ative position, keeping his
shoulders parallel to those of the guide (the man on the right front of
the line or column), and so regulates his steps that the ranks remain
parallel to their original front.

At the command halt, the men halt faced to the front.

To resume the original direction: 1. Forward, 2. MARCH.

[Illustration]

The men half face to the left in marching and then move straight to the
front.

If at half step or mark time while obliquing, the oblique march is
resumed by the commands: 1. Oblique, 2. MARCH.

TO FOLLOW THE CORPORAL

Being assembled or deployed, to march the squad without unnecessary
commands, the corporal places himself in front of it and commands:
FOLLOW ME.

If in line or skirmish line, No. 2 of the front rank follows in the
track of the corporal at about 3 paces; the other men conform to the
movements of No. 2, guiding on him and maintaining their relative
positions.

If in column, the head of the column follows the corporal.

[Illustration]

Note that No. 4 rear rank takes the place of the corporal when the
corporal is in front of the squad. This a general rule. When any front
rank man is absent his rear rank man steps up in the front rank. When
the squad is following the corporal No. 4 rear rank remains blank (i.e.,
No. 3 does not step to the left and cover No. 4).

TO DEPLOY AS SKIRMISHERS

Being in any formation, assembled: 1. As skirmishers, 2. MARCH.

The corporal places himself in front of the squad, if not already there.
Moving at a run, the men place themselves abreast of the corporal at
half-pace intervals. Nos. 1 and 2 on his right, Nos. 3 and 4 on his
left, rear-rank men on the right of their file leaders, extra men on the
left of No. 4; all then conform to the corporal's gait.

There is a rule of thumb that must be remembered. The rear-rank man is
always on the right of his file leader.

A common error is for beginners to execute the movement at a slow trot
which a run is required.

When the squad is acting alone, skirmish line is similarly formed on No.
2 of the front rank, who stands fast or continues the march, as the case
may be; the corporal places himself in front of the squad when advancing
and in rear when halted.

When deployed as skirmishers, the men march at ease, pieces at the trail
unless otherwise ordered.

The corporal is the guide when in the line; otherwise No. 2 front rank
is the guide. The guide is center.

The normal in