The correct way to dismiss/fall out a parade?

Everyone Uniform and Drill
1

Hi all,

What is the full and correct way to dismiss/fall out a parade?

Within our wing there’s a lot of confusion/different ways it is done. I have had a look though the relevant sections in AP818 but can’t find a distinct way to do it.

For example a CWO i know from another sqn says he has read AP818 and that it sates that he should:

  1. Turn to the Officer/SNCO/WO and ask for permission to dismiss the parade, then salutes the Officer (if present).
  2. Then turns to his squad and brings them to shun and uses the command: ‘An officer on parade, dismiss’/‘Fall-out’ and continues with that manoeuvre as stated in AP818.

As we do it differently on our sqn, my question really comes down to is the above correct way to do it so i can make sure my sqn does it the right way?

In this instance I am referring to parades at the end of a cadet night.

2

Every squadron ive been on or visited does it differently. On my squadron, if its a SNCO/WO taking the parade the Senior Cadet would be told to fall in and then the SNCO/WO would call the sqn to attention and dismiss them in the normal fashion.

If an Officer of Fg Off or Plt Off Rank comes on parade then the senior person on parade Either a Cadet or SNCO WO will use “An Officer on parade, Dismiss” All would incline to the right and then salute before marching off 3 paces and breaking step.

If the CO is on Parade we do the same as above only with the words “Officer Commanding 123 Sqn, Dismiss”

Cadets never Salute an SNCO/WO if they are on parade.

Like i said many squadrons have their own way which may not conform to standard AP818 practice but its how they do it. Rightly or wrongly.

Hope that helps some

3

Hi,

I just realised the mistake I made with the saluting, I didn’t intend to write SNCO/WO.

Thanks for the reply but bit did not really answer my question of how is it done properly in accordance with AP818.

4

My new unit NCOs about turn to dismiss the parade. But I don’t like it, feels odd for the NCO standing 2 feet away to turn his back on me, or whichever officer is taking it. (and a bit rude)

5

They way i described was the way i did it as a cadet and also during my TA Parade Nights.

The term Squadron would be used for anyone below the rank of WO and Parade would be used for Plt Off and above.

I agree with you Baldrick, Cadets shouldnt turn their back on an officer. ATF said it was bad manners to turn your back on an officer on parade and something worse should you do it to HM The Queen

6

Not uncommon. People do seem to think you have to be facing the unit to give them orders. Not so. Stay facing the officer (or WO/SNCO) and just dismiss.
If it’s an officer, salute.

There’s nothing which says that they magically become a ‘Parade’ just because there’s an officer present. There’s no need to address them as “Parade” unless you’re parading. First/final muster parades don’t count.

Fad! Fad! Burn him! :wink: :stuck_out_tongue:

7

Seen it on a number of regular units when the OC has been on Parade. and it becomes a Parade when an officer is present

8

[quote=“AP818 Part 2 Chapter 3 Para 35”]With an officer present:
a. If an officer gives the order to Dismiss, all personnel, after having inclined to
the right, are to pause, then salute, pause again on completion of the salute, then leave
the parade ground. The officer is to return the salute.
b. If the senior rank taking the parade obtains permission for dismissal, the
command given is:
“OFFICER ON PARADE, DISMISS”.[/quote]

9

On our first/final parades at the unit we refer to them as “Squadron” as it is the squadron on parade, albeit without the staff fell in.

We reserve “Parade” for formal inspections and reviews where we have flights and execs in place, though if someone uses the wrong word we can deal with it :slight_smile:

There will be variation across the ACO because the space each unit has will vary: size of halls, positions of doors etc. the AP isn’t written for us and tends to assume that a parade is a big, formal thing done on a parade square and will think that “dismissing a parade” involves marching off the banner, falling out the officers (who depart) then a Dismiss.
:slight_smile:

Follow the instructions above but adapt to your local circumstances as required without straying too far from the ideal.

At my squadron we use 2 main options:

Firstly, if it is a quick, final parade we have the squadron formed up in 1 flight with the NCO at the front/centre facing them - they are next to the wall. OC approaches from right and the NCO turns to the right and salutes, then turns left again and hangs about. At the end the OC will come to attention and face the NCO. NCO calls parade to attention, turns to face NCO, is told to dismiss, turns back and does “officer on parade, dismiss” and carries out the action themselves. I don’t ask for lots of extra saluting as the NCO has never left the officer.

