The Soldier on the stack person’s left raises and centers their rifle in front of their body so that their right hand is shoulder high and the rifle is about 4 inches from their chest, with the sling to the front. They then grasp the rifle with their left hand at the small of the stock and lowers both arms, holding the weapon in a horizontal position (see figure C-5, item 1).
The Soldier on the stack person’s right raises and centers their rifle, wrist shoulder high, with the sling facing the front. They then grasp the rifle with their left hand directly below their right hand, and, in the most convenient manner, grasp the rifle with the right hand at the small of the stock. They then lower both arms, holding the rifle stock. They then lower both arms, holding the rifle in a horizontal position (see figure C-5, item 1).
As soon as both Soldiers have completed these movements, each moves the foot nearest the stack person 18 inches (Half Left or Right) toward the stack person. In a continuing motion, the Soldier on the stack person’s left inserts the muzzle of their rifle into the loop held by the stack person until the bayonet stud protrudes past the far end of the loop (see figure C-5, item 2). They hold their rifle in that position until the Soldier on the stack person’s right inserts the muzzle of their rifle through the loop in the same manner and above the muzzle of the rifle of the left Soldier.
When both rifles have been inserted into the loop, the Soldier on each side of the stack person swing the butts of their rifles out and down to the marching surface until the stack is tight with the (two) rifle butts on line and about 2 feet from the baseline.
After necessary adjustments have been made, the three Soldiers come to Attention (see figure C-5, item 3).
Extra rifles are passed to the nearest stack on the right. As each rifle is passed, it is grasped at the upper part of the handguard with the right hand. Then, with the rifle held vertical, it is passed with fully extended arm to the right front. The Soldier on the right grasps the rifle at the balance with their left hand, brings the rifle to the center of their body, and regrasps it at the upper part of the handguard with their right hand. This action continues until the stack person receives the rifle and places it on the stack with their right hand as nearly vertical as possible. They place the rifles on the stack with the slings away from the stack (if the second squad is the stack squad, extra rifles are passed to the left).
To Take Arms, the leader commands Take, ARMS.
On the command ARMS, the stack person passes each extra rifle toward its bearer. The rifles are handled in the manner described for passing them to the stack (left hand at the balance, right hand at the upper part of the handguard). As Soldiers receive their rifles, they come to Order Arms.
After all extra rifles have been returned, the stack person grasps the base rifles, holding the loop open as in Stack Arms.
The Soldiers to the right and left of the stack person take one step to their left and right fronts, respectively. They reach down, grasp their rifles, and bring the rifles to a horizontal position. The Soldier to the right of the stack person frees their rifle from the stack first. Each Soldier returns to Order Arms after Unsling Arms and retrieves their rifle. They do this by guiding and steadying the rifle with their left hand (as in the next to the last count of Order Arms).
The stack person adjusts the sling of their rifle before returning to Order Arms.