CHAPTER 2

POSITIONS

In this lesson, we will discuss:

• Positions • Commands • Movements

Attention

• Executed when halted, any position

of rest, marching at route step, or at

ease

• Commands “FALL IN” and

“ATTENTION”

• Preceded by a preparatory

command

Attention

• At parade rest, come to attention.

• At ease or rest, assume parade

rest on preparatory command,

then attention on the command

of execution.

• While marching, get in step as

soon as possible and continue

to march at attention.

Hand Salute

You may salute without command

from attention, while walking, or

while seated in a vehicle.

Hand Salute

(cont.)

• While walking, do not halt to salute.

• When “Present, ARMS” is given, if

not armed, execute hand salute on

“ARMS” and stay in that position until

“Order, ARMS” is given.

When

reporting

(covered)

When over-

taking a

senior the

salute shall

be given

when abreast,

with “by your

leave sir or

ma’am”

When to Salute

Salute officers

when meeting,

passing near,

addressing or

being

addressed

Guards salute

all officers

passing close

aboard

Sentries at

gangways

salute all

officers

going or

coming over

the side,

passing close

aboard

When officer

meets detail

ashore or

afloat, person

in charge

salute for

detail

On every

occasion salute

the Captain,

officers senior

to him or her

and senior

officers from

other ships

On first

daily

meeting

salute,

all salute

Upon

approach

one calls

attention, all

salute

Render salutes

due them to

all officers in

vehicles (if

safety permits)

When officer

passes near,

officer or

petty officer

in charge

salutes, if

none present

all hands do

Enlisted

personnel rise

and salute

when an

officer enters

or leaves

In public

conveyances

when

obviously

inappropriate

When

uncovered

and in inner

court or open

passageway

between

wings or

buildings

When in ranks

(if addressed,

come to

attention)

When

engaged

in games

or athletics

When under

actual or

simulated

battle

conditions

When part

of a detail

at work

At oars in

a pulling

boat

When

carrying

articles

with both

hands

At mess (if

addressed

by an

officer, sit

at attention)

The command is “Uncover, TWO.”

When “Uncover” is given:

Combination Cover:

• Place right hand on visor, fingers

together on top and thumb under

visor

Uncover

The command is “Uncover, TWO.”

When “Uncover” is given:

Combination Cover:

• On command of execution “TWO”:

~ Remove the cover smartly,

stowing under upper left armpit,

visor in front

~ Cut right hand smartly to side

Uncover (cont.)

Garrison Cover:

• Place right hand on top center of

cap, fingers together on port side

and thumb on starboard side.

Uncover (cont.)

Garrison Cover:

• On command of execution “TWO”:

~ Remove cover, cutting right

hand smartly to side.

~ Cover in right hand, open end

facing up and fore end pointing

towards the rear

Uncover (cont.)

UNCOVER,

TWO

The command is “Cover, TWO.”

When “Cover” is given:

Combination Cover:

• Place right hand on visor (under

left arm), grasping with fingers

on top and thumb underneath.

• Place cover on head, guiding with

left hand grasping rear of frame.

Cover

The command is “Cover, TWO.”

When “Cover” is given:

Combination Cover:

• Once cover is repositioned, return

left hand to side, keeping right

hand on visor.

• On command of execution, “TWO,”

cut right hand away smartly to side.

Cover (cont.)

Garrison Cover:

• Raise both hands to your head.

• Place cover back on head, using

both hands to straighten.

Cover

Garrison Cover:

• Once cover is repositioned, return

left hand to side, keeping right

hand on cover’s starboard side.

• On “TWO,” cut right hand away

smartly to your side.

Cover

Halt

• Two counts at quick time and three counts at

double time

• Given when marching

• Command is “HALT,” always preceded by

preparatory command

• Given as either foot strikes the deck

Halt (cont.)

Marching at Quick Time or

Half Step:

• Take one more step after “HALT.”

• Rear heel forward against the other.

