ARMATURA
BASIC COMMANDS:
Ad Signa (Fall In): Take position to left of Signifier or right markers (in position) in two ranks. Dress right.
Intente (Attention): Head up, eyes front, chin in. Move right foot next to left at 30-40º angle. Lock knees. Back straight, chest out. Bring & hold pilum vertical.
Dirige Frontem (Dress ranks). Right markers stand fast (don’t move). All others turn head right 90º, raise right arm, move into straight line position with arm fully extended & knuckles touching next man's shoulder. Alternatively: If given while marching it means to straighten the lines.
Redi (Ready, Front): Only give after Dirige Frontem Smartly drop right arm to side, return to Intente.
Silete (Silence).
Ut Fuistis (As You Were).
Insiste (Stand Still)
Mandata Captate (Observe Orders).
Expectate (Wait For It).
Repitate (Do It Again). Every centurion’s favorite command.
Laxate (Stand at Ease (Rest)): Relaxed position. Feet ~ 30cm (1 ft) apart, left foot 15cm (6 in) forward of right. Left knee slightly bent. Scutum on ground facing front, in front of left foot with left hand on top middle. Right hand without pilum lightly held on pommel OR pilum butt on ground ~5cm (2 in) from right toes, right arm out, holding shaft at ~ waist height, shaft at ~60° angle.
Otiose (Stand Easy): Very relaxed position. Any body part except feet may be moved. Intente and Laxate are the only commands that may be given to men at Otiose.
Salutate (Salute): Extend right arm forwards & up at 45º angle. Line gladius with arm. [extend right arm forwards & up at 45º angle, holding pilum vertically.] If no weapons are carried, palm is vertical & fingers are straight. Turn head towards person being saluted. Hold salute for one quick time pace (normal pace, 60 steps/second).
WEAPON HANDLING:
Porro Arma! (To Arms): Usually given as a preperatory command to falling in, IE get on your gear. Also used as an alarm call. “We are under attack, grab your arms!!”
Pila Portate (Pick up Pila): Move right foot back, bend knees & move right hand down pilum shaft to grasp it ~ 45cm (1.5 ft) from butt, return to Intente with pilum resting in elbow crook, at slight angle, with butt about 30cm (1 ft) above ground. Alternatively: If given while the soldier is at Pila Vollite (preparing to throw) the command Pila Portate will return the pila to the carry position without a throw.
Pila Vollite (Prepare To Throw Pila): Reverse grip on pilum, raise to throwing position.
Pila Iace (Throw Pila): Usually throw pilum from double time. In battle, this command as implicit Gladios Stringite. Throw with normal javelin motion, follow through with right hand onto gladius hilt. Draw gladius forward & swing it round until in straight line with arm. Simultaneously bring scutum to front of body. Tuck right hand into side of right hip with gladius horizontal & pointing forward. Keep gladius behind scutum until making contact with enemy.
Pila Infige (Plant Pila (upright in ground)).
Pila Demittite (Lower pila): Lower pilum to ground & hold at Intente.
Pila In Terram (Ground Pila): Move right foot back, then bend knees. Lay pilum on
ground, pause & return to Intente.
Scuta Portate (Pick Up Scuta): Move right foot back, bend knees & pick up scutum with left hand, return to Intente.
Scuta Tollite (Raise Shields (Battle Position)) Place scutum directly in front of body, lower head, prepare to draw swords.
Scuta Demittite (Lower Scuta).
Pila Scuta Portate (Pick up Pila & Scuta): Move right foot back, bend knees to pick up scutum with left hand & slide right hand down shaft of pilum grasping it ~ 45cm (1.5 ft) from butt, return to Intente with pilum resting in crook of elbow at slight angle with butt ~ 30cm (1 ft) above ground.
Gladios Stringate (Draw Gladius): Grasp pommel with right hand (back of hand facing body) on penultimate syllable. On last syllable "TE", draw gladius forward & swing it round until in straight line with arm, pause briefly. Simultaneously bring scutum to front of body. Tuck right hand into side of right hip with gladius horizontal & pointing forward. If stationary & at attention bring left leg forward to brace scutum.
Gladios Recondite (Sheath Gladius): On penultimate syllable, position gladius so only point is inserted into scabbard & move hand to pommel. (This may take time, so there is a longer pause to ensure all men are ready). On last syllable "TE", thrust gladius into scabbard & lightly rest right hand on pommel.
FORMATIONS:
Ad Agmine (Form Marching Column). Determined by unit size, usually a minimum of two lines.
Ad Aciem (Form Battle-Line). Determined by unit size, usually a minimum of two ranks. Taller soldiers to the rear. Fall in on Signifir or standard, or in emergency facing the enemy.
