(2) Caution personnel to remain in the line of obstacles. Serious injury can result if personnel are permitted to zigzag through the course. (3) Do not permit personnel to attack the first obstacle until preceding personnel have reached the third obstacle. (4) When the last obstacle is completed, personnel should be directed to return by specific routes to the designated marshalling area, remaining at least 5 yards away from the closest obstacle. e. Demonstration and Application.—The first phase of the assault course training includes a demonstration of the technique of attacking each obstacle by the instructor. The instructor then runs the entire course employing the correct movements on each obstacle. The students then practice their movements on the individual obstacles. When the students have gained sufficient proficiency they move through the entire assault course. 704. THE PUGIL STICK a. General.—The execution of the movements of bayonet fighting in response to a verbal command from instructors are kept to a minimum. This type of training is necessary to teach the movements, but once they have been learned the student must automatically execute them in response to the movements of his opponent. There is no substitute for practical application when learning a skill. Actual bayonet fighting is not practical because of the hazards involved. However, bouts employing the pugil stick bear a close resemblance to actual bayonet fights, and can be employed without serious injury to either contestant. The student sees for himself the importance of assuming the attack immediately, as well as the importance of aggressiveness and ferocity. He sees which combinations of blows are successful, and learns to understand the result of his making a mistake in an actual bayonet fight. Here he learns the meaning of the term “kill or be killed.” [Illustration: Figure 37.—The Pugil Stick Material.] b. Construction.—See figure 37. (1) Materials for construction of the pugil stick include the following: (a) An octagonal stick 1¾ inches in diameter and 44 inches long. (b) Two canvas bags 10 inches long, one 6 inches in diameter and one 8 inches in diameter. (c) Chopped foam rubber and cotton padding. (d) A roll of foam rubber 15 inches wide. (e) Tape, wire, and tacks. (2) Method of Construction. (a) Cut grooves ½-inch deep in the stick as shown in the diagram (see fig. 37). Taper the stick at the hand grips to approximately 1¼ inches in diameter. (b) Fill the bags with chopped foam rubber and cotton. (c) Wire and tack the bags to the end of the stick. Tighten the wire into the grooves at the end of the stick. The stick should extend 6 inches into the bag, leaving 4 inches of overlap and making the total length of the pugil stick 52 inches, the length of the M-14 rifle with bayonet. (d) Cover the wire and tacks with tape.