If there will be presentations it will start as above but the OC will have the NCO “take Post” (they salute, exit stage left and wait) before taking charge and running proceedings. Once done the OC will call the squadron to attention, face the NCO and summon them by rank (they reply “sir”, march back, salute and take over; officer hangs about) - thereafter the dismiss is as above.

Of course, when the weather is good and there is enough light we do all of that outside but with more space to play with. We can have flights and flight commanders and a the NCO i/c at the front facing in the same direction. Everything is as before but the OC approaches from the front and “take post” sends the NCO round the back.

Incidentally, I have my lot use “dismiss” at the end of first and final parades as it appears to most closely follow the written intention of the AP.

10

I can tell you that whoever is doing this is wrong its only a parade if your on a parade noting to do with if you have an officer with you or not but saying that the only time the OC ever comes out of his box on a regular unit is when they are on a parade (hope that makes sense)

11

A question then Incubus
at my previous unit, the situation was very much as you describe. During the parade the NCO and whoever’s taking it end up standing side by side for space reasons. So the NCO, and let’s say myself, would turn to face each other for the bit where i tell him to dismiss the parade. We would then both turn to face the parade again for the order ‘officer on parade dismiss’

on my current unit, the NCO takes post, after a multitude of saluting, then i stand them at ease myself. At the end the NCO comes back front and centre, salutes. I tell them to dismiss and they then about turn (now back to me) and tell them to dismiss. They then carry out an about turn as everyone else inclines to the right.

i dislike this as i think it’s rude. Is it correct though, or should they give the order facing me and away from the flight?

unrelated questions, is it 'officerS on parade if there are more than one on the parade ‘square’?

12

They can (and arguably should) give the order whilst facing you. There’s no need for them to turn around to face the troops to give an order.

Example case. Imagine a formal parade… Everyone’s ready. The Parade Commander has stood everyone at ease. He/she then about turns and stands at ease themself to await the reviewing officer.
When it’s time, they bring the parade to attention whilst facing the same way as the troops i.e. towards the dais and reviewing officer.
They don’t turn around to face the parade, then bring them to attention, then turn around again to face the dais.

13

It is always ‘An officer on parade, dismiss’ if there is an officer(s) present. If no officers present it it simply ‘dismiss’.

14

[quote=“wdimagineer2b” post=11911]They can (and arguably should) give the order whilst facing you. There’s no need for them to turn around to face the troops to give an order.

Example case. Imagine a formal parade… Everyone’s ready. The Parade Commander has stood everyone at ease. He/she then about turns and stands at ease themself to await the reviewing officer.
When it’s time, they bring the parade to attention whilst facing the same way as the troops i.e. towards the dais and reviewing officer.
They don’t turn around to face the parade, then bring them to attention, then turn around again to face the dais.[/quote]

Well in fear of being ridiculed again for mentioning my former life. On Trooping the Colour, as soon as the Officer on Parade (in this case Her Most Gracious Majesty, The Queen Elizabeth) arrives, all orders during the parade are given facing her.
There is no reason for this to be different when it is Flt Lt Ginger on parade.

1 Like
15

Yes, but is the order always singular? Always seemed odd to say AN officer on parade when there are more than one.

16

Yup

17

The DI course I went on taught us that we take post at the rear of the squadron, then the officer will call us back up to dismiss the squadron. You’d much up, salute the officer, they’ll normally say “dismiss the squadron” which is replied with “yes, Sir/Ma’am” then you’d about turn, give the command “officer on parade, dismiss” about turn again. Salute the officer, right incline and march 4 paces.

18

Everything there is right apart from when I was a RAF DI we didnt about turn before the dismiss however little things like that do change I cant see a problem with either way to be honest.

19

Everything there is right apart from when I was a RAF DI we didnt about turn before the dismiss however little things like that do change I cant see a problem with either way to be honest.[/quote]

I prefer not to have them turn their back on me or the boss. I know it’s not intentionally rude. But it is uncomfortable imho.

20

Out of interest was this the SSDIC at ATF, or a local ‘cadet DI’ type course?