Testudinem Facite (Form Testudo). Form the tortoise. Front rank comes to Scuta Tollite, Side ranks move scuta to appropriate side, rear ranks place scuta overhead. Centurio and Signifir move to rear of formation. March is at a half step and must be in time. Left foot always forward, bring right foot to back of left at 90 degree angle in a shuffle step. This keeps the strongest stance at all time. March is to RO-MA cadence. Left foot on RO, right foot up on MA.
Cuneum Facite (Form Wedge). Middle Man or men step forward designated number of paces based on size of the formation. Men to their immediate left and right fall in one step behind each other down the line. Centurio and Signifir to rear of formation.
FORMATION MARCHING and FACINGS
Ad Gladium, Clina (Right flank/Right facing movement): Pivot 90º on right heel & left toes, place left foot next to right. If marching, an immediate turn BY THE ENTIRE FORMATION to the right (a “Flank” command)
Ad Scutum, Clina (Left Flank/left facing movement): Pivot 90º on left heel & right toes, place right foot next to left. If marching, an immediate turn BY THE ENTIRE FORMATION to the left (a “Flank” command)
Transforma (About Face): Place right foot toes behind left heel, pivot 180º on left heel & right toes, end with left foot next to right at 30-40º angle. If marching, and immediate turn to the left to change the direction of the entire formation.
Move (Forward March): Command of Execution for forward marsh, also used as the sole command (preparatory and execution) in small formations.
Procedite (March): Keep pace with cadence of “Sin” (left) “Dex” (right). Preperatory Command based on unit size, ie Milites, Contubernium, Centuri, Vexillatio, etc.
Procedite Ite Intente, Move (Forward March at Attention): Formal command for “march at attention”. Left foot first. March at quick time. Swing scutum from front to left side on first step. Eyes straight ahead. Right arm, if not holding pilum, swings to pace & as high as waist, elbows straight, fingers curled & thumbs to front. Move is command of execution.
Procedite Ite Laxate, Move (Forward March at Ease): Formal command for “March at ease” Left foot first. March at quick time. Swing scutum from front to left side on first step. Keep pace with cadence of “Sin” “Dex”. Right arm, if not holding pilum, swings to pace & as high as waist. No talking. Body more relaxed than at Intente, head may be turned to side. Move is command of execution.
Procedite Ite Otiose, Move (Forward March Route Step): Formal command for “Forward march at a route step” As
Laxate, but quiet conversation is allowed. Move is command of execution.
Signo Sequute (Follow Standard/Leader). Used to guide around turns or unusual bends in the road/obstacles.
Ad Gladium Vertite (Right Column Turn): Give order on right foot. Take check pace with left foot. Turn right foot to right & bring to ground immediately next to left foot. (Slam right foot down to break forward motion & avoid falling forward.) Body is turned to right as left foot is lifted. First man in line turn immediately, others follow as they reach that spot. Vertite is the command of execution.
Ad Scuta Vertite (Left Column Turn): As Ad Gladium, Vertite but right foot is turned to left & is brought to ground in front of left foot. First man in line turn immediately, others follow as they reach that spot. Vertite is the command of execution.
Transforma Vertite (About Turn): The entire formation turns at the march. Give order on right foot, give check pace with left foot. Turn right foot to right & slam down, heel to heel at 90º. Lift left foot, turn & place beside right foot, comfortably turn body with movement. Lift right foot, turn & place heel to heel at 90º, body following & now facing 180º from original line of march. Continue by stepping off with left foot. Vertite is the command of execution.
Ad Scuta Flectite (Left Incline): Moves entire formation to the left at a 45 degree angle. Leftmost milites is the guide. Flectite is the command of execution.
Ad GladiumFlectite (Right Incline) Moves entire formation to the Right at a 45 degree angle. Right most milites is the guide. Flectite is the command of execution.
Ad Gladium Depone (Right Wheel): Front rank marches around 90º arc centered on right marker, looking right to maintain dressing. Left man increases pace, while pivot man marks time.
Ad Scuta Depone (Left Wheel): As Ad Gladium Depone, but to left.
Gradum Servate (Watch The Step) IE, Get back in step.
Accelera (Speed Up the Pace).
Tarda (Slow Down the Pace).
Parati! (Get Ready (To charge, etc.)).
Porro! (Charge!)
Pulsum Pedibus, Date (Mark Time, March): Give order on right foot. Take check pace with left foot, bring right foot to ground beside left. Without breaking pace, continue marching on spot. Avoid tendency to increase pace. Rarely used.
Consiste/State (Halt): Give order on right foot. Take check pace with left foot, bring right foot to ground beside left. Ususally has a preparatory command based on unit size, IE Miites, Contubernium, Centuri, Vexallatio etc.
Dimitto (Dismissed from formation). Stack shield pila and helm.