MANUAL FOR NONCOMMISSIONED OFnCERS. 258 



5. Provost guards are used in the absence of military police, 

 generally in conjunction with the civil authorities at or near 

 large poWts or encampments, to preserve order among soldiers 

 beyond the interior guard. 



Section 2. Classification of interior guards. 



6. The various elements of an interior guard classified ac- 

 cording to their particular purposes and the manner in which 

 they perform their duties are as follows : 



(a) The main guard. 



(b) Special guards: Stable guards, park guards, prisoner 

 guards, herd guards, train guards, boat guards, watchmen, 

 etc. 



Section 3. Details and rosters. 



7. At every military post, and in every regiment or separate 

 command in the field, an interior guard will be detailed and 

 duly mounted. 



It will consist of such number of officers and enlisted men 

 as the commanding officer may deem necessary, and will be 

 commanded by the senior officer or noncommissioned officer 

 therewith, under the supervision of the officer of the day or 

 other officer detailed by the commanding officer. 



8. The system of sentinels on fixed posts Is of value in dis- 

 cipline and training because of the direct individual responsi- 

 bility which is imposed and required to be discharged in a 

 definite and precise manner. While the desirability of this 

 type of duty is recognized, it should only be put in practice 

 to an extent sufficient to insure thorough instruction in this 

 method of performing guard duty, and should not be the rou- 

 tine method of its performance. The usual guard duty will be 

 performed by watchmen, patrols, or such method as in the 

 opinion of the commanding officer may best secure results 

 under the particular local conditions. 



9. At posts where there are less than three companies the 

 main guard and special guards may all be furnished by one 

 company or by details from each company. It is directed that 

 whenever possible such guards shall be furnished by a single 

 company, for the reason that if guard details are taken from 

 each organization at a post of two companies, troops, or bat- 



