The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1917-06-25
SELF PHELPS for the
NEW SOLDIER
s@n--m.@us.--..u-aa.-ss.
By q United States Amy Officer
THE SOLDIERS STEP AND ITS
IMPORTANCE.

learned to stand correctly he must
learn how to step and to walk. If he
does not learn how to walk, he will not
know how to march,. II he does not
know how to. march, he is Of no more
use to a military organization than an
actual "tin soldier"
A soldier must learn how to step
that Is, to walk-for two reasons: he
must learn how best to utilize and con-
serve his muscles, and how to conform
to group movements.
| All a soldiers work is figured on a
basis of the normal mans capacity.
The normal mans capacity is likewise
figured on the possibilities Of the nat
ural-and normal-use of the muscles.
It is not founded upon the subnormal
or abnormal use of the muscles. The
readiest way to fit oneself to become
soldier, therefore, is to teach the mus
cles to function correctly.
The normal step of the soldier is
thirty inches. That fact must be kept
in the mind until it grows there. Prac-
tice in marching will extend the step
of some to that length and reduce that
| of others. If this standardization did
not take place-did not become habit
the step of the long-legged soldiers
would invariably walk away from the
short-legged soldiers and pull the
whole line out of shape. This is what
always takes place with green troops.
The tall man strikes out at a swing
which keeps the short man on trot.
And not only is the united endurance
reduced according to the proportion OF
short men in the company, but the tall
men cannot hold out with their equip
ment to nearly the same extent that
they could if they adopted the COM
pany stride. Uniform motion is con-
tagious, and the stimulus impaired to
all helps to carry those for whom the
longer step might at first be an exer-
ton.
| A man must not walk on his heels.
This throws his whole physique out of
gear. It renders more difficult the
thirty-inch step. A man must walk on
the balls of his feet. He must bear
the weight of the body easily with him
not drag it along behind him. The
length of the step, thirty inches, is
measured from heel to heel and Is TAX
en- at the rate of 120 minute.
Thirty inches-remember! No good
soldier ever steps, or marches, other
wise unless specifically commanded to
do SO. Furthermore, the good soldier,
while marching in this the soldiers
basic, or normal STEP Is, except for the
swing Of the legs and arms, in the pO-
sition Of attention-described in pre-
ceding article as the fundamental po-
sition Of the soldier.
i,
HOW AND WHY, THE SOLDIER
| CHANGES STEP AND pIREc-
TON.
The 30-inch step-known as "quick
time"-is the basis Of all military
movement. Nevertheless, soldier
should be no more absolutely confined
to this step than a baseball player is
to, say, base-running. Otherwise, a
soldier could not charge.
i For this reason "double time" is pro-
vided. The double time" step (there
Is no "double-quick") is SO inches. 1t
Is executed at a cadence Of $50 steps
minute.
There is, in addition, the trout STEP
for the march, whereby each man can
take the step which suits him best
yet after long training in the "quick
time" he will find that his rout step
will approximate that measure. There
is also the "half STEP" Is inches In
quick time, is in double time.
/ At the command Of "charge!" either
from standing position, the quick
step, or double time, the soldier breaks
into a full run, in which the step is
governed only by the reach Of his legs
For the same reasons that all mill.
tary movements cannot be reduced to
single cadence, 1t is no more prac'
ticable to limit a soldier to single
direction Of advance. For this, the sol.
der is taught the side step and the
back step, the '1eft face" fright face
and "about face"
The side step, under the command
fright STEP" consists Of carrying the
right Is inches to the right and bring.
ing the left foot up beside 1t until com.
J manded to shalt"
left step" is, Of course, the reverse
Of fright STEP" The back step is ex.
: ecuted by taking steps Is inches to
rear at the command, Backward,
march !" and continuing until brought
to halt. The side step and the back
step are almost invariably confined to
short distances, and employed for the
purpose of dressing line. All steps,
except fright STEP" begin with the left
foot.
The facings fright" cleft" and
"about' are executed from the posi-
ton Of attention. In fright face" raise
the left heel and the right toe slight
ly; face to the right, turning on the
right heel, assisted by slight pres
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