From parade rest, rest, or at ease, what is the only command that may be given?

From parade rest, rest, or at ease, what is the only command that may be given?

• A. Attention
• B. Present arms
• C. Forward
• D. About face

Answer: (A)

From parade rest, rest, or at ease, the formation can only be brought into a formal standing posture with a single command: Attention. This command initiates the standard, alert stance, aligning everyone and readying them for the next instruction. It requires a transition from the resting positions into a strict, vertical posture, which is the purpose of this command in drill. Other commands involve movements that would break the relaxed positions—such as presenting arms (raising the weapon to the ceremonial position), turning about face (a turn), or moving into forward march—so they cannot be issued from those resting states.

From parade rest, rest, or at ease, the formation can only be brought into a formal standing posture with a single command: Attention. This command initiates the standard, alert stance, aligning everyone and readying them for the next instruction. It requires a transition from the resting positions into a strict, vertical posture, which is the purpose of this command in drill.

Other commands involve movements that would break the relaxed positions—such as presenting arms (raising the weapon to the ceremonial position), turning about face (a turn), or moving into forward march—so they cannot be issued from those resting states.