Present arms (command)

Sailors of US Navy present arms during burial on sea on aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman.

Soldiers of Japan Ground Self-Defense Force present arms with bayonets fixed

Present arms is a two-part drill command used by many militaries in the world as a sign of respect. It comes from the old British command "Arms to the present!" This was used especially between 1700 and about the late nineteenth century in Great Britain and later the United Kingdom.

By country

Australia

Within the Australian Defence Force, the command "Present Arms" is executed using the following procedures.

1. If unarmed, a salute is rendered (although this is usually given by the command "To the front salute")
2. If armed with a F88 Austeyr; the command is "PRESENT - ARMS". For instructional purposes the movement is divided into two parts.
   1. 'PRESENT ARMS BY NUMBERS - ONE'. Move the right forearm smartly upward, bringing the rifle to a vertical position, the front handgrip in line with the right shoulder.
   2. 'BY NUMBERS - TWO'. Raise the right foot through the position of mark time and place it on the ground with the instep against the left heel, the foot at the same angle as for the position of attention. At the same time bring the left arm smartly across the body, forearm parallel to the ground, elbow against the body, hand against the base of the pistol grip with the fingers extended and together, and the thumb on top of the forefinger.^[1]

1. If armed with a 7.62mm SLR the command is "Present - Arms". This movement is divided up into 2 parts. The timing is "1, 2-3, 1".
   1. On the first "1", the rifle is flung from the shoulder to a position directly centered and perpendicular to the parade ground. At the same time, the left hand is brought up sharply and is to grasp the rifle just above the magazine.
   2. On the second "1", the right hand moves sharply from a grasp around the pistol grip to a "goose neck" grip directly above the rear sight or directly below the rear sight on the small of the butt. At the same time, the right foot moves to the "break step" position (i.e. the right foot is behind the left foot on a 45° angle - the left heel inside the right instep), this is executed through the proper "Mark Time" position.^[2]

1. If armed with a sword, the command is "Present - Arms". This movement is divided into 2 parts. As with the SLR, the timing is "1, 2-3, 1".
   1. On the first "1", the sword is brought to the "recover" position (i.e. in a vertical position, handle in front of the face, 10 cm from the mouth, guard to left).
   2. On the second "1", the sword is lowered in a sweeping motion towards the front, the tip of the sword is 30 cm from the ground, guard to the left and inline with the seam of the trousers.^[3]

France

The current standard weapon of the French Military is the FAMAS, a short, bullpup assault rifle worn slung in diagonal over the chest; consequently, at the command "Présentez... armes !", French military personnel will put the right hand flat over the handle of the weapon, and take hold of the received handguard with the left. The rifle itself does not move.

Officers and non-commissioned officers holding a sword or sabre present it vertically, with the guard in front of the face. Absent a weapon, the standard military salute is rendered, hand above the right eye, palm facing forward.

• 
  A sailor of the Ballistic Submarine Squadron presenting arms with his FAMAS-G2
• 
  A Lieutenant of Brest Naval Base presenting arms with his sabre

United States

Within the United States Military, it is executed in the following procedures:

1. If unarmed, or armed with only side arm, a salute is rendered.
2. If armed with a firearm, present the underside of the firearm towards the one receiving the honour.
3. If bearing a guidon, lower the guidon to a horizontal position with the lower portion of the staff resting in the pit of the right arm.
4. If armed with a sword or sabre, on the first count raise the sword vertically or at a 30-degree angle from vertical, depending on the branch of the military, with the sword grip 6 inches in front of the neck, and then on the second count lower the sword to the right side, pointing at the ground at a 45-degree angle, with the right hand or knuckle bow next to the pant seam. The true edge is always to the left during the whole procedure of "present sword."

As with all proper commands, it is to be given from the position of attention only.

Following "Present arms", the command "Order arms" (also a two-part command) is given to return to the proper position of attention.

Singapore

In the Singapore Armed Forces, The command, Hormat Senja-ta is given. A full arms salute is given to Officers of rank Major and above. A butt salute, with presentation of weapon and left arm at trigger is given to junior officers. In sword drill, the sword is raised, an act of kissing, then lowered in an 8-beat. The sword is pulled back fully.

United Kingdom

In the UK, the present arms is given with the SA80 service weapon, or a sword if appropriate.

Rifle

With the SA80, according to the RAF Drill and Ceremonial manual (AP818),^[4] the movement starts with arms at the slope. Firstly, the right arm is moved across the body to strike and grip the butt, keeping the arm parallel to the ground. Next, the right arm is to move the rifle across to the centre of the body, keeping it vertical, with the magazine pointed outwards, whilst the left hand is to be moved 6 inches in front of the rifle. The rifle is then moved down until the right arm is as extended as it can be, with the rifle kept vertically in front of the body, with the left hand striking and gripping the rifle shortly above the trigger guard. The right foot is then moved (in the Army and RAF the leg is bent to 90 degrees, in the navy this is not the case), and placed so that the hollow of the right foot is touching the heel of the left, at an angle of 30 degrees.

Sword

With the sword (usually carried by officers and, in some cases, warrant officers), the present arms is identical to that of the salute at the halt. The sword is first moved up to a position called the recover (the blade is vertical, turned to the left, with the tip uppermost, and the hilt in front of the face before the mouth), before being lowered smoothly to the front, in line with the right shoulder, with the hilt resting behind the thigh, blade edge to the left, and the tip approximately 30 cm from the ground. When the command for rifles to be shouldered is given (shoulder - ARMS), this process is reversed.

References

1. RAAF Manual of Drill DI(AF) AAP 5135.001 Ch 5 Parragraph 510 - 511
2. RAAF Manual of Drill DI(AF) AAP 5135.001 Ch 5 (SLR Drill) Paragraph 515 -516
3. RAAF Manual of Drill DI(AF) AAP 5135.001 Ch 6 Parragraph 620 - 621
4. "RAF Drill and Ceremonial" (PDF).

External links