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Manual of Arms on the March

Dr. Drill

You can submit your questions to Dr. Drill via e-mail to: DrDrill@CadetStuff.org.

Dr. Drill:

On what foot do you call rifle manual movements? Is there a cheat sheet you have or can you refer me to the Marine Corps Drill Manual?

Respectfully,

LCPL S Romero, USMC

Dr. Drill responds


LCPL Romero,

Ah! You thought maybe you could trip up Dr. Drill by asking him a question unrelated to the Civil Air Patrol (Air Force) drill manual? "Jeez, LCPL Romero", you thought I'd say, "Dr. Drill knows bupkiss about Marine Corps drill. You've got me over a barrel! And how is 'LCPL' pronounced? 'Ul-cup-ul' is so hard on the uvula!" Then you'd hit a bar out in Oceanside with some buddies (more on that later), tip a few beers and laugh it up saying, "I sure had that Dr. Drill guy going! Arf arf! Oorah!"

You see, Dr. Drill has a very hard time believing that you can't find a single Marine in the entire 1st MarDiv who hasn't spent a wee bit of time on the drill field (preferably at Parris Island, where all Real Marines go to Boot Camp). And, considering the fact that you've clearly spent a few months on a Recruit Depot and a couple years in the Corps and actually doing the Manual of Arms on the march; Dr. Drill would normally assume you would have retained a bit of that hard-won knowledge. But, no matter...

For, you see, in another lifetime Dr. Drill was - TA DA! - Sergeant Drill, sergeant of Marines, leader of men! Much like Bob Keeshan, who left life as an enlisted Marine and became a captain (Captain Kangaroo, that is), Dr. Drill left the Marines and became a know-it-all. Or maybe I've just seen 'Full Metal Jacket' one too many times, I never can remember. But anyway, I do have that little 'Dr.' in front of my name (And it's pronounced 'doctor' NOT 'dur', wise guy!); so I must know something, eh?

So, drawing on my vast knowledge of drill and the vast resources of the internet, I found this reference: NAVMC 2691/SECNAVINST 5060.22. But, since "NAVMC 2691/SECNAVINST 5060.22" is a heck of a tongue twister (and we know Marines are ot-nay oo-tay ight-bray, if you get my drift), it's usually just called the "Marine Corps Drill and Ceremonies Manual". Unfortunately, a quick look doesn't clearly indicate how to do the manual of arms on the march. It merely gives the movements and counts and seems to assume that you can project that into a movement on the march.

For instance:

3-9. MOVEMENTS FROM LEFT SHOULDER ARMS
     Port arms from left shoulder arms is a two-count movement.
          (1) On the first count, the right hand is moved up across the body and grasps the rifle at the stock below the charging handle (see fig. 3-10a).
          (2) On the second count, the grasp of the left hand is released, and the rifle is brought from the shoulder diagonally across the body with the right hand and regrasped at the handguard just above the slipring with the left hand as in the position of port arms (see fig. 3-10b).

However, a little more judicious poking (Google is a wonderful thing) revealed something called the MCRD Parris Island Drill Manual (didn't Dr. Drill tell you that Parris Island ROCKS?). This manual was written with Drill Instructors in mind and has more in-depth explanations of some of the movements. In fact, it included the answer to your question, although the answer made no sense (go figure!)

Here's an example:

(C) LEFT SHOULDER ARMS.
     3. On the March. Assume you are marching at quick time at port arms and you receive the command, LEFT SHOULDER, ARMS (Step). The command of execution will be given as the left foot strikes the deck. LEFT SHOULDER, ARMS (Step). At the command of execution ARMS, your next step will be a 30-inch step to the front with your right foot. At the same time, execute the first count of the manual (Step). With each succeeding step, you will execute an additional count of the manual until the movement is terminated (Step). You will continue to march until given another command.

Now, this confuses Dr. Drill because as you cut your right arm away after placing the rifle into your left shoulder, your armswing will be reversed! That is, your right arm will be coming back as your left foot is going forward. You will then have to suspend armswing for a count in order to get everything back in sync.

But looking further, Dr. Drill notes that any time you're going to the left the command of execution is on the left foot and any time you're going to the right the command of execution is on the right foot. So, it appears as if the military (FM 22-5 is the same) has decided that it will be easier for our men and women in uniform to remember that way. That sort of makes sense (although I'm still upset about the armswing!).

As far as a cheat sheet: Dr. Drill is afraid you're out of luck Marine. When SGT Drill was tearing up the drill deck he often lugged a sword. SGT Drill's sword was specially etched and had a teensy-weensy cheat sheet engraved into it so that he could read it when "at the carry" merely by cutting his eyes to the right. This cheat sheet had every drill command listed and the correct foot to call it on while on the march. It was very cool, and Dr. Drill had REALLY good eyes back then.

However, as you know you don't rate a sword yet (must by why they call you guys 'nonrates', huh?), so you're out of luck. Dr. Drill suggests you tape your own cheat sheet to the top of the rack or overhead above you so that it will be the last thing you see at night (after saying good night to Chesty, of course). Tape another one into the bowl on the commode so that on payday evening you can study between heaves. And practice calling the commands while doing 'air rifle' (sort of like 'air guitar' only with an imaginary rifle and no drawn-out solos) when you're moseying back and forth from the chow hall. Seriously! It will help you encode the movement and get you ready for NCO school.

I hope this helps.

Semper Fi,

Dr. Drill

P.S.: And about your and your buddies (I told you I'd be getting back to this): Dr. Drill knows the definition of a 'buddy', do you?

Caution: Dr. Drill isn't always one hundred percent serious. Please activate your Joke Detectors. And don't call us when you find yourself explaining to a membership termination board why you used a staple gun to keep a cadet's hands at his sides during "To The Rear, March". All we're going to say on your behalf is "Duh!"

And if you find yourself on the bad end of a serious counseling because you decided to go toe-to-toe with your squadron commander over the position of the guide during a squadron-in-mass formation or something similarly trivial, well, we're just going to point, laugh and call you names!

Dr. Drill welcomes comments and corrections. Nothing herein is to be construed as official policy unless quoted from an up-to-date regulation or manual and Dr. Drill is not to be used as a blunt instrument to reshape the pointy heads of your superiors. Dr. Drill has made an extensive study of the drill and knows some people who know some things, but he's not the Final Authority on what happens at your unit. That Final Authority is? That's right, kids! Your UNIT COMMANDER.

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