8. The company being at ordered arms, the ranks and file closers well aligned, when the instructor shall wish to cause the ranks to be opened, he will direct the left guide to place himself on the left of the front-rank, which being executed, he will command:
1. Attention. 2. Company. 3. Shoulder—ARMS. 4. To the rear open order.
9. At the fourth command, the covering sergeant and the left guide will step off smartly to the rear, four paces from the front-rank, in order to mark the alignment of the rear-rank. They will judge this distance by the eye, without counting the steps.
10. The instructor will place himself at the same, time on the right flank, in order to observe if these two non-commissioned officers are on a line parallel to the front-rank, and, if necessary, to correct their positions, which being executed, he will command:
5. MARCH.
11. At this command, the front-rank will stand fast.
12. The rear-rank will step to the rear, without counting the steps, and will place themselves on the alignment marked for this rank, conforming to what is prescribed in the S. S., No. 330.
13. The covering sergeant will align the rear-rank on the left guide placed to mark the left of this rank.
14. The file closers will march to the rear at the same time with the rear-rank, and will place themselves two paces from this rank when it is aligned.
15. The instructor seeing the rear-rank aligned, will command:
6. FRONT.
16. At this command, the sergeant on the left of the rear-rank will return to his place as a file closer.
17. The rear-rank being aligned, the instructor will direct the captain and the covering sergeant to observe the men in their respective ranks, and to correct, if necessary, the positions of persons and pieces.