personnel qualification standard (pqs) - I Marine Expeditionary ...

USMC Mission and Organization 102
Company uses formations such as lines, column (of three, etc.), mass extended
mass, and column of platoons in line.
Note: In all these formations, the platoons which comprise the company will
either be in line (each squad forming one rank) or in column (each squad forming
one file). The company may also form a column of twos or files in a manner
similar to that of a platoon. In this case, the platoons are arranged in the same
manner as a company in column, except that each platoon is in a column of twos
or files.
When the company commander is absent, the senior officer present with the
company takes post and drills the company for the company commander and that
in the absence of the first sergeant, the senior SNCO, normally a gunnery
sergeant, takes post and performs the duties of the first sergeant.
For drills and ceremonies, the guidon bearer carries the company guidon and that
in all formations, the guidon bearer is one pace to the rear and one pace to the left
of the company commander or the first sergeant, and for marches in the field, the
guidon is kept with the company headquarters baggage unless otherwise directed.
Note: If the guidon is carried in the field on marches, the guidon bearer takes his
post as described above for drill and ceremonies.
When Marines are to execute the same movements simultaneously, the platoon
commanders repeat all preparatory commands of the company commander except
the following.
• When commands such as “Fall Out” are given, combine the preparatory
command and the execution command.
• When the preparatory command of the company commander is
“COMPANY”, the platoon commander gives the preparatory command “
PLATOON”.
• When in mass formation, platoon commanders repeat preparatory only when
the order requires an independent movement by a platoon.
• When the platoons of the company are to execute a movement in successive
order, such as a column movement, the platoon commander of the first
platoon repeats the company commander’s preparatory command. Platoon
commander’s of the following platoons give an appropriate caution such as
“CONTINUE THE MARCH.” After giving the caution command, the
platoon commanders of the execution at the proper time to cause their
platoons to execute the movement on the same ground just as the first platoon.
102-21