“There are no other patrols out from this support. I will notify the other supports that you are going out.
“You will take this reconnoitering patrol of four men and proceed towards (_h_), and find out what you can about the enemy. Information as to his strength and composition, and what he is doing is particularly desired.
“Return when you have accomplished your mission.
_The Director_: “Lieutenant Wallace, we will assume that you are Sergeant B. You have made the inspection of your patrol and corrected all deficiencies. You are ready to give your orders and arrange for the patrol to move out. Just what would you say and what would you do?”
_Lieutenant Wallace_: “I would spread my map out on the ground where the men could see it. In the presence of the support commander I would give my orders:
“‘Information has been received that there is a Red force in the vicinity of (_h_). Here is the place on the map (indicating). We are here (indicating). This is the road that we will guide on (indicating). There are no other patrols out from our support.
“‘We are going out as a reconnoitering patrol. We will find out what we can about the enemy. Our special mission is to find out his strength, his composition and what he is doing.
“‘Anderson, you will be advance man; march on the left-hand side of the road.
“‘Bailey, you follow Anderson at a distance of 25 yards, on the right-hand side of the road.
“‘Davis, you are get-away man. Follow me at a distance of 75 yards.
“‘I will indicate the route and assembly places as we go along. Drill regulation signals will be used.
“‘Messages will be brought to the support commander here.’
“I will then inquire: What time has the Lieutenant? I will set my watch to agree and direct:
“‘All men who have watches set them at —— (time).’
“‘1. Squad, 2. ATTENTION, and follow with 1. With ball cartridges, 2. LOAD.’
_The Director_: “That is very good. I think you have covered all the points that should be included in the patrol commander’s order. I wish each member of the class would compare this order with the kind that is usually mumbled out to members of a patrol by the average patrol leader at maneuvers. It is a fact that most patrols go out, either with orders that they do not understand or with no orders at all. Do not allow this to be done under any circumstances. You can well afford to hold up the departure of the patrol until the patrol commander can dope out his orders and give them properly. And you must insist on this being done. If you do not do so it will never be done properly.