In a formal formation, what does the command "Cover" instruct the troops to do?

The command "Cover" instructs the troops to align themselves to the front. This means that each soldier or unit within the formation is responsible for ensuring they are properly positioned directly behind the person in front of them, maintaining an organized and cohesive alignment. This command is critical during formal formations as it ensures that the entire formation appears neat and synchronized, which is essential for both aesthetic presentation and operational effectiveness during drills and inspections.

While the other options relate to aspects of formation, they do not accurately capture the specific action prompted by the command "Cover." For instance, standing at ease refers to a more relaxed posture rather than alignment, straightening the formation generally implies adjusting either to eliminate gaps or correct misalignments but does not specifically address the idea of directly aligning to the front, and balancing the spacing focuses on distance between soldiers rather than direct alignment behind one another.