Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Cavalry of the Army Part 9

=Scouts.=--Individual troopers detached from their commands and operating with a definite mission related to security or information.

=Skirmishers.=--Dismounted troopers in line in extended order; also the formation in which the troopers are so placed.

=Successive formation.=--A formation in which the elements take their places successively.

=Tactical exercise.=--An operation against an outlined or represented enemy whose movements are restricted with a view to ill.u.s.trating some particular tactical principle.

PART I.--INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION.

=Section 2. General provisions.=

=34.=[6] Thorough training in the school of the trooper is the basis of efficiency.

[Footnote 6: The numbers refer to paragraphs in the Cavalry Drill Regulations, 1916.]

=35.= Short and frequent drills are preferable to long ones, which exhaust the attention of both instructor and recruit.

=36.= As the instruction progresses, the recruits will be grouped according to proficiency, in order that all may advance as rapidly as their abilities permit. Those who lack apt.i.tude and quickness will be separated from the others and placed under experienced drillmasters.

=37.= The individual dismounted instruction of the recruit is habitually given by experienced noncommissioned officers, especially selected for that purpose. All such instruction is under the careful personal supervision of a commissioned officer, and in the corresponding mounted instruction it is desirable that the actual instructor be a commissioned officer when this is practicable. All lieutenants will be required to instruct recruits in person sufficiently to acquire skill in such work.

When recruits, upon their arrival at a station, are a.s.signed to their respective troops for training, the captains prescribe and supervise the instruction.

=38.= The instructor will always maintain a military bearing and by a quiet, firm demeanor, set a proper example to his men. A calm and even temper is indispensable. Unnecessarily loud commands and prolonged explanations are to be avoided.

As the recruits become somewhat proficient in the school of the trooper, the officer superintending the instruction may call upon them in turn to drill the squad in his presence and to correct any errors that may be observed. This will increase their interest, hasten their instruction, and facilitate judgment upon their fitness for the duties of noncommissioned officers.

=39.= A carefully thought out program of instruction, prepared in advance and based upon the probable time and facilities for instruction that the case in question may present, is essential to economy of time and effort and to systematic, thorough instruction.

=40.= The preliminary individual instruction, dismounted and mounted, should be carried on during different drill hours of the same days.

This preliminary phase should include, in addition to regular drill, instruction in: The elements of discipline; the names of the various parts of the arms and equipment; the proper care of arms, equipment, and clothing; elementary instructions as to the names of those parts of the horse that are frequently referred to at drill and stable duty; grooming; a few simple rules regarding the care of the horse; personal hygiene; and other related subjects.

=41.= As soon as the instruction shall have advanced so far as to include the few necessary preliminary drills, collective instruction =in the school of the squad= will be taken up. This instruction may, like the individual instruction, properly be carried on during different hours of the same drill days, in both mounted and dismounted phases. The recruits meanwhile continue their progress in the individual instruction.

=42.= The progress in =mounted= collective instruction must be carefully regulated in accordance with the recruit's confidence and skill in the management of his mount, and must progress no faster than the recruit's horsemans.h.i.+p justifies; but this restriction need not affect the =dismounted= collective instruction, and the latter may properly be carried forward as rapidly as the state of the dismounted individual instruction will permit. By the time the recruit's instruction in equitation has progressed so as to prepare him for mounted drills at the faster gaits, he should have learned the mechanism of all the movements by executing them at a walk. His course of dismounted training should meanwhile have included not only the close-order movements of the squad but the mechanism of extended order, practice in the use of the saber, a little preparatory range practice with the rifle and pistol, and work in the nature of minor field exercises involving dismounted fire action. He should, during the same period, have learned the mechanism of pa.s.sing from mounted action to dismounted action and should have acquired familiarity with all commands and signals used in the squad. The recruit will thus ordinarily be ready to enter with reasonable efficiency upon certain phases of the work in the platoon and troop before his individual mounted instruction is completed.

