The noncommissioned officers next in rank are assigned as guides, one to each platoon.  If sergeants still remain, they are assigned to platoons as additional guides.  When the platoon is deployed, its guide or guides accompany the platoon leader.

During battle, these assignments are not changed; vacancies are filled by noncommissioned officers of the platoon or by the nearest available officers or noncommissioned officers arriving with reenforcing troops.

[Illustration]

164.  The first sergeant is never assigned as a guide.  When not commanding a platoon he is posted as a file closer opposite the third file from the outer flank of the first platoon; and when the company is deployed he accompanies the captain.

The quartermaster sergeant, when present, is assigned according to his rank as a sergeant.

Enlisted men below the grade of sergeant, armed with the rifle, are in ranks unless serving as guides; when not so armed, they are posted in the line of file closers.

Musicians, when required to play, are at the head of the column.  When the company is deployed, they accompany the captain.

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 filing 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 closerson_left_(right)_flank_; 2.  MARCH.  The file closers dart through the column; the captain and guides change.