Meaning of the General Orders
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I will guard
anything within the limits of my
post and quit my post only when
properly relieved.
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The guard is
responsible for everything that
occurs within the limits of his
post while he is on duty. He is
also responsible for all
equipment and property located
within the limits of his post.
The exact limits of his post are
defined by special orders. The
special orders should also
include every place a guard must
go to perform his duties. -
A guard
investigates immediately every
unusual or suspicious occurrence
on or near his post provided he
does not have to leave his post
to do so. If necessary, the
guard will contact the commander
of the relief for instructions. -
A guard
apprehends all suspicious
persons and all persons involved
in a disorder occurring on or
near his post provided he does
not have to leave his post to do
so. In apprehending persons, the
guard will use only necessary
force to overcome any
resistance. Apprehension of
persons should be included in
special orders or guard
instructions. All persons
apprehended are turned over to
the commander of the relief. -
All persons,
regardless of rank, are required
to respect members of the guard
in the performance of their
duties. -
A guard will
remain on post and continue to
perform all duties required on
that post until he is relieved
by proper authority. -
If a guard
requires relief because of
sickness or for any other
reason, he will notify the
commander of the relief and wait
until he is replaced by another
guard or has permission from the
proper authorities to leave his
post. -
If a guard is
not relieved at the expiration
of his tour of duty, he does not
abandon his post. He will
contact the commander of the
relief for instructions. -
Guards leave
their posts for meals as
specifically directed by the
commanding officer. Normally,
this is accomplished by
arranging for early and late
meals for guards going on and
coming off post. -
When ordered by
proper authority, or prescribed
in the special orders, a guard
on the last relief of a post may
be directed to leave the post at
the proper time and return to
the guardhouse where he reports
to the commander of the relief
on duty.
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I will obey
my special orders and perform
all my duties in a military
manner.
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A guard will
familiarize himself with the
special orders for his post
prior to being posted. The guard
will obey, execute, and enforce
all special orders pertaining to
his post.Note. The
commander of the guard is
responsible for insuring that
all guards understand their
special instructions prior to
being posted.
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In addition to
his special orders, a guard is
responsible to obey and carry
out any orders or instructions
from the commanding officer,
field officer of the day, and
officers and noncommissioned
officers of the guard. No other
persons are authorized to give a
guard orders or instructions.
Any special instructions for a
guard should be issued through
the guard’s chain of command. -
Guards on post
will pass instructions to their
relief when appropriate. The
information is also given to the
commander of the relief.
Example: A guard on duty at an
ammunition dump discovers a hole
in the fence during his tour of
duty. Upon finding the hole, the
commander of the relief is
notified. The guard will pass
this information to his relief
so that special attention can be
paid to that portion of the
fence until the hole is
repaired. -
The guard will
perform his duties in a military
manner and serve as an example
to others. -
The guard is
courteous to all persons. He
will talk to no one except in
the line of duty. When persons
make proper inquiries of a
guard, he answers them in a
courteous manner. -
A guard on an
interior guard post maintains an
erect and soldierly bearing. The
weapon is carried in a manner
prescribed by the commanding
officer or commander of the
guard. (A guard armed with a
rifle, carbine, or shotgun may
be allowed to shift his weapon
to left shoulder arms to reduce
fatigue.) -
Guards on post
salute individuals as prescribed
in AR 600-25.-
A sentry, on a
post which does not require
challenging, carrying a weapon
at sling arms, will render the
hand salute upon recognition of
an officer. -
A sentry, on a
post which does not require
challenging, carrying a weapon
at right (left) shoulder arms,
will, upon recognition of an
officer, halt and present arms
as prescribed in the manual of
arms FM 22-5. When the officer
returns the salute the guard
will return to right (left)
shoulder arms and resume his
duties. -
A sentry armed
with a pistol, on a post which
does not require challenging,
will, upon recognition of an
officer, render the hand salute. -
No salute is
given by a guard who is engaged
in a specific duty, the
performance of which prevents
saluting.
-
-
A guard talking
with an officer does not
interrupt the conversation to
salute another officer; however,
if the officer salutes a senior,
the guard also salutes. -
The special
orders will specify the time for
challenging.-
When
challenging, a guard, armed with
a rifle, carbine, or shotgun
will challenge from the position
of port arms as described in the
manual of arms in FM 22-5. If
armed with a pistol the guard
will challenge from the position
of raise pistol. -
After
challenging, a guard will remain
in the challenge position until
the individual challenged is
allowed to pass, depart, or is
turned over the commander of the
relief. -
Sentinels on
posts requiring challenging will
not render salutes.
Note. The
sentinel’s primary mission is to
guard his post. Requiring
salutes places the individual in
a vulnerable position. The
sentinel will, however, display
all other military courtesy and
respect while in conversation
with an officer.
