Infantry Drill Regulations, United States Army, 1911 | Page 2

rear elements. The depth of a man is assumed to be 12
inches.
Distance: Space between elements in the direction of depth. Distance is
measured from the back of the man in front to the breast of the man in
rear. The distance between ranks is 40 inches in both line and column.
Element: A file, squad, platoon, company, or larger body, forming part
of a still larger body.
File: Two men, the front-rank man and the corresponding man of the
rear rank. The front-rank man is the file leader. A file which has no
rear-rank man is a blank file. The term file applies also to a single man
in a single-rank formation.

File closers: Such officers and noncommissioned officers of a company
as are posted in rear of the line. For convenience, all men posted in the
line of file closers.
Flank: The right or left of a command in line or in column; also the
element on the right or left of the line.
Formation: Arrangement of the elements of a command. The placing of
all fractions in their order in line, in column, or for battle.
Front: The space, in width, occupied by an element, either in line or in
column. The front of a man is assumed to be 22 inches. Front also
denotes the direction of the enemy.
Guide: An officer, noncommissioned officer, or private upon whom the
command or elements thereof regulates its march.
Head: The leading element of a column.
Interval: Space between elements of the same line. The interval
between men in ranks is 4 inches and is measured from elbow to elbow.
Between companies, squads, etc., it is measured from the left elbow of
the left man or guide of the group on the right, to the right elbow of the
right man or guide of the group on the left.
Left: The left extremity or element of a body of troops.
Line: A formation in which the different elements are abreast of each
other.
Order, close: The formation in which the units, in double rank, are
arranged in line or in column with normal intervals and distances.
Order, extended: The formation in which the units are separated by
intervals greater than in close order.
Pace: Thirty inches; the length of the full step in quick time.
Point of rest: The point at which a formation begins. Specifically, the

point toward which units are aligned in successive movements.
Rank: A line of men placed side by side.
Right: The right extremity or element of a body of troops.


PART I.--DRILL.

INTRODUCTION.
1. Success in battle is the ultimate object of all military training;
success may be looked for only when the training is intelligent and
thorough.
2. Commanding officers are accountable for the proper training of their
respective organizations within the limits prescribed by regulations and
orders.
The excellence of an organization is judged by its field efficiency. The
field efficiency of an organization depends primarily upon its
effectiveness as a whole. Thoroughness and uniformity in the training
of the units of an organization are indispensable to the efficiency of the
whole; it is by such means alone that the requisite teamwork may be
developed.
3. Simple movements and elastic formations are essential to correct
training for battle.
4. The Drill Regulations are furnished as a guide. They provide the
principles for training and for increasing the probability of success in
battle.
In the interpretation of the regulations, the spirit must be sought.

Quibbling over the minutiæ of form is indicative of failure to grasp the
spirit.
5. The principles of combat are considered in
Part II of these
regulations. They are treated in the various schools included in
Part I only to the extent necessary to
indicate the functions of the
various commanders and the division of responsibility between them.
The amplification necessary to a proper understanding of their
application is to be sought in
Part II.
6. The following important distinctions must be observed:
(a) Drills executed at attention and the ceremonies are disciplinary
exercises designed to teach precise and soldierly movement, and to
inculcate that prompt and subconscious obedience which is essential to
proper military control. To this end, smartness and precision should be
exacted in the execution of every detail. Such drills should be frequent,
but short.
(b) The purpose of extended order drill is to teach the mechanism of
deployment, of the firings, and, in general, of the employment of troops
in combat. Such drills are in the nature of disciplinary exercises and
should be frequent, thorough, and exact in order to habituate men to the
firm control of their leaders. Extended order drill is executed at ease.
The company is the largest unit which executes extended order drill.
(c) Field exercises are for instruction