Count off, Stack Arms and Take Arms

1. Instructional Formation, MARCH. AT EASE. The next movements, which I will name, explain, have demonstrated, and which you will conduct practical work on are, counting off, prepare slings, stack and take arms.

2. Counting off is used so that each member of the squad can independently identify their exact location in the formation. Prepare slings is used to adjust the sling for the insertion of other rifles. Stack arms is used to ground the weapons in a uniform manner, and to prevent damage to the front sight assembly. Take arms is used to return the rifle to its original owner.

3. The commands for these movements are: Count, OFF; Prepare, SLINGS; Stack, ARMS; and Take, ARMS.

4. Count, OFF; Prepare, SLINGS; Stack, ARMS; and Take, ARMS are two-part commands, Count, Prepare, Stack, and Take are preparatory commands, and OFF, SLINGS, and ARMS are the commands of execution.

5. When given, these commands are as follows: Count, OFF. Prepare, SLINGS. Stack, ARMS. Take, ARMS.

6. Demonstrators, POST. I will use the talk-through method of instruction.

7. The squad may count off in a line or column formation. When the squad is in a line formation, the counting is executed from right to left. On the command of execution OFF of Count, OFF each member, except the right flank man, turns his head and eyes to the right, and the right flank man counts off “ONE.”

8. After the man on the right counts off his number, the man to his left counts off with the next higher number and simultaneously turns his head and eyes to the front.

9. All other members execute count off in the same manner until the entire squad has counted off.

10. Right, FACE.

11. When the squad is in column formation, the counting is executed from front to rear. On the command of execution OFF of Count, OFF, the soldier at the head of the column turns his head and eyes to the right and counts over his shoulder, “ONE.”

12. After counting off his number, he immediately comes to the position of attention.

13. All other members count their numbers in sequence in the same manner as the number one man; the last man in the file does not turn his and eyes to the right.

14. Left, FACE.

15. The squad members execute stack arms from their positions in line formation at normal interval from order arms.

16. NOTE: When the squad is part of a larger unit, stack arms may be executed in a column formation when the formation consists of three or more files, and the squads are at normal interval. Second or third squad is designated as the stack squad.

17. When in a line formation, the squad leader commands Count, OFF and then designates the stackmen by numbers 2, 5, 8… you are the stackmen.

18. After the stackmen are designated, the squad leader commands Prepare, SLINGS. On the command of execution SLINGS of Prepare, SLINGS, each stackman (or stack squad) grasps the barrel of his rifle with his right hand and raises the rifle vertically. With his left hand, he places the rifle butt on his right hip and cradles the rifle in the crook of his right arm. Using both hands, he adjusts the sling keeper so that there is a two-inch loop formed from the sling keeper to the upper sling swivel. As soon as the loop is formed, he return to order arms.

19. When all stackmen have returned to order arms, the squad leader commands Stack, ARMS. On the command of execution ARMS of Stack, ARMS, each stackman grasps the barrel of the rifle with the right hand and places the rifle directly in front of and centered on his body with the sights to the rear. The rifle butt is placed on the marching surface so that the heel of the rifle butt is on line with the toes of his footgear. The stackman bends slightly forward at the waist and grasps his rifle with his left hand at the upper portion of the handguard keeping the rifle vertical at all times. The first two fingers of the left hand hold the inner part of the loop against the rifle. The stack-man reaches across the front of the rifle with his right hand, grasps the other part of the loop, and holds it open for insertion of other rifles.

20. On the command of execution ARMS, the men to the right and left of the stackman perform the following movements simultaneously:

21. The man on the stackman’s right grasps the barrel of his rifle with his right hand and raises and centers his rifle with the magazine well facing to the front, wrist held shoulder high, elbow locked. With his left hand, he then grasps the handguard midway, releases his right hand, and regrasps the rifle at the small of the stock. He lowers both arms, with elbows locked holding the rifle in a horizontal position with the muzzle to the left and the magazine well to the front.

22. The man on the stackman’s left grasps the barrel of the rifle with his right hand and raises and centers his rifle with the magazine well facing the front, wrist held shoulder high, elbow locked. Using his left hand, he then grasps the rifle at the small of the stock, releases the right hand, and regrasps the handguard midway. He then lowers both arms, with elbows locked holding the rifle in a horizontal position with the muzzle pointing to the right and the magazine well to the front.

23. As soon as the stackman has placed his rifle in position, both men move the foot nearest the stackman 18 inches to the half left or half right toward the stackman. The man on the stackman’s left inserts the muzzle of his rifle into the loop to a point about halfway between the flash suppressor (compensator) and the front sight assembly. He holds his rifle in this position until the man on the stackman’s right inserts the muzzle of his rifle in similar manner and above the other rifle muzzle.

24. Without moving the feet, both riflemen swing the butt of their rifles out and then down to the marching surface, making the stack tight with the rifle butts on line and about two feet from the baseline. When the stack has been completed, all three men resume the position of attention.

25. Additional rifles are passed to the nearest stack on the right (right or left if stacked in column). The men with additional rifles grasp the rifle barrel with the right hand and raise the rifle vertically with the magazine well to the front, wrist held shoulder high, elbow locked, and right arm extended to the right front. Throughout the pass, the rifle is held vertical with the magazine well to the front.

26. The man to the left of the stackman then grasps the rifle midway at the handguard with his left hand. The man passing the additional rifle then releases the rifle and sharply returns to the position of attention. The man to the left of the stackman then moves the rifle until it is centered on his body, and he grasps the rifle barrel with his right hand, wrist held shoulder high and elbow locked. He then releases his left hand and sharply returns his left hand to the left side as in the position of attention. He then moves the rifle to his right front.

27. The stackman receives the rifle and centers it in the same manner as previously described. The man to the left of the stackman sharply returns to the position of attention after he releases the rifle. Once the stackman has centered the rifle and grasped the barrel with the right hand, he bends forward at the waist and places the rifle in the stack so that it is secure without damaging the front sight assembly. The stackman then returns to the position of attention.

28. If there are two additional rifles, the second rifle is passed in the same manner as the first.

29. To return the rifles to their original owners the command is Take, ARMS. On the command of execution ARMS of Take, ARMS, the men return the additional rifle in the same manner as the rifles were received. The stackman secures the stack and holds the loop in the same manner as for stacking rifles.

30. The men on the left and right step toward the stackman in the same manner as when stacking arms. Each man reaches downward and regrasps his rifle, one hand at the small of the stock and one hand midway of the handguard and brings it to the horizontal position. The man on the right frees his rifle first and resumes order arms. The man on the left frees his rifle and resumes order arms.

31. The stackman cradles his rifle and adjusts the sling and sling keeper to its original position and then resumes order arms.

32. At normal cadence, these movements would look as follows: Count, OFF. Right, FACE. Count, OFF. Left, FACE. Numbers 2, 5, 8, you are the stackmen. Prepare, SLINGS. Stack, ARMS. Take, ARMS. AT EASE.

33. What are your questions pertaining to these movements when executed at normal cadence or using the talk-through method of instruction.

34. Demonstrators, ATTENTION. You will now become my assistant instructors. FALL OUT.

35. FALL IN. Squad leaders on the command FALL OUT move to your designated area. FALL OUT. Squad members on the command FALL OUT move to the vicinity of your squad leader. FALL OUT.

36. I will use the talk-through method of instruction.