Pace stick
A pace stick is a long stick usually carried by
A pace stick usually consists of two pieces of wood, hinged at the top, and tapering towards the bottom, very similar to large wooden
Otherwise, while on parade or when marching, it is normally carried tucked tightly under the left arm and parallel to the ground, with the left hand grasping the stick near the top.
Use in the Commonwealth
Several militaries and police services in the Commonwealth of Nations use a pace stick.
United Kingdom
The pace stick is usually permitted to be carried off the parade ground by the regimental sergeant major alone; however, at a particular regiment's discretion, other sergeants and sergeants-major or equivalent may carry a pace stick if they are qualified drill instructors.
The origin of the pace stick is claimed by the
Another stick carried by soldiers is the drill cane, regimental stick or swagger stick. This is a shorter cane, with polished metal ends. Sometimes these sticks are ornamented by a mock bullet casing, half at each end of the stick; these ornaments are often chromed, or left in their natural brass, but highly polished. They are carried on parade solely as an indicator of rank and authority by senior non-commissioned officers and warrant officers, and their use is generally governed (or restricted altogether) by the regimental sergeant major.
Pace sticks can be opened to specific distances, which each measure specific things:
Inches | Centimetres | Significance |
---|---|---|
12 | 30 | Distance between heels when at ease, and regulation side pace |
21 | 53 | Distance between ranks when stood in closed order |
24 | 61 | Distance between files, also width of one 'man' when leaving a blank file |
27 | 69 | Stepping short, inside rank when wheeling |
30 | 76 | Regulation pace for quick and slow march |
33 | 84 | Stepping out, outside rank when wheeling |
40 | 100 | Regulation pace for double march |
Other countries
Drill canes and pace sticks are used by non-commissioned members (non-commissioned officers) of the Canadian Army, and cadets at the Royal Military College of Canada to gauge the length of pace and measure distance and intervals.[1] They are not customarily carried by personnel of the Royal Canadian Navy and the Royal Canadian Air Force.[2] Pace sticks are also used by some police services in Canada, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Pace sticks have also found use with Australian police forces, including the college sergeant and drill instructors of the
Denmark
In 2017, along with other changes made to the Royal Danish Army, the stick was reintroduced for those of sergeant major rank for parades and other appropriate occasions.[3]
See also
- Caliper
- Swagger stick
- Vine staff
References
- ^ "Manual of Drill and Ceremonial - Chapter 6 Sword, pace stick and cane drill". www.canada.ca. Government of Canada. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
- ^ "Canadian Forces Dress instructions: Chapter 3, Section 7 Accoutrements". www.canada.ca. Government of Canada. 1 February 2017. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ Army NCO School (31 January 2017). "Status Update 31-01-2017". Facebook. Archived from the original on 2022-02-26. Retrieved 31 January 2017.