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POSITIONS

Basic Military Requirements (BMR) Revised Edition
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One of the purposes for formations is to move a large number of personnel from one place to another in an orderly manner. Another purpose is to make sure people receive correct up-to-date information. People listen more closely to and better understand what is being said when they are alert and paying attention. Just imagine a group of people standing around, their hands in their pockets, daydreaming or talking while someone is trying to relay important information. How many people will actually hear and understand what is being said? Probably not many! Formations also help teach a group of individuals to act as members of a team instead of “doing their own thing.” POSITIONS WITHIN A FORMATION Many military functions, such as morning quarters and personnel inspections, require that you assemble in formation. The terms used to identify these formations may vary at different commands. For example, the term squad  or  platoon  at  one  command  may  be  a  detail, division,  or  class  at  another.  Here,  the  term  squad  is used to represent a basic formation. Remember that the members  of  any  formation  must  respond  in  unison (together)  to  the  commands  given.  By  studying  the following terms and referring to the diagram in figure 10-21, you can easily learn the basic positions within a formation: Distance. A space of 40 inches between the chest of one person  and  the  back  of  the  person  ahead  within ranks. Element.  An  individual,  squad,  section,  platoon, company, or some other unit that is part of a larger unit. File or column.  A  formation  of  elements  or  persons placed one behind the other. Flank. The extreme right or left of a unit, either in line or in column. The element on the extreme right or left of  the  rank.  A  direction  at  a  right  angle  to  the direction an element or a formation is facing. Formation.  An  arrangement  of  elements  in  line,  in column, or in any other prescribed manner. Guide. The individual on whom a formation or element regulates  its  alignment.  The  guide  is  usually positioned to the right. Interval. The space between individuals from shoulder to shoulder, normally one arm’s length. Pace. The length of a full step (30 inches for men and 24 inches for women). Rank or line. A formation of elements or persons abreast of each other or side by side. Step. The distance from heel to heel between the feet of a marching person. The half step and back step are 15 inches. The right and left steps are 12 inches. POSITION AND FACING COMMANDS The  two  types  of  commands  are  the  preparatory command, such as RIGHT, which indicates the type of movement to be made, and the command of execution, such as FACE, which causes the desired movement to be 10-32 Student Notes: Figure 10-21.—Positions within a formation.







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