Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-25
Self Helps for
the New Soldier
Practical Home Hints on Military
Training That VIII Stand You
In Good Stead when You
Arc Called to the CoIors.
by a United state. Army oncer.
The Fundamental Position of the
Soldier.


Soldier.
The young soldier. before he can
handle a gun. must learn how TO han
die himself He must learn that there
are right ways and wrong ways Of
carrying his arms and legs. just as
there are with a rifle. He must learn
how TO stand how to walk.
The boy on the street usually stands
on his heels, with his shoulders
slouched over. his stomach thrust for
ward. and his spine curvinH in and
out like an hour glass, Literally. he
has no backbone" Backbone is the
hrst essential OF the soldier.
The position OF a soldier does not
require that he shove his chest ahead
OF him lik. bay window, or stiffen
his head. or spread his feet painful
The position of a soldier might be
most quickly and correctly obtained
and lifted up until every part of his
body except his feet became suspended
This would establish the natural YER
teal alignment. With the weight
resting equally upon the balls of the
feet and the heels. the waist drawn
in. and the head properly raised. a
straight Zine would pass approximately
from the balls of the feet through the
belt buckle to the chin The body is
then a, the balance. with the muscles
relaxed not rigid. rhe soldier is now
in position TO execute any order which
may hc required OF him.
Specifically. according TO the rcEu-
lations. the heels are placed on the
same line, the feet turned at an angle
OF - degrees, the knees straight.
without stiffness; hips level and
drawn back slightly; body erect and
resting equally on the hips: chest
lifted and archcd: shoulders square and
falling equally; arms and hands hang
ing naturally. thumb along the seam
of the trousers. tIn past times. the
little finger was placed along the seam
OF the trousers with the palm turned
out. producing an artificial rlgidity
which does not belong TO the modern
American soldi-r) The head must be
erect and sUuarcly to the front, chin
drawn in SO that the axis of the head
is vertical. with the eyes also straight
TO the front
This is the fundamental position OF
the soldier. 1t is the position OF "at-
tention," the basic command to which
every soldier responds II is from the
position of attention that all move
mcnts of the soldier proceed. II fol-
lows that until "a soldier has mastered
tho art or science. of standing at at
tcntion easily and naturally, he cannot
properly execute the movements of the
drill II is therefore highly important
that the young soldier school himself
Ia stand properly. or at attention. until
such time as that pose becomes un-
consciously as much a part of his being
as his arms or legs.
man who can instantly assume
tho position OF attention and hold il
until otherwise ordered has taken "a
very important step towards becoming
good soldier. lie has Learned a big
lesson in physical. nervous and men
tai discipline.
Tom orrows article will toll how
tho soldier should walk. or march, and
why also the salute and its signifi-
canoe
Copyright, 1917. by tho Wheeler Syn
dictate. Incl