Drill Commands

Overview

• Drill commands are primarily used in military foot drills and marching bands.
• Commonly heard at events involving military personnel, public security services, and youth uniformed organizations.

Common Drill Commands

Without Weapons

• Fall in: Move troops into formation.
• Fall out: Face the commander to be dismissed.
• Dismissed: Leave the parade square.
• Attention: Adopt the at attention position.
• Stand fast: Remain at attention regardless of others' movements.

Rest Positions

• Stand at ease: Relaxed position similar to parade rest.
• Stand easy: Allows soldiers to relax further and speak quietly.
• Relax: Offers the most freedom of movement.

Dressing

• Right dress: Aligning to the right.
• Left dress: Aligning to the left.
• Inwards dress/centre dress: Align with colours or banners.
• Eyes front: Face forward after dressing.

With Weapons

Rifles

• Shoulder/slope arms: Carry rifle on shoulder.
• Change arms: Switch rifle from one side to the other.
• Present arms: Bring weapons to the front.
• Order arms: Lower weapon butt to the ground.
• Port arms: Hold weapon in front of body.
• High port arms: Similar to port arms, but higher.
• Reverse arms: Hold weapon reversed for mourning.
• Ground arms: Place rifle on the ground.
• Trail arms: Carry rifle horizontally.
• Sling arms: Use sling to carry rifle on shoulder.
• Fire of joy, load weapons: Prepare rifle for ceremonial fire.
• Fix bayonets: Attach bayonets to rifles.

Sabres

• Draw sabres: Unsheathe sabres.
• Return sabres: Sheathe sabres.
• Present sabres: Salute using sabres.
• Shoulder/slope sabres: Slope sabre at shoulder.
• Order sabres: Lower sabre to ground.

Forming the Parade

• Pass in review: Begin march past.
• Parade, in close order, left/right dress: Commence dressing in close order.
• Company, form ranks: Form companies into ranks.

Saluting on the March

• To the front salute: Raise right arm for saluting.
• To the right/left salute: Salute while looking to the side.

Compliments on the March

• Eyes right/left: Turn heads and leader salutes.

Saluting at the Halt

• To the front/right/left salute: Salute with right arm.
• Advance in review order: Advance to pay respects.

Colour Commands

Marching with Colours

• Let fly the colours: Ceremonial movement of the colours.
• Slope/shoulder colours: Alternate way to carry colours.
• March on/off the colours: Commands for colour guard movements.

Colour Commands at the Halt

• Order colours: Equivalent to order arms for colours.
• Carry colours: Lift colours for carrying.

Turning Motions

At the March

• Right/left turn: Execute 90-degree turn.
• About turn: Execute 180-degree turn.
• Right/left flank/incline: Execute 45-degree turn.

Static

• Right/left face: Rotate body to the side.
• About face: Rotate body 180 degrees.

Marching Motions

• Quick march: Standard pace.
• Slow march: Ceremonial pace.
• Half step march: Reduced step length.
• Double march: Faster pace for quick movement.

Historical Drill Commands

Musket Drill

• Detailed steps for loading and firing muskets in the 18th century.

Cavalry Drill

• Training for cavalrymen and horses to work together in battle.

Other Drills

• Tasks such as weapons maintenance broken down into drills.

Related Topics

• Drill team
• Exhibition drill
• Military parade

These notes provide an overview of various drill commands used in military and ceremonial contexts, including both historical and contemporary practices. They cover commands used with and without weapons, as well as specific movements and saluting methods during parades and reviews. Historical contexts such as musket and cavalry drills are also discussed.