Shoulder guide hand should be the same but grasping the small of the stock)
- Proper Grip (as described above)
- WHEN MARCHING: Coordinated arm swing should be resumed after movement is completed; arm should NOT be posted as in Attention before resuming arm swing
Column Right/Left March (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- Full-Sized Step Out of Pivot for Inboard Squad/Element, NOT a Half-Step
- Alignment to Base (all pivots occur where Squad/Element Leaders set them)
- Half-Steps Characteristic to Service Manual (USA/USAF heel-down step, USMC/USN toe-down step)
- USAF: Quicktime Steps Resumed on “Forward, MARCH”
- ALL OTHERS: Quicktime Steps Resumed as RANKS COME ABREAST, NOT IN UNISON
- USAF: Suspend Arm Swing ONLY on 90-Degree Pivots, All 45-Degree Pivots Maintain Coordinated Arm Swing
- ALL OTHERS: Maintain Coordinated Arm Swing Throughout
- DCID
- Intensity/Snap
- Uniform Timing Between Drillers
- Alignment
Left/Right Flank March (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- Full-Sized Step Out of Pivot, NOT a Half-Step
- DCID
- Intensity/Snap
- Uniform Timing Between Drillers
- Alignment
- USAF: Suspend Arm Swing
- ALL OTHERS: Maintain Coordinated Arm Swing
(To the) Rear March (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- DCID
- Intensity/Snap
- Uniform Timing Between Drillers
- Alignment
- USAF: True Half-Step (heel-down) Immediately After Pivot to the Rear (NOT a toe-down step or a “click” of the heels together)
- USAF: Suspend Arm Swing
- ALL OTHERS: Maintain Coordinated Arm Swing Unless Cancelled by the SOP
Close March/Close Interval March WHILE MARCHING (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- All Squads/Elements Move In Unison (i.e. pivot at the same time, not like a column movement)
- “Forward, MARCH” to Resume Quicktime Steps
- DCID
- Intensity/Snap
- Uniform Timing Between Drillers
- Alignment
- USAF: Does NOT Execute a Full-Step Out of Each Pivot When Resuming March to the Original Front
- ALL OTHERS: Full-Step Out of Each Pivot for Entire Duration of Movement
Extend March/Normal Interval March WHILE MARCHING (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- All Squads/Elements Move In Unison (i.e. pivot at the same time, not like a column movement)
- “Forward, MARCH” to Resume Quicktime Steps
- DCID
- Intensity/Snap
- Uniform Timing Between Drillers
- Alignment
- USAF: Does NOT Execute a Full-Step Out of Each Pivot When Resuming March to the Original Front
- ALL OTHERS: Full-Step Out of Each Pivot for Entire Duration of Movement
Mark Time March (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- Proper Style Per Service Manual
- USMC/USN: Feet Close Before Mark Time Begins
- Cadence Does NOT Increase
- DCID
- Uniform Timing Between Drillers
- Alignment
Change Step March (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- Cadence Increases (i.e. if performed individually, this movement would actually change your step)
- Cadets do not “skip” or “hop”
- Feet are not “kicked” into marching surface; trailing foot should be placed near the heel of the leading foot
- DCID
- Uniform Timing Between Drillers
Column Half Left/Right March (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- Same as Column Left/Right EXCEPT USAF Resumes Quicktime Steps When Abreast
- USMC/USN MIGHT Execute 2x Pivots vs. 1x; either acceptable
- USAF: NO ONE Suspends Arm Swing
Eyes Right/Ready Front (USA – USMC/USN – USAF)
- Correct Cadet Commander Positioning Per SOP
- USMC/USN: Commander Fronted on First Squad Leader
- USA: Commander Positioned As Normal
- USAF: Commander MAY Be Positioned Fronted on Second Element Leader (Confirm w/ Host)
- IF ARMED: Correct Cadet Commander Execution of Salute
- IF ARMED WITH A SWORD/SABER: “Eyes” *UP* “RIGHT!” *DOWN* and reversed on “Ready, FRONT”; USA ONLY swings both arms when marching with the saber at Present
- IF ARMED AT SLING ARMS: On command of execution, grasp sling and salute (2x counts), on “Ready, FRONT” return hand to attention BEFORE re-grasping sling and cutting the other hand down (3x counts)
- IF ARMED: Rifles Do NOT Move to Present Arms
- Heads Turned at Uniform Angle Per Service Manual on “Eyes, RIGHT!”
- DCID
- Uniform Timing Between Drillers
- Alignment
Half Step March
- Cadence Does Not Increase
- Step Style Per Service Manual (see notes in Column Left/Right)
- DCID
- Uniform Timing Between Drillers
- Alignment