Basic Drill Commands
Fall in
Individuals form a formation at the position of attention.
Fall out
Individuals drop out of formation. By custom, officers usually take a single step backward with their left foot. Noncommissioned personnel take a step back with the left foot, then with their right, and then perform an about face.
Attention
Standing upright with an assertive and correct posture: famously "chin up, chest out, shoulders back, stomach in". Lightly ball your fists, and hold your arms fixed at your sides keeping your elbows slightly bent. Your thumbs should not be wrapped in your fingers, they should be pointing down, lined up with the seams of your pants. Lock head and eyes in a fixed forward posture. Ideally eyes unmoving fixated on a distant object. Blank facial expression. Put the heels of your feet together, and point your toes out roughly 45 degrees from the center so your feet form a V. There should be about 6 inches between both tips of your big toes when you do this. No speech, facial or bodily movements except when as required by military drill.
Present, ARMS
Individuals execute a hand or rifle salute and hold it until given the command "order arms".
Order, ARMS
Individuals bring their hand or rifle back down to their side.
Open ranks, MARCH
Movement in which each row (rank) spreads out from another row.
Close ranks, MARCH
Movement in which the formation is restored to its normal interval.
Dress right, DRESS
Movement in which individuals except those on the extreme left side raise their left arms parallel to the ground in order to get the proper distance from each other.
Parade, REST
Individuals spread their feet about 12 inches while bringing both of their arms behind their back interlocking their hands. The back of the left hand rests against the back. The back of the right hand rests on the palm of the left, with the left thumb locked over the right hand and the right thumb locked over the left thumb. If armed, individuals put their left hand behind their back, extending their rifle while the butt remains on the ground by their right foot.
Stand at ease
Individuals perform the command of parade rest, but their eyes and head follow the person in charge.
At ease
Individuals are permitted light movement given their right foot does not leave the ground; they are not allowed to talk.
Rest
Individuals are permitted light movement and may also engage in quiet conversation as long as their right leg is planted on the ground. Can also be expressed by the command "Relax"
Forward, MARCH
Individuals begin marching, from the left foot and a 30 inch step at 120 steps per minute.
Company/Platoon/Squad/Detail, Halt
Individuals stop marching.
Right (left) Flank, MARCH
The whole formation turns and continues to march.
Right (left) FACE
Right (left) face is a two-count movement started on the commands Right FACE. On the command FACE, (1) raise your left heel and right toe slightly and turn 90° to
the right.Keep your left leg straight but not stiff; (2) bring your left heel smartly alongside the right heel and stand at attention. While facing, your arms should remain at the position of attention.
Individuals form a formation at the position of attention.
Fall out
Individuals drop out of formation. By custom, officers usually take a single step backward with their left foot. Noncommissioned personnel take a step back with the left foot, then with their right, and then perform an about face.
Attention
Standing upright with an assertive and correct posture: famously "chin up, chest out, shoulders back, stomach in". Lightly ball your fists, and hold your arms fixed at your sides keeping your elbows slightly bent. Your thumbs should not be wrapped in your fingers, they should be pointing down, lined up with the seams of your pants. Lock head and eyes in a fixed forward posture. Ideally eyes unmoving fixated on a distant object. Blank facial expression. Put the heels of your feet together, and point your toes out roughly 45 degrees from the center so your feet form a V. There should be about 6 inches between both tips of your big toes when you do this. No speech, facial or bodily movements except when as required by military drill.
Present, ARMS
Individuals execute a hand or rifle salute and hold it until given the command "order arms".
Order, ARMS
Individuals bring their hand or rifle back down to their side.
Open ranks, MARCH
Movement in which each row (rank) spreads out from another row.
Close ranks, MARCH
Movement in which the formation is restored to its normal interval.
Dress right, DRESS
Movement in which individuals except those on the extreme left side raise their left arms parallel to the ground in order to get the proper distance from each other.
Parade, REST
Individuals spread their feet about 12 inches while bringing both of their arms behind their back interlocking their hands. The back of the left hand rests against the back. The back of the right hand rests on the palm of the left, with the left thumb locked over the right hand and the right thumb locked over the left thumb. If armed, individuals put their left hand behind their back, extending their rifle while the butt remains on the ground by their right foot.
Stand at ease
Individuals perform the command of parade rest, but their eyes and head follow the person in charge.
At ease
Individuals are permitted light movement given their right foot does not leave the ground; they are not allowed to talk.
Rest
Individuals are permitted light movement and may also engage in quiet conversation as long as their right leg is planted on the ground. Can also be expressed by the command "Relax"
Forward, MARCH
Individuals begin marching, from the left foot and a 30 inch step at 120 steps per minute.
Company/Platoon/Squad/Detail, Halt
Individuals stop marching.
Right (left) Flank, MARCH
The whole formation turns and continues to march.
Right (left) FACE
Right (left) face is a two-count movement started on the commands Right FACE. On the command FACE, (1) raise your left heel and right toe slightly and turn 90° to
the right.Keep your left leg straight but not stiff; (2) bring your left heel smartly alongside the right heel and stand at attention. While facing, your arms should remain at the position of attention.
About, FACE
About face is a two-count movement performed on the commands About FACE. On the command About, shift your weight to your left leg without noticeable movement.
On the command FACE, (1) place your right toe about 6 inches behind and slightly to the left of your left heel; (2) on the ball of the right foot and the heel of the left foot, turn smartly to the right until you are facing the rear. Your feet will be in the position of attention when the turn is completed if you place your right toe properly behind your left heel. While facing, your arms should remain at the position of attention.
