Men are taught the necessity of remaining with the squad to which they belong, and in case it is broken up or they become separated therefrom to attach themselves to the nearest squad and platoon leaders, whether these be of their own or of another organization.

The squad executes the halt, rests, facings, steps, and marchings and the manual of arms as explained in the School of the Recruit.

ORGANIZATION OF THE SQUAD

The rifle squad consists of one petty officer, six riflemen, and one autorifleman. One rifleman is equipped with a grenade discharger. One rifleman carries extra ammunition for the automatic rifle and serves as replacement for the autorifleman. All riflemen carry a certain supply of extra ammunition for the automatic rifle and, when necessary, rifle and hand grenades.

The general training of the members of the squad will be uniform. All men will be trained in the use of rifle and automatic rifle. Training in the use of grenades will be supplementary to training with the rifle and the automatic rifle.

To form the squad, the instructor places himself three paces in front of where the center is to be and commands: FALL IN.

The men assemble at attention, pieces at the order, left hand on hip, and are arranged by the petty officer in double rank, as nearly as practicable in order of height from right to left. Each man drops his hand as soon as the man on his left has his interval. The rear rank forms with distance of 40 inches. The men on the left of the squad (left file) do not bring up their arms unless the squad is a part of a larger unit. The instructor then commands: COUNT OFF.

At this command all except the right file execute eyes right, and, beginning on the right, the men in each rank count one, two, three, four, and each man turns his head and eyes to the front as he counts. Pieces are then inspected.

As soon as its organization has been permanently fixed, the squad forms as follows: No. 1 front and rear rank, No. 2 rear rank, riflemen; No. 4 rear rank, rifleman and second in command; No. 2 front rank, rifleman with grenade discharger; No. 3 rear rank, autorifleman; No. 3 front rank, substitute autorifleman and carrier; No. 4 front rank, petty officer. (See fig. 20 for squad organization.)

ALIGNMENTS

To align the squad, the base file or files having been established: 1. Right (left), 2. Dress, 3. FRONT.

At the command dress all men place the left hand upon the hip (whether dressing to the right or left), each man except the base file, when on or near the new line executes eyes right, and takes steps of 2 or 3 inches, places himself so that his right arm rests lightly against the left arm of the man on his right and so that his eyes and shoulders are in line with those of the men on his right; the rear-rank man covers in file.

The instructor verifies the alignment of both_ranks from the right flank and orders up or back such men as may be in rear or in advance of the line; only the men designated move.

At the command FRONT, given when the ranks are aligned, each man turns his head and eyes to the front and drops his left hand by his side.

Whenever the position of the base file or files necessitates a considerable movement of the squad, such move

ment will be executed by marching the entire squad to the front or oblique, to the flank or backward, as the case may be, without other command, and at the trail. To preserve the alignment when marching: GUIDE RIGHT (LEFT).

The men preserve their intervals from the side of the guide, yielding to pressure from that side and resisting pressure from the opposite direction; they recover intervals, if lost, by gradually opening out or closing in; they recover alignment by slightly lengthening or shortening the step; the rear-rank men cover their file leaders at 40 inches.

In double rank the front-rank man on the right, or designated flank, conducts the march; when marching face to the flank, the leading man of the front rank is the guide.

TO TAKE INTERVALS AND DISTANCES

Being in line at a halt: 1. Take interval, 2. To the right (left), 3. MARCH, 4. Squad, 5. HALT.

At the second command the rear-rank men march backward four steps and halt; at the command MARCH, all face to the right (or left) and the leading man of each rank steps off; the other men step off in succession; each follows the preceding man at four paces; rear-rank men march abreast of their file leaders.

At the command HALT, given when all have their intervals, all halt and face to the front. (See fig. 22.) Being at intervals, to assemble the squad: 1. Assemble to the right (left), 2. MARCH.

The front-rank man on the right stands fast; the rear-rank man on the right closes to 40 inches. The other men face to the right, close by the shortest line, halt, and face to the front. (See fig. 23.)