Section 2
Sequence of Events and Individual Actions
16-2. The sequence of events and individual actions necessary to conduct a salute battery are described herein. The COT should verify that the salute battery and band are prepared to render honors.
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Formation of Troops
Formation of Troops
16-3. On hearing the band sound Attention, the battery commander Faces About, commands Battery, ATTENTION, and again faces about:
On completion of the adjutant’s call, the battery commander Faces About and commands Right, FACE.
They then command Section, POST. The section chiefs in reverse sequence (for example, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1) command Forward, MARCH or Column Half Right, MARCH. The sections march forward along the final line and halt when centered on the piece.
The battery commander faces to the left and commands (themselves and their staff) Column Half Right, MARCH. They march forward (inclining as necessary) so that when halted the battery commander is six steps from and centered on the firing battery. The section chief and the counter should be centered and three steps to the rear of the commander. The executive officer is on line with the guidon bearer.
When the battery commander has halted their staff, they face to the right and command Left, FACE. Then they command Dress right, DRESS; Ready, FRONT; and Parade, REST (for large reviews, the command AT EASE may be substituted for Parade, REST). The commander then faces about and executes Parade Rest.
Presentation of Honors
Presentation of Honors
16-4. When the COT has directed Order Arms (adjutant has taken their post), the battery commander faces about and commands Order, ARMS. They then direct FIRE THE SALUTE and faces about:
The battery commander quietly commands (themselves and their guidon bearer) Present, ARMS and Order, ARMS, as appropriate.
The executive officer, counter, and chief of the firing battery face about. The executive officer commands Cannoneers, POST. The cannoneers immediately move to their firing positions.
The executive officer commands With blank ammunition (pause), LOAD. They then command STAND BY, NUMBER ONE. As each piece is ready to fire, the section chief raises their arm (nearest the executive officer) and looks at the executive officer.
(nearest the executive officer) and looks at the executive officer. When all section chiefs have indicated they are ready (arm raised), the executive officer raises their right arm and looks at the COT. The COT takes the raised arm as the signal that the battery is ready to fire. They then face about and command (themselves and their staff) Present, ARMS.
As the commander’s hand touches their headgear, the executive officer signals the first piece to fire. The executive officer drops their arm to a horizontal position and then raises it back to a vertical position for each round. Rounds are fired at 3-second intervals for normal honors and 5-second intervals for funerals (see AR 600-25).
During the Salute, as the second to last round is fired, the counter faces about and announces ELEVEN. As the next to last round is fired, the chief of the firing battery Faces About and announces TWELVE. This is the signal for the executive officer to fire one more round.
During the firing, each section immediately reloads after each round is fired and is prepared to fire in case of a misfire. When the last round has been fired, the executive officer signals CEASE FIRE and then signals UNLOAD.
When all pieces are unloaded and the cannoneers are at Attention, the executive officer commands to the rear of the piece, FALL IN (cannoneers automatically fall in at Dress Right); they then command Ready, FRONT and Parade, REST. When all sections are back in position on the final line, the executive officer faces about.
Inspection
Inspection
16-5. As the reviewing party approaches piece number six, the battery commander faces about and commands Battery, ATTENTION. They then face to the front and (over their right shoulder) command Eyes, RIGHT:
The battery commander and executive officer execute Eyes Right and Salute. The guidon bearer executes Eyes Right and Present Guidon. All others execute Eyes Right and follow the reviewing officer, turning the head until facing to the front.
When the reviewing party has passed the last piece, the battery commander commands Order, ARMS for themselves, the executive officer, and the guidon bearer. They then face about. When the reviewing party has cleared the right rear of their unit, they then command Parade, REST, faces about, and assumes Parade Rest.
Honors to the Nation and Remarks
Honors to the Nation and Remarks
16-6. The battery executes appropriate movements on command or directives by the COT. The COT always verifies the battery is prepared for each movement.
March in Review
March in Review
16-7. On the command or directive to PASS IN REVIEW, the battery commander faces about and commands Parade, REST. They then face about and assume Parade Rest.
Conclusion
Conclusion
16-8. When the band begins the eight-bar drum beat (before “The Army Goes Rolling Along”), the battery commander faces about and commands Battery, ATTENTION. They then face about. When the band has finished playing the music, the battery commander faces about and commands REST.
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