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Challenging one
person or a group:-
If a guard sees
any person on or near his post
during the time for challenging,
he positions himself so that he
can control the situation. If
possible, he should be out of
sight when challenging. When the
person is approximately 30
steps, or at sufficient distance
to allow the guard time to
react, the guard will assume the
correct challenge position and
command “HALT!” When the person
has halted, the guard asks, “WHO
IS THERE?” The guard may advance
toward the person while
challenging to put himself in a
better position. When the guard
is in the best position to pass
or apprehend the person, he
requires the person to advance
towards him, remain in position,
or advance to a particular
place, face toward the light, or
to take any position necessary
to determine whether the person
should be passed, denied, or
turned over to the commander of
the relief. -
The guard
permits only one member of a
group to approach him for
identification. -
If persons are
in a vehicle, the guard proceeds
as if they were on foot. If
necessary to carry out his
duties, he may have one or all
of the passengers dismount. -
After halting a
group and receiving an
answer indicating that it is
authorized to pros, the guard
says, “Advance one to be
recognized.” After he has
recognized the one advanced, the
guard says, “Advance, Sergeant
Smith,” naming the person (or
group) allowed to advance. If
the answer is “Friends,” the
guard says, “Advance one to be
recognized.” After recognition
he says, “Advance, friends.” -
The guard
satisfies himself beyond a
reasonable doubt that those
challenged are what they
represent themselves to be and
that they have a right to pass.
If he is not satisfied, he
detains the person and calls the
commander of tile relief.
Normally, the guard will accept
a reasonable answer for
identification if the post is
not a vital area and the persons
are not suspicious looking.
Note. A
visual check of an individual’s
ID card is considered the best
means of identification when
doubt exists.
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Challenging two
or more persons or groups--
If two or more
persons or groups approach the
guard’s post from different
directions at the same time,
they are halted in turn and
remain halted until advanced by
the guard. -
When two or more
groups are halted at the same
time, the senior is advanced
first. -
A guard advances
different persons or groups with
the following priority:
commanding officer, field
officer of the day, officer of
the day, officers of the guard,
officers, patrols, reliefs,
noncommissioned officers of the
guard in order of rank, and
friends. -
If a person or
group has been advanced and is
talking with the guard, the
guard halts any other person or
group that may approach, but
advances no one until the person
or group with whom he is talking
leaves. He then advances the
senior of the remaining group. -
A guard must
always be alert and never be
surprised. He never permits two
persons or groups to advance to
his post at the same time. -
Confusing or
misleading answers to a guard’s
challenge are not acceptable.
However, the answer “Friend” is
not considered misleading and is
the usual answer of an
inspecting officer or patrol
when they do not wish to reveal
their official capacity.
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During his tour
of duty a guard is required to
execute orders of no one but the
commanding officer, field
officer of the day, officer of
the day, and officers of the
guard; however, any officer may
investigate apparent violations
of regulations by members of the
guard. In the event of an
inspecting officer, or any other
person in the military service,
finding an irresponsible guard
on post (Art. 113, Uniform Code
of Military Justice), it is his
duty to notify the commander of
the guard or a noncommissioned
officer of the guard and stay on
the post until a qualified guard
is posted. -
A guard
surrenders his weapon to, and
only on order of, a person from
whom he lawfully receives orders
while on post. These persons
should not order a guard to
surrender his weapon for
inspection or any other purpose
unless an emergency exists.
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I will report
violations of my special orders,
emergencies, and anything not
covered in my instructions, to
the commander of the relief.
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A guard reports
all violations of his special
orders to the commander of the
relief. He apprehends the
offender, if necessary. -
A guard reports
all emergencies that occur on or
near his post. The guard will
take whatever action is
prescribed by his special orders
or guard instructions. Anytime
the guard is in doubt as to what
action to take, or it is not
covered in his special orders,
he will call the commander of
the relief for instructions or
assistance. -
In case of fire,
occurring on or near his post,
the guard calls, “Fire, Post
Number (Two).” He alerts the
occupants, if it is an occupied
building. He gives the alarm or
insures one has been given. If
possible, he extinguishes the
fire. He helps direct the fire
fighting apparatus to the fire.
He notifies the guardhouse of
his actions as soon as possible. -
A guard reports
any disorder occurring on or
near his post. He takes police
action as prescribed in his
special orders or guard
instructions. If assistance is
required, he calls, “The Guard,
Post Number (Four).” -
If the danger is
great, he fires his weapon into
the air three times in rapid
succession before calling. When
instructed to do so, guards give
warnings of air, CBR, and other
attacks. Guards should receive
special training if they are to
act as chemical, biological, and
radiological (CBR) sentinels
while on post.
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