13-5. Reveille was not originally intended as honors to the flag. In 1812, it was a drum call to signify that Soldiers should rise for day duty and sentries should leave off night challenging. As time passed, reveille came to denote when the flag was raised in the morning and honors paid to it.
Reveille Sequence of Events
13-6. The sequence of events for conducting reveille are discussed herein:
- The unit is formed facing the flag 5 minutes (if possible) before the sounding of reveille. Four minutes before the sounding of reveille, the adjutant or other appointed officer (normally the duty officer) takes their position centered on the line of troops, commands the unit to ATTENTION, and commands REPORT.
- All subunits (companies, batteries, or troops) report in succession from right to left, “Sir or Ma’am, _ Company, all present or accounted for,” or “Sir or Ma’am, Company,_ Soldiers absent.” Salutes are exchanged with each report.
- The adjutant commands Parade, REST and then assumes Parade Rest themselves. If a band is present, about 30 seconds before reveille, the adjutant commands ATTENTION, directs SOUND REVEILLE, commands Present, ARMS, and then faces about. The adjutant’s Salute is the signal for the band to sound reveille and to fire the morning gun. When reveille is sounded by a recording, the call ATTENTION is sounded about 30 seconds before reveille. This ensures that the adjutant has sufficient time to command the units to Present, ARMS before the first note of reveille.
- After the last note of reveille has sounded, the adjutant terminates their Salute, faces about, commands Order, ARMS, and then directs TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR UNITS. The adjutant returns all Salutes with one Salute. This terminates the ceremony.
Note. When a unit conducts the reveille ceremony not as a member of a major command, battalion, or company, the sequence of events remains the same except the unit commander gives all commands.
Command Reveille History
13-7. Command reveille is conducted with all members of the command present. Normally, command reveille is conducted by a battalion or larger unit. Command reveille was conducted as a troop in 1812 and was used to muster the unit or for roll call.
Command Reveille Sequence of Events
13-8. The sequence of events for conducting command reveille are discussed herein:
- The unit is formed in a line formation facing the flag, if possible. Subunits may be in mass formation. Subunits are commanded to Attention at the approach of the commander and their staff.
- The COT takes their post two steps in front of and centered on their staff, commands Forward, MARCH, and marches their staff to a position centered on and in front of the line of troops. The COT gives the proper commands to halt their staff in a position facing the line of troops.
- As soon as the staff is halted by the COT, the adjutant moves (without command) from their position with the staff to a position midway between the COT and the line of unit commanders. The adjutant commands Present, ARMS, faces the COT, salutes, and reports “Sir or Ma’am, the battalion (brigade) is formed.”
- The COT returns the Salute and directs the adjutant to receive the reports. The adjutant faces about and commands Order, ARMS and REPORT.
- Unit commanders salute and report, in succession from right to left, “Sir or Ma’am, ____Company, all present or accounted for.” The adjutant returns each unit commander’s Salute. After all unit commanders have reported, the adjutant faces the COT, salutes, and reports “Sir or Ma’am, all present or accounted for.” The COT returns the Salute and directs the adjutant to publish the orders.
- The adjutant faces about without saluting and commands ATTENTION TO ORDERS. The adjutant then reads any orders or makes any announcements the COT wishes to publish. The adjutant, on completion of the publishing of orders, faces about and takes their post with the staff without saluting.
- When the adjutant is in position, the left flank staff member commands Right, FACE; Forward, MARCH; Column Left, MARCH; Column Left, MARCH. When the staff is centered on the COT, they then command Staff, HALT; Left, FACE. About 30 seconds before the sounding of reveille, the COT commands Present, ARMS, executes About Face and commands Staff, Present, ARMS. Reveille is then sounded either by record, field music, or band as the flag is raised.
- At the first note of “Reveille,” the morning gun is fired. After the last note of music, the COT commands Staff, Order, ARMS, executes About Face, and commands Order, ARMS; they then direct, TAKE CHARGE OF YOUR UNITS. The unit commanders salute. The COT returns all Salutes with one Salute. They then march their staff away or dismiss them. This terminates the ceremony.
Next Page : Chapter 14 – Funerals