Inspections (Company)
BASIC INFORMATION
The following basic information applies to conducting inspections for a company drill.
a. The company has one prescribed formation for inspecting personnel and equipment in ranks-company in line with platoons in line. When inspecting crew-served weapons and vehicles, the personnel are normally positioned to the rear of the formation with the operator (gunner) standing by his vehicle (weapon).
NOTES:
1. If the commander is not scheduled to receive or inspect the company, the first sergeant and platoon sergeants remain at their posts and execute company drill from their posts. For continuity purposes, the term “first sergeant” may also be used to denote the commander, just as “platoon sergeant” may be used to denote the platoon leader when they are executing drill from their posts. If the commander is inspecting, he and the platoon leaders execute the same as described below.2. Manual of arms movements for soldiers armed with the M249, shotgun, or pistol are outlined in Appendix E FM 3-21.5.
b. The first sergeant may conduct an in-quarters (barracks) inspection to include personal appearance, individual weapons, field equipment, displays, maintenance, and sanitary conditions.
c. When field equipment is to be inspected, it should be displayed as below, (as a guide). Additional equipment not shown, or different models of the equipment, should be arranged in a uniform manner established by the local commander.
Equipment Display Guide
IN-RANKS INSPECTION (LIN FORMATIONS)
Use the following procedures to conduct an in-ranks inspection (line formation).
a. With the company in line formation, the first sergeant directs PREPARE FOR INSPECTION. On that directive, the platoon sergeants face about, open ranks, and align the company as in paragraphs 8-5 and 8-6. When all platoon sergeants are facing the front, the first sergeant commands AT EASE.
NOTE: During the inspection, the guidon bearer, officers, and noncommissioned officers not in ranks assume the position of attention as the inspecting officer approaches their positions and resume the at ease position after they have been inspected (they do not execute inspection arms). The company commander may direct the first sergeant and executive officer to accompany him during the inspection. When so directed, the executive officer and first sergeant take a position at normal interval (close interval if the company is at close interval) to the left of the company commander.
b. The first sergeant begins the inspection by stepping forward and inspecting the guidon bearer. He then faces to the half left in marching and proceeds to the right of the line. As he approaches the right flank platoon, the platoon sergeant commands (over his right shoulder) Platoon, ATTENTION. When the first sergeant has halted directly in front of him, he reports, “First Sergeant, the platoon is prepared for inspection.” (If the commander is inspecting, Salutes are exchanged.) The first sergeant inspects the platoon sergeant. The first sergeant then directs the platoon sergeant to lead him through the inspection, faces to the half left in marching, and halts directly in front of the squad leader of the first squad. As the first sergeant faces to the half left in marching, the platoon sergeant faces to the right in marching, inclines, and halts directly in front of the second man in the first squad and on line with and at Normal Interval (Close Interval) to the right of the first sergeant. The other platoon sergeants execute the same actions as the first sergeant approaches their platoons.
NOTE: As soon as the platoon sergeant and first sergeant have halted in front of the first two men, the platoon sergeant commands Second, Third, and Fourth Squads, AT EASE. When moving from man to man during the inspection, the first sergeant and platoon sergeant (executive officer and first sergeant if the commander is inspecting) simultaneously face to the right in marching, take two short steps (one step if the company is at close interval), halt, and face to the left. After the first sergeant has inspected the last man in the front rank, the platoon sergeant hesitates momentarily and allows the first sergeant to precede him as he inspects the front rank from the rear. As the first sergeant begins to inspect the rear of each rank, the platoon sergeant commands the next squad to Attention. As they begin to inspect the next rank, the platoon sergeant commands the last rank inspected to stand At Ease. Normally, when inspecting the rear of each rank, the first sergeant conducts a walking inspection. As the first sergeant inspects the rear of the last man in each rank, he turns and halts directly in front of the squad leader of the next rank. The platoon sergeant turns and halts directly in front of the second man. If the commander is inspecting, the executive officer and first sergeant march past (behind) the company commander and assume their positions to his left.
c. As the first sergeant halts and is directly in front of and facing the individual being inspected, the individual executes Inspection Arms. If the first sergeant wants to inspect the individual’s weapon, he inspects the weapon first, then the individual’s uniform and appearance. As soon as the first sergeant grasps the weapon, the individual releases the weapon and resumes the Position of Attention. When the first sergeant has finished inspecting the weapon, he returns it in the same manner as it was received. The individual receives the weapon by grasping the center of the handguard just forward of the slip ring with the left hand and the small of the stock with the right hand. He then executes Ready, Port Arms; Order Arms.
