OK, OK, it’s “stack arms” over here. And the drill is just as impossible to
master. Pay attention, now: there’sll be a quiz period afterwards.
(The following is for the M-1; From Appendix A of the Marine Corps Drill and
Ceremonies Manual, available here. Thanks to a
helpful reader for this.)
A-22 TO STACK ARMS
1. Members of the squad stack arms from their positions in line at normal or
close interval. Squad members numbered 3, 7, and 11 make the stacks except
when there is no one to their left. In squads larger than 14 men, additional
stackmen are designated. In squads so armed that it is not feasible for
numbers 3, 7, and 11 to make the stacks, other squad members may be
designated as stackmen. The command is “Stack, ARMS.”
2. At the command “ARMS,” the man on the left of the stackman grips his/her
rifle by the upper hand guard, raises it, with the muzzle straight up, until
his/her right arm is level with the deck. The Marine passes it to the
stackman, who grips it with the left hand at the upper hand guard just below
the stacking swivel. (See figure A-18a.)
3. The stackman places the butt of the left rifle between his/her feet, with
the barrel to the front, muzzle tilted forward. The Marine raises the
stacking swivel of the left rifle with his/her left thumb and forefinger.
Then the Marine swings the butt of his/her own rifle 2 feet in front and 6
inches to the right of his/her right toe. The Marine then shifts his/her
right hand to the stacking swivel, which the Marine engages with that of the
left rifle. (See figure A-18b.)
4. The member on the right of the stackman grips his rifle with his/her
right hand at the small of the stock, his/her left hand near the stacking
swivel. Without moving his right foot, the Marine steps to the left front
and carries his/her rifle well forward, barrel up. With the forefinger of
his/her left hand, the Marine hooks his stacking swivel to the free hook of
the center rifle’s stacking swivel. Then the Marine rotates his/her rifle
so the barrel rests in the angle formed by the other two rifles. (See figure
A-18c.) The Marine pulls the butt toward him/her until the stack is tight
and then lowers the butt to the deck. The Marine then resumes the position
of attention. (See figure A-18d.) Figure A-18e shows details of the stacking
swivels at stack arms.
5. Other rifles are passed to the nearest stack on the right. When passing
extra weapons to the stack, the right hand grips the upper hand guard and
the left hand grips the balance. The muzzles of these weapons point straight
up while they are being passed to the stack. They are laid on the stack by
the stackman, sights inboard, and tilted so they remain in place.