| STARTING
POSITIONS After the warm-up, bring the soldiers to a position of ATTENTION.
The drills begin with the command GO. Other basic commands are FRONT, BACK, and
STOP. (See Figure 7-5 for the positions and actions associated with these commands.)
ATTENTION: The position of attention is described in FM 22-5, Drill and Ceremonies.
GO This involves running in place at top speed on the balls of the feet. The soldier
raises his knees high, pumps his arms, and bends forward slightly at the waist.
FRONT The soldier lies prone with elbows bent and palms directly under the shoulders
as in the down position of the push up. The legs are straight and together with
the head toward the instructor. BACK: The soldier lies flat on his back
with his arms extended along his sides and his palms facing down ward. His legs
are straight and together; his feet face the instructor. STOP The soldier
assumes the stance of a
football lineman with feet spread and staggered. His left
arm is across his left thigh; his right arm is straight. His knuckles are on the
ground; his head is up, and his back is roughly parallel to the ground. To
assume the FRONT or BACK position from the standing GO or STOP positions, the
soldier changes positions vigorously and rapidly. (See Figure 7-5.) To change
from the FRONT to the BACK position (Figure 7-5), the soldier does the following:
Takes several short steps to the right or left. Lifts his arm on the
side toward which his feet move. Thrusts his legs vigorously to the front. To
change from the BACK to the FRONT position, the soldier sits up quickly. He places
both hands on the ground to the right or left of his legs. He takes several short
steps to the rear on the side opposite his hands. When his feet are opposite his
hands, he thrusts his legs vigorously to the rear and lowers his body to the ground.
(See Figure 7-5.)
 GRASS
DRILL ONE Exercises for grass drill one are described below and shown
in Figure 7-6. Bouncing
Ball From the FRONT position, push up and support the body on the hands
(shoulder-width apart) and feet. Keep the back and legs generally in line and
the knees straight. Bounce up and down in a series of short, simultaneous, upward
springs from the hands, hips, and feet. Supine
Bicycle From the BACK position, flex the hips and knees. Place the palms
directly on top of the head, and interlace the fingers. Bring the knee of one
leg upward toward the chest. At the same time, curl the trunk and head upward
while touching the opposite elbow to the elevated knee. Repeat with the other
leg and elbow. Continue these movements as opposite legs and arms take turns. Knee
Bender From the position of ATTENTION, do half-knee bends with the feet
in line and the hands at the sides. Make sure the knees do not bend to an angle
less than 90 degrees. Roll
Left and Right From the FRONT position, continue to roll in the direction
commanded until another command is given. Then, return to the FRONT position. GRASS
DRILL TWO Exercises for grass drill two are described below and shown
in Figure 7-6. The
Swimmer From the FRONT position, extend the arms forward. Move the right
arm and left leg up and down; then, move the left arm and right leg up and down.
Continue in an alternating manner. Bounce
and Clap Hands The procedure is almost the same as for the bouncing ball
in grass drill one. However, while in the air, clap the hands. This action requires
a more vigorous bounce or spring. The pushup may be substituted for this exercise. Leg
Spreader From the BACK position, raise the legs until the heels are no
higher than six inches off the ground. Spread the legs apart as far as possible,
then put them back together. Keep the head off the ground. Throughout, place the
hands under the upper part of the buttocks, and slightly bend the knees to ease
pressure on the lower back. Open and close the legs as fast as possible. The curl-up
may be substituted for this exercise. Forward
Roll From the STOP position, place both hands on the ground, tuck the
head, and roll forward. Keep the head tucked while rolling. Stationary
Run From the position of ATTENTION, start running in place at the GO command
by lifting the left foot first. Follow the instructor as he counts two repetitions
of cadence. For example, “One, two, three, four; one, two, three, four.” The instructor
then gives informal commands such as the following: “Follow me,” “Run on the toes
and balls of your feet,” “Speed it up,” “Increase to a sprint, raise your knees
high, lean forward at your waist, and pump your arms vigorously,” and “Slow it
down.” To halt the exercise, the instructor counts two repetitions of cadence
as the left foot strikes the ground: “One, two, three, four, one, two, three,
HALT.”
 Guerilla
Exercises Guerrilla exercises, which can be used to improve agility,
CR endurance, muscular endurance, and to some degree muscular strength, combine
individual and partner exercises. These drills require soldiers to change their
positions quickly and do various basic skills while moving forward. Figures 7-7
and 7-8 show these exercises. The instructor decides the duration for each
exercise by observing its effect on the soldiers. Depending on how vigorously
it is done, each exercise should be continued for 20 to 40 seconds. The group
moves in circle formation while doing the exercises. If the platoon exceeds 30
soldiers, concentric circles may be used. A warm-up activity should precede these
exercises, and a cool-down should follow them. After the circle is formed, the
instructor steps into the center and issues commands.
