Ireland
In the Irish Defence Forces, Foot and Arms Drill is usually given in the Irish language. All soldiers are trained in foot and arms drill in Irish, and usually don't give a second thought as to the translations of the various commands. Although Irish is taught throughout primary and secondary education in the Republic, very few recruits or cadets in any of the three services are fully bilingual, less still use Irish as a first language.
Irish is the primary language when a body of soldiers is on the square, but in cases where live ammunition is used or where gun drill for live ammunition practice or deployment is being carried out, English commands are used to ensure that the order is fully understood. Examples of this substitution would be - Mounting the guard or artillery gun drill. Because foot and arm drill commands are passed down by word of mouth through training, the Irish commands have become distorted from their original pronunciations. In the same way that has occurred in the British Army (the subject of many parodies with screaming Sergeant Majors), words of command lose their defined pronunciation; examples being Aire (Arra) which often becomes Ahha and Cle (Kley) which is sometimes distorted to Hey or Huy.
A list of Irish Commands follows.
Meitheal ----- Party
Gasra ----- Section
Buíonn ----- Platoon
Complacht ----- Company
Cathlain ----- Battalion
Paráid ----- Parade
Rang ----- Rank
Aire ----- Attention
Seasáig ar Áis ----- Stand at Ease
Ar Socracht ----- Stand Easy
Le Heathraimh Ó Dheis-Deasaíg ----- With Intervals-Right Dress
Ó Dheis-Deasaíg ----- Right-Dress
Dearcaig Fó Dheis (Clé) ----- Eyes Right (Left)
Dearcaig Romhaibh ----- Eyes Front
Ag Iompó ----- Turning (precedes the following commands)
Deas Iompaíg ----- Right Turn
Clé Iompaíg ----- Left Turn
Iompaíg Thart ----- About Turn
Leathdeas Iompaíg ----- Half Right Turn
Leathchlé Iompaíg ----- Half Left Turn
Do Réir Dheis (Clé) ----- By the Right (left)
Go Mear Máirseáil ----- Quick March
Go Mall Máirseáil ----- Slow March
Clúdaíg ----- Cover (replace head dress)
Díclúdaíg ----- Uncover (remove head dress)
Stad ----- Stop
Greadaíg Fuibh ----- Mark Time
Ar Aghaidh ----- Forward
Dhá Choiscéim Ar Aghaidh Máirseáil ----- Two paces forward March
Dhá Choiscéim Ar Ais Máirseáil ----- Two paces Backward March
Oscail Na Ranga Máirseáil ----- Open Ranks March
Dún Na Ranga Máirseáil ----- Close Ranks March
Ar Sodar Máirseáil ----- Double March
Luigh Isteach ----- Fall In
Luigh Amach ----- Fall Out
Scaipig ----- Dismissed (Mounting or dismounting the guard)
Chun Mall Chéim Athraigh Go Mall Máirseáil --- Break into Slow Time, Slow March
Chun Mear Chéim Athraigh Go Mear Máirseáil --- Break into Quick Time, Quick March
Ar Dheis(Chlé) i Line Teigh --- On the Right Form a Line
Athraíg Treo Fó Dheis (Chlé) Deas Chasaigh --- Change Direction Right (Left) Right (Left) Wheel
Cúirtéis ----- Salute
Ó Dheis, Comhraigh ----- From the Right, Number
Socair ----- Steady
Mar a Bhí ----- As you Were
Arms Drill
Gaeilge ----- English
Tairgig Airm ----- Present Arms
Iompraígh Airm ----- Carry Arms
Chun Cigireachta Taispeánaig Airm ----- For Inspection Port Arms
Bogaig Tuailimí ----- Ease Springs
Tógaig Airm ----- Pick Up Arms
Garda ----- Guard
Lucht Dualgas ----- Security Duty
Lódáil ----- Load
Lámhach ----- Fire
Réidh ----- Ready
Dílódáil ----- Unload
Aisiompaíg Airm ----- Reverse Arms
Ar Airm Aisiompaithe Lúig ----- Rest on Arms Reversed
Using this, the order for a platoon of soldiers to go from the halt to a quick march would be
"Rachaidh an Buionn cun cionn, de reir dheis, go mar marseaill" etc.
Public displays of foot and arms drill by the Defence Forces are not common but are not unusual. A guard of honour is usually detailed by the Defence Forces to act on state occasions, and occasions of local importance, especially those where the President is present, or where the Defence Forces have specific interest. Examples of those events televised would be the 1916 Rising commemorations and the National Day of Remembrance. Units of the Defence Forces also march in the annual St Patricks Day Parade in the towns or cities where they are stationed, a tradition which they have continued on overseas postings.
Foot and arms drill commands are taught using a formulaic method known as the Screed. Drill instructors are usually of the rank of corporal, and ability to teach drill movements by the screed is one of the skills which must be attained prior to promotion to this rank. The Screed usually begins "Taking you a stage further in your foot/arms drill I will now teach you the ....... Irish word of command ......." and includes instructor demonstrations and time set aside for soldiers in the recruit sections to practice the movement in pairs on the square. Although this system is meant to teach movements correctly and quickly, and set a standard of foot and arms drill throughout the forces, it is not favoured by many drill instructors who see it as too rigid, promoting an atmosphere of mindless obeyance which fails to produce good soldiers who can think for themselves.
For practical and historical reasons, the foot and arms drill of the Irish Army remains similar to that of the British Army.
Read more about this topic: Drill Commands, Common Drill Commands
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