Marine corps drill and ceremonies manual - Regimental Drum Major ...

so armed. The platoon commander then receives the report of the squad
leaders and causes the platoon to execute inspection arms if troops are
armed with the rifle.
8-6. TO DISMISS THE PLATOON
a. The platoon is dismissed only from a line with Marines at
attention.
b. Armed troops are dismissed with the commands INSPECTION, ARMS;
PORT, ARMS; DISMISSED.
c. Unarmed troops are dismissed with the command DISMISSED.
d. The platoon sergeant usually dismisses the platoon.
8-7. TO ALIGN THE PLATOON
a. In line, the platoon is aligned as prescribed for the squad
(see paragraph 7-5). The guide raises his left arm to obtain proper
interval and looks to the front (to the left) and the squad leader of the
first squad turns his/her head to the right (left) during alignment.
Other squad leaders cover the first squad leader and look to the front
during the alignment.
b. The platoon commander, on his/her own command of execution
DRESS, faces half left, as in marching, and proceeds in the most direct
route until positioned on line with the front rank and one pace from the
extreme right flank Marine. When in position, the commander executes a
halt, facing to the rear, and then executes a right face facing down the
line. He/she aligns the front rank by commanding those Marines in advance
or rear of the line to move forward or backward until in line. These
Marines are designated by name or number. Those commanded to move will
move the designated number of steps or will continue to move until
receiving the command, STEADY. The platoon commander executes a series of
short side steps to the right or left to identify a Marine. The commander
must be in line with the rank when commanding a Marine to move. When
he/she has verified the alignment of the first rank, he/she faces to the
left (right) in marching, and marches straight to the front. He/she halts
on line with each succeeding rank, executes right (left) face, and aligns:
on line with each succeeding rank, executes right (left) face, and aligns
each squad. When the guide is in ranks for right dress, the platoon
commander will be 2 paces from the squad leaders of succeeding ranks.
After verifying the alignment of the rear rank, he/she faces to the right
(left) in marching, marches straight to a point 3 paces beyond the front
rank, halts, faces to the left (right), and commands READY, FRONT; COVER.
Immediately after commanding COVER, the platoon commander marches by the
most direct route and takes post 6 paces front and center of the platoon.
c. When aligning a platoon of well-drilled troops or when there is
insufficient time to verify alignment, the platoon commander may command
READY, FRONT; COVER from his/her normal post without verifying alignment.
d. When marching in column, the platoon is aligned by the command
COVER. At that command, the base squad leader obtains 40-inch distance
from the guide. Other squad leaders obtain proper interval from the base
squad leader and align on him/her. Other Marines in the base squad
execute the movement as in squad drill. At the same time, the remaining
Marines of the platoon align on the base squad and cover their squad
leaders.
8-8. TO FORM COLUMN FROM LINE
Being in line at a halt and at the order, to form column the
command is RIGHT, FACE. All members of the platoon face to the right and
form column, the platoon commander taking post in front of the left file
and the guide in front of the right file (see fig. 8-1).
8-5