The manual of arms with the M14 (see figure C-1) rifle is executed in the same manner as the manual of arms for the M16-series rifle (see appendix B) except Inspection Arms, Stack Arms, Order Arms, and some movements of Present Arms.
Order Arms
C-1. Execute Order Arms in the same manner as explained for the M16-series rifle. The only difference is the butt of the rifle will be placed on the marching surface with the toe of the butt on line with the front of the right foot (see figure C-2 on page C-2).
Rest Position
C-2. Execute the Rest position in the same manner as explained for the M16-series rifle. The only difference is the toe of the butt of the rifle must be on line with the front of the right foot (see figure C-2 on page C-2).
Port Arms
C-3. Execute Port Arms in the same manner as explained for the M16-series rifle. The only difference is the Soldier must grasp the weapon with the left hand “at the balance.” (Figure C-2 shows the location of the balance.)
Present Arms
C-4. To execute Present Arms with the M14 rifle (see figure C-3 on page C-4), use the following procedures:
- When at Order Arms, the left arm moves across the body on count one with the forearm and wrist straight, fingers and thumb extended and joined, and palm down. The first joint of the forefinger touches the rifle at a point below the bayonet stud. If not in ranks, the head and eyes turn toward the person or Color saluted. On count two, the left hand is moved smartly to the side and the head and eyes are turned to the front.
Note. When not at Order Arms, execute the movement in the same manner as previously described for the M16-series rifle in appendix B.
- When at Right Shoulder Arms, the movement is executed by moving the left arm across the chest and touching the first joint of the forefinger to the rear of the receiver. The left elbow is held so that the left forearm is horizontal. Fingers, thumb, and wrist are held as for Order Arms. The palm is down. Count two of the rifle Salute at Right Shoulder Arms is similar to the return from the rifle Salute at Order Arms.
- When at Left Shoulder Arms, the Salute is executed by moving the right arm across the chest and touching the first joint of the forefinger to the rear of the receiver. The right elbow is held so that the forearm is horizontal. The fingers, thumb, and wrist are as described in paragraph C-4. The palm is down. Count two is similar to the return from the rifle Salute at Right Shoulder Arms.
Right Shoulder Arms
C-5. Execute Right Shoulder Arms in the same manner as explained for the M16-series rifle. The only difference is the term “charging” must be changed to “receiver” (see figure C-3 on page C-4).
Left Shoulder Arms
C-6. Execute Left Shoulder Arms in the same manner as explained for the M16-series rifle (see figure C-3 on page C-4).
Inspection Arms
C-7. Inspection Arms with the M14 rifle (see figure C-4) is executed in five counts:
- Counts one and two are the same as with the M16-series rifle (Port Arms). On count three, release the small of the stock and move the right hand forward (fingers extended and joined, thumb on the opposite side of the receiver). Place the knife edge on the hand in contact with the operating rod handle. On count four, press the operating rod handle sharply to the rear and lock the bolt to the rear by pressing the bolt lock with the thumb. At the same time, lower the head and eyes to check the receiver. On count five, raise the head and eyes back to the front and regrasp the small of the stock with the right hand, assuming the Inspection Arms position.
- Ready, Port, ARMS is the only command that is given from Inspection Arms. On the command Ready, relax the grip of the right hand and hook the top of the forefinger to the rear. On the command Port, release the operating rod handle (allowing the bolt to go forward) and place the forefinger on the trigger. On the command of execution ARMS, pull the trigger and come to Port Arms.
Fix and Unfix Bayonets
C-8. Execute Fix and Unfix Bayonets in the same manner as explained for the M16-series rifle. The command for this movement also remains the same.
Sling Arms
C-9. Execute Sling Arms in the same manner as explained for the M16-series rifle. The command for this movement also remains the same.
Stack and Take Arms
C-10. Execute Stack Arms using the following procedures:
- Stack Arms is executed from Order Arms only. It may be executed while at Normal Interval in a line (squad) or a column formation. Stack Arms is not a precise movement; however, it is executed in a military manner.
