Scenes from the daily service of the Old Army - Training - Instructional Infantry Battalion

According to Mila (History of the Clothing and Equipment of the Royal Prussian Army 1808 - 1878, Berlin 1878, reprint Krefeld 1970, p. 104) the Instructional Infantry Battalion "was established by A.K.O. of 30 December 1819, with the intention of promoting uniformity and conformity in service and in the infantry's drill exercises, for which purpose every year on 1 April officers, non-commissioned officers and men of all infantry regiments are detached to Potsdam for a certain period; a permanent company remains together continuously."

To the Instructional Infantry Battalion the Prussian, Saxon and Württemberg infantry regiments detached men for special further training, as did the 1st and 2nd Sea Battalions, but not the Jäger battalions.

The battalion assembled annually; the course lasted 1–1½ years.

Well known was the annually held "Schrippenfest", a highlight in the military life of the garrison town of Potsdam.

In the Instructional Infantry Battalion the uniforms of the home regiments continued to be worn, but no plumes; on the shoulder straps there was, as a special distinction, a red or yellow cord (A.K.O. of 17.10.1820).

This also applied to the shoulder straps on the greatcoat.

The "knapsacks to be carried must furthermore be arranged so that the cooking utensils can be attached both on top of them and on the flap" (Mila, ibid.).