this post was submitted on 30 Sep 2025
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I have no idea how armies march... what does call up a cadence mean?
Left. Left. Left right left.
Infantry in particular, and military people in general, are taught how to do parade marches - generally in western militaries as a matter of esprit de corps, but in more authoritarian regimes, because the guy in charge likes to see all the little pawns he gets to command because it makes his dick hard.
When watching a formation march, you’ll often hear someone shouting out a “cadence” that is, some sort of rhythm or marching song that makes it much easier for everyone to automatically sync up their march, so everyone’s stepping at the same time. Generally, this isn’t officially organized - an NCO of some variety will often just spontaneously start that up to help the unit out. And if they don’t, there’s generally a reason.
Again, ask anyone who’s served about whether or not that joke of a parade had any unsaid subtext by the people who were marching. I can just about guarantee they’ll confirm what I’m saying here, and that it was a subtle, rule-following, yet pretty massive snub to orangeboi.
That's the person that calls out a chant that sets the beat. Makes it so everyone can hear when they are supposed to step. In the Navy we used "left, left, left-right-left," while in boot. Army used "hup, two, three, four."
There are also more "creative" chants that can get used.
The prettiest girl
I ever saw
Was sipping bourbon
through a straw
I walked right up
I sat right down
I ordered up
another round
Etc.
That was always the favorite in my platoon.
I didn't want to get into the call and response cadences. That's too complicated for people that don't even know what colors taste like.
/s
It's a chant or song or general timing beat used to synchronize your steps while you're marching - I've never seen, heard of or experienced one being used on a demonstration parade. Beyond the band playing drum cadence while people march past, relying on it would be a mark of a serious lack of discipline.