A military parade is a formation of soldiers with restricted movement, typically used for ceremonial purposes. Historically, soldiers fought in strict formations to maximize combat effectiveness. Modern warfare utilizes loose formations and guerilla tactics. However, parades are still used ceremonially to encourage discipline and organization. Parades involve precise commands to direct soldier movement and positioning. Commands specify an identifier, precaution, caution, and executive direction. Positions include attention, at ease, and rest. Weapons are carried or ordered according to commands. Salutes are given during parades according to traditional timing and procedures that vary between militaries.

1. PARADE

2. Military parade
A military parade is a formation of soldiers whose
movement is restricted. The American usage is
formation or military review".
The military parade is now mostly ceremonial, though
soldiers from time immemorial up until the late 19th
century fought in formation

3. History
The terminology comes from the old tradition of
formation combat, in which soldiers were held in very
strict formations as to maximize their combat
effectiveness.
Formation combat was seen as an alternative to mêlée
combat, which required strict soldier discipline and
competent commanders.

4. Modern warfare has shirked
- guerilla combat and loose formations,
Modern armies still use parades for ceremonial purposes
or in non-combat environments for their
 efficiency,
 ease of organization and
 encouragement of discipline.
Roughly synonymous are "drill" and "march".
Contd..

5. A military drill is memorizing certain actions through
repetition until the action is instinctive to the soldiers being
drilled.
Complex actions are broken down into simpler ones which
can be practiced in isolation so when the whole is put
together the desired results are achieved..
Contd..

6. - Drilling started in the 16th century with the Dutch army of
prince Maurice of Orange. The English word drill is from
Middle Dutch origin.
- Drilling increased in importance when men stopped fighting
as individuals and began to fight together as units.
- Military drilling later was used by the Roman Army to
maximise efficiency and deadliness throughout their long
history.
After the fall of the empire, and the Dark Ages set in Europe,
most feudal lords more heavily relied on peasant levies and their
wealthy knights to fight their wars, the knights for the most part
reverting to fighting as individuals.
Contd..

7. The U.S. drill is based on the contributions of
Baron von Steuben, a Prussian Army officer who
served as a volunteer in the Continental Army.
During the winter quarters in Valley Forge,
Pennsylvania, von Steuben taught a model
company of 100 soldiers musket drill. These
soldiers, in turn, taught the remainder of the
Continental Army.
Contd..

8. Four directions
Parades consist of four directions:
1. Advance
2. Retire
3. Left
4. Right
The Advance is the primary direction of
movement, regardless of which direction the
soldiers are actually facing (similar to a ship’s
bow.)

9. The Retire is opposite the advance, against the
primary direction of movement (similar to a ship’s
stern.)
The Left is to the left of the Advance (similar to a
ship’s port.) The Right is to the right of the
Advance (similar to a ship’s starboard.)
Contd..

10. If the Advance is changed, then all other
directions are changed to be based on the new
Advance.
There is only one person in charge of a parade
at a time. Changing this person is very
ceremonious. This is to make it obvious to the
soldiers who is currently in command and
therefore to whom to pay attention.
Contd..

11. During parades, unless explicitly told
otherwise, soldiers have restricted movement,
meaning they can move only exactly when
they are told, and then doing only exactly
what they are told to do.
Contd..

12. American usage allows the service member to be at
four states of alert:
1. Attention: standing straight, eyes forward, chest out,
knees straight but not locked, feet together at a 45-
degree angle.
2. At Ease: a modified position of attention in which the
left foot is moved to shoulder width and the hands
are placed in the small of the back
3. Stand At Ease: Hands are lowered to a more
comfortable position behind the back and the soldier
may look at the speaker.

13. 4. Stand Easy: The service member is allowed
move around all but the right foot, must
remain silent.
5. Rest: Similar to At Ease, except that the
service member may talk.
A formation must be brought to the position
of attention before it can go to a lower state
of alert.

