SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER

PART I - LESSON I

Position of the Soldier

77. Heels on the same line, as near each other as the conformation of the man will permit;
    
    The feet turned out equally, and forming with each other something less than a right angle;
    
    The knees straight without stiffness
    
    The body erect on the hips, inclining a little forward;
    
    The shoulders square and falling equally;
    
    The arms hanging naturally;
    
    The elbows near the body;
    
    The palm of the hand turned a little to the front, the little finger behind the seam of the Pants. The head erect and square to the front, without constraint;
    
    The chin near the stock, without covering it;
    
    The eyes fixed straight to the front, and striking the ground about the distance of fifteen paces.
    
    

REMARKS ON THE POSITION OF THE SOLDIER

78. Heels on the same line; Because, if one were in the rear of the other, the shoulder on that side would be thrown back, or the position of the soldier would be constrained.
    
    Heels more or less closed; Because, men who are knock-kneed, or who have legs with large calves, cannot, without constraint, make their heels touch while standing.
    
    The feet equally turned out, and not forming too large an angle; Because, if one foot were turned out more than the other, a shoulder would be deranged and if both feet be too much turned out, it would not be practicable to incline the upper part of the body forward without rendering the whole position unsteady.
    
    Knees extended without stiffness: Because, if stiffened, constraint and fatigue would be unavoidable.
    
    The body erect on the hips: Because, it gives equilibrium to the position. The instructor will observe that many recruits have the bad habit of dropping a shoulder, of drawing in a side, or of advancing a hip, particularly the right, when under arms. These are defects he will labor to correct.
    
    The upper part of the body inclining forward; Because, commonly, recruits are disposed to do the reverse, to project the belly and to throw back the shoulders, when they wish to hold themselves erect, from which result great inconveniences in marching. The habit of inclining forward the upper part of the body is so important to contract, that the instructor must enforce it at the beginning, particularly with recruits who have naturally the opposite habit.
    
    Shoulders square; Because, if the shoulders be advanced beyond the line of the breast, and the, back arched (the defect called round -shouldered, not uncommon with recruits,) the man cannot align himself, nor use his piece with address. It is important, then, to correct this defect, and necessary to that end that the coat should set easy about the shoulders and arm pits; but in correcting this defect, the instructor should take care that the shoulders be not thrown too much to the rear, which would cause the belly to project, and the small of the back to be, curved.
    
    The arms hanging naturally, elbows near the body, the palm of the hand a little turned to the front, the little finger behind the seam of the pants; Because these positions are equally important to the shoulder arms, and to prevent the man from occupying more space in a rank than is necessary to it free use of the piece; they have, moreover, the advantage of keeping in the shoulders.
    
    The face straight to the front, and without constraint; Because, if there be stiffness in the latter position, it would communicate itself to the whole of the upper part of the body, embarrass its movements and give pain and fatigue.
    
    Eyes direct to the front; Because, this is the surest means of maintaining the shoulders in line- an essential object, to be insisted on and attained.
    
    
79. The instructor having given the recruit the position of the soldier, without arms, will now teach him the turning of the head and eyes.
    
    He will command: 1. Eyes-RIGHT 2. FRONT
    
    
80. At the word right, the recruit will turn the head gently, so as to bring the inner corner of the left eye in a line with the buttons of the coat, the eyes fixed on the line of the eyes of the men in, or supposed to he in, the same rank.
    
    
81. At the second command the head will resume the direct or habitual position.
    
    
82. The movement of Eyes - LEFT will be executed by inverse means.
    
    
83. The instructor will take particular care that the movement of the head does not derange the square ness of the shoulders, which will happen if the movement of the former be too sudden.
    
    
84. When the instructor shall wish the recruit to pass from the state of attention to that of ease, he will command: REST.
    
    
85. To cause a resumption of the habitual position, the instructor will command:
    
    1. Attention. 2. SQUAD.
    
    
86. At the first word, the recruit will fix his attention; at the second, he will resume the prescribed position and steadiness.
    
    

CONTINUE TO PART I - LESSON II
BACK TO INTERACTIVE TRAINING GUIDE