Australian Army Drill - Standing at Attention

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THE POSITION

Standing at 'Attention' is the most basic drill positions for a soldier. From this position, a soldier can be given any order for a different position (e.g. to stand at-ease), a different direction (e.g. to turn left, right or about-turn), to move off (e.g. quick march), or a particular arm movement (e.g. salute).

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HOW TO STAND AT 'ATTENTION'

FEET

Your heels should be together.

Your toe-ends should be about 30° between each other.

You should be able to place someone else's boot between your toe-ends and no wider.

You are looking for that angle which gives you the most favoured balance. If your toe-end of each boot is too close together at too narrow an angle, you will start swaying forward unbalanced. If your toe-ends are too far apart from one another with too wide an angle, you will start swaying backwards.

HANDS

Your fingers should appear curled like a clenched fist, yet be relaxed and comfortable. There is no need to squeeze like you're about to punch someone.

Your thumbs should be straight and sit neatly upon your index fingers, not curled inside them.

STANDING STRAIGHT

Stand up straight with your shoulders back and head facing straight forward.

ARMS

Your arms should run straight down from your shoulders. The seam running down the side of your trousers will aid in keeping your arms running down straight. Pinch the seam between your thumb and your curled index finger if you ever feel your arms are off-centre.

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WHILE STANDING AT ATTENTION

You are NOT allowed to move at all while you are standing at attention. At most, your eyeballs can look left or right, but your head will not move. Your arms will not move. Your feet will not move. Your body will not move not matter what is going on around you.

If two flies land on your eyeballs and begin dancing the Macarena, you will not move!

See 'MOVING WITHOUT BEING SEEN TO MOVE' for ways to keep your blood circulating while on parade.

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THE COMMAND FROM THE 'AT-EASE' POSITION

There are only two (primary) standing positions: attention and at-ease. You will regularly switch from one to another and back. But from no other position will someone call you to attention.

While you are standing at-ease, you will be commanded:

SQUAD... ATTEN... TION.

The first word is the 'who'. Who should perform the command. In this example, it is a 'Squad'. But this word can be replaced by other units, small or large, like Section, Platoon, Company, Brigade, etc... This is not always used and can be skipped entirely.

The second and third parts are the command itself. Commands are always split into two audible sections. The first is usually longer and can be drawn out. This is so soldiers can anticipate early enough what they're going to have to do as soon as the third part is called.

The third part is usually as abrupt as a clap. Drill is set to a beat. The third part is as short as a musical beat, so that everyone moves at the same time on the second beat.

The second part can be as short or as draw out as the drill commander wishes. If the commander knows everyone is fresh and switched on, the second part can be short, sharp and shiny. If the commander knows everyone is exhausted or distracted, they might call it long just to ensure everyone is awake and ready to move:

SQUAD... ATTEEEEEEEN...TION.

There is no other command that begins with "ATTEN...", so every soldier on parade will know that the next word called will be "TION." During the "ATTEN...", soldiers will brace their shoulders straight and know that as soon as "TION" is called, they need to move their arms and feet into the attention position. The longer the second part is drawn out, the more mentally prepared soldiers are for what they have to do.

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THE DRILL BEAT

To ensure everyone moves together, soldiers are to have the same musical beat drilled into their heads.

Most drill movements use the following cadence:

1 2 - 3... 1

The third part of the command becomes the 3 as if from the previous musical bar:

ATTEEEEEN TION 1 2 - 3... 1

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ATTENTION ON THE DRILL BEAT

From the 'at-ease' position...

On the beat after "TION" is called, on the first '1' beat...

• Raise your left knee. Your left boot should raise to the height of your right boot. Your foot should dangle straight below your knee. See 'COW KICKING' for further information on what not to do.

• You may let go of your hands, but your arms should remain behind your back in the at-ease position.

Pause for the '2' - '3' beats.

For the final '1' beat...

• Drop your left foot into the attention position with your heels together and your toes a boot-width apart. Your foot should hit the ground at the instance of the final '1' beat.

• At the same time as you lower your foot, bring your arms round from the back to your sides into the attention position with your fingers curled, thumbs neatly upon not beneath your index finger, and the seam of your trousers running between your thumbs and index fingers.

• Your back should be straight, shoulders back, head facing forward.

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