_The Director_: “Some advocate that the rifles should be loaded and the safety locks turned to ‘Safe’ just after the inspection in the morning. I do not believe that to be the best procedure. It increases the chances for an accident. I would have the men load their rifles, in this case, just before starting to form the advance party. Let us assume that the platoon has been inspected at reveille and that all the men are in fit physical condition and ready for the work in hand. What is the first move you would make, Lieutenant Ralston?” _Lieutenant Ralston_: “Well, sir, I would want to get the platoon a short distance away from the rest of the company. So the first thing I do is to march the platoon about 75 to 100 yards up the road.” _The Director_: “What is the idea?” _Lieutenant Ralston_: “There is always more or less confusion around the company on an occasion of this kind, and I want to get my platoon off by themselves so they can give me their undivided attention while I am issuing my orders and getting them all set for the work in hand.” _The Director_: “That seems to be a very good reason. Let us assume that you have moved the platoon 100 yards away from the rest of the company. You are formed up in line. What are you going to do now?” _Lieutenant Ralston_: “I would have the men load their rifles.” _The Director_: “All right; you have done that. Captain Harvey, what is the next step?” _Captain Harvey_: “I would take a few minutes to dope out the situation and determine what I am going to do.” _The Director_: “That is time well spent. Now let us go through the process you have just mentioned. What is the first thing you are to determine?” _Captain Harvey_: “What is the mission of the platoon? It is to form the advance party.” _The Director_: “What is the next step, Captain Hodges?” _Captain Hodges_: “To consider the enemy—where he is, what he is doing, and what he is likely to do. In this case the only information we have is that small forces of the enemy are reported in the direction of (_c_). We have no information of his strength or composition or what he is doing. We must be prepared to meet him at any time and govern our action accordingly.” _The Director_: “What is the next step, Captain Mason?” _Captain Mason_: “To consider our own supporting forces. We know that our brigade is to march towards (_b_) by the (_j_)—(_k_)—(_l_) road. That our battalion continues its mission as a right (left) flank guard. That our company, less this platoon, is the support, which follows us at a distance of about 400 yards.” _The Director_: “What is the next step, Captain Jones?”