Parade State Terminology

[jhill]

This should be an easy one for the experts out there. I am browsing through various reports attached to battalion war diaries. On the "Parade State" report, I see a number of men listed as "On Command".

What does "On Command" really mean (so that I need not guess from the context)?

A transcribed example looks like this:

31st (Alberta) Battalion C.E.F.

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RADE STATE - 3st July 1917

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Officers. O.R.

Headquarters 1 21

With Companies 20 515

Details at Transport Lines 12 123

Specialists, 3 50

Band, 51

Transport Sect., 1 51

Q/M.Sect. & Details 2 44

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WITH BATTALION 39 855

On Courses of Instruction 2 55

On Command 3 145

Hospital 2 36

Absentees, 2

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TOTAL EFFECT. STRENGTH 46 1091.

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