Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1917-08-30
EXTENDED ORDER,

The purpose of the close order drill
through which We have just been put
with the company Is threefold: In the
first place, it confcrs the benefits cited
ut the beginning of this series, namely,
discipline and uniformity OF movement.
In the second place, by pleasing the
eye with the movements, 1t not only
teaches with concrete example the
fundamentals Of military precision. but
contributes an important moral ele-
ment known as esprit de corps. A
company which is In the height of
drilling o marching together has n
vastly better spirit than one which,
however well trained as individuals,
has been assembled but a short time.
The third benefit is a practical or me-
chanical expression of the second. This
is teamwork"
Teamwork Is SC important to troops
in combat that the infantry drill regu-
lations select this athletic term in pref
| crence to the whole military glossary
to explain the combination of ele-
ments required by Il unit for success
ful action. Teamwork is Indispensable,
and teamwork cGn only be learned, to
begin with, In close order, just as
teamwork with Il football squad can be
properly learned only by signal prac-
tice, But well-developed teamwork is
the more Indispensable with dcployed
units because the comparatively wide
fronts increase the difficulties Of con
troll. This brings us to the consldera'
ton of extended order.
Because of the increased difficulties
Of control, noncommlssioncd officer:
are given great latitude in the execu
ton of extended order work. We have
already seen, in the article devoted tt
the corporal, how that individuals i'm
p0rtance increased the moment tn
squad was deployed in line of skfrmfsh
crs. The success Of the whole, in fact
In the word Of the regulations, "de
ponds largely upon how well each sub
ordinate co.ordinates his work with tn
general plan"
In further Illumination Of this state
ment. officers and men are instructed
that ut is far better to do any intelli
gent thing consistent with the aggres
sive execution Of the general plal
than to search hesitatingly for tn
Ideal. This IS the true rule Of conduc
for subordinates-who are required t
net upon their own initiative"
But subordinates are immedlatel,
warned that independence must not be
come license. The subordinate office
should at all times have the genera
plan Of action In mind and cause hi
own acts to conform thereto. The ties
Is for him to ask himself whether h
is reasonably sure that his superio
In the given circumstances would issu
the identical order. If the order h
receives Is obviously based upon a
incorrect view of the situation, is In
possible Of execution. or has becom
impracticable because Of change
which have occurred since Its promu
CATION, the subordinate Is compelled I
use his own judgment and take the n
sponsibility upon himself, If he Is III
able first to communicate the situ'
ton to his superlors.
These instructions are directed
officers primarily, but they are rel
), lively true Of the responsibility whit
! devolves upon the squad or platoo
leader, and for this reason have the
places in the consideration Of the cor
, pany when deployed In line Of ski
! mlshers.