Forward march

To march forward from a halt, the command of execution is "Forward, march." On the
command "March," you smartly step off straight ahead with your left foot, taking a 30-
inch step (measured from heel to heel), and place the heel on the ground first. When
stepping off and while marching, you will use a coordinated arm swing — that is, right
arm forward with the left leg and left arm forward with the right leg. The hands are
cupped with the thumbs pointed down, and the arms hang straight, but not stiff, and
swing naturally. The swing of the arms measures 9 inches to the front (measured
from the rear of the hand to the front of the thigh) and 6 inches to the rear
(measured from the front of the hand to the back of the thigh).

To halt from marching, the command is "Halt," given as either foot strikes the ground.
On the command "Halt," you will take one more 30-inch step. Next, the trailing foot is
brought smartly alongside your front foot. The heels are together, on line, and form a
45-degree angle. Coordinated arm swing ceases as the weight of the body shifts to the
leading foot when halting.

Mark time

Mark time is basically marching in place (without moving forward). The command is
"Mark time, march." When marching, the command of execution, "March" is given as
either foot strikes the ground. You take one more 30-inch step with the right (or left)
foot. You then bring your trailing foot to a position so that both heels are on line. The
cadence is continued by alternately raising and lowering each foot. The balls of the feet
are raised 2 inches above the ground. Normal arm swing is maintained.

At a halt, on the command of execution "March," you raise and lower first the left foot
and then the right. The halt executed from mark time is similar to the halt from forward
march.

To resume marching, the command "Forward, march" is given as the heel of the left foot
strikes the ground. You then take one more step in place and then step off in a full 30-
inch step with the left foot.

Half step

The command "Half step, march" is given as either foot strikes the ground. On the
command "March," you take one more 30-inch step followed by a 15-inch step
(measured from heel to heel) in quick time (double normal marching speed), setting
your heel down first without scraping the ground. Make sure that you maintain a
coordinated arm swing and continue the half step until marched forward or halted.

Column right (left), march

To keep confusion to a minimum, I describe the movement to the right. Turning the left
is the same (just exactly opposite).

On the command "Column right, march," the fourth element leader (the person in front
of the far-right line of troops) takes one more 30-inch step, pivots 90 degrees to the right
on the ball of the left foot, and suspends arm swing during the pivot. Following the pivot,
step off in a 30-inch step and resume coordinated arm-swing. Beginning with the
second step after the pivot, take up the half step. Each succeeding member of the
fourth element marches to the approximate pivot point established by the person in front
of her and performs the same procedures as the element leader (lead person).

The third element leader (the person to the immediate left of the fourth element leader)
takes one 30-inch step (maintaining coordinated arm swing throughout), pivots 45
degrees to the right on the ball of the left foot, and takes two 30-inch steps prior to
pivoting 45 degrees to the right on the ball of the left foot. Continue marching in 30-inch
steps until even with the fourth element leader. Then begin half-stepping and establish
interval and dress (alignment). Each succeeding member of the third element marches
to the approximate pivot point established by the person in front of her and performs the
same procedures as the element leader.

The second person (the person to the immediate left of the third element leader) takes
one more 30-inch step (maintaining coordinated arm swing throughout), pivots 45
degrees to the right on the ball of the left foot, and takes four 30-inch steps prior to
pivoting 45 degrees to the right on the ball of the left foot. Continue marching in 30-inch
steps until even with the person who marches on the right. Then begin half-stepping
and establish interval and dress. Each succeeding member of the second element
marches to the approximate pivot point established by the person in front of her and
performs the same procedures as the element leader.

The first element leader (the person in front of the far-left line of troops) takes one more
30-inch step (maintaining coordinated arm swing throughout), pivots 45 degrees to the
right on the ball of the left foot, and takes six 30-inch steps prior to pivoting 45 degrees
to the right on the ball of the left foot. Continue marching in 30-inch steps until even with
the person who marches on the right. Then begin half-stepping and establish interval
and dress. Each succeeding member of the first element marches to the approximate
point established by the person in front of him or her and performs the same procedures
as the element leader.

Once the entire formation has changed direction and dress, cover, interval, and
distance are reestablished, "Forward, march" is given. On the command "March," take
one more 12-inch step with the right foot and then step off with a full 30-inch step with
the left foot. When performing column left, the responsibility of dress reverts to the left
flank on the preparatory command"Column left."

To the rear, march

The command "To the rear, march" is given as the heel of the right foot strikes the
ground. On the command of execution "March," you take a 12-inch step with the left
foot, placing it in front of and in line with the right foot and distributing the weight of the
body on the balls of both feet. Then pivot on the balls of both feet, turning 180 degrees
to the right, and take a 12-inch step with the left foot in the new direction, with
coordinated arm swing, before taking a full 30-inch step with the right foot. While
pivoting, do not force the body up or lean forward. The pivot takes a full count, and the
arm swing is suspended to the sides as the weight of the body comes forward while
executing the pivot, as if at the position of attention.

Change step

The command is "Change step, march." On the command "March," given as the right
foot strikes the ground, you take one more 30-inch step with the left foot. Then in one
count, place the ball of the right foot alongside the heel of the left foot, suspend arm
swing, and shift the weight of the body to the right foot. Step off with the left foot in a 30-
inch step, resuming coordinated arm swing. The upper portion of the body remains at
the position of attention throughout.

Tip: Sometimes, when marching, you’ll notice you’re out-of-step with everyone else. A
simple change step movement of your own will fix that.

Right (left) step

The command is "Right (left) step, march," given only from a halt and for moving short
distances. On the command of execution "March," you raise your right (left) leg from the
hip just high enough to clear the ground. The leg will be bent naturally, and not stiff,
throughout the movement. You place the right (left) foot 15 inches, as measured from
the inside of the heels, to the right (left) of the left (right) foot. Transfer the weight of the
body to the right (left) foot and then bring the left (right) foot (without scraping the
ground) smartly to a position alongside the right (left) foot as in the position of attention.
The upper portion of the body remains at attention, and arms remain at the sides
throughout.

Cadence may be counted during this movement. Counts 1 and 3 are given as the right
(left) foot strikes the ground. Counts 2 and 4 are given as the heelscome together.
To halt from the right (left) step, the preparatory command, and command of execution
are given as the heels come together. The halt from the right (left) step is executed in
two counts. On the command, "Halt," one more step is taken with the right (left) foot,
and the left (right) foot is placed smartly alongside the right (left) foot as in the position
of attention.

Right (left) flank

The command is "Right (left) flank, march," given as the heel of the right (left) foot
strikes the ground. On the command of execution "March," you take one more 30-inch
step and pivot 90 degrees on the ball of the lead foot, keeping the upper portion of the
body at the position of attention. Then step off with the right (left) foot in the new
direction of march with a full 30-inch step and coordinated arm swing. Arm swing is
suspended to the sides as the weight of the body comes forward on the pivot foot. The
pivot and step off are executed in one count. This movement is used for a quick
movement to the right or left for short distances only. Throughout the movement,
maintain proper dress, cover, interval, and distance.