a man
should be selected who has the gift of leadership.

GIVING THE COMMANDS

In giving the commands care should be taken to discriminate between the
explanatory and executive parts of the order, making a decided pause
between. For example, in "Forward March!" "Forward" is the explanatory
or warning word; then, after a perceptible pause, the executive word
"March!" should be given in a crisp, decisive tone of voice. The command
"Attention!" is but one word, but it is the custom to divide it
syllabically, thus, "Atten-shun!" All other commands taken from the
military manuals have their proper warning and executive words; for
example: "Count--Off!" "About--Face!" "Right--Face!" "Company--Halt!"
"To the Rear--March!" "Double Time--March!" etc. The exceptions are the
commands, "Rest!" "At Ease!" and "Fall Out!"

The orders for the exercise movements may be standardized by first
giving the name of the movement, "Arms Cross," and then adding the
words: "Ready--Cross!" to indicate the second or executive part of the
command. For example: "Arms Cross. Ready--Cross!" the men taking the
"cross" position at the last word. In this way the members of the squad
are first warned as to just what they are expected to do; then, at the
executive word, they all act together. The leader should see to it that
the over-eager men do not anticipate the executive command.

The only purely military formation used in this manual is that of the
squad. Nowadays, when military training is so universal, the meaning of
the term is well known; there is sure to be some one in the company who
can supply the necessary information about forming the squad and the
simple movement of "Squads Right." To put it into untechnical language,
it may be said that the squad consists of eight men, lined up four
abreast in two ranks. The men should be arranged in order of height, the
tallest being No. 1, front rank. No. 4 of the front rank acts as
corporal of the squad.

[Illustration: EYES RIGHT!]

"Squads Right" looks like a complicated maneuver when studied according
to the diagrams in the manuals, but it is not particularly difficult in
practice. Its use is to get the company out of the double line formation
into a column of four men abreast, the usual marching formation. At the
executive command, "March!" No. 1 front rank acts as the pivot, and
makes a right-angled turn to the right, marking time in that position
until the three other men in the front rank