14. 1. Attention: standing straight, eyes forward, chest out,
shoulders back and down, knees straight but not locked, heels
together, feet at a 30-degree angle (540 mils). All muscles are
rigid. The hands are held in tight fists with the thumbs aligned
with the seam of the trousers.
2. At Ease: a modified position of attention in which the left foot is
moved to shoulder width (typically measured as exactly 12
inches) and the hands are placed behind the back with arms
fully extended. The right hand is placed inside the left with all
fingers together and pointing rigidly downwards. U.S. military
usage is "Parade Rest."
Common wealth Nations

15. 3. Easy: Legs remain at At Ease position, arms are
brought to the sides to a more natural standing
position. Member may relax their muscles and make
minimal movements. U.S. usage is "At Ease,"
however a common mistake in U.S. military practice
confuses "At Ease" with "Rest" (below).
4. Relax: Legs remain at position at ease, member
may make more significant movements or look
around. Members may not move the feet. If the
troops are not being addressed by a commander,
they are generally allowed to talk quietly. U.S. usage
is "Rest."

16. Four-part commands
The typical parade commands are spoken extremely
clearly and emphatically, and consist of four major
parts.
1. Identifier, or who is to follow the command. This is
typically (number) Section, (number) Platoon, (letter)
Company, or (name) Regiment, although the
prefixes are often dropped when there is no
ambiguity (Section, Platoon, Company (Coy,) or
Regiment). Parade can be given only by the parade
commander and always refers to the entire parade,
regardless of size.

17. 2. Precautionary, or what is to be done in
abstract sense: Move to the Advance, Move
to the Retire, etc. (This is not always used in
American usage)
3. Cautionary, or the first part of what is to be
done. In American usage, this is called the
"preparatory command."

18. 4. Executive, or execution, a single syllable on which the
soldiers actually move. This is as true in the United
States armed forces as in other services; however, the
accent of the commander often leads this to be heard
as simply huh on commands such as "Present Arms"
and "Order Arms."
There is always a significant pause between the
Cautionary and the Executive.
In American usage, the executive command is always
given a greater emphasis than the preparatory
command.

19. i.e.
• 4 Platoon (Identifier,) Moving to the Right in File
(Precautionary,) Right (Cautionary,) Turn
(Executive.)
• B Coy (Identifier,) Advance (Precautionary,) Left
(Cautionary,) Turn (Executive.)
• (U.S. usage) Battalion (Identifier), Right (Cautionary),
FACE.
Contd..

20. Often there is no chance of ambiguity, and
much of the command can be unspoken. In
such cases there must always be the
cautionary and the Executive.
• Present Arms
• Atten -Tion
Contd..

21. Common parade
commands
• Have the aforementioned troops fall into
formation.
• . Have the troops fall out. This is done with a
right turn followed by either three steps or a
Quick March in a straight line to the edge of
the parade square, determined by context.
US Army standard is to take one step back
with the left foot, and from there to walk away
from the formation.

22. • . A fall-out where the soldiers have free
time until their next designated work period
(typically done at the end of a common day,
although often is simply an erroneous
substitution for Fall Out).

23. • (U.S.: Atten - Tion (Shun)). Have the soldiers
uniformly adopt the Attention position, the most
constrictive position
(with feet together), but the only position from which
soldiers can actually be made to move. Actions such
as a salute also
return soldiers to the attention position. [Parade Size]
is the type of parade, for example: detail, squad,
parade, battalion, etc. On the second [Parade Size]
only two syllables are said unless that is physically
hard to say, for example on detachment, only detach
is said but on company, the entire word is said.

24. Alignment commands
Commonwealth Version
• , or just Right Dress, - all personnel in front row and
right side column except the right marker take one
step forward, pause, and only the front rank bring up
their right arms parallel to the ground. At the same
time, all members of the formation snap their heads
so they’re facing right. After this, they pause, and
then shuffle back to a new position, where their hand
is extremely close to the soldier’s shoulder on their
right, unless otherwise specified (Elbow Dressing,
Shoulder Dressing).

25. Followed by Right Dress, the front rank snaps their
arms down and faces forward, while all other ranks
simply face forward.
• , or just Left Dress, - all personnel in front row and
left column except the left marker take one step
forward, pause, and only the front rank bring up their
left arms parallel to the ground. At the same time, all
members of the formation snap their heads so
they’re facing left. After this, they pause, and then
shuffle back to a new position, where their hand is
extremely close to the soldier’s shoulder on their left,
unless otherwise specified (Elbow Dressing,
Shoulder Dressing).
Contd..

