Military Commands: An overview.

Military Commands

An Overview

Page 1: Foreword & Drill commands.
Page 2: Marching commands.
Page 3: Combat commands. (coming soon.)
Page 4: ...


Foreword

The many branches of the Stormwind army, Lordaeron army and dwarven kingdoms have established customs and manners which, in a combined force such as the Stormguard, can cause confusion. While this is written under the assumption the reader has some military experience, it will also be detailed such that unfamiliar terms should be clear.

A thorough knowledge of the terms, commands and instructions used during warfare will improve the cohesion of a unit, maintain a sense of discipline and respect in the regiment, and ultimately save the lives of our soldiers while bringing ruin to the enemy.

With this in mind, it is important therefore that both new recruits, veteran soldiers and officers alike familiarise themselves with what will follow, to either obey or to use where necessary.

- Amarae the Devout, Field Marshal.



The Drill

All manner of militaries and marching bands start first and foremost with the staple of military discipline; the drill. Known less-than-favourably to some as "the art of standing in lines", it is nonetheless an essential practice for establishing a sense of cohesion within the unit, maintaining discipline, and preparing for the rigours of a combat situation. All Stormguard soldiers are expected to know the drill and the commands used to an acceptable standard. Drills will be used as discipline training, for briefings, for organisation and should the situation call for it, parades.

There are two forms of drill command commonly used:

The short form - The identification of the section that is to perform the instruction, followed by the instruction immediately. For example, "Parade, quick march!".

The long form - As above, but preceded by a cautionary command, which indicates to the unit the action they should take before the command is given. The identification can be left out if addressing all present. For example, "Turning about, parade, about turn!". This is primarily used in formal situations and parades where many soldiers must hear and obey the instruction, but


Articulation of the given command is highly important. While some leeway must be given for varying accents and voices, the instructions given should be spoken in a uniform manner:


Pronounce each syllable in the instruction distinctly. This is done by extending the pronounciation slightly longer than normal speech, as in "a-teeeen-shun!". Each command has a distinctive syllable which will be shown below.

Project the volume of the instruction to reach the furthest soldier from your position clearly, without straining the voice. Keeping measured gaps between words and pronouncing syllables correctly will help achieve this.

Raise the tone of voice at the end of the instruction. In the long form of instruction, both the [/i]cautionary and the execution should be raised at the end, but in ascending order; cautionary instructions should be raised less than execution instructions, so the instructor should begin the cautionary at a normal tone of voice, raise the voice slightly at the end of the cautionary, begin the execution at a slightly higher tone and then end the execution at the highest tone. As an example: "Saluting to the FRONT, to the front, SALUTE!"


Commands

Fall in ("Fall in"; normal voice) - present soldiers form up in ordered ranks; the highest rank on the forward, rightmost position, and then in descending order of ranks to the left. The formation should position the drill instructor central to the line, about one meter in front.
If this command is used when a formation is already present, then the instructed should join the formation to the right-most free space at the back. This command creates a drill, and has no prononciation besides being loud and clear.

Attention ("A-teeen-SHUN") - Drill snaps to attention. Left foot is raised and stamped flatly down by the right foot. Soldier looks forward until instructed otherwise. No free movement is allowed.
If unarmed, hands are by the sides, arms straight. If armed, see "Present arms" below.

Dress Right ("Dressing right, DRESS") - Used when the formation is disorderly or lines are uneven, while standing at ease. The right-most soldier on each line positions themself one arm's length from the soldier in front. All other soldiers adjust position to be in line with the right-most soldier in their rank, and ensure they are one arm's length from the soldier to their right. This ensures a neat formation with even spacing.

At Ease ("At ease"; normal voice) - Given while drill is at attention or presenting arms. The left foot is raised from the ground and placed at shoulder width, posture is relaxed. If possible, hands are interlocked behind the back, otherwise arms are rested at the soldier's sides.

Present Arms ("Preeesent ARMS") - Given while drill is at attention. Weapons should be raised straight upwards with the forearm parallel to the ground. Polearms are stamped to the ground in timing with the feet. If a shield is equipped, the shield-bearing forearm should be raised forwards and parallel to the ground. Rifles and muskets are held against the right shoulder.

Salute ("Saluting to the front[left/right], to the front, SALUTE") - Given while drill is at attention. Soldier raises the right hand, flat, in a counter-clockwise motion to the head, with the left finger touching the temple. Held for two seconds, then lowered to the attention position, in normal circumstances.

