The Plattsburg Manual | Page 4

has been darned.
6. Some men cannot wear light wool socks with comfort. Do not wear
silk or cotton socks until you have given light wool socks a fair trial.
7. In case of a blister, treat it as directed in Chapter X.
8. Most of the foot troubles are caused by wearing shoes that do not fit
properly. If the shoe is too large it rubs blisters, if too small it cramps
the foot and causes severe pain. Marching several hours while carrying
about thirty pounds of equipment causes each foot to expand at least
one half a size in length and correspondingly in breadth; hence the size
of the shoe you wear in the office will be too small for training camp
use. If you have been living a sedentary life, ask for a pair of shoes
larger than you ordinarily wear.
9. In case the tendon in your heel becomes tender, report at once to the
hospital tent and get it strapped.

A DISCIPLINED SOLDIER
You will be expected to become quickly amenable both mentally and
physically to discipline. A clear conception on your part of what drills
are disciplinary in character and what discipline really is, will help you
to become a disciplined soldier. Drills executed at attention are
disciplinary exercises and are designed to teach precise and soldierly
movements and to inculcate that prompt and subconscious obedience
which is essential to proper military control. Hence, all corrections
should be given and received in an impersonal manner. Never forget

that you lose your identity as an individual when you step into ranks;
you then become merely a unit of a mass. As soon as you obey
properly, promptly, and, at times, unconsciously, the commands of
your officers, as soon as you can cheerfully give up pleasures and
personal privileges that conflict with the new order of life to which you
have submitted, you will then have become a disciplined man.

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 mind that in our country a
military organization is too often judged by the acts of a few of its
members. When one or two soldiers in uniform conduct themselves in
an ungentlemanly or unmilitary manner to the disgrace of the uniform,
the layman shakes his head and condemns all men wearing that
uniform. Hence, show by the way in which you wear your uniform that
you are proud of it; this can be best accomplished by observing the
following rules:
1. Carry yourself at all times as though you were proud of yourself,
your uniform, and your country.
2. Wear your hat so that the brim is parallel to the ground.
3. Have all buttons fastened.
4. Never have sleeves rolled up.
5. Never wear sleeve holders.
6. Never leave shirt or coat unbuttoned at the throat.
7. Have leggins and trousers properly laced.
8. Keep shoes shined.

9. Always be clean shaved.
10. Keep head up and shoulders square.
11. Camp life has a tendency to make one careless as to personal
cleanliness. Bear this in mind.

SALUTING
The military salute is universal. It is at foundation but a courteous
recognition between two individuals of their common fellowship in the
same honorable profession, the profession of arms. Regulations require
that it be rendered by both the senior and the junior, as bare courtesy
requires between gentlemen in civil life. It is the military equivalent of
the laymen's expressions "Good Morning," or "How do you do?"
Therefore be punctilious about saluting; be proud of the manner in
which you execute your salute, and make it indicative of discipline and
good breeding. Always look at the officer you are saluting. The junior
salutes first. It is very unmilitary to salute with the left hand in a pocket,
or with a cigarette, cigar, or pipe in the mouth. Observe the following
general rules:
1. Never salute an officer when you are in ranks.
2. Indoors (in your tent) unarmed, do not salute but stand at attention,
uncovered, on the entrance of an officer. If he speaks to you, then
salute.
3. Indoors, armed, render the prescribed salute, i.e., the rifle salute at
order arms or at trail.
4. Outdoors, armed, render the prescribed salute, i.e., the rifle salute at
right shoulder arms.
5. Outdoors, unarmed, or armed with side arms, salute with the right
hand.

ARMY SLANG
The following army slang is universally employed:
"Bunkie"--the soldier who shares the shelter half or tent of a comrade
in the field. A bunkie looks after his comrade's property in the event