Drill commands Drill commands are generally used with a group that is marching , most often in military foot drill or marching band . All branches of the military use drill commands . Command voice . Drill commands are best given in an excellent command voice . A command voice is characterized by DLIPS : Distinctness , Loudness , Inflection , Projection , and Snap . Common drill commands . Australia , New Zealand , and United Kingdom . Each of the three services in the United Kingdom has its own drill manuals . Most commands are the same across all three services , but there are significant differences in the way movements are carried out . Commands : Canada . The commands in English are very similar to British Drill commands while the commands in French are generally translations of the English . The Canadian Forces sometimes call weapon drill in French while march commands are called in English . This is done at units such as trades schools where both English and French are used . Unilingual English units and unilingual French units generally use their own language for all commands . Commands are broken up into two parts : the " precautionary " ( i . e . " Squad , single file from the left quick - " ) followed by the " executive " ( - MARCH ) . There is a standard pause of two paces in quick time or one full second between the two commands , as well as between all drill movements . Standard English commands . Movements . For turns , basic precautionaries are " Advance / retire / move to the ( right / left ) " where turns to the right and left flanks are " move to the right in threes ( three ranks ) / in file ( two ranks ) / in single file . " Inclines do NOT use directive precautionaries unless on a parade , where the chain of command will deem it appropriate . Finland . In Finnish military drill , commands are twin parted : " valmistava " ( precautionary / readying ) and " käskevä " ( executive ) . When ordering a formation , the commanding soldier ( officer or assigned drill supervisor ) gives a precautionary command so the soldiers know what formation they need to fall into . At the executive order they fall in the specified formation . An example being " Kahteen riviin . . . " ( into two lines ) " JÄRJESTY " ( form ) . A command can be terminated by calling " LEPO " ( At ease ) . At " järjesty " the soldiers align themselves in the specified number of rows , with the " kulmamies " ( cornerman ) at an arms length from the one who gave the order . When a formation is formed they " ojentaa " ( extend ) , so as to make sure the lines and rows are in perfect order : Soldiers are an arms length apart from each other , as the first row extends their left arm onto the right shoulder of the one next to them and turn their heads to the cornerman . The men behind the cornerman extend their left arm forward to the shoulderblade of the man in front of them . The cornerman checks the straightness of the lines / rows , lowering his arm and turning his head forward when ready . At this the soldiers turn their heads forward and lower their arm when the one next to them has done so , forming a wave . When an extension is order e . g . " OJENNUS " ( extension ) the cornerman keeps his head forward while the rest of the formation extends . At the command " katse eteen — PÄIN " ( eyes — FRONT ) the formation lowers theirs arms and turns their heads forward simultaneously . A variant of " järjesty " used is " ryhmity " ( group ) , at which the unit ordered runs into formation . When ordering from one formation to another , " mars " ( march ) is used as the executive order ( " mars mars " would mean " double time ! " , an order to run ) . To have the attention of a unit , the commanding officer shouts e . g . " yksikkö ! " ( unit ) . At this the unit in question stands in attention , facing towards the one who has their attention . Germany . The Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Germany , the Bundeswehr , use a basis of commands for all three service branches . The Army ( " Deutsches Heer " ) and Air Force ( " Luftwaffe " ) use the same commands ; the German Navy ( " Deutsche Marine " ) has a number of additional commands for duty on a ship . The German " Guards Battalion " of the Federal Department of Defense ( " " Wachbataillon " beim Bundesministerium der Verteidigung " ) also have additional commands for honorary duties ( " Protokolldienst " ) . The Wachbataillon commands mentioned below are only an excerpt of the latter ' s regulations . The basic commands are usually divided into two parts , the announcement that a command is to follow ( " Ankündigungskommando " ) and the executory command ( " Ausführungskommando " ) . The entire process is called " Kommandosprache " ( lit . " command language " ) . These are the basic commands , the Ausführungskommando is in bold : India . During the British Raj the Indian Armed Forces essentially used the British ( English language ) drill commands . Soon after independence , the drill commands were Indianised . The official language of the armed forces is Hindi and thus Hindi words were used where ever possible . Some of the state police units however still continue to use British drill commands . Indonesia . In Indonesia , marching and drills are regulated in a government approved system which is called " Peraturan Baris Berbaris " or " PBB " which means " Regulations of Drills and Marching " , this is a regulation which is widely used in Indonesia starting from Educational uses in schools , colleges , scouts etc . to the Defense Forces like Military and Police and firefighters . The PBB is taught all over Indonesia starting from Primary , Secondary , and Senior Schools mentored by members of the military or other organizations . This is also used in Ceremonial occasions in Indonesia which is usually for commemorating the Independence day , flag raising ceremony , etc . Note that in Indonesia , all commands end with 3 words according to the command given : " Ger - AK ! " which is shouted by the commander which tells the participants to act or