What are the basic steps in a rifle ceremony involving present arms and order arms?

• A. Halt, present arms, then return to order arms.
• B. Present arms, halt, then order arms.
• C. Halt, present arms, then return to order arms.
• D. Present arms, return to order arms, then halt.

Answer: (C)

The action tested is the proper sequence for giving a rifle salute in a ceremony: you stop, perform the salute, then return to the rest position. You halt to make the salute precise and controlled, establishing a fixed moment for the ceremonial gesture. Present arms is the salute itself, a quick, deliberate movement of the rifle to the salute position. After the salute is finished, you immediately bring the rifle back to the order arms position to resume the standard rest posture. Saluting while moving or failing to return to order arms would break protocol, so the halt–present arms–return to order arms sequence is the correct and orderly way to conduct the ceremony.