The Oblique step

1. 13 inches 30 inches 19 inches 13 inches The Oblique step To the Left, oblique, March, step with left foot, point and carry it forward 19 inches in the diagonal line, to the left, which gives about 13 inches to the side, and about 13 inches to the front. On the 2nd movement, bring right foot 30 inches forward, so that the right heel be placed 13 inches directly before the left one…. …From the combination of these two movements, the general obliquity gained will amount to an angle of about 25 degrees. With one exception whenever stepping off in march, the left foot always steps first The foot not of the angle steps in front of the other, ie. Left oblique the right foot steps infront of the left. When stepping off to the right oblique the left foot steps off first, THEN the right foot does the oblique. The right foot does NOT step first and to the right. Squareness of the body to the front MUST be strictly maintained.

2. The Oblique step Keeping the squareness of the body to the front is extremely important and one of the hardest things for anyone to master. Here will be an example of 2 groups marching to the right oblique. The left will do it correctly, the right will falter. At the end of the march the right hand group has bent its line, twisted the body and not stayed true to the front.