Halt (cont.)

Marching at Double Time:

• Take one more double time step

after “HALT.”

• Take another at quick time.

• Rear heel forward against the other.

Halt (cont.)

Marching at Right (Left) Step:

• “HALT” given when heels are

together.

• Take one more side step after

“HALT.”

• Bring heels together.

Halt (cont.)

Backward Marching:

• Take one more back step after

“HALT.”

• Bring forward heel back against

other.

Halt (cont.)

Marching at Mark Time:

• One more step in place after

“HALT.”

• Bring the heels together.

Halt (cont.)

Marching In Place Double Time:

• Take one more in place step at

double time after “HALT.”

• Take another step at quick time.

• Bring the heels together.

Double Time In Place

• Executed when halted at attention,

marking time, or marching at

double time.

• “In Place Double Time, MARCH.”

• Raise your arms for double time.

Double Time In Place (cont.)

• Start with left foot, alternate and

in place.

• Raise feet 6 inches above deck.

• 180 steps per minute.

Double Time In Place (cont.)

When Halted:

• On “In Place Double Time,” shift

weight.

• On “MARCH,” begin double timing

in place.

Double Time In Place (cont.)

When Marching at Double Time:

• After “MARCH,” take two more

double time steps.

• Bring feet together, and begin

double timing in place, keeping

cadence.

Double Time In Place (cont.)

Resuming March at Double Time:

• Command “Double Time, MARCH.”

• At “MARCH,” take two more steps in

place.

• Step off with 180, 36-inch steps.

Double Time In Place (cont.)

When Marking Time:

• At “MARCH,” take one more step in

mark time

• Commence marching at double time

in place.

To Face to the Right (Left)

In Marching

• Important part of Column Right (Left), By

The Right (Left) Flank, Close, Take Interval,

and Extend

• “By The Right (Left) Flank, MARCH”

To Face to the Right (Left)

In Marching (cont.)

From halt, on the command “MARCH”:

• Turn 90 degrees right (left) by

pivoting on the ball of the right (left)

foot.

• Cross over step with left (right) foot,

30 inches in the new direction.

To Face to the Right (Left)

In Marching (cont.)

While marching:

• Command of execution is given

as the foot of the desired direction

strikes.

• Take one more step in original

direction.

To Face to the Right (Left)

In Marching (cont.)

While marching:

• Pivot to the right (left) and step off in

the new direction.

Note: When marching to the flank, the

only other movement that can be given

is a flanking movement in the opposite

direction.

To Face to the Rear

While Marching

• To march the unit to the rear a short

distance

• Executed when halted or while marching

at quick time or double time

To Face to the Rear

While Marching (cont.)

• Command given when the right foot strikes

• When marching to the rear, the only

movement that can be given is

“To The Rear, MARCH.”

To Face to the Rear

While Marching (cont.)

To March to the Rear From a Halt:

• On “MARCH,” step forward with the left

foot.

• Turn about to the right on balls of both feet.

• Immediately step out to rear with left foot.

To Face to the Rear

While Marching (cont.)

When at Quick Time:

• On “MARCH,” take one 15-inch step.

• Turn about to the right on balls of both

feet.

• Immediately step off to rear with left foot.

March to the Rear at Double Time

As this foot strikes Take this action

RIGHT “MARCH” is given

LEFT 36-inch step

RIGHT 36-inch step, then in

place double time

LEFT Pivot 90 degrees right

RIGHT Heels together

LEFT Pivot 90 degrees right

RIGHT Heels together

LEFT 36-inch step in the

new direction

To March to the Flank

• To move a unit to the right (left) a

short distance

• Executed when halted or marching

at quick time or double time

To March to the Flank

• “By the Right (Left) Flank, MARCH.”

• Command of execution is given as

foot in direction of movement strikes.

To March to the Flank (cont.)

From a Halt:

• Turn 90 degrees right (left) by

pivoting on the ball of the right

(left) foot.