26. • , followed by Left Dress, the front rank snaps
their arms down and faces forward, while all
other ranks simply face forward.
Contd..

27. American Version
• - all personnel in the unit except the soldiers at the far left
bring up their left arms parallel to the ground and at the
same time snap their heads so they’re facing right. After
this, they pause, and then shuffle back to a new position,
where their hand is extremely close to the soldier’s
shoulder on their left. If the command is preceded by "At
Close Interval", the left arm is bent at the elbow rather
than parallel to the ground. If the command is preceded
by "At Double Interval", both arms are extended.
"Dress Left" reverses the
instructions (Right arm up, look left).

28. • - all personnel snap their arms down and
faces forward.
• - used after any movement is halted to realign
the formation. All personnel in the formation
except the squad leaders make short,
choppy steps to align themselves with their
squad leaders, then come to attention.[1][2]
Contd..

29. Rest positions
• (U.S.: PARADE REST). Have the soldiers adopt the more
relaxed position At Ease position, with feet shoulder width
apart, hands clasped behind back but with upper body half still
in position of attention (chest out, shoulders back). This is
typically used when soldiers must wait a short duration, ready
to adopt the position of attention e.g. if waiting for an Officer to
arrive for an inspection. Changing from At Ease to Attention
and back again, or the converse, is standard when the
command of a parade is transferred (typically between the
commanding officer and his Sergeant-Major), since command
of a formation isn’t actually transferred until the new
commander makes a command.

30. • . (U.S.: AT EASE) Have the soldiers adopt the next
easiest stance, where hands are still clasped behind
the back, however the soldiers can relax their upper
bodies (the shoulders can be slacked). This is often,
but not always, followed by an implicit
’Relax’ (’Rest’). This is typically used when being
dressed/lectured for a long period of time where the
positions of attention or at ease would be too painful/
uncomfortable to hold.
Contd..

31. • (U.S.: REST) The only parade instruction given in
an ordinary voice, rather than the raised, emphatic
parade voice. This is the only position that actually
offers soldiers freedom of movement. Soldiers are
typically allowed to do anything (within reason), other
than moving their feet, though, when it is given by a
high ranking officer, soldiers typically move a
minimal amount after a bit of stretching.
Contd..

32. Marching with weapons/saluting
• : If the soldiers have the weapons at the
order, then it is brought up and carried on the
left shoulder. Although Left and Right
Shoulder Arms are both valid commands, left
is assumed if it is unstated. Soldiers must be
at attention to shoulder weapons. This is
typically done through a throw rather than a
carry.

33. • : The weapon is brought out in front of the soldier, and
held by the right hand on small of the butt, or
equivalent, and the left hand about the fore stock, or
equivalent.
• : The soldiers bring their weapons to the front of their
bodies, and move adjust their right foot position.
Soldiers without weapons use a salute appropriate
for their headdress. Often officers can salute on
behalf of their troops, and any such ambiguity will be
discussed with the troops before hand.
Contd..

34. This is often used with the precautionary General
Salute or Royal Salute, when appropriate. In U.S.
usage, all soldiers salute, either with the hand salute if
the weapon is at sling arms or if there is no weapon,
and with the appropriate salute for their weapon.
Guidons and organizational colors are dipped to 90
degrees above the ground (but not touching the
ground). The U.S. colors are never dipped. The
command for recovery is "Order Arms!"
Contd..

35. • : If the soldiers are carrying a weapon which
can be ordered they will lower it so that is
resting on the ground, touching the outer
toes of the right boot, and being supported by
a slightly bent right arm.
• : If the soldiers have a "sling" (strap) on their
rifles, then this command can be called. The
soldiers will loosen the sling so they can now
have their rifles strapped around their
shoulders.
Contd..

36. Compliments and Saluting
Saluting on the march
In the Commonwealth countries, the following
saluting on the march commands are ordered
with a preparatory command of ’Saluting on
the march,...’. For example, ’Saluting on the
march, to the front Salute’ and always
called on the left foot.

