MANUAL FOR NONCOMMISSIONED OmCEHS. 65 



their interest, hasten their instruction, and facilitate judg- 

 ment upon their fitness for the duties of noncommissioned 

 officers. 



39. A carefully thought out projrram of instruction, prepared 

 in advance and basofl ui)on the probable time and fadiiities for 

 instruction that the case in question may present, is essential 

 to economy of time and efl"ort and to systematic, thorough 

 instruction. 



40. The preliminary individual instruction, dismounted and 

 mounted, should be carried on during different drill hours of 

 the same days. This preliminary phase should include, in 

 addition to regular drill, instruction in : The elements of dis- 

 cipline; the nan^.es of the various parts of the arms ai^d 

 equipment; the proper care of arms, equipment, and clothing; 

 elementary instructions as to the names of tliose parts of the 

 horse that are frequently referred to at drill and stable duty ; 

 grooming; a few simple rules regarding the care of the horse; 

 personal hygiene; and ether related subjects. 



41. As soon as the instruction shall have advanced so far as 

 to include the few necessary i)reliminary drills, collective in- 

 struction in the school of the squad will be taken up. This 

 instruction may, like tlie individual instruction, properly be 

 carried on during different hours of the same drill days, in 

 both mounted and dismounted phases. The recruits meanwhile 

 continue their progress in the individual instruction. 



42. The progress in mounted collective instruction must be 

 carefully regulated in accordance with the recruit's confidence 

 and skill in the management of his mount, and must progress 

 no faster than the recruit's horsemanship justifies; but this 

 restriction need not affect the dismounted collective instruc- 

 tion, and the latter may properly be carried foi-ward as rap- 

 idly as the state of the dismounted individual instruction will 

 permit. By the time the recruit's instruction in equitation has 

 progressed so as to prepare him for mounted drills at the 

 faster gaits, he should have learned the mechanism of all the 

 movements by executing them at a walk. Dis course of dis- 

 mounted training should meanwhile have included not only the 

 dose-order movements of the squad but the mechanism of ex- 

 tended order, practice in the use of the saber, a little prepara- 

 tory range practice with the rifle and pistol, and work in the 



