Present arms

Present arms

Present arms is a two part command used by many militaries in the world as a sign of respect. Within the United States Military, it is executed in the following procedures:

# If armed with a firearm, present the underside of the firearm towards the one receiving the honor.
# If bearing a guidon, lower the guidon to a horizontal position with the lower portion of the staff resting in the pit of the right arm.
# If armed with a sword or sabre, on the first count raise the sword vertically or at a 30-degree angle from vertical, depending on the branch of the military, with the sword grip 6 inches in front of the neck, and then on the second count lower the sword to the right side, pointing at the ground at a 45-degree angle, with the right hand or knuckle bow next to the pant seam. The true edge is always to the left during the whole procedure of "present sword."

As with all proper commands, it is to be given from the position of attention only.

Following "Present arms", the command "Order arms" (also a two part command) is given to return the firearm to the proper position of attention.


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  • present arms — ► present arms hold a rifle vertically in front of the body as a salute. Main Entry: ↑present …   English terms dictionary

  • present arms — noun Etymology: from the imperative phrase present arms : a position in the manual of arms in which the rifle is held perpendicularly in front of the center of the body present arms is analogous to a salute often used as a command * * * Mil. 1. a …   Useful english dictionary

  • Present Arms — Infobox Album | Name = Present Arms Type = Album Artist = UB40 Released = 29 May 1981 Recorded = Genre = Reggae Length = 47:09 Label = DEP International Producer = Ray Falconer, Bob Lamb, UB40 Reviews = Last album = Signing Off (1980) This album …   Wikipedia

  • present arms — noun Etymology: from the command present arms! Date: circa 1884 1. a position in the manual of arms in which the rifle is held vertically in front of the body 2. a command to assume the position of present arms or to give a hand salute …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • present arms —    to have an erect penis    Punning on the military drill in which the rifle is held vertically in front of the body:     ... by the time she was done I would be ecstatically ruined, and certain sure I d never be able to present arms again.… …   How not to say what you mean: A dictionary of euphemisms

  • present arms — if soldiers are ordered to present arms, they hold their weapons upright in front of them in order to show respect for someone important who is going past them …   English dictionary

  • Present Arms (disambiguation) — Present Arms may refer to: * Present Arms (1981 release), the second album by British rock band UB40 ** Present Arms in Dub (1981 release), third UB40 album, a remix version of Present Arms * Present Arms (musical) (1928 opening), a Broadway… …   Wikipedia

  • Present Arms in Dub — Infobox Album | Name = Present Arms In Dub Type = Remix Artist = UB40 Released = 10 October 1981 Recorded = Genre = Reggae Length = 33:32 Label = DEP International Producer = UB40, Ray Pablo Falconer Reviews = Last album = Present Arms (1981)… …   Wikipedia

  • Present Arms (musical) — Infobox Musical name= Present Arms subtitle= caption= Sheet music cover (cropped) music= Richard Rodgers lyrics= Lorenz Hart book= Herbert Fields basis= productions= 1928 Broadway awards= Present Arms is a Broadway musical comedy that opened… …   Wikipedia

  • present arms — Mil. 1. a position of salute in the manual of arms in which the rifle is held in both hands vertically in front of the body, with the muzzle upward and the trigger side forward. 2. (for troops in formation not under arms) the hand salute. [1750… …   Universalium

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