Need to clarify something…
I have studied the AP very carefully and when forming a squad, whether sized or not, it says the cadets are to march into position, turn if necessary, and then “take up their dressings by the right”, followed by a stand at ease in the case of a non-sized squad. Now I take this to mean that they do an automatic right dress after forming the squad, followed by an automatic eyes front as if they would do if it was the ‘Get On Parade’ movement detailed in Lesson18 Part1 Chap2 of AP818. I am just trying to clarify whether they are supposed to do this automatic right dress or not when forming a squad, because if they do then it renders Action 7 of the drill routine a bit pointless doesn’t it (being told to right dress after having just performed one automatically)? If they DO NOT do this then what does “take up their dressings by the right” mean?
Reference AP818:
Page 1-2-94
Page 1-2-98
Page 2-4-1
looking at the reference you indicate Lesson18 Part1 Chap2 of AP818
i cannot see where in action 7 it indicates there is a right dress ordered.
“When the right hand person of the leading file is satisfied that the squad is steady, he is
to turn the head and eyes to the front and smartly lower the arm to the side.”
Sorry I was referring to Action 7 of the standard drill routine (ACTO120).
looking at ACTO 120 (Drill Competition) the sequence has no right dress up to the point of action 7
1/ Marker
2/ Tallest on the Right, Shortest on the Left, in Single Rank-Size
3/ Squad-Number
4/ Odd Numbers, Two paces Step Forwards-March
5/ No 1 Stand Fast, Ranks, Right and Left-Turn
6/ Form Squad, Quick-March
7/ Right-Dress & Eyes-Front
the Squad form a straight line (sized) and then onced numbers create the squad (Action6) at this point no right dress has been conducted, and so action 7 stands as a valid point.
in 818 lesson 18 part 2 “On Parade” it specifically indicates that
"After observing a further pause each file with the exception of the right file, are to turn
their heads and eyes to the right. The front rank are to raise their right arms (Right Dress)
however as per 818 the sizing drill (in line with the drill comp) action 6 is described as: -
lesson 19 part 4 “sizing a squad/flight” indicates that
"On coming to a halt in their positions, individuals in a file are to wait until the individual forming the rear rank has halted. After a pause, the file is to turn to face the front at the same time, and take up the dressing by the right"
by this i read it that no arms are raised and the “take up the dressing” is to simply mean adopted a “dressed” postion (ie stand at approximate distance to with regard to those on the right without actually completing the action of a right dress
it is however a bit subjective and not particularly clear (in bold). i read the section from chapt. 19 that way as i have never seen a “auto right dress” upon forming a squadron in a sizing sequence, with fresh eyes i can see the confusion.
i await(invite) a more drill minded person to come forward to offer their interpretation and perhaps clarification
AP 818 is designed to be used by someone that has done a DI course unless you have done said course its not very clear it assumes you have had the lessons
yes I appreciate that but if I had access to suitable DI’s then I would ask them, hence i’m on here in the hope of finding some knowledgeable DI’s, all our DI’s are ACP19 trained…its not a hard question, automatic right dress yes or no? surely someone must know the definitive answer…
Its not as simple as you think btw I was an RAF DI so have some experience!
if they are forming in 3 ranks they should be sorting dressings out as they do so but saying that once they are formed the command right dress should be given even if they have just done it and I guarantee that dressings will still be out.
loosely connected to this thread…whats the difference to “Get on Parade” and “On Parade” as both commands are used in 818?
No difference. “Get on Parade” is the command which is generally used.
Our wing teach that Get on Parade is only used when the marker marches out 14,1,2 and to only use On Parade for shorter distance.
Keen to know if the above is correct or is it another case of interpretation.
That’s definitely a fad.
It’s the same movement, just that the word “get” has been added in one part of the manual.
14-1-2 is an arbitrary distance, AP818 being a ‘best practice guide’. The marker should be briefed how far to march out if the parade area is smaller.