Positions/Plate I
Attention
Also called: Standing attention, Stand, standing straight
Standing, feet together, arms by your sides, chin raised: the crispest stance, the one that awaits an order.
How to take it
Stand up very straight, feet together, your weight spread over both feet. Your legs are straight without the knees locking. Your arms hang straight down by your sides, fingers extended against your thighs. Your shoulders drop, your chest opens. Raise your chin slightly and look straight ahead, without seeking the other person’s gaze.
What it says
Borrowed from the military, it expresses complete attention: you listen, you wait for the order, you do not move. It is a good way to mark a beginning, entering protocol or an inspection of what you are wearing (see Glossary).
Variants
- Heels together and toes turned out, as in military attention.
- Feet hip-width apart, more stable for holding it longer.
- Eyes lowered to the floor rather than straight ahead, if that is what you have agreed.
The call“Attention.”