falling in

[ElectricPenguin]

Ok, I am visiting Florida for the summer and decided to visit a local squadron an hour ago. When they fall in for drill, the element leaders said "(#) Element fall in!" after the FC said fall in. So my question is, is it even in the drill manual to do this? Is it different from state-to-state?

Just wondering, thanks.

[titanII]

Well, all I know is: I've never seen that done where I operate (MAWG).

[DC]

No need unless the elements are operating autonomously for some reason. The Flight CC or Flight Sgt commands the flight to fall in, and the entire flight falls in together without any other verbal command. It is the responsibility of the element leaders to ensure that the flight is the proper distance from the Flight CC or Sgt and that the flight is centered properly.

When the flight is operating as a whole the only commands I can think of where the element leaders say anything are Column of Files and Column of [2s, 3s, or 4s]. There may be others that I am not thinking of at the moment, but they are rare either way.

[coudano]

No it's actually completely improper.
On Fall In, airmen assume the position of attention, at which silence is maintained.

It reminds me of the old drill myth/legend, where the command fall in would be given, and then the first element leader (or the guide, if they were using one) would do the three paces, about face, sometimes raise their right hand at a 90 degree angle with the hand in a fist, and yell "ONE ONE".  Complete nonsense, and in fact I thought this one had been pretty much stamped out by now, but I guess it's still out there in some form...


I can think of an exception that is so unlikely that it is almost certainly not what was happening...  but it is (possible)
The flight could have been practicing drill in mass commands,
at which the flight commander would have said "FALL IN, COMMAND"
and then all members of the flight (not just the element leaders) would, in unison, with command voice, give the FALL IN command, and then execute it.

[zonaman]

Well, all I know is: I've never seen that done where I operate (MAWG).

I've never seen it done AYWERE. Its seems unnecessarily repetitive.

[ElectricPenguin]

No it's actually completely improper.
On Fall In, airmen assume the position of attention, at which silence is maintained.

Well, they don't go to attention, until the FS/FC says to.

[ElectricPenguin]

I made a mistake, on my first post i said FC. I meant FS. I don't think there even was a FC.

[coudano]

Well, they don't go to attention, until the FS/FC says to.

Well, they should automatically fall in at the position of attention...
See below (emphasis added by me)

4.3. Formation of the Flight:
4.3.1. A flight forms in at least two, but not more than four, elements in line formation (figure 4.1). The
command is FALL IN.
4.3.1.1. On this command, the guide takes a position facing the flight sergeant and to the flight sergeants
left so the first element will fall in centered on and three paces from the flight sergeant. Once halted at the position of attention[/u], the guide performs an automatic dress right dress. When the guide feels the presence of the first element leader on his or her fingertips, the guide executes an automatic ready front.  Once positioned, the guide does not move.
4.3.1.2. The first element leader falls in directly to the left of the guide and, once halted, executes an
automatic dress right dress. The second, third, and fourth element leaders fall in behind the first element
leader, execute an automatic dress right dress, visually establish a 40-inch distance, and align themselves
directly behind the individual in front of them. The remaining airmen fall into any open position to the
left of the element leaders and execute an automatic dress right dress to establish dress and cover.
4.3.1.3. To establish interval, the leading individual in each file obtains exact shoulder-to-fingertip
contact with the individual to his or her immediate right (figure 4.2). As soon as dress, cover, interval,
and distance are established, each airman executes an automatic ready front on an individual basis and
remains at the position of attention.[/u]

This paragraph goes on to talk about squaring and sizing the flight, and so on,
but the relevant part is what i've included above.

[coudano]

I made a mistake, on my first post i said FC. I meant FS. I don't think there even was a FC.

That was a nit pick that I chose not to identify at the time, but you're right,
the flight sergeant should be the one forming up the flight

[wacapgh]

 FALL IN is a combined command per AFMAN 36-2203, 2.1.1.3, so "Squadron, FALL IN" and "Flight, FALL IN" are not correct.

Also note that it is "given at a uniformly high pitch and a louder volume than that of a normal command of execution."

As cudano posted above, per 4.3.1, the guide is responsible for taking a position that will place the first element centered on and three paces fron the flight sergrant. The other element leaders fall in behind the first element leader.