Drill - Foot Drill, Words of Command and Ceremonial Drill
Drill is examined as a test of precision and of vocabulary. You must know the two-part structure of a word of command, the standard paces, the Hindi commands used in NCC squad drill, and the sequence of a ceremonial salute.
How a command is built
Every command has a cautionary part (a warning, drawn out) and an executive part (short, sharp, on which the movement is done). In "Squad - Tez Chal", Tez is cautionary and Chal is executive; the squad steps off on Chal, not before.
Core commands and paces
- Savdhan - attention; Vishram - stand at ease; Aaram Se - stand easy (the only one in which a cadet may move and talk).
- Dahine Mud (right turn), Baen Mud (left turn), Peeche Mud (about turn), executed on the named foot.
- Tez Chal - quick march, 30-inch pace at about 116–120 paces a minute; Dheere Chal - slow march, 70 paces a minute; double march, 40-inch pace at about 180.
- Tham - halt; Visarjan - fall out; Line Tor - dismiss; Nigah - eyes right/left (head only, shoulders square).
Ceremonial
A salute is given with the right hand: palm open and slightly outwards, middle finger just touching the right eyebrow, upper arm horizontal, elbow slightly forward; the hand is brought down smartly along the body. A guard of honour is drawn up in two ranks, with the commander's salute and the national salute timed to the national anthem.
Worked example
On the order "Squad - Peeche Mud", the cautionary word Peeche is called and the squad braces; on Mud each cadet turns 180° to the right on the right heel and left toe, brings the left foot up beside the right, and freezes. Turning on the left heel or moving on the cautionary word are both errors.
Traps
Confusing Vishram with Aaram Se; calling the executive word late; turning the head and shoulders on Nigah; saluting with a bent wrist or the palm turned down.