What is the First General Order?

What is the First General Order?

• A. I will guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved.
• B. I will obey my special orders and perform all of my duties in a military manner.
• C. I will report violations of my special orders, emergencies, and anything not covered in my instructions to my commander of the relief.
• D. I will march at the sound of the bugle and keep time with the beat.

Answer: (A)

The first General Order establishes the guard’s fundamental duty: guard everything within the limits of the post and quit the post only when properly relieved. This wording emphasizes two essential ideas: maintain continuous protection of the area and follow the formal relief process so there’s no security gap. A sentry stays on duty to deter, observe, and report, and may only depart when an approved relief has taken over. Context helps: General Orders are universal duties for sentries that guide daily conduct. The other statements reflect different orders or drill instructions—one aligns with obeying special orders and performing duties in a military manner, another with reporting violations and emergencies to the relief commander, and the last with marching to the bugle and staying in time, which is a drill/ceremonial instruction rather than a General Order.

The first General Order establishes the guard’s fundamental duty: guard everything within the limits of the post and quit the post only when properly relieved. This wording emphasizes two essential ideas: maintain continuous protection of the area and follow the formal relief process so there’s no security gap. A sentry stays on duty to deter, observe, and report, and may only depart when an approved relief has taken over.

Context helps: General Orders are universal duties for sentries that guide daily conduct. The other statements reflect different orders or drill instructions—one aligns with obeying special orders and performing duties in a military manner, another with reporting violations and emergencies to the relief commander, and the last with marching to the bugle and staying in time, which is a drill/ceremonial instruction rather than a General Order.