Sixth Movement Right Front Into Line

Categories: SCHOOL OF THE COMPANY
Military Handbooks: The Plattsburg Manual

Being in column of platoons or squads, to form line to the front: 1.

Right (left) front into line, 2. MARCH, 3. Company, 4. HALT, 5. FRONT.



(Right [left] front into line means move to the right of the front and

get into line. It is necessary to be in column to begin this movement.)



Let us first consider the company in column of squads. At the captain's

command, right front into line, the corporal of the eading squad, if

halted, commands forward; if marching, he cautions his squad, continue

the march. The corporals of the remaining squads command right oblique.

At the command march, the leading squad moves forward. The remaining

squads oblique as indicated. The command halt is given when the leading

squad has advanced the desired distance; its corporal then commands left

dress.



The remaining corporals command forward, MARCH, when opposite their

places in the line. They halt and dress their squads on the line

established by the leading squad.



When the company is in column of platoons the movement is executed in

the same manner and by the same commands except the word platoon is

substituted for squad. The Captain gives the command FRONT.



Being in line, to form column of platoons, or the reverse: 1. Platoons

right (left), 2. MARCH, 3. Company, 4. HALT; or, 3. Forward, 4. MARCH.



Executed by each platoon as described for the company.



Before forming line the captain sees that the guides on the flank toward

which the movement is to be executed are covering. This is effected by

previously announcing the guide to that flank.



The two common errors are: 1. First, the pivot man takes a short step

instead of marking time. Second, (being in line), the pivot men of the

platoons forget that they are the pivots and therefore do not execute

the command when ordered.



The following illustration shows the side view of a platoon. Note the

common errors: No. 1 rear rank is closed up to about twenty inches. He

is looking down at the heels of his front rank file (man). Rifles are

improperly held. Some men in the rear rank have more than forty inches

distance from their front rank men.



Being in line, to form column of squads, or the reverse; or, being in

line of platoons, to form column of platoons, or the reverse: 1. Squads

right (left), 2. MARCH; or, 1. Squads right (left), 2. MARCH, 3.

Company, 4. HALT.



Executed by each squad as described in the School of the Squad.



If the company or platoons be formed in line toward the side of the file

closers they dart through the column and take posts in rear of the

company at the second command. If the column of squads be formed from

line, the file closers take posts on the pivot flank, abreast of and 4

inches from the nearest flank.



Being in column of platoons, to change direction: 1. Column right

(left), 2. MARCH.



At the first command the leader of the leading platoon commands: Right

turn. At the command march the leading platoon turns to the right on

moving pivot; its leader commands: Forward, 2. MARCH, on completion of

the turn. Rear platoons march squarely up to the turning point of the

leading platoon and turn at the command of their leaders. When each

platoon has completed its turn, the leader commands forward, MARCH.



Being in column of squads, to form line of platoons or the reverse: 1.

Platoons, column right (left), 2. MARCH.



Executed by each platoon as described for the company.



Being in line, to form column of squads and then change direction. 1.

Squads left (right), column right (left), 2. MARCH.



The left squad initiates (begins) The column right as soon as it has

completed the squad left.]



Being in line, to form line of platoons: 1. Squads left (right),

platoons, column left (right), 2.



MARCH; or, 1. Platoons, right (left) by squads, 2. MARCH.



Executed by each platoon as described for the company in the preceding

paragraph.