From: Jones, Russ (Russ.Jones@TTMC.TTUHSC.EDU)
Date: Thu Apr 04 2002 - 12:20:32 CST
David, et. al.:
I have no sources to cite, but as a former Air Force officer, it is my
conviction that this custom derives from the military method of teaching
such things as facing movements, the manual of arms, etc. Most facing
movements (i.e., left face, right face, about face, etc.) consist of two
distinct motions. For example, to execute a left face, the soldier turns
ninety degrees to his left by first pivoting simultaneously on the heel of
his left foot and the ball of his right foot, and second by bringing his
right foot up in line with his left. When new recruits are initially
learning such a movement, they are often taught "by the numbers," which
means that the instructor has them do the first motion--the pivot--when he
says "one," and the second motion--bringing the right foot back in
line--when he says "two." Once the recruits have learned the mechanics of
the movement by this method, they then learn to execute it without the
numbers, taking their cue for the timing from the cadence at which the
command is given.
Since a salute to the flag is most often held far longer than the cadence of
the command "hand, salute" would indicate, it is usually necessary to give a
second command as a signal to drop the salute, and hence the use of the word
"two."
Russ Jones
Scoutmaster, Troop 575
South Plains Council
Lubbock, Texas
russ.jones@ttmc.ttuhsc.edu
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