CHAPTER 8 PLATOON DRILL

1. CHAPTER 8 PLATOON DRILL

3. Platoon Drill • Interval in line and count off same as squad • Squad leaders are base for movements • Simultaneous movements on platoon commander’s command of execution

4. Platoon Drill (cont.) • Successive movements on squad leaders’ supplemental commands • Unit leader marches left and parallel • When halted, unit leader 6 paces in front and centered

5. Platoon Formation in Line

6. Platoon Formation in Column

7. Posts of Individuals Platoon Commander’s post: • In line - 6 paces in front of center of front rank • In column - at head of the left file

8. Posts of Individuals (cont.) Mustering Petty Officer’s post: • When platoon commander is present: ~ when platoon is in line, post is left of left member of rear rank ~ when platoon is in column, post is following last member of right file • When platoon commander is absent, he/she takes platoon commander’s post.

9. Posts of Individuals (cont.) Platoon guide takes post as described in paragraph 8003. Extra members fall in on left when in line and in rear when in column. In this chapter, platoon commander means the individual drilling the platoon.

10. Posts of Individuals (cont.) Platoon commander’s movements

11. Rules for the Guide

13. More Rules for the Guide • Dress Right (Left) Dress • Column of Files from the Left • Column of Twos from the Left • By the Right (Left) Flank and To The Rear

14. More Rules for the Guide (cont.) • Other column/file changes • Guide sets direction and cadence • Guide does not Count Off

17. Count Off • Designates relative position in ranks. • Executed when halted at attention, in line or column. • In line, command is “Count, OFF.” • In column, command is “From Front to Rear, Count, OFF.”

19. To Form Line From Column • Executed only when halted. • Command is “Left, FACE.” • Platoon commander and guidon take new posts.

20. Aligning a Platoon Command is “Dress right, DRESS.”

22. Close Interval Dress Right Dress

23. Executed in same manner as Dress Right Dress, except: • Command is “At Close Interval, Dress Right, DRESS.”

24. • All cadets except rightmost in squads place heel of left hand on hip, and look to the right. • Cadets move by short steps until right arm touches left elbow of cadet to their right.

32. To Form For Physical Drill • Executed when halted at attention and in column of threes or fours at normal interval • If armed with rifles, at Order Arms • “From Front to Rear, Count, OFF”

33. To Form For Physical Drill (cont.) • “Take Interval to the Left, MARCH” • “Arms, DOWN” • “Even Numbers to the Right, MOVE” • Upon completion, “Assemble, MARCH” is given

36. To March In The Oblique

37. To March In The Oblique (cont.) • "Forward, MARCH" - original direction • "In Place, HALT" - halt in the oblique • "Resume, MARCH" - resume oblique

38. To March To The Rear • The purpose is to march the platoon to the rear for a short distance. • The command is “To the Rear, MARCH.” • It is given when marching at quick time or at double time.

42. Q.1. What are the elements of a platoon headquarters?

43. Q.1. What are the elements of a platoon headquarters? A.1. Platoon headquarters consists of a minimum of a platoon commander, a mustering petty officer and a platoon guide.

44. Q.2. Where does the unit leader march when in charge of the platoon?

45. Q.2. Where does the unit leader march when in charge of the platoon? A.2. The unit leader will march to the left and parallel to the platoon from a position where they can best control the unit.

46. Q.3. What are the two formations of a platoon?

47. Q.3. What are the two formations of a platoon? A.3. Line and column

48. Q.4. Where is the platoon commander’s post when in line?

49. Q.4. Where is the platoon commander’s post when in line? A.4. In line, the platoon commander’s post is six (6) paces in front of the center of the front rank of the platoon.

50. Q.5. Where does the mustering petty officer march in column formation?