The tool carts will usually accompany the ammunition cart with the reserve, and will be under the serjeant-major, the tools, if necessary, being carried forward when required by men from the reserve. The brigade reserve of tools will remain with the brigade ammunition reserve, and will be under the orders of the officer in charge of the latter. PART V. ANNUAL COURSE OF TRAINING. =177.= _Description of Course._ 1. The annual training of the soldier[9] will be conducted on systematic and progressive principles. Militia and volunteer battalions will, as far as circumstances permit, observe the spirit of these instructions. 2. At home it will commence on the 1st March, and terminate on the 31st October. At tropical or semi-tropical stations the course may be modified to suit climatic and other conditions; but these instructions will be observed as closely as possible. 3. The course will commence with company training, continue with battalion training, which will be followed by brigade and division training, and terminate with combined manœuvres of all arms. 4. Exercises in the field will as a rule be carried out in service conditions as regards equipment. 5. Musketry classification practices will be carried out as may be ordered by the general officer commanding; field practices will be carried out periodically throughout the course. =178.= _Detail of the Course._ 1. _Company Training._--The first period of the annual training will be exclusively devoted to company training. During this period each company will be struck off all duties for 36 consecutive working days. After a brief revision of elementary work the instruction of trained soldiers will for the most part consist of exercises in the field to practise subordinate leaders in the art of command and the handling of men in all service conditions. Company training will invariably conclude with a practical inspection by the commanding officer. 2. _Battalion Training._--As soon as the company training is completed, battalion training will commence, for which purpose each battalion, or portion of a battalion, will be struck off all duties, and be at the disposal of its commander for at least 18, and if possible 24, consecutive working days. The training will mainly consist of exercises in the field, including firing, marching, &c. (i) In the earlier portion of this period battalions may, if their commanders consider it expedient, be sub-divided, and exercised under arrangements similar to those laid down for the company. (ii) At stations where single battalions are quartered, or where detachments are formed, the spirit of the above instructions will be observed. (iii) The General Officer Commanding will hold his inspection towards the conclusion of the training.