- The leader designates the stack person by numbers (for example, 2-5-8) when in a line formation, or by squad (second or third) when in a column formation. After the stack person have been designated, the leader then commands Prepare, SLINGS.
- On the command SLINGS, each stack person places the butt of their rifle on their right hip and cradles it in the crook of their right arm. They then adjust the sling keeper to form a 2-inch loop next to the upper sling swivel. As soon as they have prepared the loop, they return to Order Arms.
- When all stack persons have returned to Order Arms, the leader commands Stack, ARMS. On the command ARMS, each stack person places their rifle directly in front of and centered on their body with the sling facing to the front. The heel of the rifle butt is on the marching surface on line with the toes of their shoes. They grasp the rifle by the handguard with their left hand. The first two fingers of the left hand hold the inner part of the loop against the rifle. They reach across the front of the rifle with the right hand, grasp the outer part of the loop, and hold it open for the insertion of the other rifles. They hold the rifle vertical at all times (see figure C-5, item 1).
- On the command ARMS, the Soldier to the left and right of the stack person perform the following movements simultaneously:
- The Soldier on the stack person’s left raises and centers their rifle in front of their body so that their right hand is shoulder high and the rifle is about 4 inches from their chest, with the sling to the front. They then grasp the rifle with their left hand at the small of the stock and lowers both arms, holding the weapon in a horizontal position (see figure C-5, item 1).
- The Soldier on the stack person’s right raises and centers their rifle, wrist shoulder high, with the sling facing the front. They then grasp the rifle with their left hand directly below their right hand, and, in the most convenient manner, grasp the rifle with the right hand at the small of the stock. They then lower both arms, holding the rifle stock. They then lower both arms, holding the rifle in a horizontal position (see figure C-5, item 1).
- As soon as both Soldiers have completed these movements, each moves the foot nearest the stack person 18 inches (Half Left or Right) toward the stack person. In a continuing motion, the Soldier on the stack person’s left inserts the muzzle of their rifle into the loop held by the stack person until the bayonet stud protrudes past the far end of the loop (see figure C-5, item 2). They hold their rifle in that position until the Soldier on the stack person’s right inserts the muzzle of their rifle through the loop in the same manner and above the muzzle of the rifle of the left Soldier.
- When both rifles have been inserted into the loop, the Soldier on each side of the stack person swing the butts of their rifles out and down to the marching surface until the stack is tight with the (two) rifle butts on line and about 2 feet from the baseline.
- After necessary adjustments have been made, the three Soldiers come to Attention (see figure C-5, item 3).
- Extra rifles are passed to the nearest stack on the right. As each rifle is passed, it is grasped at the upper part of the handguard with the right hand. Then, with the rifle held vertical, it is passed with fully extended arm to the right front. The Soldier on the right grasps the rifle at the balance with their left hand, brings the rifle to the center of their body, and regrasps it at the upper part of the handguard with their right hand. This action continues until the stack person receives the rifle and places it on the stack with their right hand as nearly vertical as possible. They place the rifles on the stack with the slings away from the stack (if the second squad is the stack squad, extra rifles are passed to the left).
- To Take Arms, the leader commands Take, ARMS.
- On the command ARMS, the stack person passes each extra rifle toward its bearer. The rifles are handled in the manner described for passing them to the stack (left hand at the balance, right hand at the upper part of the handguard). As Soldiers receive their rifles, they come to Order Arms.
- After all extra rifles have been returned, the stack person grasps the base rifles, holding the loop open as in Stack Arms.
- The Soldiers to the right and left of the stack person take one step to their left and right fronts, respectively. They reach down, grasp their rifles, and bring the rifles to a horizontal position. The Soldier to the right of the stack person frees their rifle from the stack first. Each Soldier returns to Order Arms after Unsling Arms and retrieves their rifle. They do this by guiding and steadying the rifle with their left hand (as in the next to the last count of Order Arms).
- The stack person adjusts the sling of their rifle before returning to Order Arms.
Next Page : Appendix D – Manual of Arms – M1903 or M1917 Rifle