Parade (military)

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Contents 1 History 1.1 Formations 2 Four directions 3 Four-part commands 4 Common Parade Commands 4.1 Alignment commands 4.2 Rest positions 4.3 Marching with Weapons/Saluting 4.4 Saluting/Saluting on the march 4.5 Marching with Colours 4.6 Turning motions while marching 4.7 Turning motions while still 4.8 Marching motions 5 Melee weapons and unarmed combat 6 Musket Drill 7 Cavalry Drill 8 Other Drills 9 Modern Era

[edit] History

[edit] Formations

Drilling increased in importance when men stopped fighting as individuals and began to fight together as units. Drilling as a vital component of a war machine further increased with the increases in the size of armies, for example when Phillip II of Macedon disciplined his army so they could swiftly form the phalanxes that were so critical to his successes as a general. Military drilling later was used by the Roman Army to maximise efficiency and deadliness throughout their long history. After the fall of the empire, and the Dark Ages set in in Europe, most feudal lords more heaviliy relied on peasant levies and their wealthy knights to fight their wars, the knights for the most part reverting to fighting as individuals.Massed military drilling was used mostly by only the foremost armies and nations, such as the Normans.

A parade refers to any times soldiers are in formation with restriction of movement. The American usage is "formation."

This comes from the old tradition of formation combat, in which soldiers were held in very strict formations as to maximize their combat effectiveness. Formation combat was seen as an alternative to mêlée combat, which required strict soldier discipline and competent commanders. As long as the formations could be maintained, the 'civilized' soldiers would maintain a significant advantage over their less organized opponents.

Although modern warfare has shirked this in favour of guerilla combat and loose formations, modern militaries still use parades for ceremonial purposes or in noncombat environments for their efficiency, ease of organization and encouragement of discipline. Roughly synonymous are "drill" and "march". Drilling started in the 16th century with the Dutch army of prince Maurice of Orange. The English word drill is from Middle Dutch origin. Recruits are taught drill to teach them how to work and move as a team. In addition, formations are still used in riot control situations.

The U.S. drill is based on the contributions of Baron von Steuben, a Prussian Army officer who served as a volunteer in the Continental Army. During the winter quarters in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, von Steuben taught a model company of 100 soldiers musket drill. These soldiers, in turn, taught the remainder of the Continental Army.

[edit] Four directions

Parades consist of four directions:

1. Advance
2. Retire
3. Left
4. Right

The Advance is the primary direction of movement, regardless of which direction the soldiers are actually facing (similar to a ship's bow.)

The Retire is opposite the advance, against the primary direction of movement (similar to a ship's stern.)

The Left is to the left of the Advance (similar to a ship's port.)

The Right is to the right of the Advance (similar to a ship's starboard.)

If the Advance is changed, then all other directions are changed to be based on the new Advance.

There is only one person in charge of a parade at a time. Changing this person is very ceremonious. This is to make it obvious to the soldiers who is currently in command, and therefore whom to pay attention to.

During parades, unless explicitly told otherwise, soldiers have restricted movement, meaning they can only move exactly when they are told, and then only doing exactly what they are told to do. In most stances any movement at all is disallowed, and is held to such an extent as to have soldiers fainting on parade, although fainting under any conditions short of plural hours standing still in the hot sun is considered a sign of medical disability.

American usage allows the service member to be at four states of alert:

1. Attention: standing straight, eyes forward, chest out, knees straight but not locked, feet together at a 45-degree angle.
2. Parade Rest: a modified position of attention in which the left foot is moved to shoulder width and the hands are placed in the small of the back
3. At Ease: Hands are lowered to a more comfortable position behind the back (Navy may speak in this formation and also may move around)
4. Stand At Ease: The service member is allowed to look at the speaker, otherwise the same as At Ease
5. Rest: The service member is allowed to move all but the right foot. The service member may talk.

A formation must be brought to the position of attention before it can go to a lower state of alert.

