Infantry Drill Regulations, United States Army, 1911 | Page 5

mounted, the noncommissioned staff officers are ordinarily posted on
the right or at the head of the orderlies.
30. In all formations and movements a noncommissioned officer
commanding a platoon or company carries his piece as the men do, if
he is so armed, and takes the same post as an officer in like situation.
When the command is formed in line for ceremonies, a
noncommissioned officer commanding a company takes post on the
right of the right guide after the company has been aligned.

ORDERS, COMMANDS, AND SIGNALS.
31. Commands only are employed in drill at attention. Otherwise either
a command, signal, or order is employed, as best suits the occasion, or
one may be used in conjunction with another.
32. Signals should be freely used in instruction, in order that officers
and men may readily know them. In making arm signals the saber, rifle,
or headdress may be held in the hand.
33. Officers and men fix their attention at the first word of command,
the first note of the bugle or whistle, or the first motion of the signal. A
signal includes both the preparatory command and the command of
execution; the movement commences as soon as the signal is
understood, unless otherwise prescribed.

34. Except in movements executed at attention, commanders or leaders
of subdivisions repeat orders, commands, or signals whenever such
repetition is deemed necessary to insure prompt and correct execution.
Officers, battalion noncommissioned staff officers, platoon leaders,
guides, and musicians are equipped with whistles.
The major and his staff will use a whistle of distinctive tone; the
captain and company musicians a second and distinctive whistle; the
platoon leaders and guides a third distinctive whistle.
(C.I.D.R., No. 15.)
35. Prescribed signals are limited to such as are essential as a substitute
for the voice under conditions which render the voice inadequate.
Before or during an engagement special signals may be agreed upon to
facilitate the solution of such special difficulties as the particular
situation is likely to develop, but it must be remembered that simplicity
and certainty are indispensable qualities of a signal.
Orders.
36. In these regulations an order embraces instructions or directions
given orally or in writing in terms suited to the particular occasion and
not prescribed herein.
Orders are employed only when the commands prescribed herein do
not sufficiently indicate the will of the commander.
Orders are more fully described in paragraphs 378 to 383, inclusive.
Commands.
37. In these regulations a command is the will of the commander
expressed in the phraseology prescribed herein.
38. There are two kinds of commands:

The preparatory command, such as forward, indicates the movement
that is to be executed.
The command of execution, such as MARCH, HALT, or ARMS, causes
the execution.
Preparatory commands are distinguished by italics, those of execution
by CAPITALS.
Where it is not mentioned in the text who gives the commands
prescribed, they are to be given by the commander of the unit
concerned.
The preparatory command should be given at such an interval of time
before the command of execution as to admit of being properly
understood: the command of execution should be given at the instant
the movement is to commence.
The tone of command is animated, distinct, and of a loudness
proportioned to the number of men for whom it is intended.
Each preparatory command is enunciated distinctly, with a rising
inflection at the end, and in such manner that the command of
execution may be more energetic.
The command of execution is firm in tone and brief.
39. Majors and commanders of units larger than a battalion repeat such
commands of their superiors as are to be executed by their units, facing
their units for that purpose. The battalion is the largest unit that
executes a movement at the command of execution of its commander.
40. When giving commands to troops it is usually best to face toward
them.
Indifference in giving commands must be avoided as it leads to laxity
in execution. Commands should be given with spirit at all times.
Bugle Signals.

41. The authorized bugle signals are published in
Part V of these
regulations.
The following bugle signals may be used off the battle field, when not
likely to convey information to the enemy:
Attention: Troops are brought to attention.
Attention to orders: Troops fix their attention.
Forward, march: Used also to execute quick time from double time.
Double time, march.
To the rear, march: In close order, execute squads right about.
Halt.
Assemble, march.
The following bugle signals may be used on the battle field:
Fix bayonets.
Charge.
Assemble, march.
These signals are used only when intended for the entire firing line;
hence they can be authorized only by the commander of a unit (for
example, a regiment or brigade) which occupies a distinct