FM 21-100 Soldier's Handbook
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21-100 MH! WAR DEPARTMENT BASIC FIELD MANUAL SOLDIER©S HANDBOOK 21-100 BASIC FIELD MANUAL SOLDIER©S HANDBOOK Prepared under direction of the Chief of Staff UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE WASHINGTON : 1941 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Washington, D. C. - Price 35 cents WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, December 11, 1940. FM 21-100, Soldier©s Handbook, is published for the infor mation and guidance of all concerned. Its purpose is to give the newly enrolled member of the United States Army a con venient and compact source of basic military information and thus to aid him to perform his duties more efficiently. [A. G. 062.11 (10-21-40).] BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR: G. C. MARSHALL, Chief of Staff. OFFICIAL : E. S. ADAMS, Major General, The Adjutant General. n FOREWORD You are now a member of the Army of the United States. That Army is made up of free citizens chosen from among a free people. The American people of their own will, and through the men they have elected to represent them in Con gress, have determined that the free institutions of this coun try will continue to exist. They have declared that, if necessary, we will defend our right to live in our own American way and continue to enjoy the benefits and privileges which are granted to the citizens of no other nation. It is upon you, and the many thousands of your comrades now in the mili tary service, that our country has placed its confident faith that this defense will succeed should it ever be challenged. In the transition from civil life to the life of a soldier you may, at first, feel somewhat confused. It is the purpose of this handbook to help you over these rough spots as rapidly as possible and to lay the foundations for your successful career as a soldier. Making good as a soldier is no different from making good in civil life. The rule is the same and that Is know your own job and be ready to step into ihe job cf the man ahead of you. Promotion is going to be very rapij in this Army. Be ready for it. You will have little time to learn the duties of a noncommissioned officer after you become one. You will be expected to ?uiow those duties and show that you know them. At a moment©s notice you may have to take charge of your squad as a corporal and in a critical hour. In the same way when you are a sergeant you cannot tell under what conditions and at what hour you may have to take the place of your lieutenant. You want to know what is expected of you and be ready to do it. The things that a trained soldier must know, and the way in which they are done, will be taught you as rapidly as you can absorb them. The basic military information is de scribed and explained in this handbook so that it may be available constantly to you during the first weeks of your service. By mastering the contents your future progress will be much more rapid. m In making yourself an efficient soldier you are helping to build a defense for our country that nothing can destroy. You are repaying your obligation to the United States for all the benefits of the past and are declaring your faith in our future. If you will make a part of yourself the following characteristics of the good soldier, you will be doing your part in upholding the glorious reputation of the Army of the United States: Be obedient.—Obedience means to obey promptly and cheer fully all orders of your commissioned and noncommissioned officers. At first you cannot be expected to know the reason for everything you are ordered to do. As you remain longer in the service and you understand more of the reasons for mil itary training you will find that everything has been figured out as the result of experience in the past. Ways and methods which have been successful in the past are continued until some new way proves to be better, and then the change will be made. Cheerful obedience leads to a better performance of your duties. It makes it easier for all of your comrades to do their part. It means better teamwork. Be loyal. Loyalty means that you must stand by your or ganization through thick and thin. Boost your organization at every opportunity. Be loyal and true to your officers, your noncommissioned officers, and your comrades. In this way you will be loyal to your country. Be determined.—Determination means the bulldog stick-to- it-iveness to win at all costs. During your training keep ever lastingly at the most difficult tasks and never give up until you have mastered them. Determination to win means success in battle. Be alert.—Alertness means being always on your guard. A good soldier may be pardoned for failure, but never for being surprised. Should the unexpected happen, use your head and do something, even if it is wrong, rather than "lie down." Be a member of the team.