do the drill command given by the commander , " Jal - AN ! " is also ordered for moving commands like marching , and " Mul - AI ! " , is to give order to " Start " the command / order given . For military commands , it is usually added the word " Senjata " which means " Arms " but differs according to which type of command is given . It is recommended for any commander which would order commands for a drill has to say " Pimpinan , Saya Ambil Alih " which means : " Commanding drill , I take hold " , this is to ensure the participants of the drill or parade to know that the commands are given by the regarding person / commander . If the commander gives a command by mistake , the commander should say " Ulangi " which means : " As you were " . There are such commands that are given throughout drills in Indonesia such as : And there are more types of command in the marching / drill activity of Indonesia which is widely used in the country . Ireland . In the Irish Defence Forces , Foot and Arms Drill is usually given in the Irish language . All soldiers are trained in foot and arms drill in Irish , and usually don ' t give a second thought as to the translations of the various commands . Although Irish is taught throughout primary and secondary education in the Republic , very few recruits or cadets in any of the three services are fully bilingual , less still use Irish as a first language . Irish is the primary language when a body of soldiers is on the square , but in cases where live ammunition is used or where gun drill for live ammunition practice or deployment is being carried out , English commands are used to ensure that the order is fully understood . Examples of this substitution would be mounting the guard or artillery gun drill . Because foot and arm drill commands are passed down by word of mouth through training , the Irish commands have become distorted from their original pronunciations . In the same way that has occurred in the British Army ( the subject of many parodies with screaming Sergeant Major s ) , words of command lose their defined pronunciation ; examples being " Aire " ( Arra ) which often becomes Ahha and " Cle " ( Kley ) which is sometimes distorted to Hey or Huy . A list of Irish Commands follows . Arms Drill Gaeilge : English Using this , the order for a platoon of soldiers to go from the halt to a quick march would be " " Rachaidh an Buionn cun cionn , de reir dheis , go mar marseaill " " etc . Public displays of foot and arms drill by the Defence Forces are not common but are not unusual . A guard of honour is usually detailed by the Defence Forces to act on state occasions , and occasions of local importance , especially those where the President is present , or where the Defence Forces have specific interest . Examples of those events televised would be the 1916 Rising commemorations and the National Day of Remembrance . Units of the Defence Forces also march in the annual St Patricks Day Parade in the towns or cities where they are stationed , a tradition which they have continued on overseas postings . Foot and arms drill commands are taught using a formulaic method known as the Screed . Drill instructors are usually of the rank of corporal , and ability to teach drill movements by the screed is one of the skills which must be attained prior to promotion to this rank . The Screed usually begins " Taking you a stage further in your foot / arms drill I will now teach you the … Irish word of command … " and includes instructor demonstrations and time set aside for soldiers in the recruit sections to practice the movement in pairs on the square . Although this system is meant to teach movements correctly and quickly , and set a standard of foot and arms drill throughout the forces , it is not favoured by many drill instructors who see it as too rigid , promoting an atmosphere of mindless obeyance which fails to produce good soldiers who can think for themselves . For practical and historical reasons , the foot and arms drill of the Irish Army remains similar to that of the British Army . Russian Federation . Russian drill commands are similar to the German military commands of old but are spoken in Russian and are divided into unarmed and armed drill . These commands are commonly heard nowadays during the Victory Day parades every May 9 , but are heard during parades and ceremonies of the various national military , police and civil defense units , and youth uniformed and cadet organizations . Some principal commands without arms : Singapore . The Singapore Armed Forces ( plus the Singapore Police Force and the Singapore Civil Defence Force ) use a unified system of drill commands across all three service branches . Formal commands are issued in Malay with informal conversation conducted in English . All drills are performed with feet stomping unless specifically instructed to perform " silent drills " . Singapore ' s cadet organizations also use the same commands . Malaysia follows a nearly identical system of commands . As for sizing these are the commands that need to be executed ( these are in fact nearly identical to the British ' form up ' commands ) ; Spanish speaking countries . Spain and Spanish speaking nations of Latin America have all parade commands in the Spanish language both in unarmed and armed drill as well as in marching and saluting . These commands are common in almost all countries . In Mexico , the suffix " ya " is used after every command , while in Spanish countries of South America the suffix " ar " ( short for " armas " ) is used for armed drill while the suffix " mar " ( short for " marcha " ) is used for marching drill and the suffix " al " ( short for " alto " ) is used to call to a halt . Sweden . While marching all commands are given on the left foot and carried out the next time the left foot hits the ground . When given forward march and halting everyone does a " marschanträde " which is done by slamming the foot down . States Movements Marching Armed drill Mounted and sabre drill < br > This is only done by the Royal guards .