Army Drill

This is taken from the British “Alarm,” at which call the troops turned out underarms. Attention is a parade bugle call letting Soldiers know that they are going to be called to thePosition of Attention.

The adjutant’s call indicates that the adjutant is about to form the guard,battalion, or regiment.

First call is the bugle call that signals to the troops as a warning that personnel willprepare to assemble for a formation. This bugle call lets Soldiers know to move to the designatedformation area.

Reveille is the bugle call played to signal the troops to awaken for morning roll calland coincides with the raising of the national Color.

The mess call is the bugle call that signals mealtime.

Retreat is the ceremony that pays honors to the national flag when it is lowered in the evening.

The old Cavalry call, “To the Standard,” in use from about 1835, was replacedby the present call of “To the Color.” This bugle call is played immediately after the playing ofretreat.

Tattoo is a popular bugle call that is played later in the evening prior to “Taps” and signals to Soldiers that all loud talking and other disturbances must be discontinued within15 minutes.

"Taps” is played on some military installations late in the evening as it signals “lightsout” (extinguish all unauthorized lights). “Taps” was adapted by Union General Daniel Butterfieldfor his brigade back in July of 1862. “Taps” is also played at military funerals and is known to beone of the military’s most recognizable and emotional bugle call.