British Commonwealth nations allow four states of alert:

1. Attention: standing straight, eyes forward, chest out, shoulders back and down, knees straight but not locked, heels together, feet at a 30-degree angle (540 mils). All muscles are rigid. The hands are held in tight fists with the thumbs aligned with the seam of the trousers.
2. At Ease: a modified position of attention in which the left foot is moved to shoulder width and the hands are placed behind the back with arms fully extended. The right hand is placed inside the left with all fingers together and pointing rigidly downwards. U.S. military usage is "Parade Rest."
3. Easy: Legs remain at At Ease position, arms are brought to the sides to a more natural standing position. Member may relax their muscles and make minimal movements. U.S. usage is "At Ease," however a common mistake in U.S. military practice confuses "At Ease" with "Rest" (below).
4. Relax: Legs remain at position at ease, member may make more significant movements or look around. Members may not move the feet. If the troops are not being addressed by a commander, they are generally allowed to talk quietly. U.S. usage is "Rest."

[edit] Four-part commands

The typical parade commands are spoken extremely clearly and emphatically, and consist of four major parts.

1. Identifier, or who is to follow the command. This is typically (number) Section, (number) Platoon, (letter) Company, or (name) Regiment, although the prefixes are often dropped when there is no ambiguity (Section, Platoon, Company (Coy,) or Regiment.) Parade can only be given by the parade commander, and always refers to the entire parade, regardless of size.
2. Precautionary, or what is to be done in an abstract sense: Move to the Advance, Move to the Retire, etc. (This is not always used in American usage)
3. Cautionary, or the first part of what is to be done. In American usage, this is called the "preparatory command."
4. Executive, or execution, a single syllable on which the soldiers actually move. This is as true in the United States armed forces as in other services; however, the accent of the commander often leads this to be heard as simply huh on commands such as "Present Arms" and "Order Arms." There is always a significant pause between the Cautionary and the Executive. In American usage, the executive command is always given a greater emphasis than the preparatory command.

i.e.

• 4 Platoon (Identifier,) Moving to the Right in File (Precautionary,) Right (Cautionary,) Turn (Executive.)
• B Coy (Identifier,) Advance (Precautionary,) Left (Cautionary,) Turn (Executive.)
• (U.S. usage) Battalion (Identifier), Right (Cautionary), FACE.
• Brigade (Identifier).

Often there is no chance of ambiguity, and much of the command can be unspoken. In such cases there must always be the Cautionary and the Executive.

• Present Arms
• Atten -Tion

[edit] Common Parade Commands

• Fall In. Have the forementioned troops fall into formation.
• Fall Out. Have the troops fall out. This is done with a right turn followed by either three steps or a Quick March in a straight line to the edge of the parade square, determined by context.
• Dis -Miss. A fall-out where the soldiers have free time until their next designated work period (typically done at the end of a common day, although often is simply an erroneous substitution for Fall Out).
• Atten -Tion. Have the soldiers uniformly adopt the Attention position, the most constrictive position (with feet together), but the only position from which soldiers can actually be made to move. Actions such as a salute also return soldiers to the attention position.

[edit] Alignment commands

• Dressing right, Dress, or just Right Dress,- All personnel in the unit except the right marker. take two steps forward, pause, and bring up their arms parallel to the ground and at the same time snap their heads so they're facing right, unless otherwise specified (Elbow Dressing, Shoulder Dressing). After this, they pause, and then shuffle back to a new position, where their hand is extremely close to the soldier's shoulder on their right. On the command of 'Eyes Front', the front rank snaps their arms down and faces forward, while all other ranks simply face forward.
• Cover
• Close interval, March
• Double interval, March

[edit] Rest positions

• Stand at Ease (U.S.: PARADE REST). Have the soldiers adopt the more relaxed position At Ease position, with feet shoulder width apart, although still no movement is allowed. This is typically used when soldiers must wait a short duration. This is also the initial positions soldiers are in when they fall into formation. Changing from At Ease to Attention and back again, or the converse, is standard when the command of a parade is transferred (typically between the commanding officer and his Sergeant-Major), since command of a formation isn't actually transferred until the new commander makes a command.
• Stand Ea-Sy. (U.S.: AT EASE) Have the soldiers adopt the next easiest stance, where hand are hung at the sides and the shoulders can actually be slacked. This is often, but not always, followed by an implicit 'Relax' ('Rest').
• relax (U.S.: REST) The only parade instruction given in an ordinary voice, rather than the raised, emphatic parade voice. This is the only position that actually offers soldiers freedom of movement. Soldiers are typically allowed to do anything (within reason), other than moving their feet, though, when it is given by a high ranking officer, soldiers typically move a minimal amount after a bit of stretching.

