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April 2008 |
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You got to ease on down, ease on down the road!Dr. Drill |
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You can submit your questions to Dr. Drill via e-mail to : DrDrill@CadetStuff.org. Dr Drill, Please give me the right execution on this "at ease" command since we're having different version on how to do it. What is the position of hands, feet and body while on at ease position. Thank you. v/r Dr. Drill respondsHey, Chief! Nice to have you aboard. Other than the occasional slumming Marine, we don't get many Naval Service types around here. Luckily for me, though, those slumming Marines have kept me current with the NAVMC 2691, the drill bible for the Navy and Marines. A quick Google search turned up a PDF copy of the current version. In there I found the following paragraph: 2-2 b. Rests. There are four rests for halted troops. They are parade rest, at ease, rest, and fall out. All are executed from the position of attention.(2) At Ease. The command is AT EASE. It is executed in one count. At the command, keep your right foot in place. You may move about but must not talk. You may also be given this command when not in ranks. In this case, it means cease talking but continue whatever you were doing before the command. So, simple enough: when you hear the command 'AT EASE' and you're standing at attention, you simply keep your right foot in place and your flytrap shut. There isn't a prescribed body or hand position for the movement. Air Force drill is the same way: keep the foot in place and the lips zipped. The Army command 'AT EASE' is the same, but they have an additional command: 'Stand At, EASE': FM 22-5: 3-3. Rest Positions at the Haltb. Stand At Ease. The command for this movement is Stand at, EASE. On the command of execution EASE, execute parade rest, but turn the head and eyes directly toward the person in charge of the formation. At ease or rest may be executed from this position. Often, troops will move to a position of 'Parade Rest' when given the command 'AT EASE' before they do the 'right foot' thing. This isn't required, but is often taught in Civil Air Patrol (much as the 'FALL OUT' dance is taught but not required). One more thing for you leaders out there: 'AT EASE' has become almost the same as 'REST'. However, Dr. Drill knows (and you should, too) that at 'Rest' you can speak while you can't 'At Ease'. SOP seems to be to give your formations 'AT EASE' and then yell 'AT EASE' again when they started talking too loud. It's simple: if you don't mind them yapping a little, give them 'REST' and let them yap. If you want them quiet, then put the 'AT EASE' and make them shut their pie holes. Putting them 'AT EASE' and allowing them to talk is falling down on the job, since you're neither giving them the instruction you want them to execute and you're not holding them to the instruction you gave them. Just a thought... I hope this works for you, Chief. Dr. Drill |
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