8-2. The following bullets discuss basic information that applies to conducting company drill:

• Individual drill movements, manual of arms, and squad and platoon drills are executed as previously described in chapters 4 through 7 while conducting company drill.  

• For the most part, company drill provides the procedures for executing platoon drill in conjunction with other platoons in the same formation.  

• For drill purposes, a company consists of a company headquarters and two or more platoons. The company headquarters personnel are attached to the platoons to equalize platoon strength without interfering with the permanent squad organization; however, the commander may form the headquarters personnel into a separate platoon at either flank of the company. When headquarters personnel form as a separate element, the senior sergeant serves as the platoon sergeant, and the company executive officer serves as the platoon leader.  

• When in a line or a mass formation, the right platoon serves as the base; when in a column formation, the lead platoon serves as the base.  

• The company may be formed by the commander and the platoon leaders or the first sergeant and the platoon sergeants. If the commander is not scheduled to receive or inspect the company, the first sergeant and platoon sergeants remain at their posts and execute company drill from their posts. For continuity purposes, the term “first sergeant” may be used to denote “commander,” just as “platoon sergeant” may be used to denote “platoon leader” when the first sergeant and platoon sergeants are conducting company drill from their posts.  

• When the first sergeant directs that the company open or close ranks, align, stack or take arms, extend march, close on the leading platoon, or prepare for inspection, the movements are executed on the command of the platoon sergeants and not on the directives of the first sergeant. The platoon sergeants command the movement in sequence beginning with the base platoon.  

• During all drills and ceremonies, the first sergeant and executive officer carry their weapons at Sling Arms. They remain at Sling Arms during all manual of arms movements except when they execute the Hand Salute while at Sling Arms.  

• The members of a company break ranks in the same manner as in platoon drill except that the individuals called from the formation form on the first sergeant rather than on the platoon sergeant.  

• The company marches, rests, and executes Eyes Right in the same manner as the platoon.  

• The company has four prescribed formations: company in line with platoons in line; company in column with platoons in column; company in column with platoons in line (used primarily for ceremonies); and company mass formation. However, the company may be formed into a column of twos in the same manner as the platoon.

8-3. Key personnel assume their posts as follows:

• Company commander. The company commander’s post is normally 12 steps in front of the front rank of troops and centered on the company as seen in figure 8-1. The only exceptions to this rule are when the company forms as part of a larger unit in a column formation (with the company and platoons in column) or when the company is formed in a mass formation. In these situations, the company commander’s post is 6 steps in front of and centered on the front rank of troops and 12 steps behind the last rank of troops of the element to their front as seen in figure 8-2 on page 8-5.  

• Guidon bearer. The guidon bearer’s post is two 15-inch steps to the rear and two 15-inch steps to the left of the company commander (see figure 8-1). (The manual of the guidon is discussed in further detail in appendix F.)

Note: The company commander should inconspicuously direct the guidon bearer to remain in position and move with the commander when the company is to be faced to the right and marched for only a short distance.

• Executive officer. When the company is in a line formation, the executive officer’s post is two steps to the rear of the first sergeant; in a column or a mass formation, they are three steps to the rear of the last rank and off center (one 15-inch step to the right) of the company.

• Platoon leaders. When the company is in a line formation with the platoons in line, the post for the platoon leader is six steps in front of and centered on the platoon. When the company is in column formation with the platoons in column or the company is in column with the platoons in line, the post for the platoon leader is one step in front of and centered on the platoon. When the company is in mass formation, the post for the platoon leaders is one step in front of and evenly spaced across the company front. If the commander is not present, the platoon leaders are not part of the formation.  

• First sergeant. When the company is in a line formation, the first sergeant’s post is three steps to the rear of the last rank and centered on the company; in a column or a mass formation, they are three steps to the rear of the last rank and off center (one 15-inch step to the left) of the company (see figure 8-2):

  • When the company is in mass formation, without the commander present, the post for the first sergeant is five steps in front of and centered on the formation. When the company is in a line formation with the platoons in a line without the commander present, the post for the first sergeant is nine steps in front of and centered on the company. When the company is in a column formation with the platoons in a column without the commander present, the post for the first sergeant is nine steps to the left flank of and centered on the company.  

  • When marching the company in mass formation with the commander at their post, the first sergeant remains at their post to provide cadence and control.

• Platoon sergeant. When the company is in any of the four formations and the officers are present, the platoon sergeant’s post is one step to the rear and centered on their platoon:  

  • When the company is in mass formation, the post for the platoon sergeants is one step to the rear of the company and evenly spaced across the frontage. When the company is in mass formation, Without the Officers Present, the post for the platoon sergeants is one step in front of and evenly spaced across the front.  

  • When the company is in a line formation with the platoons in a line Without the Officers Present, the post for the platoon sergeant is three steps in front of and centered on their platoon. When the company is in column formation with the platoons in column Without the Officers Present, the post for the platoon sergeant is three steps to the left flank of and centered on their platoon.  

  • When marching the company Without the Officers Present, and the company is in column formation with the platoons in column, the platoon sergeants remain at their posts and provide for cadence and control of their platoons.

• Additional officers. Other officers assigned or attached, who have no prescribed position within the formation, form evenly to the right and left of the executive officer in a line formation; they fall out and form in one or two ranks at correct distance to the rear of the first sergeant and executive officer when the company forms in column (see figure 8-4 on page 8-7).

8-4. The executive officer inconspicuously gives the necessary commands (March, Column Half Left, Halt, and Facings) for themselves and the first sergeant when changing from one post to another. Once in motion, they incline as necessary and march to their new posts. When the company changes from a line formation to a column formation, the first sergeant and executive officer face with the company but do not march forward. They remain in position until the last platoon has passed. If the company marches forward (column formation) for a short distance only, or if it closes on the base platoon (line formation) at close interval, the first sergeant and executive officer march forward or face to the right in marching and resume their posts. When the company changes from a column (platoons in column) to a line formation, it faces to the right in marching and assumes the posts in line. When the company forms a company in column with platoons in line, as the unit is faced, it faces to the right in marching and assumes the posts to the rear of the last platoon. When the company is formed in mass, it faces to the right in marching and assumes the posts at the center of the company immediately after halting with the last platoon (see figure 8-3). The off-center position explained for the first sergeant and executive officer should place them at normal interval from each other while covering a file to their front. If either one is not present during a formation, the one present changes posts without command and assumes the post at the center of the company rather than off center (see figure 8-4).