The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-10-11
SELFHELPS for the
NEW SOLDIER
.~-ssa~--~Hu-~~~~-~~n~s
By q United States Army Officer
THE PLATOON.

In the preceding articles on the
school Of the company, the platoon
has purposely been left out Of consid-
Grafton and the attention confined to
the squad and company. The reason
was that the principles upon which
platoon movements are executed are
based on those of the squad and com
pany; for the platoon. consisting Of
from two to four squads, is simply
company on reduced scale, or n
squad on an enlarged scale, and Is
handled, generally speaking, accord
ingly. Moreover, when the new SOL
dier, after drill in the school Of the
squad, is first placed In the school Of
the company, he is taught the appli-
cation of his squad movements In COM
pany formation, and this supplies the
natural connection between squad and
company evolutions.
The platoon, as has been said before,
is to the company what the company
Is to the battalion. In war-strength
company there are four platoons, and
In either a peace or war strength bat
enlion there are four companies. II
is therefore apparent that such move
ments as Company right QefD,"
which are for the purpose of throwing
a column of companies into line of the
battalion, are simulated with "Platoons
right QefD," by turning the platoons
on fixed pivot into line Of the com.
pany.
AS pointed out In connection with
"Compeny right Qeft)," the movement
is the same in principle as "Squad
right QefD"; but since platoon con
slsts of two, three or four squads 1--WE
shall assume hereafter that the pla
toon is at the war strength of -four
squads, or 80 men), in such points as
the rules vary between squad and com
pany "right," the platoon follows the
rules for the company.
The reason for the subdivision of the
company into four platoons, instead OF
two, as formerly, is that modern battle
conditions have demonstrated tha
from twenty to thirty rifles are al
many as can be effectively controlle,
by one leader. The platoon is there
fore the fire unit, as we shall see wheI
we take up extended-order drill for thu
company.
The platoons are commanded as fol
lows: The platoon on the right of th'
line, by the first lieutenant; the pla
toon at the left of the line, by tn,
second lieutenant; the platoon n
right center, by the first sergeant, nn'
the platoon at left center, by the ser
geant next In rank.
Each platoon has sergeant TO
guide, and the file closers are distrib
uted according to their posts benin,
the line of thescompany. The musi
ciaEs march as file closers with tn
first platoon.
The platoons are numbered consecu
lively from right to left, and these des
ignations do not change. Since tn
platoon is the fire unit, its usefulnes
is most apparent in extended order
but it is also frequently employed Il
marches, on the parade ground, or Il
the armory. In parades through tn
streets Of city company front o
Ga men would generally be impossible
Salso, a company front Of 80, or tw
Hatoons, is frequently too wide. TIL
column of platOons formation, there
fore, of war strength company woul
give front 16 men wide, and thi
would accommodate itself to street
which were too narrow for the two
platoon front.
Nevertheless, in garrison or ceremC
MES, the strength of platoons may,
desirable, exceed four squads. That Il
under such circumstances, the con
pany might be divided into two pli
toons of eight squads each.