It can be a bit annoying to face and then move to Right/Left Shoulder but there is good reason for it.
What the TC 3-21.5 Says
Chapter 5, paragraph 5-2, bullets 5 and 6. (Emphasis mine.) This is for the Army, Air Force, and Space Force. It also encompasses AROTC, AFROTC, AJROTC, AFJROTC, SFJROTC, CAP, and related programs.
Facings, alignments, and short-distance marching movements are executed from Order Arms or Sling Arms. When the movement has been completed, automatically return the carbine to Order Arms.
Facing movements are executed from Order Arms or Sling Arms. When a Facing is necessary to establish the direction of march, the Facing movement is executed before the command for the manual of arms. After a marching movement has been completed, Order, ARMS or Sling, ARMS is commanded before the command for the facing movement.
What MCO 5060.20 Says
Here is a quote from Chapter 3, Section 1, paragraph 1. While the bold emphasis is mine, I included the rest of the text for a wider explanation. This is for the Marine Corps, Navy, and Coast Guard. It also encompasses NROTC, MCJROTC, NJROTC, CGJROTC, and related programs.
c. On the command “FALL IN,” if armed with a rifle it will be positioned at order arms.
d. Facings, alignments, and short distance marching movements are executed from order arms. Side step, back step, open and close ranks, and close and extend are short distance movements. Forward march may be given from order arms to march units forward for a short distance. When these movements are commanded while at order arms, it is necessary to come automatically to trail arms and step off simultaneously on the command of execution for the movement. The rifle is returned to order arms upon halting.
e. Before a command for any marching movement (other than the executions stated in paragraph 1.c. of this section) is given to armed troops, they are faced in the direction of march and their weapons brought to right (left) shoulder, port, or sling arms by the appropriate command. After a marching movement has been completed and it is desired to execute a facing movement, the command to order or unsling arms is given, followed by the command for the facing movement.
f. When at a position other than sling arms, the troops must come to port arms for double time. When the troops are in formation, the commander gives the appropriate commands.
But Why?
No manual comes out and says, “Here is the reason,” but the reasoning is straightforward when you look at mechanics and risk.
Facing movements at Right/Left Shoulder would introduce unnecessary hazard and degrade formation integrity.
At Order Arms, the rifle is controlled, vertical, and close to the body. That keeps the individual’s footprint tight and predictable. When a formation is built, each member is responsible for maintaining dress, cover, interval, and approximately 40 inches of personal space—but that spacing is rarely perfect due to height differences and human inconsistency.
If you allow facings at the shoulder, you introduce lateral sweep and rotational mass into a confined space. That is where stocks clip elbows, muzzles cross into another cadet’s space, and alignment begins to break down.
So the solution is procedural, not optional:
- Establish direction first (facing movement at Order/Sling Arms)
- Then assume the carry position
- Then move
When marching, the situation changes. Formations naturally “breathe” and expand slightly, which is why flanks and (To the) Rear can safely be executed at the shoulder. There is more space and forward momentum reduces rotational conflict.
The Color Guard Application
This same principle is why the color guard executes facing movements when presenting or posting the colors. also, if we attempted to prescribe every step as a series of marching commands, the sequence would become unnecessarily long, repetitive, and difficult to manage—especially across different services and environments.
Imagine (entering in column from stage left): Carry Colors, Forward March, Colors Halt, Order Arms, Left Face, Present Arms, Order Arms, Right Face, Carry Colors, Forward March.
Instead, doctrine relies on controlled facing movements to:
- Establish direction
- Maintain interval between flagstaffs and rifles
- Prevent crossing, dipping, or entanglement of colors
- Preserve visual and ceremonial integrity
The flagstaff is not a rifle, but it introduces even greater spatial considerations—height, arc, and potential interference with other members. A poorly timed or poorly spaced movement risks contact between staffs, rifles, or even the colors themselves.
So, just like armed drill:
- Direction is established through facings
- Movement is then executed in a controlled manner
- Complexity is reduced without sacrificing precision
This is not a shortcut. It is an efficiency built on the same safety and alignment principles found in regulation drill.
Authorization For Facing Movements
In the Army’s TC 3-21.5 paragraph 15-25, starting at bullet point two:
- When a head table is not used, the Color guard enters and moves to a predesignated position centered on and facing the audience. This may require the Color guard to move in a column and use Facing movements. The movement must be planned so that the national Color is always on the right when in line and is leading when in column.
- When the Colors arrive at the predesignated position, the Color sergeant commands Colors, HALT; Left (Right), FACE; and Present, ARMS. Any scheduled music or the Pledge of Allegiance then occurs. The Color sergeant then commands Order, ARMS.
- The Color sergeant commands Right (Left), FACE and Forward, MARCH. On the command of execution MARCH, the Color guard marches to the flag stand where the actions of the Color guard are the same as previously described.
In Summary
Facing movements are executed from Order Arms—not “because we’ve always done it that way,” but because it is the safest and most structurally sound method available.
That same logic extends directly to the color guard.
Facings are not just convenient—they are the correct solution for maintaining control, spacing, and ceremonial precision without creating unnecessary complexity.