[Officer on Parade] Dismiss ("Diiiis-MISS") - Dismisses the drill. If "Officer on parade" precedes the command, a salute is held for two seconds. The drill turns ninety degrees to the right, waits two seconds, and marches in a straight line until clear of the drill area.

Military Commands ctd.


Marching

Marching is the movement of a drill or formation in a measured step; all soldiers should move at the same pacing and their feet should land at the same time. Formal marching is preceded by "By the left" normally, meaning the forward, left-most soldier sets the pace and the rest of the drill should match it.

Marching should be done in a column formation, with a maximum of three columns to ensure coherency. The drill instructor or commanding officer should formally march in front of the column by about one meter.

Marching Commands

Quick march ("Quiiiiick MARCH") - Marching at a normal walking pace, in step "by the left". In a straight line following the commanding officer, though minor obstructions should be avoided within reason.

Halt ("Parade will halt, parade, HALT") - One step is taken with the left foot, the right foot is stamped in besides the left and the soldiers stand to attention in unison, ceasing movement.

Double time ("Double time, quiiiiick MARCH") - As with quick march, but the pace is immediately doubled while keeping formation.

About Turn ("Turning about, A-boooout TURN") - While stationary, the drill turns 180 degrees to the right and stamps the left foot to attention.

Right/Left Turn ("Turning to the right, right TURN") - While stationary, the drill turns ninety degrees toward the left or right and stamps the left or right foot in to attention. Can also be done as right/left INCLINE, for forty-five degree turns.

Right/Left Wheel ("Right/left WHEEL") - While marching, the marching unit pivots ninety degrees around the foremost left or right soldier. The foremost left or right soldier holds position and resumes marching when the rest of the front line has turned ninety degrees.

Pace ("e.g. 2 Paces to the front, MARCH") - While stationary, moves the unit by the stated number of paces to the left, right, front or back. Performed in the same way as quick march, but arms remain stationary. The unit remains facing the instructing officer, so a left pace is a sidestep, a back pace is a step directly backwards. On the last pace the foot is stamped in to attention.

Military Commands ctd, page three.

Combat

While marching and drill instructions follow a tightly regimented structure, the nature of combat situations calls for a more concise and flexible organisation. It is therefore all the more important that commands are recognised and complied with at all times, to prevent unnecessary risk to the individual soldier and the company as a whole.


Basic Combat commands

Swords/rifles/spears up, weapons up, draw weapons. - Equip the instructed weapon and await further orders.

Make ready - Prepare for combat. Ensure weapons and armour are secure, secure fortifications and positions as appropriate and anticipate hostile encounters.

Hold ground/position - Defend the area without moving from it; prevent hostiles from passing until ordered otherwise.

Charge - Rush the enemy position with maximum speed and force. When in groups, charge in line with other soldiers. Raise spears or shields. Upon meeting the enemy, hold a rough line formation and finish off the enemy.

Advance - Move forward at a measured walking pace, usually given in formation, to force the enemy back with spears or shields.

Fall back - Disengage the enemy at the earliest opportunity and move to the designated rally point.

Retreat - Flee the battlefield. Given when all hope of victory is lost and the only remaining objective is to save as many lives as possible.


Formation orders

Form up - Form a straight line formation at the commanding officer's position, lining up from the right as in drill.

Box formation - Form up in ranks as wide as they are deep, with close spacing, shoulder-to-shoulder. Footmen should position at the front of the box and raise shields; rifles and magi should position on the back left and right flanks of the box; apothecaries and escorted targets should position inside or at the back of the box.

Shield wall - Used with sufficient numbers of footmen. Footmen form a closed-ranks line formation with shields raised, without leaving any gaps. Can be used in conjunction with "advance" to push forward against enemies. Spearmen can be positioned behind the wall in between the ranks of the first line, with spears faced outwards over the shield wall.

Wedge formation - The center-most soldier moves forwards and the following soldiers gather behind in gradually increasing lines, producing a triangle shape with the point facing the enemy. Shields should be positioned at the front with spears in the middle ranks, facing outwards, to break cavalry charges.

Skirmish formation - Given after the unit is formed up, or in another formation. The unit forms into wide-spaced lines, about one meter apart. The second line will position in between and behind the ranks of the first line, and the third will position in rank with the first line. Minimizes casualties from explosive or siege weaponry, but should be used sparingly.

Break formation - If necessary to scatter the formation, this command is given. The formation breaks through the middle, left going left and right going to the right to avoid siege weaponry, cavalry charges or similar. Each group then forms up facing the other until given a new order.