[edit] Marching with Weapons/Saluting

• Shoulder Arms: If the soldiers have the weapons at the order, then it is brought up and carried on the right shoulder. Although Left and Right Shoulder Arms are both valid commands, right is assumed if it is unstated. Soldiers must be at attention to shoulder weapons. This is typically done through a throw rather than a carry.
• Port Arms: The weapon is brought out in front of the soldier, and held by the right hand on small of the butt, or equivalent, and the left hand about the forestock, or equivalent.
• Present Arms: The soldiers use the salute for their particular weapon. Soldiers without weapons use a salute appropriate for their headdress. Often officers can salute on behalf of their troops, and any such ambiguity will be discussed with the troops before hand. This is often used with the precautionary General Salute or Royal Salute, when appropriate. In U.S. usage, all soldiers salute, either with the hand salute if the weapon is at sling arms or if there is no weapon, and with the appropriate salute for their weapon. Guidons and organizational colors are dipped to 90 degrees above the ground (but not touching the ground). The U.S. colors are never dipped. The command for recovery is "Shoulder Arms!"
• Order Arms: If the soldiers are carrying a weapon which can be ordered they will lower it so that is resting on the ground, touching the outer toes of the right boot, and being supported by a slightly bent right arm.

[edit] Saluting/Saluting on the march

• To the front Salute or Salute: The right arm is raised so the forearm is placed at a 90° angle, while pointing at the temple. It is generally to a count of "Up, two, three, down!"

While marching it is exactly the same, except the count is "Up, two, three, four, five, down, away!"

• To the Right Salute: The right arm is raised so the forearm is placed at a 90° angle, while pointing at the temple. It is generally to a count of "Up, two, three, down!"

While marching it is exactly the same, except the count is "Up, two, three, four, five, down, away!"

This is done while looking to the right, except the right marker, who must stay looking to the front, to keep the flight, squad, platoon, etc. staying straight.

• To the Left Salute: The right arm is raised so the forearm is placed at a 90° angle, while pointing at the temple. It is generally to a count of "Up, two, three, down!"

While marching it is exactly the same, except the count is "Up, two, three, four, five, down, away!"

This is done while looking to the left, except the right marker, who must stay looking to the front, to keep the flight, squad, platoon, etc. staying straight.

[edit] Marching with Colours

• Order Colours: Essentially the same as Order Arms, except used exclusively for the Colour Party.
• Carry Colours: This is equivalent to Shoulder Arms. The right arm lifts the colours up so they line up with the body's centre line, with the right arm held in front of the soldier, at mouth level parallel to the ground. It is caught and guided into its frog with left hand, which is then returned to its side.
• Let Fly the Colours: The colours are normally held in a semi-taught position. This is a simple, ceremonial letting fly and catching of the colours.
• Slant Colours: The colours are normally kept upright, but this can represent a problem both when dealing with standard doors. This slants the colours forward sufficiently to negate this, and they are brought back up afterwards.
• Slope Colours: The normal method for carrying colours can be tiresome for the bearer. This has the colours taken out of their frogs and sloped over the right shoulder at about 45°.

[edit] Turning motions while marching

• Right Turn (U.S.:Column right, MARCH): A 90° turn to the right done by rotating on the right heel and left ball. The cautionary and executive are both called on the left foot. The left leg is then brought up to be parallel to the ground (although exceptions are made for kilted regiments,) and slammed into the ground in the position of attention. This motion is done at a particular fixed point.
• Left Turn (U.S.:Column left, MARCH): A 90° turn to the left, done by rotation on the right ball and the left heel. The right leg is then brought up to be parallel to the ground and slammed down into attention. This motion is done at a particular fixed point.
• About Turn(U.S.:To the Rear, MARCH): A 180° turn to the right, done as an exaggerated version of the right turn. United States units do not make exaggerated gestures with the legs or arms.
• Right Flank MARCH or Right turn, it is still the same even on the march for some countries: All members marching execute 90° turn to the right done by rotating on the right heel and left ball.
• Left Flank MARCH or Left turn, it is still the same even on the march for some countries: All members marching 90° turn to the left, done by rotation on the right ball and the left heel.