=43.= 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 =boldface type=, those of execution by =CAPITALS=.

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 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.

On foot, the command of execution is firm in tone and brief.

In mounted movements the preparatory command is usually somewhat prolonged to insure its being heard, and the command of execution is always prolonged.

_Commands will be given no louder than is necessary._

Laxness or indifference suggested in the manner of giving a command is certain to result in corresponding carelessness of execution.

=44.= To revoke a preparatory command, or being at the halt, to begin anew a movement improperly begun: =AS YOU WERE=. Any movement ceases and the former position is resumed.

=45.= To stay the execution of a movement when marching, for the correction of errors, the commands may be given: 1. =In place=, 2.

=HALT=. All halt and stand fast. If executed dismounted, the position of the rifle is not changed. To resume the movement, the commands are: 1. =Resume=; or, 1. =Resume, trot=; or, 1. =Resume, gallop=. 2.

=MARCH=. The movement is then completed as if it had not been interrupted.

=46.= Movements that may be executed toward either flank are explained as toward but one flank, it being necessary to subst.i.tute the word "left" for "right," and the reverse, to have the explanation of the corresponding movement toward the other flank. The commands are given for the execution of the movements toward either flank. The subst.i.tute word of the command is placed within parentheses.

=47.= Any movement may be executed either from the halt or when marching unless otherwise prescribed.

Any movement on foot not specially excepted may be executed in double time.

If at a halt, or if marching in quick time, the command =double time= precedes the command of execution.

=48.= As instructors, officers and noncommissioned officers go wherever their presence is necessary.

=49.= Before beginning work, the instructor always a.s.sures himself that those under his charge are neatly dressed and in proper uniform.

At mounted formations he will also require that horses be properly groomed and that equipments be in good condition and adjusted as prescribed.

=50.= The value of recruit drill as an exercise in teaching discipline must be kept constantly in view by the instructor. No phase of the instruction is of such great ultimate importance.

=Section 3. School of the trooper, dismounted.=

=51.= The object of this school is to develop the strength and agility of the trooper, to give him a military bearing, to fix in him the habit of sustained attention and instant obedience, to prepare him for instruction in mounted combat with the saber and pistol, and to train him in dismounted combat with the rifle.

In order to make rapid progress in those exercises which form the basis of instruction of the trooper, it is necessary that the lessons should, as far as practicable, be given individually.

=52.= _Cautions to instructors._--The instructor explains briefly each movement, first executing it himself if practicable. He requires the recruits to take the proper positions una.s.sisted and does not touch them for the purpose of correcting them, except when they are unable to correct themselves. He avoids keeping them too long at the same movement, although each should be understood before pa.s.sing to another. He exacts by degrees the desired precision and uniformity.

Recruits should be allowed to stand at ease frequently. During these pauses the instructor will not be idle, but opportunity will be taken to talk to the men, to encourage them to ask questions, and so to develop their confidence and common sense.

=53.= During the period devoted to preliminary instruction, without arms, the recruit will be prepared for subsequent instruction with arms by being taught the names of the princ.i.p.al parts of the different weapons and the proper methods of cleaning, disa.s.sembling, a.s.sembling, and operating the latter.

PHYSICAL TRAINING.

=54.= The physical training of the soldier must receive due attention.

Its direct results are to increase the soldier's strength, agility, and endurance, and it has indirect results of far-reaching value in connection with discipline and morale. It should begin with his first instruction as a recruit and be continued throughout his entire enlistment. The methods prescribed in the authorized Manual of Physical Training will be followed with a view to making the soldier's development thorough and well balanced, and to prevent the instruction from becoming unnecessarily tedious and monotonous.

=55.= In the earlier phases of the recruit instruction, and under temporary conditions that do not favor the carrying out of a more comprehensive scheme of training, special attention will be given to the =setting-up exercises=. Running, jumping, and swimming are phases of training of special importance to the soldier.