eir duty to
rectify mistakes and insure steadiness and promptness in the ranks.

23. Except at ceremonies, the special units have no fixed places. They
take places as directed; in the absence of directions, they conform as
nearly as practicable to the plates, and in subsequent movements
maintain their relative positions with respect to the flank or end of
the command on which they were originally posted.

24. General, field, and staff officers are habitually mounted. The
staff of an officer forms in single rank 3 paces in rear of him, the
right of the rank extending 1 pace to the right of a point directly in
rear of him. Members of the staff are arranged in order from right to
left as follows: General staff officers, adjutant, aids, other staff
officers, arranged in each classification in order of rank, the senior
on the right. The flag of the general officer and the orderlies are 3
paces in rear of the staff, the flag on the right. When necessary to
reduce the front of the staff and orderlies, each line executes _twos
right_ or _fours right_, as explained in the Cavalry Drill
Regulations, and follows the commander.

When not otherwise prescribed, staff officers draw and return saber
with their chief.

25. In making the about, an officer, mounted, habitually turns to the
left.

When the commander faces to give commands, the staff, flag, and
orderlies do not change position.

26. When making or receiving official reports, or on meeting out of
doors, all officers will salute.

Military courtesy requires the junior to salute first, but when the
salute is introductory to a report made at a military ceremony or
formation, to the representative of a common superior (as, for
example, to the adjutant, officer of the day, etc.), the officer
making the report, whatever his rank, will salute first; the officer
to whom the report is made will acknowledge by saluting that he has
received and understood the report.

(_C.I.D.R., Nos. 6 and 17._)

27. For ceremonies, all mounted enlisted men of a regiment or smaller
unit, except those belonging to the machine-gun organizations, are
consolidated into a detachment; the senior present commands if no
officer is in charge. The detachment is formed as a platoon or squad
of cavalry in line or column of fours; noncommissioned staff officers
are on the right or in the leading ranks.

28. For ceremonies, such of the noncommissioned staff officers as are
dismounted are formed 5 pace