The position of attention is the most important to master. It is
a demonstration of your discipline and military bearing, as well as the basis of all movements in a formation, such as facing,
flanking, or column movements.
The Position of Attention
- Bring heels together evenly with your feet turned out, forming a 45-degree
angle.
- Keep your legs straight but DO NOT lock them. Locking your knees
impares circulation and may cause you to become light headed and pass out.
- Keep your body taught. Straighten your back as if you were standing
against a wall, or trying to convince the carnie that you really are 52" so that you can ride the wicked cool "Brain Scrambler".
- Arms hang down to your sides without stiffness and are brought flush to
your sides. Your hands are cupped with the thumb pointing straight down the seam of your pants.
- Hold your head high, with eyes level and focused slightly above the
horizon.
The Position of Parade Rest
- On the command of "Rest", raise your left foot from the hip enough to
clear the ground and place it smartly to the left so that the heels are 12 inches apart.
- Keep your legs straight, but DO NOT lock your knees.
- As you move your left foot, move your arms (while keeping them straight)
to the back of your body, place your right hand on-top of your left hand and lock your thumbs together, right over left.
- Make sure there are no "windows" (spaces between the elbow and the side
of the body) by fully extending the your arms.
At Ease and At Rest
The position of "At Ease" is similar to "Parade Rest" with the exception
of moderate movement. That is, you may move while "At Ease" so long as your right foot remains in its EXACT location.
DO NOT move your right foot, and there is no conversation between cadets.
At the command of "Rest", cadets will assume the position of "At Ease".
However, moderate speech is permitted.
Facings Movements
Execute facing movements from a halt, at the position of attention, and in
the cadence of quick time. Perform facing movements in two counts.
Right (Left) Face
The commands are Right (Left), FACE. On the command FACE, raise the right (left) toe
and left (right) heel slightly and pivot 90 degrees to the right (left) on the ball of the left (right) foot and the heel
of the right (left) foot, assisted by slight pressure on the ball of the left (right) foot. Keep legs straight, but not stiff.
The upper portion of the body remains at attention. This completes count one of the movement. Next, bring the left (right)
foot smartly forward, ensuring heels are together
and on line. Feet should now be forming a 45-degree angle,
which means the position of attention has been resumed. This completes count two of the movement.
Half
Right (Left) Face
When instructions are given for 45-degree movements,
the command Half Right (Left), FACE may be used. The procedures described in performing
Right (Left) Faces are used except each person executes the movement by facing 45 degrees
to the right or left.
About Face
The command is About, FACE. On the command FACE, lift the right foot from the hip
just enough to clear the ground. Without bending the knees, place the ball of the right foot approximately half a shoe length
behind and slightly to the left of the heel. Distribute the weight of the body on the ball of the right foot and the heel
of the left foot. Keep both legs straight, but not stiff. The position of the foot has not changed. This completes count one
of the movement. Keeping the upper portion of the body at the position of attention, pivot 180 degrees to the right on the
ball of the right foot
and heel of the left foot, with a twisting motion
from the hips. Suspend arm swing during the movement, and remain as though at attention. On completion of the pivot, heels
should be together and on line and feet should form a 45-degree angle. The entire body is now at the position of attention.
This completes count two of the movement.
