manual for commanders of infantry platoons. - US Army Combined ...

10 MAN~~I~UACL FOR COMMANDERSE~ OF INaFAhNTRY6 PL~A~TOONS.
is also its master, because hie alwa-,ys knows how to keep cool
and to use goodl judgmnent. Nothing should be hidden from
h~imnand the command should give him its eatlire confidence.
To commanazd dloes not consist in merely givingr orders. To com·maand
is to g~ive an~ or~der and to see thIat it is executed., It
also consists in being constantly on the alert; in keeping
informed of everything that is going on around him; in originzating
orders if none are received, or in taking the initiative;
in giving$thle necessazry instructions at the proper time; andl in
keeping his inferiors constantly informued of existing conditions.
The authority of a commanding officer' makres itself apparent
first of all by the discipline of his comm~and--execution of
orders, bearing, outward signs of respect," clealnliness, good
condition of arms, and correctness~ at drill.
In battle a disciplined command fights well, but undisciplinzed
troops escape from their .chiefs, throw away their arm-s, surrender,
or run axvay.
ADVICE TO A YOIJNG OFFICEE.
In~~flule'nce.--A commanding officer sho~uld impr~ess himself on
his command by his sup~erior qualities.. There is no sincgle
type of commander which young officers caln takle aZsa modlel,
but each one should re-flect and try to determine what natural
or acqyuir~ed qualities give to the best commanders of his acquain~tance
thleir influence over their commlands. ALno~fficer
recently promoted should not be content with thinking that he
has been· made a commander simply to secure obedience undler
ordinary ('laily circumstances. That: would only indicate thait
his rasnk is respected-. He should not be satisfied until he has
patiently ga~inedlthe confidence and the heart of his* men; until
he is certain that; they have given themselves absolutely to him,
and 'that they will obey him even to the death.
A young 'commalnder sh~ouldl remaember thatC in critfical tim~es
the 'authoroity that emanates solelyv from his own Ipersonality
will' always be far more efficaciousx than that which comes frb~m
th~e regulations.
Mfioranlqusalities.-A-l commzander raises himself in the esteem
of his men above all by the qualities of his character, and
rightly so, for energy, initiative, will power, perseverance,