• Cross over, step off with left (right)

foot, 30 inches in the new direction.

To March to the Flank (cont.)

While at Quick Time:

• On “MARCH,” take one more step.

• Turn to the right (left) on the ball of

the left (right) foot.

• Step off in the new direction with the

right (left) foot.

To March to the Flank (cont.)

While Double Timing:

• On “MARCH,” use following sequence:

By the Left FlankStep Action

LEFT “MARCH” is given

RIGHT 36-inch step

LEFT In place double timing

RIGHT Pivot 90° to the left

LEFT 36-inch step in new direction

To March to the Flank (cont.)

While Double Timing:

• On “MARCH,” use following sequence:

By the Right FlankStep Action

RIGHT “MARCH” is given

LEFT 36-inch step

RIGHT In place double timing

LEFT Pivot 90° to the left

RIGHT 36-inch step in new

direction

Change Step

• Its purpose is to change the cadence

count, but not the rhythm.

• The command is “Change Step,

MARCH.”

• It is given while marching at quick

time, double time, marking time, or

double timing in place.

• It is given as right foot strikes the deck.

Change Step (cont.)

While Marching at Quick or Double Time

• On MARCH, take one more step, 30 or

36 inches, as appropriate.

• In one count, as your right foot comes

forward to the next step, place the toe

near the left heel and step out again

with the left foot

• This changes the cadence count by

not the rhythm.

Change Step (cont.)

• On MARCH, lift and lower the left foot

twice in succession.

• The second time it touches the deck,

raise the right foot and continue

marking time.

While Marking Time

Change Step (cont.)

• On MARCH, hop twice on the left foot.

• Continue double time in place.

While Double Timing in Place

• Its purpose is to give cadets a rest

from marching at attention or over

rough terrain.

• The command is “At Ease, MARCH.”

• It is given while marching at quick

time.

To March At Ease

• It is given as either foot strikes the

deck.

• Keep interval and distance, but not

cadence, and no talking.

To March At Ease (cont.)

To March At Route Step

• The command is “Route Step,

MARCH.”

• It is given as either foot strikes the

deck.

• Keep interval and distance, but no

cadence, and you may talk in a low

voice.

To Resume Marching at

Quick Time from Route Step

or At Ease

• Command is “Squad (Platoon, etc.),

ATTENTION.”

• After “ATTENTION,” unit leader will

count cadence until all are in step.

Note: Commands that involve precision

in execution will not be given

until all cadets have picked up the

step and cadence.

Q.1. What is the basic military

position?

A.1. Attention

Q.1. What is the basic military

position?

Q.2. How many positions of rest are

there when halted?

A.2. There are four positions of rest.

• Parade Rest

• At Ease

• Rest

• Fall Out

Q.2. How many positions of rest are

there when halted?

Q.3. TRUE or FALSE. “About, FACE”

is a two-count movement.

A.3. TRUE.

Q.3. TRUE or FALSE. “About, FACE”

is a two-count movement.

Q.4. TRUE or FALSE. It is not

necessary to halt when giving

a salute.

A.4. TRUE

Q.4. TRUE or FALSE. It is not

necessary to halt when giving

a salute.

Q.5. When do you salute officers?

A.5. Salute officers only when

COVERED and IN UNIFORM.

Q.5. When do you salute officers?

Q.6. What command is given to

march “in place?”

A.6. “Mark Time, MARCH.”

Q.6. What command is given to

march “in place?”

Q.7. When is the command “Right

(Left) Step, MARCH” given?

A.7. When at the halt

Q.7. When is the command “Right

(Left) Step, MARCH” given?

Q.8. TRUE or FALSE. When at ease

or rest, the command is

“Platoon, ATTENTION.” On

“Platoon,” come to parade rest.

A.8. TRUE.

Q.8. TRUE or FALSE. When at ease

or rest, the command is

“Platoon, ATTENTION.” On

“Platoon,” come to parade rest.