General Orders for Sentries
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General Orders for Sentries is the official title of a set of rules governing guard duty in the United States military. While any guard posting has rules that may go without saying ("Stay awake", for instance), these orders are carefully detailed and particularly stressed in the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Coast Guard. Also known as the "11 General Orders" or simply "The General Orders", the list is meant to cover any possible scenario a sentry might encounter on duty.
Recruits learn these orders verbatim while at boot camp and retain the knowledge to use for the remainder of their military careers. It is not uncommon for a Drill Instructor or (after boot camp) an inspecting officer to ask a question such as, "What is your sixth general order?" and expect an immediate (and correct) reply.
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[edit] Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard
The General Orders for Sentries are quite similar between the Navy and Marine Corps, with the main differences being the titles of positions that are referenced in the orders.
The General Orders for Marines are as follows:
- Take charge of this post and all government property in view.
- Walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.
- Report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.
- Repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guardhouse than my own.
- Quit my post only when properly relieved.
- Receive, obey, and pass on to the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the Commanding Officer, Officer of the Day, Officers, and Non-Commissioned Officers of the guard only.
- Talk to no one except in the line of duty.
- Give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.
- Call the Corporal of the Guard in any case not covered by instructions.
- Salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased.
- Be especially watchful at night and during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post, and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.
General Orders for the Navy and Coast Guard are essentially the same, except for the wording of two orders:
- 6. To receive, obey and pass on to the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the Commanding Officer, Command Duty Officer, Officer of the Deck, and Officers and Petty Officers of the Watch only.
- 9. To call the Officer of the Deck in any case not covered by instructions.
Also note that although the Marine Corps no longer precedes each order with the word "To"[1], Navy and Coast Guard usage retains it.
[edit] Army
The United States Army uses a condensed form of orders, with three basic instructions:
- I will guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved.
- I will obey my special orders and perform all of my duties in a military manner.
- I will report violations of my special orders, emergencies, and anything not covered in my instructions to the commander of the relief.
[edit] Air Force Security Forces
The Air Force Security Forces also uses a condensed form, with three basic instructions:
- I will take charge of my post and protect all personnel and property for which I am responsible until properly relieved.
- I will report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce and contact my immediate supervisor in any case not covered by instructions.
- I will sound the alarm in any case of disorder or emergency.
[edit] Supplemental "orders"
From time to time troops using these general orders will create new ones, used jokingly among themselves. The most famous one (commonly referred to in the Navy and Marines as the 12th General Order, and as the 4th General Order in the Army and Air Force) is, "To walk my post from flank to flank and take no shit from any rank." Others include "Don't get caught" and "[Name of inspecting officer] is always right."
