Australian Army Drill - Standing Easy

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THE POSITION

Because soldiers are not allowed to turn their heads in any direction without specific order, Standing 'Easy' is the often used during parades when the instructor wishes soldiers to be able to freely look around at whatever is taking place.

The position is frequently used to allowed soldiers to stand in a less rigid position to aid in blood circulation and providing a certain level of rest while still amidst the formalities of a parade ground.

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HOW TO 'STAND EASY'

The position is exactly the same at 'STANDING AT EASE', however, soldiers are allowed to look about, turn their heads, twist their bodies within reason, and even laugh at officers' jokes.

While this is an informal version of standing at ease, your feet and hands are still not allowed to move.

See 'MOVING WITHOUT BEING SEEN TO MOVE' for ways to keep your blood circulating while on parade. While standing easy, you can accentuate these tips a little more than normal, but is by no means permission to raise boots from the ground.

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THE COMMAND FROM THE 'AT EASE' POSITION

The command to 'Stand Easy' can only be given from the 'At Ease' position. When soldiers are standing at attention, the command is frequently given for soldiers to stand at-ease, and then straight after being commanded to 'Stand easy'.

Because there is no official movement to transfer from at-ease to stand easy, there is no need for a three part command as with attention:

SQUAD... ATTEN...TION.

It could simply sound like:

SQUAD... STAND AT...EASE. STAND EASY.

The command can also be given more informally:

SQUAD... STAND AT...EASE. REST.

If soldiers were already standing at ease, again, the command to stand easy can be either:

STAND EASY.

Or just:

REST.