Posted on Dec 3, 2015
LTC Christopher Carpentier
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Years ago when Sergeant Major Joe Gainey was the III Corps CSM at Fort Hood, he told us at a ceremony that "Attention to Orders" does not mean stand if you are not standing and come to the position of attention. It means to pay attention to the orders. In my following commands, I always made sure I called a formation to attention before having someone "publish the orders." Unfortunately, most people in the Army still pop to attention when "Attention to Orders" is called, and those familiar with the proper meaning are left to also come to attention so they don't risk looking like they don't care or are disrespectful. Since CSM Gainey would go on to become the first Senior Enlisted Advisor to the CSA, I imagine he knew what he was talking about. What are your units doing in their ranks when "Attention to Orders" is called?
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Responses: 23
SFC Combat Engineer
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Every unit I've ever been in stands at attention. Although it does not mention it in FM 3-21.5. It just states that the Adjutant says "Attention to Orders"
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SGT Team Leader
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Well for my unit it depends on who's calling it for our Battalion formations the Ltc will call us to attention and then give us the command of attention to orders but as far as company it is just called out as attention to orders and for those who know what actually goin on we either follow suit as the rest of the formation or we look like we are trying to hoodwink our CO
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Capt Chris McVeigh
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If done in full ceremony, "Attention to Orders" would come after the unit is already at attention (after the CO has received the report). So technically yes, it does mean just pay attention, but it is given under the assumption that everyone involved is already standing at the POA. In everyday usage/smaller groups, it often gets rolled into one command, with "Attention to Orders" also serving to call everyone to attention.
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