37. • or Salute: The parade is halted and the right arm is
raised so the forearm is placed at a 90° angle, while
pointing at the temple. This is lowered and then
repeated again, followed by an about turn and a
resume in marching (off the left foot). The timing is:
"Call, Check, Halt, 2, 3, Up, 2, 3, Down, 2, 3, 4, 5,
Up, 2, 3, Down, 2, 3, About, 2, 3, In, 2, 3, Left, Right,
Left!" It is one of, if not the longest drill movement in
the military.
Contd..

38. In British Corps, the drill movement for saluting
to the front is the following. Halt check 1 2 (this
is the timings for halting from the march), 2, 3
up, 2, 3, down, 2, 3,up, 2, 3, down, 2, 3 about,
2, 3 in 2, 3 left right left.

39. • : The right arm is raised so the forearm is
placed at a 90° angle, while pointing at the
temple. It is generally to a count of "Up, two,
three, four, five, down, swing!" This is done
while looking to the right, except the right
marker, who must stay looking to the front, to
keep the flight, squad, platoon, etc. staying
straight.

40. • : The right arm is raised so the forearm is placed at a
90° angle, while pointing at the temple. It is generally
to a count of "Up, two, three, four, five, down, away!"
This is done while looking to the left, except the left
marker (as they are the front most of the saluting
flank), who must stay looking to the front, to keep the
flight, squad, platoon, etc. staying straight.

41. In the United States, the command for saluting
on the march is "Eyes, RIGHT/LEFT." The
parade leader and other officers execute the
hand salute, while everyone but the right file
turns their heads to the right." The command
for recovery is "Ready, FRONT."

42. Compliments on the March
In the Commonwealth countries, the following
compliments on the march commands are
ordered with the preparatory command of
’Compliments on the march,...’. for example,
’Compliments on the march, Eyes Right’
and always called on the left foot.

43. • : The parade turn their heads to the right after
a check pace. The parade leader salutes
while looking in the direction they gave. This
is done while looking to the right, except the
right marker, who must stay looking to the
front, to keep the flight, squad, platoon, etc.
staying straight.
Contd..

44. • :Similar to the Eyes Right except the parade
looks to the left. This is done while looking to
the left, except the left marker, who must stay
looking to the front, to keep the flight, squad,
platoon, etc. staying straight.
Contd..

45. Saluting at the halt (static)
• or Salute: The right arm is raised so the
forearm is placed at a 90° angle, while
pointing at the temple. It is generally to a
count of "Up, two, three, down!"
• : The right arm is raised so the forearm is
placed at a 90° angle, while pointing at the
temple. It is generally to a count of "Up, two,
three, four, five, down!"

46. • : The right arm is raised so the forearm is
placed at a 90° angle, while pointing at the
temple. It is generally to a count of "Up, two,
three, four, five, down!"
Contd..

47. Colour commands
Marching with colours
• : The colours are normally held in a semitaught
position. This is a simple, ceremonial letting fly and
catching of the colours.
• : The colours are normally kept upright, but this can
represent a problem both when dealing withstandard
doors. This slants the colours forward sufficiently to
negate this, and they are brought back up
afterwards.

48. • : The normal method for carrying colours can
be tiresome for the bearer. This has the
colours taken out of their frogs and sloped
over the right shoulder at about 45°.
Contd..

49. Colour commands at the halt
(static)
• : Essentially the same as Order Arms, except
used exclusively for the Colour Party.
• : This is equivalent to Shoulder Arms. The
right arm lifts the colours up so they line up
with the body’s centre line, with the right arm
held in front of the soldier, at mouth level
parallel to the ground. It is caught and guided
into its frog with left hand, which is then
returned to its side.

50. • : This is used when the Colour Party Commander
decides that he/she and the other flag holding
members, have held their flags for a long time, and
that their arms are tired, so, when the command
"Change - Arms!" is given, the flag holders put their
arms in line with the flag, their other hand on top of
their first hand and move the first hand down to
attention, so that the other hand is now at the first
hands’ original position.
Contd..

51. Turning motions
Turning motions at the march
• (U.S.:Column right, MARCH): A 90° turn to the right
done by rotating on the right heel and left ball. The
cautionary and executive are both called on the left
foot. The left leg is then brought up to be parallel to
the ground (although exceptions are made for kilted
regiments) and slammed into the ground in the
position of attention. This motion is done at a
particular fixed point.

