INTERIOR GUARD DUTY

GENERAL
An interior duty guard system is installed commanders of all military installations to
preserve order, protect property, and enforce military regulations. Security is part of the
commander’s responsibility; therefore, he prescribes the composition of the interior guard
system. Separate units are responsible for posting interior guards in their area. The
elements of the interior guard system are classified according to their purposes. They
include the main guard and special guards. The latter category consists of park, train, boat
guards and others detailed for specific purposes. Generally, the interior guard consists of a
system of patrols and fixed posts. Normally, an interior guard system is composed of the
following: one (1) Field Officer of the Day (FOD), one (1) Officers of the Day (OD); one or
more Commanders of the Guard (COG), one or more Sergeants of the Guard (SOG), a relief
commander for each relief; and sentinels of the guards. The number of sentinels needed for
the routine daytime duty is ordinarily much smaller than the number required at night or on
Sundays and Holidays.

DEFINITION OF TERMS
1. Countersign- consists of a secret challenge and reply to aid the guards/sentinels
in the scrutiny of persons who apply to pass the lines or it may be defined as a secret
challenge and the secret password.

2. Challenge- the command, “HALT, WHO IS THERE?” given by a sentry is used to

cause an unidentified person or party to halt and be identified.

3. Password- word or a distinctive sound used to answer a challenge, identifies the

person or party desiring to enter or pass and is always a secret.

4. Interior Guard- the guard detailed by a commander to preserve order, protect

property and enforces regulations within the jurisdiction of the command.

5. Relief- those members of the guard who, under the supervision of and including a
corporal of the guard, have the same watch; the procedure whereby posted member of the
guard.

6. Sentry- an enlisted man assigned to duty as member of the guard, to keep watch,
maintain order, protect person or property, or warn of any attack, a sentinel

7. Watch- a period of time during which a member of a guard performs the

prescribed duties, beginning from when he is posted and the termination when he is relieved
by proper authority.

8. Relieve- to direct any member of the guard to cease performance duties.

9. Post- the place or area where a sentry is stationed or the place where a member
of the guard other than the sentry is required to be when not performing duties elsewhere,
to direct any member of the guard to assume his prescribed duties of position in formation.
 10. Patrol Post- a post within a sentry prescribed his own route, within specified
limits, or has his route prescribed for him.

11. Fixed Post- a post within the limits of which a sentry is not required to more
about appreciable for the performance of this duty.

12. Guardhouse- a building, tent or other location designated as the headquarters

of the guard.

13. Detain- the action of any person so authorized used to secure the custody of an
illegal offender until proper authority may be noticed.

FUNCTIONS AND GENERAL DUTIES OF PERSONNEL

1. Field Officer of the Day (FOD)- A field grade officer detailed, as FOD is the
Commanding Officer’s personal representative. His primary concern is the proper
supervision in the performance of duty of thee interior guards.

2. Officer of the Day (OD)- The OD is responsible for the proper performance of
duty by the main guards. He is changed with executing all orders of the commanding
officers relating to interior duty guard.

3. Commander of the Guard (COG)- He is responsible for the instruction,

discipline, and performance of the guards. Being senior in rank, the commander of the guard
is responsible for proper action in case of emergency.

4. Sergeant of the Guard (SOG)- The SOG is the overall supervisor over the other NCO
and sentinels of the guards. He takes over as commander of the guards in case in case no
one else is detailed as such.

5. Relief Commander- The commander instructs numbers of his relief as to their

orders and duties, and makes certain that each sentinel understands them. He also
familiarizes himself with the special duties of members of his relief.

6. Sentinel of the Guards- They must memorize, understand, and comply with the
general orders for sentinels. In addition, they must understand and comply with the specific
orders applicable to their particular posts, including the use of countersigns if they are in
effects.

PROCEDURE IN FORMAL GUARD MOUNTING:

1. Before the new guard arrives in the guardhouse, the old guards have already been
formed on time by the old commander. The new guards march to the guardhouse for
informal guard mounting.

