Part 45 (1/2)

=26.= Where rosters are required to be kept by this manual, all details will be made by roster.

=Section 4. Commander of the guard.=

=41.= The commander of the guard is responsible for the instruction and discipline of the guard. He will see that all of its members are correctly instructed in their orders and duties and that they understand and properly perform them. He will visit each relief at least once while it is on post, and at least one of these visits will be made between 12 o'clock midnight and daylight.

=42.= He receives and obeys the orders of the commanding officer and the officer of the day, and reports to the latter without delay all orders to the guard not received from the officer of the day; he transmits to his successor all material instructions and information relating to his duties.

=43.= He is responsible under the officer of the day for the general safety of the post or camp as soon as the old guard marches away from the guardhouse. In case of emergency, while both guards are at the guardhouse, the senior commander of the two guards will be responsible that the proper action is taken.

=44.= Officers of the guard will remain constantly with their guards, except while visiting patrols or necessarily engaged elsewhere in the performance of their duties. The commanding officer will allow a reasonable time for meals.

=45.= A commander of a guard leaving his post for any purpose will inform the next in command of his destination and probable time of return.

=46.= Except in emergencies, the commander of the guard may divide the night with the next in command, but retains his responsibility; the one on watch must be constantly on the alert.

=47.= When any alarm is raised in camp or garrison, the guard will be informed immediately. (Par. 234.) If the case be serious, the proper call will be sounded, and the commander of the guard will cause the commanding officer and the officer of the day to be at once notified.

=48.= If a sentinel calls: ”The guard,” the commander of the guard will at once send a patrol to the sentinel's post. If the danger be great, in which case the sentinel will discharge his piece, the patrol will be as strong as possible.

=49.= When practicable, there should always be an officer or noncommissioned officer and two privates of the guard at the guardhouse in addition to the sentinels there on post.

=50.= Between reveille and retreat, when the guard has been turned out for any person ent.i.tled to the compliment (see pars. 222 and 224), the commander of the guard, if an officer, will receive the report of the sergeant, returning the salute of the latter with the right hand. He will then draw his saber and place himself two paces in front of the center of the guard. When the person for whom the guard has been turned out approaches he faces his guard and commands: 1. =Present=, 2. =ARMS=; faces to the front and salutes. When his salute is acknowledged he resumes the carry, faces about, and commands: 1.

=Order=, 2. =ARMS=; and faces to the front.

If it be an officer ent.i.tled to inspect the guard, after saluting and before bringing his guard to an order, the officer of the guard reports: ”=Sir, all present or accounted for=”; or ”=Sir, (so-and-so) is absent=”; or, if the roll call has been omitted: ”=Sir, the guard is formed=,” except that at guard mounting the commanders of the guards present their guards and salute without making any report.

Between retreat and reveille the commander of the guard salutes and reports, but does not bring the guard to a present.

=51.= To those ent.i.tled to have the guard turned out but not ent.i.tled to inspect it no report will be made; nor will a report be made to any officer unless he halts in front of the guard.

=52.= When a guard commanded by a noncommissioned officer is turned out as a compliment or for inspection the noncommissioned officer, standing at a right shoulder on the right of the right guide, commands: 1. =Present=, 2. =ARMS.= He then executes the rifle salute.

If a report be also required, he will, after saluting and before bringing his guard to an order, report as prescribed for the officer of the guard. (Par. 50.)

=53.= When a guard is in line, not under inspection, and commanded by an officer; the commander of the guard salutes his regimental, battalion, and company commander by bringing the guard to attention and saluting in person.

For all other officers, excepting those ent.i.tled to the compliment from a guard (par. 224), the commander of the guard salutes in person, but does not bring the guard to attention.

When commanded by a noncommissioned officer, the guard is brought to attention in either case, and the noncommissioned officer salutes.

The commander of a guard exchanges salutes with the commanders of all other bodies of troops; the guard is brought to attention during the exchange.

”Present arms” is executed by a guard only when it has turned out for inspection or as a compliment, and at the ceremonies of guard mounting and relieving the old guard.

=54.= In marching a guard or a detachment of a guard the principles of paragraph 53 apply. ”Eyes right” is executed only in the ceremonies of guard mounting and relieving the old guard.

=55.= If a person ent.i.tled to the compliment, or the regimental, battalion, or company commander, pa.s.ses in rear of a guard, neither the compliment nor the salute is given, but the guard is brought to attention while such person is opposite the post of the commander.

After any person has received or declined the compliment, or received the salute from the commander of the guard, official recognition of his presence thereafter while he remains in the vicinity will be taken by bringing the guard to attention.