52. • (U.S.:Column left, MARCH): A 90° turn to the left,
done by rotation on the right ball and the left heel.
The right leg is then brought up to be parallel to the
ground and slammed down into attention. This
motion is done at a particular fixed point.
• (U.S.:To the Rear, MARCH): A 180° turn to the right,
done as an exaggerated version of the right turn.
United States units do not make exaggerated
gestures with the legs or arms.
Contd..

53. • or Right turn, it is still the same even on the march
for some countries: All members marching execute
90° turn to the right done by rotating on the right heel
and left ball.
• or Left turn, it is still the same even on the march
for some countries: All members marching 90° turn
to the left done by rotation on the right ball and the
left heel.
Contd..

54. • (U.S.:Right Oblique, MARCH), is a half turn to the
right, usually used when a flight, squad, platoon, etc.
is not in its proper alignment. All members marching
45° turn to the right, done by rotation on the left ball
and the right heel.
• (U.S.:Left Oblique, MARCH), is a half turn to the left,
usually used when a flight, squad, platoon, etc. is not
in its proper alignment. All members marching 45°
turn to the left, done by rotation on the right ball and
the left heel.
Contd..

55. • is a turn to the right, differentiated froma Right
Turn in that the order of march remains the
same. Comparable to a caterpillar turning
right.
• is a mirror of the Right Wheel.
Contd..

56. Turning motions at the halt
(static)
American armed forces:
• : The body is rotated on the heel of the right foot and
then the left heel is brought forward to meet the right
heel in the position of attention.
• : A mirror image of Right Face. • : The right toe is
brought back to behind the left heel; the body pivots
on the right toe and left heel 180°.

57. • : Exactly the same as a left face, but one
turns only 45°.
• : Exactly the same as a right face, but one
turns only 45°.

58. Commonwealth of Nations:
 The body is rotated 90° to the right
 members shall bend the left knee,
 straighten it in double time and smartly
 place the left foot beside the right to assume the position of attention.
 A mirror image of Right Turn.
 The body is rotated 180° in a clockwise direction, knees locked.
Members shall bend the left knee, straighten it in double time and
smartly place the left foot beside the right to assume the position of
 attention.
 • : Exactly the same as a right turn, but one
 turns only 45°.
 • : Exactly the same as a left turn, but one
 turns only 45°.

59. Marching motions
 The standard pace is 120 beats/minute
 with a 30in. step. There is also a Rifle
 From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Military parade
 6
 Pace, 160 beats/minute and a Highland
 Pace, 80 beats/minute (typically done with
 a kilt.) The pace is based on the individual
 regiments, the pace given by the
 commander, and the speed of the band’s
 rhythm. The way the march is performed
 depends on the regiment’s nationality.
 • : This is a ceremonial pace, used for
 funeral marches and when a unit’s colours
 are marched out in front of the troops. The
 standard pace is 60 paces per minute.

60.  or Cut the pace:
 • This is a U.S. march pace. It is at the
 same tempo as Quick Time, but
 instead of 30 inches, the step is 15
 inches.
 • There is also a Canadian and
 Commonwealth version of this, used
 for when the front file/rank is getting
 too far ahead of the rest of the flight,
 squad, or platoon, it means that front
 file/rank should make their steps
 smaller, to allow for the rest of the
 flight, squad, or platoon, to get back
 into proper dressing.

61.  This is essentially a moderate jog at approximately 180 paces per minute. It
creates a travel speed of approximately double that of Quick Time, designed
to be used even when carrying heavy burdens. This is often erroneously used
to describe a sprint or an ordinary run. The U.S. command is "Double Time,
MARCH."
 This is an unrestricted march at approximately Quick Time. This is designed
for field marches and other rough conditions, though is not used in combat
areas. The U.S. command is "Route Step, MARCH."
 This is essentially a stationary march with the knees coming up parallel to the
ground or the foot dangling six inches off of the ground. This is designed to
maintain the time of large parades when portions need no forward speed.
 or Forward or Forward, March: This causes troops marking time to resume
a normal march.