2. When the new guards are about six steps from the left flank of the old guards, the
new commander of the guards commands “Eyes Right”. Almost at the same time, the
commander of the old guards faces about the commands “present Arms.” They remain in
this position until the new guards have cleared their right flank. The old commander
commands “Order Arms”

3. A soon as the new guards have cleared the right flank, the new commanders
“ready, Front.” The new guard executes right flank and halts when are approximately six
steps to the right of the old guards. The commander then commands “Order, Arms” and
“About Face”.

4. Both commanders of the guards positioned six steps in front and centered on their
respective groups, face about and command “Present Arms.” After that, they face each
other and exchange salutes. They then face their guards and command “Order Arms”.

5. After the new guards have been presented to the commander of the guards, the
new old officers of the day position themselves eighteen steps in front and centered on their
respective guards. Both commanders of the guards face about the command “Present
Arms." After which they face back to the front and salute their respective officers of the day.

6. After salutes have been exchanged both commanders face about, command
“Order Arms,” and face back to the front. The two officers of the day then face each other
and exchange salutes which starts with the new OD rendering salute to the old OD. They
then face their respective guards.

7. The new commands “ Post the first Relief,” after which the first relief commander
salutes the new OD, faces about, then commands “Falls out.” The guards report to the
guardhouse and the first relief commander reports to the commander of the guards for
instructions on posting his relief.

8. Meanwhile, the old OD commands “Dismiss the Guards.” The old commander of
the guards salutes the old OD, faces about, and command “Rest.” He then contracts the new
commander of the guards to convey instructions and orders. The old guards are then
marched off to their company areas. This ends informal guard mounting.

ELEVEN GENERAL ORDERS

Sentinels of the guards are governed by both general and special orders. General
orders apply to all sentinels. While special orders apply to particular posts and duties. These
special orders may also contain instructions on the use of signs and countersigns. Herein
below are the eleven General Orders for sentinels.

1. General Order Nr 1 – To take charge of this post and all government property in
view.
2. General Order Nr 2 - To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on
the alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.
3. General Order Nr 3 – To report all violation of orders I am instructed to enforce.
4. General Order Nr 4 – To repeat al, calls from posts mope distant from the
guardhouse than my own.
5. General Order Nr 5 – To qUit my post Only when properlY relieved.
6. GeneraL Order Nr 6 – To received, obey, and pass3on the sentinel who relieves me
all orders from the comman$ing officer, office of the day, and officer and non-commissioned
officers of the guard only.
7, General Order Nr 7 – To talk to one except in the line of duty.
8. General Order Nr 8 – To give The aLarm in case of fire or disorddr.
9. General Or$er Nr 9 – To call the commander of the guard in any case not covered
by instructions.
10. General Order Nr 10 – To salute all officers, and all colors and standards not
cased.
11. General Order Nr 11 – To be especially watchful at night, and during the time for
challenging, to challenge all personal on or near my post, and to allow no one to pass
without proper authority.
METHOD ON POSTING RELIEF
The following procedures are observed in the posting of relief:

1. After the commander of guard commands “Post Your Relief”, salutes are
exchanged. The commander of the new relief takes of his relief, and commands “Right-Face;
Right Shoulder Arms, Forward March.” He marches to the left of the rear rank, while the
commander of the old relief marches on the right of the leading rank.

2. On reaching the sentinel’s post the commander of the new relief commands “Post
and order remain the same”. The relief commander then questions the new sentinel; “Do
you understand your orders?” If the new sentinel understands, he replies “Yes, I do.” Other
wise, the new relief commander clarifies the orders.

3. The new relief commander commands “sentinel post”. Both old new sentinel
resume right shoulder or sling arms face the new relief commander and march backward
until they are in line with the older relief commander.

4. The new relief commander commands his relief “forward, March.” The old relief
commander takes one step backward to clear the old sentinel. The relief advances the relief
commanders take their original positions as its passes them.

5. After this, the old sentinel takes his place at the rear of the relief as it passes him,
while the new sentinel stands fast until the relief has passed six steps beyond him and then
he walks his post.

The procedure outlined above is observed until the member of the old relief
has joined group route to the guardhouse.