The Plattsburg Manual | Page 6

back muscles, and become limber.
[Illustration: No. 1 No. 2]
Assume position No. 1.
Swing to position (No. 2), return at once to No. 1, and continue.
Shoot your head and arms as far through your legs as your
conformation permits.
3rd Exercise
To harden leg muscles and exercise joints.
[Illustration: No. 1 No. 2]
From position No. 1 come to position No. 2. Return at once to No. 1
and continue.
Toes turned well out. Body and head erect. Up with a slight spring.
After a little practice, you will have no difficulty with this exercise in
balancing yourself.
4th Exercise
To exercise arms and shoulders and organs of chest and shoulder

muscles.
[Illustration: No. 1]
From position No. 1 thrust arms forward to position No. 2, and return at
once to position No. 1.
[Illustration: No. 2]
Vary by thrusting arms downward, sideward and upward. Be moderate
at first. Grow more vigorous with practice.
5th Exercise
[Illustration: No. 1]
To strengthen ankles and insteps.
From position No. 1 rise on the toes to position No. 2, return at once to
position No. 1, and continue.
Go up on your toes as high as you can.
[Illustration: No. 2]
CHAPTER III
SCHOOL OF THE SOLDIER
Based on the Infantry Drill Regulations

Success in battle is the ultimate object of all military training; hence the
excellence of an organization is judged by its field efficiency. Your
instruction will be progressive in character, and will have as its ultimate
purpose the creation of a company measuring up to a high standard of
field efficiency.

The Preparatory Command, such as Forward, indicates the movement
that is to be executed.
The Command of Execution, such as MARCH, HALT, or ARMS,
commences the execution of the movement.
Preparatory Commands are distinguished by bold face, those of
execution by capitals. As, 1. Forward, 2. MARCH.
The average man understands better and learns faster when you show
him how a thing is done. Don't be content with telling him how. Bear
this in mind when you become an instructor.
On account of the absence of the Regular Army on the border, it was
not practical to obtain photographs of regular troops with which to
illustrate this book. The photographs used were taken under the direct
supervision of the authors.

POSITION OF A SOLDIER AT ATTENTION
[Illustration: No. 1 No. 2 CORRECT POSITION]
No. 1. Eyes to the front. Hands hang naturally. Rest weight of the body
equally on feet. Feet turned out making angles of 45°.
No. 2. Head erect. Shoulders down and back. Chest out. Stomach up.
Thumb along the seams of trousers. Knees straight, not stiff. Heels on
line and together. Do not stiffen the fingers: The mind ought also to be
at attention.
[Illustration: No. 1 No. 2 INCORRECT POSITIONS]
No. 1. Don't gaze about. That's not playing the game. Don't turn your
feet out making an angle of 100°.
No. 2. Don't slouch. Hold yourself up. Keep your eyes off the ground.

These are the common errors of beginners.
1. Parade, 2. REST.
[Illustration: No. 1 No. 2 CORRECT POSITION]
No. 1. Clasp hands without constraint in front of center of body. Left
hand uppermost. Fingers joined. Thumb and fore finger right hand
clasps the left thumb.
No. 2. Bend left knee slightly. Right foot is carried 6 inches straight to
the rear.
[Illustration: No. 1 No. 2 INCORRECT POSITIONS]
No. 1. Not looking straight to the front. Right foot not carried straight
to the rear.
No. 2. Leaning back too far. Right foot carried back too far.
1. Hand, 2. SALUTE.
[Illustration: No. 1 No. 2 CORRECT POSITION]
No. 1. Look toward the person saluted.
No. 2. Tip of forefinger right hand touches cap or hat above right eye.
Thumb and forefingers extended and joined. Hand and wrist straight.
Palm to the left.
[Illustration: No. 1 No. 2 No. 3 INCORRECT POSITIONS OR
COMMON ERRORS]
No. 1. Palm of the hand to the front and fingers not joined.
No. 2. Arm held too high. Fingers not perfectly joined.
No. 3. Fingers not extended and joined. Left hand not by side while
salute is being made.

Some beginners forget, while saluting, to remove their pipes, cigarettes,
or cigars from their mouths. This proves clearly that they are beginners,
for trained and experienced men are careful about military honors and
salutes.

THE RESTS
Being at a halt, the commands are: FALL OUT; REST; AT EASE; and
1. Parade, 2. REST.
At the command fall out, the men may leave the ranks, but are required
to remain in the immediate vicinity. They resume their former places,
at attention, at the command fall in.
At the command rest, each man keeps one foot in place, but is not
required to preserve silence or immobility.
At the