B1 . Color Guard

The Color and Colors

•The word "Color" means the American Flag

•The Color is always saluted when passing unless it is on a stationary flagpole; salutes are held from six paces from until six paces beyond the color

•The term “colors” refers to the combination of the American Flag with another flag (such as the California or an organizational flag)

The Color Guard

• The First Sergeant or Sergeant Major is responsible for the care and safeguarding of the Colors and the performance of the Color Guard
• Members of the Color Guard are ALWAYS non-commissioned officers or cadets, never officers
• The Color Guard consists of one or two sergeants who carry the color(s) and two corporals or cadets who are guards

Forming the Color Guard

• Color Guards are formed AT CLOSE INTERVAL with the color bearers in the center
• Members march at Right Shoulder Arms
• The Color Guard turns by doing wheeling movements, never facing movements.
• The US flag is always to the right or in front of all other flags. Sometimes this requires the Color Guard to have to determine an innovative way to post the colors that doesn’t put the US flag behind or to the right of the other flag

Manual of Arms

• See TC 3-21.5 for full details on the manual of arms
• Practice until you can sharply execute each movement!
• Ensure you have the proper angles:
 Right thumb on seam of trousers at Order Arms
 Right forearm parallel to the ground, elbow back at Right Shoulder Arms
 Left forearm parallel to the ground and rifle parallel to body at Present Arms

Wheeling Movements

• To execute a wheel, the guard nearest the direction of the turn serves as the pivot point and marches in place while simultaneously turning in the new direction.
• Other members keep abreast of each other and shorten steps as necessary to maintain alignment.
• Members march in place when finished with the turn until commanded to HALT or Forward March.

Eyes Right

• Just as in a regular formation, the members (except the right flank member) turn their heads to the right
• The US flag remains upright – it is never dipped in salute
• The California or organizational color executes a salute by dipping the flag
• The Command READY FRONT is given to restore the Color Guard to their normal positions

Posting the Colors

• Indoor assemblies that begin with the presentation of the Colors are called “Posting the Colors”
• Color Guards may form in either line or column, depending on the circumstances and available space
• If appropriate, the Color Guard Commander may report to the school principal or other person in the chain of command, “The Colors are Present” to which the dignitary will respond “POST THE COLORS”

Retiring the Colors

• If there is a dignitary present in the Chain of Command, the Color Guard Commander MAY ask “Sir (Ma’am), Request permission to retire the colors” to which the response is “RETIRE THE COLORS”
• As always, during posting or retiring the colors, members of the audience stand at attention

Position of the Colors at Order

• The members are at attention with the colors and weapons in the right hand with the bottom edge of the flag or weapon aligned with the tip of the right foot.
• Palms and fingers are flat

Position of the Colors at the Carry

• Guards (with weapons) are at right shoulder arms
• Flags are in slings
• Right hands are even with the mouth
• Left arms secure the ferrule (pole) in the socket of the holster or may be held under the right hand in windy conditions

Position of the Colors at Parade Rest

• Staffs remain vertical on the ground next to the right feet of the Color Bearers
• Left arms are behind the small of each member’s back (as in regular Parade Rest)
• Guards have weapons at their right feet and extended slightly outward so that arms are fully extended

Color Salute

• ONLY the California or Organizational Color salutes.
• The American Flag NEVER dips.
• Salutes by the organizational or state flag occur by FULLY EXTENDING the flag bearer’s right arm