LEGIO XX--The Twentieth Legion 
MARCHING DRILL                    1/4/00 

       There is no surviving Roman marching drill from the first century, so most of ours is adapted from the Strategikon of Maurice.  This was written in the 6th century AD, but is still the oldest known Latin drill.  Other commands have been added to allow necessary actions like drawing swords, etc.--some of these have been adapted from the Ermine Street Guard's drill.  Maurice's drill is strikingly similar to an obsolete Greek drill in Arrian's Tactical Manual, from the 2nd century AD. 

Ad signa                                        Fall in 
Silentium                                       Silence 
Mandata captate                             Observe the orders (Attention, etc.) 
Ordenem servate                            Keep your position 
Dirige frontem                               Dress the ranks 
Laxate                                            Rest 
Move                                             March 
Accelera                                         Speed up 
Tarda                                             Slow down 
Ad dextram/senestram depone      Wheel to the right/left 
Signo sequute                                Follow the standard (or leader) 
Consiste (or State)                         Halt 
Ad gladium, clina                           To the right, face 
Ad scutum, clina                            To the left, face 
Transforma                                    About face 
Redi                                               Return to the original front 
Muta locum                                   Countermarch 
Langia (ad dextram/senestram/ 
 ambas partes)                                Open ranks (to right/left/both sides) 
Exi                                                 Rear half-files move up 
Intra                                               Reverse of Exi 
Iunge                                             Close ranks 
Ad agmine                                     Form marching column 
Ad aciem                                        Form battle-line 
Ad testudinem                                Form testudo 
Ad cuneum                                     Form wedge 
Pila infige                                       Plant your pila (upright) 
Pila pone                                        Lay down your pila 
Pila tolle                                         Pick up pila 
Pila iace                                          Throw pila 
Gladium stringe                              Draw swords 
Gladium reconde                            Sheath swords 
Parati!                                            Ready (To charge, etc.) 
Porro!                                            Charge! 
Dimitto                                           I dismiss you