McCollum-Platoon Drill

Name the four basic movements in marching the platoon.

• Forward marching, columns, flanks, and rear marches

• Changing direction, marching to the flank, forming a file and re-forming, and forming a column of twos and re-forming

• Forming flanks, forming files, and forming a column of twos and re-forming

• Changing direction in quick time, mark time, double time, and halt

You were marching your platoon to the parade field to participate in a ceremony. When you got there, a display was set up at the entrance and it was only wide enough for two of your four squads to march through.

What command should you give to most efficiently get your platoon through the display and onto the parade field?

• Platoon, HALT. File from the right, MARCH.

• Mark-time, MARCH. Counter-column, MARCH.

• Platoon, HALT. Column of twos from the right, MARCH.

• Mark-time, MARCH. Column of twos from the right, MARCH.

T or F: Platoons and squads execute the following drills in the same way: inclining around, marching to the flanks, and changing intervals in lines.

• True

• False

For in-ranks inspections, platoons increase the space between squads by giving the command to "Open ranks."

Select the option that best indicates how a platoon executes "Open ranks, MARCH."

• First squad takes 1 step forward; Second squad stays in place; Third squad takes 2 steps backwards; Fourth squad takes 4 steps backwards

• First squad takes 2 steps forward; Second squad takes 1 step forward; Third squad stays in place; Fourth squad takes 2 steps backwards.

• First squad takes 3 steps forward; Second squad takes 2 steps forward; Third squad takes 1 step forward; Fourth squad stays in place.

• First squad takes 4 steps forward; Second squad takes 3 steps forward; Third squad takes 2 steps forward; Fourth squad takes 1 step forward.

While in formation, the platoon leader calls "Cadet Private Wilson, Front and Center."

What should Cadet Wilson, who is in the center of the second rank, do?

• The Cadet should come to attention, reply "here, sir/ma'am," take one 15-inch step backward, halt, face to the right (left) in marching, and exit the formation by marching to the nearest flank.

• The Cadet should come to attention, turn his head and eyes toward the platoon leader, and wait for further instructions.

• The Cadet should come to attention, reply "here, sir/ma'am," take two steps back and move around the closest flank to a position in front, and centered on, the company commander or first sergeant.

• The Cadet should come to attention, reply "here, sir/ma'am," and move through first squad to a position in front of the platoon leader.

What is the definition of the word "cover"?

• The arrangement of people or elements of a unit in a prescribed manner

• A formation in which people or elements are side by side or abreast of each other

• The right or left side of any formation as seen by a person (or element) within that formation

• The distance between Cadets in a column

What is the definition of the word "formation"?

• The arrangement of people or elements of a unit in a prescribed manner

• A formation in which people or elements are side by side or abreast of each other

• The right or left side of any formation as seen by a person (or element) within that formation

• The distance between Cadets in a column

What is the definition of the word "interval"?

• To turn in place

• A space between actions - approximately one "arm's length" between Cadets in formation

• The right or left side of any formation as seen by a person (or element) within that formation

• The distance between Cadets in a column

You are marching in the lead platoon in a company column with platoons in column formation. The commander orders "close on leading platoon." What should you expect to hear next?

• "Forward, march"

• "Half step, march"

• "Mark time, march"

• "Stand fast"

Choose the word that best completes the sentence below.

The platoon leaders command the movement in sequence beginning with the __________ platoon.

• arc

• base

• guide

• post