Guard Duty & General Orders

The Three General Orders

1st General Order: I will guard everything within the limits of my post and quit my post only when properly relieved.

2nd General Order: I will obey my special orders and perform all my duties in a military manner.

3rd General Order: I will report violations of my special orders, emergencies, and anything not covered in my instructions to the commander of the relief.

General vs. Special Orders

• General Orders: Outline the fundamental responsibilities of all guards across the Army, regardless of the post.
• Special Orders: Are specific to a particular post or shift. They dictate exactly what a guard must do on that specific post (e.g., checking IDs at a specific gate, patrolling a specific motor pool perimeter).

Guard Duty Basics

• Guard duty is a critical responsibility. Key personnel and terms include:
• Commander of the Relief: The NCO in charge of a relief (a group of guards).
• Officer of the Day (OD) / Officer of the Guard (OOG): The officer responsible for guard duty operations for a specific day.
• Sergeant of the Guard (SOG): The senior NCO responsible for the training and posting of guards.
• Supernumerary: An extra guard used to fill vacancies or relieve other guards.

Challenging Personnel

When challenging an individual approaching your post at night or in low visibility:
1. 'Halt! Who is there?'
2. The person identifies themselves (e.g., 'Sergeant Smith').
3. 'Advance, Sergeant Smith, to be recognized.'
4. If you cannot positively identify them or they do not have authorization, detain them and notify the Commander of the Relief.

Board Tips

The three General Orders are GUARANTEED to be asked at almost every board. Memorize them verbatim. Do not add extra words (e.g., do not say 'perform all OF my duties' in the 2nd GO). Board members will often ask you just the second or third general order to test if you know them individually. Be prepared for the follow-up question: 'What is a special order?'