11-5. The procedures for conducting a ceremonial battalion parade, a ceremonial brigade parade, and street parades are discussed herein. The ceremonial battalion parade and ceremonial brigade parade are conducted very similar in nature, but a brigade ceremonial parade is conducted in a larger scale with a few differences.
Ceremonial Battalion Parade
11-6. The procedures for conducting a ceremonial battalion parade begin with the formation of troops. The adjutant then directs Sound Off to the battalion formation followed by honors to the Nation. Immediately after honors, the adjutant announces Order Arms and presents the battalion to the battalion commander. The commander may direct manual of arms and then have the commanders report that their unit is accounted for. Orders will then be published, officers will conduct a center march, and then finally the pass in review and the conclusion of the parade.
Formation of Troops
11-7. Units are moved to their positions on the ready line in the most convenient manner. The commander prescribes the routes, sequence, and time of arrival on the ready line. The commander and their staff take their posts before adjutant’s call. The procedure for moving from the ready line to the final line is the same as for a review.
Sound Off
11-8. After the battalion has been formed, aligned, and given Parade Rest on the final line, the adjutant directs SOUND OFF and assumes the position of Parade Rest. The adjutant remains facing the formation:
- At the directive Sound Off, the band plays three sound off chords. At the conclusion of the third chord, the band moves forward playing a march in quick time. The band executes a left turn to march across the front of the troops. At the left of the line of troops, the band countermarches and returns over the same ground to the right of the line. After the band has passed beyond the right of the troops, it executes a right turn, countermarches again, and halts in its original position.
- When the band has halted, it ceases playing at the next convenient place in the music and again plays the three sound off chords. (Trooping the line by the band may be eliminated when ceremonies are conducted indoors during inclement weather and space is limited.)
Note. Retreat, when scheduled, is integrated at this point. Upon completion of the sound off chords, the band pauses briefly and then plays retreat (by the trumpet section) without a command from the adjutant. Upon completion of retreat, the adjutant comes to Attention and directs BRING YOUR UNITS TO ATTENTION AND PRESENT ARMS. The commander and their staff assume Parade Rest, Attention, Present Arms, and Order Arms with the adjutant. The adjutant faces about and salutes. The adjutant’s Salute is the signal for the band to play “To the Color” or the national anthem. At the conclusion of “To the Color” or the national anthem, the adjutant comes to Order Arms, faces about, and directs BRING YOUR UNITS TO ORDER ARMS. After the last unit comes to Order Arms, the adjutant faces about.
Honors to The Nation
11-9. If retreat is not conducted, the adjutant (after the band has completed Sound Off) assumes the position of Attention and directs BRING YOUR UNITS TO ATTENTION AND PRESENT ARMS. Unit commanders assume the position of Attention, face about, and command Company, ATTENTION, Present, ARMS. They face about and salute. When all units are at Present Arms, the adjutant faces about and salutes. This is the signal for the band to play the national anthem. The battalion commander and their staff execute Present, ARMS on their command on the first note of the music.
Presentation
11-10. Upon completion of the national anthem, the battalion commander and their staff execute Order, ARMS on their command. The adjutant terminates their Salute, faces about, and directs BRING YOUR UNITS TO ORDER ARMS. Unit commanders terminate their Salute, face about, command Order, ARMS, and then face (back) to the front. When all units are at Order Arms, the adjutant faces about, salutes, and reports Sir or Ma’am, the parade is formed. The battalion commander returns the Salute and commands POST. The adjutant marches forward, passes by the battalion commander’s right, and takes their post as the right flank member of the staff.
Manual of Arms
11-11. After the adjutant has joined the staff, the battalion commander commands such movements in the manual of arms as they may desire. When desired, the commander may direct, rather than command, HAVE YOUR UNITS EXECUTE THE MANUAL OF ARMS. The unit commanders, in sequence from right to left, command Right Shoulder, ARMS; Port, ARMS; Left Shoulder, ARMS; Order, ARMS. When the unit on the right has completed all the movements, the next unit then begins and so on until the last unit has completed the movements.
Report
11-12. When all units have completed the manual of arms, the battalion commander then directs RECEIVE THE REPORT. The adjutant returns to their position at the center of the command and commands REPORT. Unit commanders in succession, from right to left, salute and report “__ Company, all present or accounted for.” The adjutant returns each commander’s Salute. After receiving the report, the adjutant faces about, salutes, and reports “Sir or Ma’am, all present or accounted for.”
Publishing of Orders
11-13. The battalion commander returns the Salute and directs PUBLISH THE ORDERS. The adjutant faces about and directs ATTENTION TO ORDERS (they then read the orders). More information about Attention to Orders can be found in appendix G.
Officers Center March
11-14. After reading the orders, the adjutant directs BRING YOUR UNITS TO PARADE REST:
- Unit commanders face about and command Parade, REST. They then face about and come to Parade Rest. When all units are at Parade Rest, the adjutant commands (loud enough for the band to hear) Officers (pause), Center (long pause), MARCH. They then face about and takes their post with the staff:
- On the command Officers, all officers come to Attention and guidon bearers come to Carry Guidon.
- On the command Center, when companies are in mass formation, the company commanders and guidon bearers face to the center. Officers commanding platoons move one step forward and face to the center. Executive officers move through the interval between units nearest to the center and take their posts in the column formed by the platoon leaders.
