Definitions
Categories: SCHOOL OF THE SQUADMilitary Handbooks: The Plattsburg Manual
Deploy. To extend the front. A squad deploys when it goes As
skirmishers. A company likewise deploys when it goes from column into
line.
File. Two men, the front rank man and the corresponding man in the
rear rank. The front rank man is the file leader. A file which has no
rear rank man is a blank file.
Interval. Space between elements of the same line. The interval
between men in ranks is 4 inches and is measured from elbow to elbow. It
is to get this interval that each man is required to raise his arm when
the company is formed.
Distance. Space between elements in the direction of depth. It is
measured from the back of the man in front to the breast of the man in
rear. The rear rank when in line or column is 40 inches from the front
rank.
The guide of a squad in line is right unless otherwise announced.
The guide of a squad deployed, (i.e., skirmishers) is center unless
otherwise announced.
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Bullet Wound
If you receive a bullet wound, don't get excited or lose your head. A bullet wound in the muscle or soft parts of the body causes little pain and, if properly dressed, heals in about two to three weeks. Protect the openings where the bullet entere... Burns
Do not pull the clothing from the burnt part, but rip or cut it off. Do not break the blisters or prick them even if large. Treatment: Protect it quickly with a mixture of equal parts of linseed or olive oil and water. ... Camp Sanitation
In camp you are really your brother's keeper. It is the duty of every man to keep the camp clean, sanitary, and livable. Constantly bear in mind that a great number of men are living together in a very small area; that food is being prepared in the ... Camping
Two men tent together--the front rank man and his rear rank file. Alter pitching your tent, get inside and level off the ground. Cut a drain around the tent to carry the water off; this should be done even in pleasant weather. In case you do not t... Care Of The Feet
The infantryman's feet are his means of transportation. If you care for them properly, you will be rewarded. 1. Wash and dry the feet carefully and put on clean socks as soon as practicable after getting into camp. 2. Wash out the socks you h... Care Of The Rifle
Keep the metal part of your rifle covered with a thin coating of light oil; 3-in-1 oil is ordinarily used. This is especially important in damp weather. Always clean the bore from the breech. This avoids injuring the muzzle. The pull through (a... Cautions
1. Act quickly but quietly. Be calm and quiet. Don't lose your head. 2. Make the injured party sit or lie down. 3. See the injury clearly before treating it. Send for a doctor if the wound is serious. 4. Do not remove more clothing than is ... Cavalry
This very important arm is the eye with which the general sees for many miles to the front and flank. In an advance it pushes ahead, combs the country for the enemy, disperses his cavalry, and thus protects the infantry in the rear. It locates the... Cease Firing
Firing stops; pieces not already there are brought to the position of load, the cut-off turned down if firing from magazine, the cartridge is drawn or the empty shell is ejected, the trigger is pulled, sights are laid down, and the piece is brought ... Chafing
Treatment: Keep parts dry, use talcum powders and keep parts separated by a layer of absorbent cotton. ... Change Step
Being in march; 1. Change step, 2. MARCH. At the command march, given as the right foot strikes the ground, advance and plant the left foot; plant the toe of the right foot near the heel of the left and step off with the left foot. The change... Clip Fire
Turn the cut-off up: fire at will (reloading from the magazine) until the cartridges in the piece are exhausted; turn the cut-off down; fill magazine; reload and take the position of suspend firing. ... Close Order Drills
For several days after reporting you will undergo many hours of close order drill. You will ask yourself, Why is all this mental and physical strain necessary when these exercises are not used in battle? The answer is: they are disciplinary exerci... Commander
The leader should be an officer or a noncommissioned officer. He must have good judgment, be cool, be quick in making a decision, be strong in physique, have initiative, and be brave, but not to the extent of rashness. Besides his regular equipmen... Company Inspection
Being in line at a halt: 1. OPEN RANKS, 2. MARCH. At the command march the front rank executes right dress; the rear rank and the file closers march backward 4 steps, halt, and execute right dress; the lieutenants pass around their respective fl... Composition
A mixed outpost is composed principally of infantry. The infantry is charged with the duty of local observation, especially at night and with resisting the enemy long enough for the main body to prepare for action. The cavalry is charged with the ... Conduct Of The Patrol
In communicating with each other for ordinary purposes the members of the patrol use signals agreed upon before the start. For this purpose each man must constantly keep within sight and hearing distance of the leader. A patrol moves cautiously, t... Correct Procedure In Giving The Main Part Of A Field Order
1st. Give the information of the enemy and of our own supporting troops (i.e., those who may come to our assistance in case of need) to your subordinates that will give them a clear understanding of the problem and enable them intelligently to coo... Dame Cricket's Story
"Come, children, it is time to get up," said Dame Cricket to her ten little crickets. "Hurry, now, and take your bath and put on your little black caps and your little brown suits. The sun has almost gone down over the hill and the birds will... Dame Cricket's Story
