MCRD Parris Island: Drill Manual

The Regimental Commander is responsible for ensuring close order drill training is properly conducted. The effectiveness of this training will be monitored through scheduled periods of close order drill, parades and ceremonies and the drill evaluations of each recruit series. Battalion Commanders are responsible for ensuring close order drill training is properly conducted within their respective battalions. Close Order Drill within the recruit training environment will be supervised, graded and monitored by the Regimental Drill Master in consonance with Drill Instructors working with Recruit platoons and DI School Instructors working with students. In addition, selected periods of instruction will be evaluated by assigned monitors. Below depicts the Marine Corps' official drill manual:

CLOSE ORDER DRILL MANUAL

CHAPTER 5

5002. MANUAL OF COLORS

1. Order Color. At order color, the lower ferrule rests on the deck, touching the outside edge of your right shoe just opposite your little toe. The staff is grasped in the "V" formed by the thumb and fingers of the right hand and right thumb in front, back of the hand to the right front. Your right elbow should be close to your side so the forearm will help support the staff. The staff rests in the hollow of your right shoulder in a vertical position. The flat of the spearhead is toward the front. The rest of your body is at attention. Color guards armed with the rifle are at order arms when the colors are at the order.

2. Carry Color from Order Color. The command is Carry, COLOR. At the command, Carry, change the grasp on the staff so as to grasp it from the rear between the thumb and fingers of the ight hand, fingers joined and wrapped around the staff. At the command of execution, COLOR, raise the staff smartly with your right hand to a point where the lower ferrule is just above the sling socket. Grasp the staff just above the lower ferrule with your left hand to steady it. Seat the lower ferrule in the sling socket. As the ferrule is seated, allow the right hand to slide down the staff to a point where the right hand is directly in front of the face. Grasp the staff firmly with the right hand and return the left hand to the left side. The right arm is held down without strain, with the staff inclined slightly forward. Color guards armed with rifles execute the appropriate shoulder arms on the command of execution. The right rifle guard will execute right shoulder arms and the left rifle guard will execute left shoulder arms.

3. Order Color from Carry Color. The command is Order, COLOR (ARMS). On the preparatory command, Order, grasp the staff with the left hand below the right and remove the ferrule from the sling socket. At the command of execution, COLOR or ARMS, lower the ferrule to a point above the deck along the outside of the
right shoe, releasing the left hand and regrasping above the right. Relax the right hand so the staff will slide down between the thumb and fingers. Then change the position of the color and right hand as it is held at order color and smartly return the left hand to the left side. The right and left rifle bearers will execute order arms with the right rifle bearer pausing one count and then executing order arms with the left rifle bearer.

4. Present Color from Order Color. The command is Present, ARMS. On the preparatory command, Present, change the grasp of the right hand on the staff so as to grasp it firmly from the rear between the thumb and fingers, fingers joined and wrapped around the staff. At the command of execution, ARMS, raise the staff smartly with the right hand to a point where the lower ferrule is just above the sling socket. Grasp the staff with the left hand just above the lower ferrule to steady it. Seat the lower ferrule in the sling socket, allowing the right hand to slide down the staff firmly until the right hand is directly in front of the face. Smartly return the left hand to the left side. The right arm is parallel to the deck, staff inclined slightly forward. You will then lower the staff smartly to the front by extending your right arm (the national color bearer executes the movement to the carry on the command of Present, but DOES NOT LOWER THE STAFF, SINCE THE NATIONAL COLOR DOES NOT SALUTE). The color guards will execute a present arms (hand salute if armed with the pistol) on the command of Present, ARMS.

5. Order Color from Present Color. The command is Order, ARMS (COLOR). At the command of execution, ARMS or COLOR, raise the staff so the right thumb is directly in front of the chin and the staff is inclined slightly to the front. Come to the position of order color as previously described. The colorguards execute order arms on the command of order arms.

6. Rests with the Color. The color bearers and color guards utilize the position of parade rest. The command is given only when at order color, given by the senior color bearer or the commander of the color company (battalion). It is executed in one count. At the command of execution, smartly place the left foot 12 inches to the left of the right foot, heels on line, legs straight without stiffness, weight on both legs. At the same time, place the left hand behind the back with the forearm parallel to the deck, fingers are extended and joined, palm facing to the rear. Color guards execute parade rest as pre- scribed for the manner in which they are armed. At the command, attention, they will resume the position of order color (arms for the color guard).

7. Eyes Right (Left) from Order or Carry Colors. The command is Eyes, RIGHT (LEFT) and is executed only when halted at order color or marching at carry color. At the command of execution, smartly turn the head and eyes to the right (left) 45 degrees. If at carry color, the organizational color bearer also lowers the staff to the front by straightening the right arm, if the person being saluted is entitled to a salute by the organi- zational color. Example: Regimental parade reviewing officer is the Regimental Commander or senior. He rates a salute by the Organizational Color. Any reviewing officer junior to the Regimental Commander does not rate a salute. The right (left) color guard keeps his head and eyes to the front, as does the national color bearer.

8. Carry Color from Eyes Right (Left). The command is Ready, FRONT. At the command of execution, FRONT, smartly turn the head and eyes to the front. If the organizational color is saluted, the bearer will also return to the carry as he turns his head and eyes. During a review, when the reviewing officer troops the line, the command, Ready FRONT, is not given. Each member of the color guard turns his head and eyes 45 degrees to the right on the command of eyes right and will follow the progress of the reviewing officer with his head and eyes until they are to the front, at which time the movement is terminated.