[edit] Turning motions while still

American armed forces:

• Right Face: The body is rotated on the ball of the right foot and the left heel is brought forward to meet the right heel in the position of attention.
• Left Face: A mirror image of Right Face.
• About Face: The right toe is brought back to behind the left heel; the body pivots on the right toe and left heel 180°. There is also "half-left, FACE" and "half-right, FACE".

British Commonwealth:

• Right Turn: The body is rotated 90° to the right members shall bend the left knee, straighten it in double time and smartly place the left foot beside the right to assume the position of attention.
• Left Turn: A mirror image of Right Face.
• About Turn: The body is rotated 180° in a clockwise direction, knees locked. Members shall bend the left knee, straighten it in double time and smartly place the left foot beside the right to assume the position of attention.
• Right Incline: Exactly the same as a right turn, but one only turns 45°.
• Left Incline: Exactly the same as a left turn, but one only turns 45°.

When a recruit is training on an ATR (Army Training Regiment), commonly known as a (CMS(R) Common Military Syllabus (Recruit), recruits of the British Army usually have to call out timings of their parade moves, for example for a left or right turn, they call out "1" whilst they are turning, "2" is the regimental pause, "3" times the left or right foot to the parallel position and "4" is the timing to slam/drill your foot in to the floor.

For a salute on the halt, you halt, check, 1 2, then call out 2, 3 up (then you bring your arm up into the salute call out 2, 3 pause or a second or two then lower your arm in to your attention stance. Do this according to your command.

Saluting on the march. Commands ARE ALWAYS given off on the LEFT foot. While marching, you will be commanded on your left foot, saluting, regimental pause, saluting to the right, then salute on your LEFT Foot, in which you will call, up miss over 2, 3, 4, 5, down (then you bring your arm down and face forward) swing, in which your right arm will be in position with your left foot, whilst marching. ***please note*** ***this takes time and practice, if you are thinking of joining the Armed Forces, please follow these instructions, it will give you a bit more of an understanding and save you from being beasted in the guards room***

[edit] Marching motions

• Quick March: Begin marching at the Quick March speed with the left foot. The standard pace is 120 beats/minute with a 30in. step. There is also a Rifle Pace, 160 beats/minute and a Highland Pace, 80 beats/minute (typically done with a kilt.) The pace is based on the individual regiments, the pace given by the commander, and the speed of the band's rhythm. The way the march is performed is based on the regiment's nationality. Western bloc nations typically lift their opposite arm up to the breast pocket, kept straight and used similar to a guided pendulum. Eastern Bloc nations frequently goose step, or keep their legs straight during the entirety of the step. Both of these are actually functional, as they maintain individual pace, unit pace uniformity, and actually help the soldiers march is their relatively elevated pace. The United States command is "For-ward, MARCH." Arm movement is kept to 9 inches to the front and 6 inches to the rear while marching, while the interval between ranks and files is both 30 inches.
• Slow March: This is a ceremonial pace, used for funeral marches and when a unit's colours are marched out in front of the troops. The feet are kept parallel to the ground and the arms are never used. In the United States forces, usually only the band executes a slow march. The standard pace is 60 paces per minute.
• Half Step March or Cut the pace: This is a U.S. march pace. It is at the same tempo as Quick Time, but instead of 30 inches, the step is 15 inches.
• Double March: This is essentially a moderate jog at approximately 180 paces per minute. It creates a travel speed of approximately double that of Quick Time, designed to be used even when carrying heavy burdens. This is often erroneously used to describe a sprint or an ordinary run. The U.S. command is "Double Time, MARCH."
• Easy March: This is an unrestricted march at approximately Quick Time. This is designed for field marches and other rough conditions, though is not used in combat areas. The U.S. command is "Route Step, MARCH."
• Mark Time: This is essentially a stationary march with the knees coming up parallel to the ground or the foot dangling six inches off of the ground. The time of what they were previously marching is kept or Quick March is used if no time is supplied. This is designed to maintain the time of large parades when portions need no forward speed, but is also used as a common punishment for physical training because of its tiring nature. United States service members move the knees upward approximately 6 inches.
• Step For -Ward or Forward or Forward, March: This causes troops marking time to resume a normal march. If it is implicitly used (as when the marking time is used to align formations or to wait for the former rank to pass when entering "Column of Route" from a depth-style formation) the (typically) Right Marker stomps his foot to signal it to the rest of the troops.