—Teamwork means that each man in the squad, platoon, company, troop, or battery gives every thing in his power to make for the success of the whole unit. Success in battle depends on teamwork just as much as suc cess in a football game depends on the pull-together spirit of the football team. Unless you play your own special part the team may not win. IV RECORD OP THE SOLDIER Name __-_————_———————— _______________________ Army serial No. _——————___——__.__———________ Grade __——___————— Organization _.———_________ Height ____________. Weight _____________________ Born _____________ _—______________. (Place) (Date) In case of emergency notify ______________________ (Name) (Address) (Town) (State) Beneficiary (6 months' pay) _———___________________ (Name) (Relation) (Street and number (Town and state) or rural route) Government insurance _—________ _______ (Amount) (Poaicy number) Other insurance ___—_____————— ____________ (Amount) (Policy number) Bank account _____————————— ———_—————_—___ (Name of bank) (City and state) Rifle number —————————————————————___________ Pistol number ______________________________________ Company number ____________________________ Watch ____________ _________________________ Regimental commander's name ___________________________ Battalion commander's name ____.____________________ Company commander's name _____—__________________ Platoon commander's name ——————————————————_ Squad leader's name —_—————___——_____________ TABLE OP CONTENTS Paragraphs Page FOREWORD—————__————————————————— ——— Hi CHAPTER 1. GENERAL INFORMATION. Section I. Responsibilities of group life___ 1-3 1 II. Relationship with noncommissioned officers and officers______._ 4-11 2 m. Relations vrtth civilians._——___ 12-14 4 IV. Military obligations_—___—_ 15-16 B V. The Articles of War_________ 17-19 6 VI. Post and, station activities_——— 20-25 6 CHAPTER 2. MILITARY DISCIPLINE AND COURTESY. Section I. Military discipline ___________ 26-29 0 n. Military courtesy _———————— 30-33 10 CHAPTER 3. INSIGNIA. Section I. Arms and services___________ 34-40 16 II. Officers! and noncommissioned offi cers____________________ 41-44 20 CHAPTER 4. ORGANIZATION _——_—————————— 45-53 22 CHAPTER 5. CLOTHING. Section I. Allowances———.———_1——__ 54-55 26 II. Care of clothing————————————— 56-58 26 HI. Wearing the uniform————.... 59 28 CHAPTER 6. ARMS AND EQUIPMENT. Section I. Responsibility for care________ 60-62 30 H. Nomenclature and care and clean ing of U. S. rifle, caliber .30, Ml_ 63 81 IH. Nomenclature, care and cleaning, and safety devices of automatic pistol, caliber .45, M1911-—__ 64 41 IV. Safety precautions—————————— 65 44 V. The gas mask__————————__ 66-72 45 VI. Field equipment————————————— 73-80 50 VII. The infantry pack___._______ 81-82 59 VIZI. Packing individual equipment on horse——__—————————————_—— 83-84 73 EC. Display of equipment———————— 85 79 CHAPTER 7. SCHOOL OP THB SOLDIER WITHOUT ARMS (DISMOUNTED) . Section I. Positions _—————————————_._ 86-90 81 II. Steps and marchings——————._ 91-102 84 CHAPTER 8. SCHOOL OP THE SOLDIER WITH ARMS (DISMOUNTED) . Section I. General _________._____ 103 90 II. Manual of arms for the rifle—_ 104-127 92 in. Loadings and firings——..-——._ 128-133 105 IV. Carrying the automatic rifle__._ 134 111 V. Manual of the pistol__.__——__ 135-151 113 CHAPTER 9. SQUAD AND PLATOON DRILL. Section I. The squad————————__..__ 152-168 118 II. The platoon——__________ 169-184 129 CHAPTER 10. INTERIOR GUARD DUTY————————— 185-193 137 TO Paragraphs Page CHAPTER 11. MARCHES, CAMPS, AND BIVOUACS. Section I. Marches————————————————— 194-198 140 II. Camps and bivouacs________ 199-202 147 CHAPTER 12. USE OP COMPASSES AND MAPS. Section I. Use of the Compass———————— 203-207 154 II. Use of maps______________ 208-216 156 CHAPTER 13. SECURITY AND PROTECTION. Section I. General ——————————————_ 217-220 167 n. Security of individuals______ 221-228 168 HI. Security of small units_______ 229-236 183 CHAPTER 14. MILITARY SANITATION AND FIRST AID. Section I. Military sanitation———_—_ 237-252 206 H. First aid_________________ 253-275 210 CHAPTER 15. THE RATION,..___—...————— 276-282 232 CHAPTER 16. PAY AND ALLOWANCES—__._———— 283-294 236 CHAPTER 17. LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT__—__ 295 239 APPENDIX. GLOSSARY OP COMMON MILITARY EXPRES SIONS _—— ———— — —— — ——————————————————— 240 INDEX__———————————————————————————————— 243 vox BASIC FIELD MANUAL SOLDIERS© HANDBOOK CHAPTER! GENERAL INFORMATION Paragraphs SECTION I. Responsibilities of group life———————————— 1^3 II. -Relationship witli noncommissioned officers and officers -———_—-—-—-———————__—---_ 4-11 HI. Relations with civilians———————————____—_ 12-14 IV. Military obligations_______— ——_____ 15-16 V. The Articles of War.—————————————————— 17-19 VI. Post and station activities.———————_—...._ 20-25 SECTION I RESPONSIBILITIES OF GROUP LIFE • 1.