NOTE: In the event the first sergeant does not want to inspect the weapon, the individual remains at Inspection Arms until the first sergeant has halted in front of and is facing the next man. The individual then executes Ready, Port, Arms and Order Arms. As the first sergeant moves to the rear of the rank being inspected, each man, as the first sergeant approaches, unfastens the snap of his scabbard, grasps the point of the scabbard with the left hand, and moves the point slightly forward. The scabbard is held in position until the bayonet has been replaced or, if the bayonet is not inspected, until the first sergeant has moved to the next man. At that time, the securing straps are fastened and the Position of Attention is resumed.
d. The correct method of manipulating a rifle for inspection is as follows:
(1) When receiving the rifle from the inspected individual, reach forward and grasp the rifle at the upper portion of the handguard with the right hand. Lower the rifle diagonally to the left, twist the rifle slightly, insert the tip of the little finger of the left hand into the ejection port (do not twist the rifle but insert the thumb into the receiver of the M14-series rifle), and look into the barrel. The finger reflects sufficient light for the inspection of the barrel.(2) Grasp the small of the stock with the left hand and raise the rifle to a horizontal position (sights up) with the muzzle to the right. The rifle is centered on the body with the forearms horizontal and the palms up. Move the rifle horizontally to the left and inspect the upper portion of the rifle beginning with the flash suppressor. Move the rifle slowly to the right inspecting the butt. Return the rifle to the center of the body.
(3) Keeping the rifle horizontal, rotate it 180 degrees (sights toward the body) so that the sights point toward the marching surface. Move the rifle horizontally to the left and inspect the muzzle. Move the rifle slowly to the right and inspect the butt. When moving the rifle across the body, twist the rifle as necessary and inspect the movable parts on the sides of the receiver. Having completed the inspection of the lower parts of the rifle, return it to the center of the body.
(4) Keeping the rifle horizontal, rotate the rifle 180 degrees (sights away from the body) so that the sights are up. Release the left hand and return the rifle in the same manner as received.
(5) When inspecting a weapon other than a rifle, the inspector receives the weapon with his right hand and inspects it in the most convenient manner. Having completed the inspection, the weapon is returned with the right hand in the same manner as received.
e. When the first sergeant has completed the inspection of the platoon, the platoon sergeant commands the platoon to Attention and overtakes the first sergeant en route back to the front of the platoon. The platoon sergeant halts at his post facing to the front (Salutes are exchanged if the commander is inspecting). The first sergeant (or commander with or without the inspecting party) faces to the right in marching and moves to the next platoon. As soon as the first sergeant has cleared the first platoon, the platoon sergeant faces about, commands Close Ranks, MARCH and AT EASE, and then faces about and executes At Ease. When the first sergeant has completed the inspection of the last platoon (exchanged Salutes with the platoon sergeant), he returns to his post at the center of the company and commands the company to Attention. He then dismisses the company, as previously described.
f. When the company is inspected by an officer of a higher command, on the approach of the inspecting officer, the company commander commands Company, ATTENTION. He then faces about, salutes, and reports, “Sir, the company is prepared for inspection.” The inspection is conducted as previously described except that the company commander takes a position immediately to the left of the inspecting officer. The inspection is terminated by the company commander in the same manner prescribed for a platoon sergeant.
IN-QUARTERS INSPECTION (STAND BY)
When the first sergeant wants to conduct an in-quarters inspection, the members are positioned on line with their equipment (or as near it as possible).
a. The platoon sergeant positions himself in the path of the inspecting officer at a point near his area of responsibility. At the approach of the inspecting officer, the platoon sergeant commands Platoon, ATTENTION, salutes, and reports, “Sir, the platoon is prepared for inspection.”
NOTE: When the situation dictates, the platoon sergeant may report to the inspecting officer outside of the quarters. A designated individual commands the members to Attention as the inspector enters the quarters (bay).
b. The platoon sergeant then guides the inspector along a route dictated by the physical arrangement of the personnel and equipment. Upon entering the area, the highest ranking soldier present commands AT EASE. As the inspector approaches each individual or his equipment, the individual automatically assumes the Position of Attention. When the inspector has moved to the next man, the last man inspected resumes the position of At Ease. As the inspector begins to exit the area after completing the inspection, CARRY ON is commanded.
NOTE: When inspecting soldiers’ rooms, Attention is not commanded. The individuals automatically assume the Position of Attention as the inspector enters the room. The inspector then commands AT EASE. As the inspector approaches each soldier, the soldier assumes the Position of Attention and resumes At Ease after he has been inspected.