"Come, children, it is time to get up," said Dame Cricket to her ten little crickets. "Hurry, now, and take your bath and put on your little black caps and your little brown suits. The sun has almost gone down over the hill and the birds will... Definitions
Deploy. To extend the front. A squad deploys when it goes As skirmishers. A company likewise deploys when it goes from column into line. File. Two men, the front rank man and the corresponding man in the rear rank. The front rank man is the fil... Department Commander's Report
At the end of each calendar year department commanders and chiefs of staff corps and departments compile lists of members of the Officers' Reserve Corps under their command, showing: (a) Name, rank, age, and address. (b) Amount of instr... Different Kinds Of Attack
The most usual kinds of attack are: Frontal Attack. This attack is delivered directly against the front of the enemy. It offers little opportunity to bring more rifles against the enemy than he can bring against you. Decisive results can only be... Disadvantages Of The Defense
(1) The defender surrenders the advantage of the initiative as the attacker can elect the point of attack and the defender must be prepared at all points. (2) The defender must fight amidst his dead and wounded which is depressing. (3) The d... Discontented Dewdrop
One morning a little Dewdrop was resting on the petal of a wild rose that grew beside a river. The sun shining on it made it glisten like a diamond and a lady who was passing stopped to admire its beauty. "It is the most beautiful thing in t... Discontented Dewdrop
One morning a little Dewdrop was resting on the petal of a wild rose that grew beside a river. The sun shining on it made it glisten like a diamond and a lady who was passing stopped to admire its beauty. "It is the most beautiful thing in t... Distance From The Main Body
While the distance between these two bodies should be great enough to prevent needless interruptions in the march of the main body, and to give the latter time to deploy should the enemy be encountered, it should never be so great that timely supp... Distances
The distance of the rear guard from the main body and between the fractions of the rear guard are about the same as in the case of an advance guard. If marching at night, the rear guard draws nearer the main body. ... Distribution Of Outpost Troops
The outpost will generally be divided into four parts. These, in order from the main body, are the reserve, the line of supports, the line of outguards, and the advance cavalry. [Illustration: PLATE SHOWING THE IDEAS INVOLVED IN AN OUTPOST] T... Distribution Of Troops
An advance-guard order generally describes the following distribution of troops: Advance cavalry. Support. Reserve. The manner in which the advance-guard cavalry is employed depends upon the situation. Its proper place is in the... Distribution Of Troops
The proximity and conduct of the enemy control, to a large extent, the formation of a rear guard. When it is not necessary to withdraw in deployed lines, the greater part of the rear guard marches on the road in column of route, taking up a format... Dress
The uniform you will wear stands for Duty, Honor, and Country. You should not disgrace it by the way you wear it or by your conduct any more than you would trample the flag of the United States of America under foot. You must constantly bear in mi... Drowning
Being under water for over four or five minutes is generally fatal, but, unless you know the body has been submerged a long time, make an attempt to restore life. Don't get disheartened and give up, if you see no signs of life after a few minutes'... Duties Of A Patrol
Each reconnoitering patrol is given a certain mission (duty) to perform. The name, reconnoitering, meaning to survey, to view, indicates that its first duty is to get information, and information is always greatly increased in value if the enemy d... Elevation
General rule for changing the elevation after hitting the target: A change of elevation either up or down, of 100 yards on your rear sight, will raise or lower your bullet in inches on the target equal to the square of your distance in yards from ... Employment Of Air Craft On And Near The Firing Line In The Theater Of Operation
Airplanes will move far out, perhaps hundreds of miles, in front of our most advanced cavalry for the purpose of gathering general information of large bodies of the enemy's forces. This is called Strategical Reconnaissance. Other airplanes do mor... Encountering The Enemy
If a small hostile patrol is encountered it is generally better to remain in concealment and let it pass than to attack. The noise of a fight may be heard by the enemy, the presence of the patrol therefore indicated, and the enemy will take furthe... Equipment
During the hike your equipment for living will be limited to: (1) your pack (things that you carry on your back), (2) a few authorized articles which are placed in a squad laundry bag (called a surplus kit), and (3) a blanket roll. Contents of th... Esprit De Corps
Have too much esprit de corps to complain of the length of the march, or to kick about the dust on the road. Be self-controlled. Don't boast of your ability to march on forever. Such remarks are depressing to a tired comrade who is not as physical... Establishing The Outpost
The outpost is posted as quickly as possible, so that the troops can the sooner obtain rest. Until the leading outpost troops are able to assume their duties, temporary protection, known as the march outpost, is furnished by the nearest available ...