Posted on May 23, 2014
Do you sing cadence when you march your Soldiers? Why or why not?
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Do you sing cadence when you march your Soldiers? Why or why not? In the 82nd, every year we have our annual Division Review. To get to Pike Field we march about a mile down Ardennes singing cadence the whole way. This year I found that only senior NCOs (1SGs and a few SFCs) were able to call cadence. Why is this tradition slipping away? If you do sing cadence, sound off with your favorites. Keep it clean and professional.
Cadence
Tradition
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
Can't stand them. That is one of the reasons why I became an officer. I have no singing ability and i'm always off beat. I tried at OCS, only because they figured a former NCO could belt it out but about two minutes into it I was banned from ever calling cadence again. I feel if you can call cadence when running you are not running fast enough.
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SSG Jay OConnor
I fully agree LT. I spent 6 yrs in the 82nd. I remember when I first arrived at bragg and I heard the cadence being called over the PA, I thought "awesome, it calls cadence for you". To my dissapointment, it wasn't true. I personally don't like cadence. Not only do I have absolutely no skill whatsoever. I don't like how it sounds. They all sound the same to me. So much so that when I do call it, I get the song lyrics mixed up with others and the soldiers sing "REMIX". To me, it completely demotivates me and most of the soldiers. I know because I actually took a poll to find out if I was the only one. But the thing that really irked me is when our 1SG said "you are no kind of NCO, if you can't call cadence". I thought, are you kidding me? That's just as arbitrary as saying, "You are a sorry NCO if you can't draw" it's bullshit!!.The whole point of calling cadence is to instill motivation. If one has no skill at Cadence then he defeats the purpose and demotivates the soldiers. Calling Cadence is a thing of the past and only the dinosaurs want to hear it. PT itself, throughout the branches, is changing to an individual program. Which is the way it should be.
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I remember responding to this post. I am not looking for my first response, so if it is the same forgive me. If Junior NCOs cannot call cadence this is the fault of the Senior NCOs. This is particularly Easier within a light unit which walks most places. While I believe all units should March and practice drill at every opportunity. These activities are part of a series of things units do to build esprit, identify motivated Soldiers and increase discipline. Thank you for your service.
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For me 1SG, I always loved cadence. Reason why, one I have rhythm. 2. It set me apart from everybody else. When we have company/BN/BDE/DIV runs, I always line up in the first rank. Even when I was a young private and specialist. Allot of leaders, NCOs shy away from it or feel it's useless. Me on the other hand, I disagree. Nothing like challenging your soldiers when their gasping for air and feeling like falling out, you come up there as a leader and pick up their morale and start rocking the mic. I look into each of their eyes and I give it all I got. And they know it and they feel that motivation. Yes I'm hurting just like them but I can't quit. Integrity check so to speak. So I think in my opinion cadence is a lost art within the NCO core and army as whole. We need to improve on that. As well as, DNC.if you can't lead in garrison, what makes you think you're trustworthy down range? Or job as leaders is to lead, regardless of the situation. So if I'm running and you tell me to get these soldiers in line, dress right dress, sounding off, my job is to influence them to follow. If I'm just left, right, left. That's all fine, but you need passion and substance. Too many times, we do the job but we don't love the job. If you love something, you're willing to perfect it. All facets, not just in one particular area. Last thing: the little things win hearts and minds.
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