Australian Army Drill - Standing At Ease
- D. M. Wright
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
 |  |  |  |
*Please note, websites update site addresses, policies and procedures regularly, which will break links on the page below and/or provide out-of-date information. If links break or policies and procedures change, you may need to contact the service provider to assist with navigation and further information. Please notify D.M.W. Productions Australia HERE to inform us of broken links or out of date information, and we will rectify our site as soon as possible.
THE POSITION
Standing 'At Ease' is the second most basic drill position for a soldier. From this position, a soldier can only be given limited orders: change to a more formal position (e.g. standing at attention), change to a less formal position (e.g. to stand easy), bring to attention temporarily (e.g. during role call), or requesting soldiers to prove (e.g. a soldier's version of raising your hand).
HOW TO STAND 'AT EASE'
FEET
Your heels should be about half a step apart from one another. Each heel should line up directly beneath each of their corresponding shoulder.
Your boots should be at the same 30° angle they were when standing at attention.
You are looking for that angle which gives you the most favoured balance. If your toe-end of each boot is at too narrow an angle, you will start swaying forward unbalanced. If your toe-ends are at too wide an angle, you will start swaying backwards.
HANDS
The back of your left hand should be placed against your buttocks as low and comfortable as possible, palm facing away from you.
The back of your right hand should rest against your left hand palm.
Your thumbs should intertwine.
Your left fingers gently grasp your right hand.
Your right palm and fingers should remain straight and flat, not curling into a fist.
ARMS
Your arms should run as close to your body. It is important to hold your hands as low down your backside as comfortably as possible to reduce your arms from looking like chicken wings. There should be little or no gap between your arms and your sides.
STANDING STRAIGHT
Stand up straight with your shoulders back and head facing straight forward.
WHILE STANDING AT EASE
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.
THE COMMAND FROM THE 'ATTENTION' POSITION
There are only two (primary) standing positions: attention and at-ease. You will regularly switch from one to another and back.
While you are standing at attention, you will be commanded:
SQUAD... STAND AT... EASE.
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... STAND AAAAAAT... EASE.
There is no other command that begins with "STAND AT...", so every soldier on parade will know that the next word called will be "EASE." During the "STAND AT...", soldiers will brace their shoulders straight and know that as soon as "EASE" is called, they need to move their arms and feet into the at-ease position. The longer the second part is drawn out, the more mentally prepared soldiers are for what they have to do.
THE COMMAND FROM THE 'STANDING EASY' POSITION
Standing easy is an informal way of standing at ease.
If you are standing easy, you are allowed to move your head to turn this way and that, even though your hands and feet are to remain in the 'at ease' position.
There is no direct command to have soldiers transition from stand easy to standing at ease.
It is merely the 'WHO' word in the usual command, e.g. SQUAD, ATTEN-TION.
When you hear the word 'SQUAD' (or SECTION, PLATOON, COMPANY, BRIDGADE, etc...), you are to brace up. Snap your head to face forward, bring your shoulders back in the formal 'Standing at ease' position, ready to be called to Attention.
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:
STAND AAAT EASE 1 2 - 3... 1
STAND AT EASE ON THE DRILL BEAT
From the 'Attention' position...
On the beat after "EASE" 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.
Your arms should remain by your side in the attention position.
Pause for the '2' - '3' beats.
For the final '1' beat...
Drop your left foot into the at-ease position with your heels apart directly beneath each shoulder. Your toes should be pointed at the same angle as you had in the attention position. 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 to your backside. Your right palm and fingers should rest flat, grasped by your left hand which rests as low down your backside as possible. Your thumbs should intertwine.
Your back should be straight, shoulders back, head facing forward.
Comments