EXERCISE
AND PROGRESSION Soldiers progress by shortening the quick-time marching
periods between exercises and by doing all exercises a second time. This produces
an overload that improves fitness. Many soldiers have not had a chance to
do the simple skills involved in guerrilla exercises. However, they can do these
exercises easily and quickly in almost any situation. The preparatory command
is always the name of the exercise, and the command of execution is always “March.”
The command “Quick time, march” ends each exercise. For the double guerrilla
exercises (in circle formation) involving two soldiers, the commands for pairing
are as follows: “Platoon halt.” “From (soldier is designated),
by twos, count off.” (For example: 1- 2, 1-2, 1-2.) “Even numbers, move
up behind odd numbers.” (Pairs are adjusted according to height and weight.)
“You are now paired up for double guerrillas.” The command “Change” is given to
change the soldiers’ positions. After the exercises are completed, the instructor
halts the soldiers and positions the base soldier or platoon guide by commanding,
“Base man (or platoon guide), post.” He then commands “Fall out and fall in on
the base man (or platoon guide).” EXERCISE
DESCRIPTIONS Brief explanations of guerrilla exercises follow. All-Fours
Run Face downward, supporting the body on the hands and feet. Advance
forward as fast as possible by moving the arms and legs forward in a coordinated
way. Bottoms-Up
Walk Take the front-leaning rest position, and move the feet toward the
hands in short steps while keeping the knees locked. When the feet are as close
to the hands as possible, walk forward on the hands to the front-leaning-rest
position. Crab
Walk Assume a sitting position with the hips off the ground and hands
and feet supporting the body’s weight. Walk forward, feet first. The
Engine Stand with the arms straight and in front of the body. The arms
should be parallel to the ground with the palms facing downward. While walking
forward, bring the left knee upward to the left elbow. Return to the start position.
Continuing to walk forward, touch the right knee to the right elbow. Recover to
the start position. Be sure to keep the arms parallel to the ground throughout
the entire exercise. Double
Time Do a double-time run while maintaining the circle formation. Broad
Jump Jump forward on both feet in a series of broad jumps. Swing the
arms vigorously to help with the jumps. Straddle
Run Run forward, leaping to the right with the left foot and to the left
with the right foot. Hobble
Hopping Hold one foot behind the back with the opposite hand and hop
forward. On the command “Change,” grasp the opposite foot with the opposite hand
and hop forward. Two-Man
Carry For two-man carries, soldiers are designated as number one (odd-numbered)
and number two (even-numbered). A number-one and number-two soldier work as partners. Fireman's
Carry Two soldiers do the carry. On command, number-two soldier bends
at the waist, with feet apart in a balanced stance. Number-one soldier moves toward
his partner. He places himself by his partner’s left shoulder and bends himself
over his partner’s shoulders and back. When in position, number-two soldier, with
his left hand, reaches between his partner’s legs and grasps his left wrist. On
command, they move forward until the command for changeover. They then change
positions. The fireman’s carry can also be done from the other side. Single-Shoulder
Carry Two soldiers do the carry. On command, number-two soldier bends
at the waist with feet apart in a balanced stance. At the same time, number-one
soldier moves toward his partner. He places his abdominal area onto his partner’s
right or left shoulder and leans over. Number-two soldier puts his arms around
the back of his partner’s knees and stands up. On command, they move forward until
the command for changeover. They then change positions. Cross
Carry On command, number-two soldier bends over at the waist. He twists
slightly to the left with feet spread apart in a balanced position. At the same
time, number-one soldier moves toward his partner’s left side and leans over his
partner’s back. Number two soldier, with his left arm, reaches around his partner’s
legs. At the same time, he reaches around his partner’s back with his right arm,
being careful not to grab his partner’s neck or head. He then stands up straight,
holding his partner on his back. On command, they move forward until the command
for changeover. They then change positions. Saddle-back
(Piggyback) Carry On command, number-two soldier bends at the waist and
knees with his hand on his knees and his head up. To assume the piggyback position,
number- one soldier moves behind his partner, places his hands on his partner’s
shoulders, and climbs carefully onto his partner’s hips. As number-one soldier
climbs on, number-two soldier grasps his partner’s legs to help support him. Number-one
soldier places his arms over his partner’s shoulders and crosses his hands over
his partner’s upper chest. They move forward until the command for changeover
is given. They then change positions.
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