62. Teaching
Other tasks may be broken down into drills,
or squads, for example any turn, can be
called in a sequence.
So: Squad One is a check pace to attention,
Squad Two is the rotation, Squad Three
is the coming back to attention, and
Squad Four is the stepping off. It is used
for teaching drill to new recruits.

63. Melee weapons and
unarmed combat
The most familiar form of melee weapon and unarmed
combat drill in the modern world is the Kata and the Hyung in
Eastern martial arts. However there were once similar drills in
the martial training of warriors in all cultures worldwide. They all
had exactly the same purpose, to make instinctive an
appropriate reaction to an attack or opening by conditioning the
mind and body, through repeated and constant repetition of a
series of actions (building up muscle memory). Probably one of
last survivors of such drills in the Western martial tradition are
the reaction drills and rhythm exercises in the modern sport of
fencing.

64. Musket drill
The 18th century musket, as typified by the B rown Bess, was loaded and
fired in the following way:
1. Upon the command . The soldier will bring the musket to the priming
position, with the pan opened.
2. Upon the command . The soldier will draw a cartridge. Cartridges
consist of a spherical lead bullet wrapped in a paper cartridge which also
holds the gunpowder propellant. The bullet is separated from the powder
charge by a twist in the paper.
3. The soldier should then bite off the top of the cartridge (the end without
the bullet) and hold it closed with the thumb and index finger.
4. Upon the command . The soldier should pour a small pinch of the
powder from the cartridge into the priming pan. He should then close the
frozen so that the priming powder is trapped.

65. 5. Upon the command (About). The butt of the musket is then dropped to
the ground by the left foot with the trigger guard facing to the rear and
the soldier having just poured the rest of the powder into the barrel.
Once all of the powder is poured into the barrel, the soldier should have
stuffed the paper and the ball into the barrel, the paper acts as wadding
to keep the gunpowder in the barrel and also packing it down.
6. Upon the command . The soldier should draw his ramrod from below
the barrel. First forcing it half out before seizing it backhanded in the
middle, followed by drawing it entirely out, while simultaneously turning it
to the front and placing it one inch into the barrel.
7. Upon the command . He should then use the ramrod to firmly ram the
bullet, wadding, and powder down to the bottom followed by tamping it
down with two quick strokes.
Contd..

66. 8. Upon the command . The ramrod is then returned to its hoops under
the barrel. Then the musket is returned to the shoulder arms position.
9. Upon the command . The musket is brought to the recover position
(held vertically in front of the body with the trigger guard facing forward)
and the cock (hammer) is drawn back to the full-cock position.
10. Upon the command (Present). The musket is brought up to the firing
position in anticipation of the command "Fire".
• Under battle conditions, many of these commands were
combined for speed and efficiency. On the command troops would,
without further order, carry out all movements up to an including "Make
Ready". Because of the size of the companies and the general noise
of battle, these commands could be and were often communicated
through specialized drum beatings.
• This process was drilled into troops untilthey could do it by instinct
and feel. The main advantage of the British Redcoat was that he trained
at this procedure almost every day. The standard for the British Army
was the ability to load and fire three rounds per minute. A skilled unit of
musketeers was often able to fire four rounds per minute.

67. Cavalry drill
The purpose of cavalry drill was to train cavalrymen and
their horses to work together during a battle. It still survives
to this day, albeit in a much diminished form in the modern
sporting discipline of dressage. The movements sideways,
at angles the pirouettes etc. were the movements needed
for massed cavalrymen to form and reform and to deploy.
Of the proponents of classical dressage from which modern
dressage evolved, probably the best known are the
Lipizzaner Stallions of the Spanish Riding School. The
Royal Canadian Mounted Police’s Musical Ride giving us
an inkling of what massed cavalry drill at speed would have
been like.

68. Other drills
Other tasks may be broken down into drills, for example
weapons maintenance, the British army used the rhythmic,
poetic almost, "counting of parts" as a memory aid in the
teaching and learning of how to strip, cleaning and reassembly
the service rifle.
Modern era
Military drills survive into the modern era though some nations
prefer to use the term Standard operating procedure, instead of the
arguably antiquated term of "drill".

69. Parade slides
幻灯片制作：赖一元
阅兵背后的故事
——2009年中华人民共和国阅兵记事

70. The End