About face is a two-count movement performed on the commands About FACE. On the command About, shift your weight to your left leg without noticeable movement.
On the command FACE, (1) place your right toe about 6 inches behind and slightly to the left of your left heel; (2) on the ball of the right foot and the heel of the left foot, turn smartly to the right until you are facing the rear. Your feet will be in the position of attention when the turn is completed if you place your right toe properly behind your left heel. While facing, your arms should remain at the position of attention.
Eyes RIGHT
When given the commands Eyes RIGHT, smartly turn your head 45° to the right on the command RIGHT. The commands to turn your head back to the position of
attention are Ready FRONT. On the command FRONT, snap your head to the front.
Uncover, TWO
On the first command of execution "Uncover," recruits will move their hands up smartly, grasping the front of their cover. You may lift your cover slightly so as not to muss your hair. Then, on the second command of execution "Two," remove your cover, smartly bringing your hand and your hat to the right side, in the most direct manner without exaggerated or sweeping motion.
Cover, TWO
On the first command of execution "Cover," recruits will replace the cover on their head, using both hands to position it correctly. When it is adjusted, they will bring the left hand back to the position of attention. On the second command of execution "Two," recruits smartly bring their right hands back to the position of attention.
Right (left) step, MARCH
Individuals take side steps to the right (left).
By the Right (left) flank, MARCH
A 90 degree pivot to the right (left) while marching.
Right (left) oblique, MARCH
A 45 degree pivot to the right (left) while marching.
Column right (left), MARCH
A movement in which the entire formation executes a series of turns depending on their position. The goal of this movement is to get the entire formation to turn to the right (left) while keeping the same people in the same positions known as column formation.
To the Rear, MARCH
A turn 180 degrees while marching, also executed to the right.
Change step, MARCH
Individuals execute a movement in order to get on step with the formation.
Route step
Individuals walk normally without being in step. Often used on long marches or when crossing a bridge to avoid creating harmonic rhythms. The Air Force uses a different command: "At ease, march."
Extend, MARCH
A movement in which the formation widens.
Close, MARCH
A movement in which the formation narrows in width.
Mark time, MARCH
Marching in place.
Half step, MARCH
Marching at half the distance, often bringing the upper leg parallel to the ground. 15 Inch steps.
Double time, MARCH
Marching at twice the cadence of "Forward March;" something of a light jog. The unit is still required to keep in step.
Right shoulder, ARMS
The rifle is placed on the right shoulder. The right hand holds the butt of the rifle and the forearm is parallel to the ground.
Left shoulder, ARMS
Same as right shoulder arms except on the left side.
Port arms, ARMS
The rifle is carried diagonally in front of the body by both hands.
Counter-column, MARCH
The platoon is ordered to reverse direction while marching. The columns neatly turn in on themselves and at the end of the movement the entire marching column has
reversed direction. Also known as "circle counter", or "counter march".
When given the commands Eyes RIGHT, smartly turn your head 45° to the right on the command RIGHT. The commands to turn your head back to the position of
attention are Ready FRONT. On the command FRONT, snap your head to the front.
Uncover, TWO
On the first command of execution "Uncover," recruits will move their hands up smartly, grasping the front of their cover. You may lift your cover slightly so as not to muss your hair. Then, on the second command of execution "Two," remove your cover, smartly bringing your hand and your hat to the right side, in the most direct manner without exaggerated or sweeping motion.
Cover, TWO
On the first command of execution "Cover," recruits will replace the cover on their head, using both hands to position it correctly. When it is adjusted, they will bring the left hand back to the position of attention. On the second command of execution "Two," recruits smartly bring their right hands back to the position of attention.
Right (left) step, MARCH
Individuals take side steps to the right (left).
By the Right (left) flank, MARCH
A 90 degree pivot to the right (left) while marching.
Right (left) oblique, MARCH
A 45 degree pivot to the right (left) while marching.
Column right (left), MARCH
A movement in which the entire formation executes a series of turns depending on their position. The goal of this movement is to get the entire formation to turn to the right (left) while keeping the same people in the same positions known as column formation.
To the Rear, MARCH
A turn 180 degrees while marching, also executed to the right.
Change step, MARCH
Individuals execute a movement in order to get on step with the formation.
Route step
Individuals walk normally without being in step. Often used on long marches or when crossing a bridge to avoid creating harmonic rhythms. The Air Force uses a different command: "At ease, march."
Extend, MARCH
A movement in which the formation widens.
Close, MARCH
A movement in which the formation narrows in width.
Mark time, MARCH
Marching in place.
Half step, MARCH
Marching at half the distance, often bringing the upper leg parallel to the ground. 15 Inch steps.
Double time, MARCH
Marching at twice the cadence of "Forward March;" something of a light jog. The unit is still required to keep in step.
Right shoulder, ARMS
The rifle is placed on the right shoulder. The right hand holds the butt of the rifle and the forearm is parallel to the ground.
Left shoulder, ARMS
Same as right shoulder arms except on the left side.
Port arms, ARMS
The rifle is carried diagonally in front of the body by both hands.
Counter-column, MARCH
The platoon is ordered to reverse direction while marching. The columns neatly turn in on themselves and at the end of the movement the entire marching column has
reversed direction. Also known as "circle counter", or "counter march".