- At the command MARCH, the band plays marching music and continues to play until the officers have halted in front of the commander. Officers and guidon bearers close to the center, halt, and individually face to the front. Company commanders, when moving to the center, face half right or half left in marching, march to the front, and close on a line four steps in advance of the line of guidon bearers. The guidon bearers close on their own line, each taking a post to the rear of their company commander. All other officers close on the line of platoon leaders (see figure 11-1 on page 11-4).
- After the officers and guidon bearers have closed and faced to the front, the senior company commander commands Forward, MARCH. The center officer of the leading rank is the guide. The officers and guidon bearers are halted with the leading rank six steps from the battalion commander, and they salute. The senior company commander commands HALT and Present, ARMS. The battalion commander returns the Salute. On the command Order, ARMS by the senior company commander, the officers execute Order Arms and the guidon bearers execute Carry Guidon.
- The battalion commander gives such instruction as they deem necessary and then commands Officers, Post (pause), MARCH:
- At the command Post, all officers and guidon bearers face about.
- At the command of execution MARCH, the band begins to play and officers and guidon bearers step off.
- The senior commander commands Officers, HALT. They halt the leading rank in line, three steps from the line of companies. The senior commander then commands Post (pause), MARCH:
- At the command Post, the officers and guidon bearers face outward.
- At the command MARCH, the officers and guidon bearers step off and return to their posts and come to Parade Rest. The music ceases when the last officer has taken their post and come to Parade Rest.
- During the execution of Officers Center and Officers Post, except when saluting, all guidon bearers remain at Carry Guidon.
Pass in Review
11-15. When all officers have returned to their posts and the band has stopped playing, the battalion commander directs BRING YOUR UNITS TO ATTENTION. Unit commanders assume the position of Attention, face about, and command Company, ATTENTION. Then they face about. When all units are at Attention, the battalion commander directs PASS IN REVIEW. The battalion passes in review in the same manner as prescribed for a review except the units render honors when six steps to the left of the COT and staff, and terminate honors when the unit is six steps to the right of the COT and staff. The COT and staff then assume the role of the reviewing party at their location on the field.
Conclusion
11-16. When the last element of troops has passed the reviewing stand and executed Ready Front, the band ceases playing and goes immediately into an eight-bar drum cadence. On the first beat following drum cadence, the band begins playing (in place) the official version of “The Army Goes Rolling Along,” beginning at the introduction. On the second time through letter A (or ninth bar), the drum major has the band march forward and execute a left turn onto the reviewing line while continuing to play until the completion of the chorus. The completion of “The Army Goes Rolling Along” terminates the ceremony. It is appropriate for spectators to rise and stand at the position of Attention while “The Army Goes Rolling Along” plays.
Ceremonial Brigade Parade
11-17. The brigade ordinarily is formed in line with battalions in mass formations. The parade is the same as the ceremonial battalion parade with the following exceptions:
- The brigade commander is substituted for battalion commander, and brigade for battalion, in the description.
- In moving across the front of the brigade, the band passes in front of the line of battalion commanders during the Sound Off.
11-18. The battalions execute Present Arms, Order Arms, Parade Rest, and come to Attention on the command of execution of their respective commanders. Reports are made by the battalion commanders instead of company commanders.
11-19. At the command of execution MARCH, of Officers, Center, MARCH, the battalion commanders, their staffs, and Colors close on the line of battalion commanders and staffs. The company commanders face to the half right or half left in marching and close on a line four steps to the rear of the battalion Color. The guidon bearers face half right or half left in marching and close on a line four steps back of the company commanders. The other officers face half right or half left in marching and close on a line four steps behind the guidon bearers. The CSM remains in place and assumes command of the battalion.
11-20. The officers, guidon bearers, and Colors having closed and faced to the front, the senior battalion commander commands Forward, MARCH. The center officer of the leading rank is the guide. On the command of the senior battalion commander, the officers, guidon bearers, and Colors are halted with the leading ranks six steps from the brigade commander. They salute the brigade commander; the brigade commander returns the Salute. The commands Present, ARMS and Order, ARMS are given by the senior battalion commander.
11-21. The brigade commander commands Officers, Post (pause), MARCH. On the command Post, the Colors execute Reverse March. All others execute About Face. On the command of execution MARCH, the officers, Colors, and guidon bearers march forward. The senior battalion commander commands Officers, HALT so that the rank of battalion commanders is on line with its original position. The senior battalion commander then commands Post (pause), MARCH. On the command Post, the battalion commanders and staffs face outward, the battalion Color guard executes wheeling movements, and on the command of execution MARCH, the Color guard marches back to its original position. The company commanders, guidon bearers, and other officers face to the half right or half left in marching and move back to their original positions.
Street Parades
11-22. For street parades, troops are formed and marched in the most convenient manner. Street parades may include military vehicles. Towed or transported weapons add to the drama of a street parade. Cargo vehicles are included only to increase the size of the display.
- Practical formations for street parades are—
- Columns of threes and fours.
- Two or more columns of threes and fours abreast.
- Mass formation.
- The vehicles move in a single column or column of twos, threes, or fours abreast, as the width of the street permits.
- In order to keep military units in the same cadence, units should not march between two bands.
Next Page : Chapter 12 – Honor Guards