165. The company executes the _halt_, _rests_, _facings_, _steps_ and _marchings_, _manual of arms_, _loadings_ and _firings_, _takes intervals_ and _distances_ and _assembles_, _increases_ and _diminishes intervals_, resumes _attention_, _obliques_, resumes the direct march, preserves alignments, _kneels_, _lies down_, _rises_, _stacks_ and _takes arms_, as explained in the Schools of the Soldier and the Squad, substituting in the commands _company_ for _squad_. The same rule applies to platoons, detachments, details, etc., substituting their designation for _squad_ in the commands. In the same manner these execute the movements prescribed for the company, whenever possible, substituting their designation for _company_ in the commands. 166. A company so depleted as to make division into platoons impracticable is led by the captain as a single platoon, but retains the designation of company. The lieutenants and first sergeant assist in fire control; the other sergeants place themselves in the firing line as skirmishers. CLOSE ORDER. _Rules._ 167. The guides of the right and left, or leading and rear, platoons, are the right and left, or leading and rear, guides, respectively, of the company when it is in line or in column of squads. Other guides are in the line of file closers. In platoon movements the post of the platoon guide is at the head of the platoon, if the platoon is in column, and on the guiding flank if in line. When a platoon has two guides their original assignment to flanks of the platoon does not change. 168. The guides of a column of squads place themselves on the flank opposite the file closers. To change the guides and file closers to the other flank, the captain commands: 1. _File closers on left (right) flank_; 2. _MARCH_. The file closers dart through the column; the captain and guides change. In column of squads, each rank preserves the alignment toward the side of the guide. 169. Men in the line of file closers do not execute the loadings or firings. Guides and enlisted men in the line of file closers execute the manual of arms during the drill unless specially excused, when they remain at the order. During ceremonies they execute all movements. 170. In _taking intervals and distances_, unless otherwise directed, the right and left guides, at the first command, place themselves in the line of file closers, and, with them, take a distance of 4 paces from the rear rank. In taking intervals, at the command _march_, the file closers face to the flank and each steps off with the file nearest him. In _assembling_ the guides and file closers resume their positions in line. 171. In movements executed simultaneously by platoons (as _platoons right_ or _platoons, column right_), platoon leaders repeat the preparatory command (_platoon right_, etc.), applicable to their respective platoons. The command of execution is given by the captain only. _To Form the Company._