A drill in military terms is the action of memorising certain actions through repetition until the action is instinctive to the soldiers being drilled. Complex actions are broken down into simpler ones which can be practised in isolation ao when the whole is put together the desired results are achieved. Such is necessary for a fighting force to perform at maximum efficiency in all manner of situations. However depending on the army and the drills it adopts drilling may destroy flexibility and initiative in exchange for predictability and cohesion, for example in the armies of the Soviet Union.

[edit] Melee weapons and unarmed combat

The most familiar form of melee weapon and unarmed combat drill in the modern world is the Kata and the Hyung in Eastern martial arts. However there were once similar drills in the martial training of warriors in all cultures worldwide. All with exactly the same goal and purpose, to make instinctive an appropriate reaction to an attack or opening by conditioning the mind and body, through repeated and constant repetition of a series of actions. Probably the last survivor of such drills in the Western martial tradition are the reaction drills and rhythm exercises in the modern sport of fencing.

[edit] Musket Drill

The 18th century musket, as typified by the Brown Bess, was loaded and fired in the following way:-

Upon the command "Prime and load". The soldier would make a quarter turn to the right at the same time bringing the musket to the priming position, the pan is opened.

Upon the command "Handle Cartridge". The soldier would draw a cartridge. Cartridges consisted of a spherical lead bullet wrapped in a paper cartridge which also held the gunpowder propellant. The bullet was separated from the powder charge by a twist in the paper.

The soldier then bit off the top of the cartridge, with the bullet, and held the bullet in his teeth/mouth.

Upon the command "Prime". The soldier then pulled the dogshead back to half-cock, flipped the frizzen up, and poured a small pinch of the powder from the cartridge into the priming pan. He then closed the frizzen so that the priming powder was trapped.

Upon the command "About". The butt of the musket was then dropped to the ground and the soldier poured the rest of the powder into the barrel. Once all of the powder was poured into the barrel, the soldier stuffed the paper into the barrel to serve as wadding, keeping the gunpowder in the barrel and packing it down.

The soldier then spat the bullet into the barrel.

Upon the command "Draw ramrods". The soldier drew his ramrod from below the barrel. First forcing it out half out before siezing it backhanded in the middle, followed by drawing it entirely out simultaneosly turning it to the front and placing it one inch into the barrel

Upon the command "Ram down the cartridge". He then used the ramrod to firmly ram the bullet, wadding, and powder down to the bottom followed by tamping it down with two quick strokes. The ramrod was then returned to its hoops under the barrel.

Upon the command "Present". The butt was brought back up to the shoulder. The soldier pulled the cock back and the musket was ready to fire, which he would do on hearing the command "Fire".

This process was drilled into troops until they could do it by instinct and feel. The main advantage of the British Redcoat was that he trained at this procedure almost every day. A skilled unit of musketeers was able to fire three rounds per minute.

[edit] Cavalry Drill

The purpose of cavalry drill was to train men and horses to work together for war. It survives to us in a much diminished form in the modern sporting discipline of dressage. The movements sideways, at angles the pirouettes e.t.c. were the movements needed for massed cavalrymen to form and reform and to deploy. Of the proponents of classical dressage from which modern dressage evolved probably the best known are the Lipizzaner Stallions of the Spanish Riding School. The Canadian Mounties Musical Ride giving us an inkling of what massed cavalry drill at speed would have been like.

[edit] Other Drills

Other tasks may be broken down into drills, for example weapons maintenance, the British army used the rythmic, poetic almost, "counting of parts" as a memory aid in the teaching and learning of how to strip, cleaning and reassembly the service rifle.

[edit] Modern Era

Drills survive into the modern era though some prefer the term Standard operating procedure to the old fashioned sounding "drill".