Why do we call cadence and what does it mean to you?

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 02:39:59 -0400

The primary function is to maintain marching rhythm, but it represents so much more. I remember the Drill Sergeants calling cadence for us privates and feeling more a part of something. I still feel this true today.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Mar 20 at 2016 2:46 AM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 02:46:11 -0400

MSG Private RallyPoint Member when I called cadence it was for the team work and motivation. It was for the Army Values. There was days when I just couldn't make it, but cadence got me through. The formation looks so professional when sounding off!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2016 2:46 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 02:46:57 -0400

Cadences are a part of history and esprit de corps! I liked the time the drill sergeant, in 1994, added some words to make the Cadence dirty, just for a second. It revealed a little history that he dared share with our coed platoon. This was great to hear the not so politically correct version for the first time. This was before stress cards and this drill sergeant did not get reported by some offended private.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2016 4:48 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 04:48:22 -0400

Calling cadence is a great tradition, inculcates values and uplift moral. Never knew anyone to be upset. Infantry tradition in the early '70's was airborne ranger verses. Mine was a little red neck:
"If I did on the Ol' drop zone,
Box me up and ship me home,
Tell my woman I did my best,
Bury me in the leaning rest,
Bury me up on a hill,
Above my head, build a moonshine still,
Make that still run open wide,
Then I'll thank the Lord I've died!"
I hope I have started something, so share your good stuff!

Response by SSG James Elmore made Mar 20 at 2016 6:26 AM

SSG James Elmore — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 06:26:43 -0400

To me it shows esprit de corps and the right cadence can really motivate an entire formation (if the person calling cadence is motivated)!

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Mar 20 at 2016 9:30 AM

SGT Philip Roncari — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 09:30:56 -0400

I can still remember learning to march on the quadrangle Fort Lewis Washington 1965 and the cadence calls those were the days!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2016 1:09 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 13:09:02 -0400

For me it's the fact that my dad, grandfathers, and many soldiers generations before me called cadence. It's a bridge to our history.

A couple lines from one of my favorites;

My father was a miner in the upper Malamute,
My mother as a hostess in a house of ill repute,
They kicked me out of house and home when in my tender years,
Told me grow up, become a man, and join the engineers!

We are, we are, we are, we are the Engineers,
We can, we can, we can demolish 40 beers,
Now drink up, drink up, drink up, and come along with us,
Cause we don't give a d__n about any old man who don't give a d__n about us! Hey!

A tanker and an Engineer once found a gallon can,
The tanker told the engineer, now drink me if you can,
The tanker took one single drink and started turnin green,
The engineer kept drinkin on, it was only gasoline!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 20 at 2016 3:26 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 15:26:43 -0400

Cadances make tough runs easier instead of focusing on our burning legs.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 20 at 2016 4:50 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 16:50:38 -0400

Teamwork, humor, making the suck suck a little better.

Response by SPC Paul Taylor made Mar 29 at 2016 1:38 PM

SPC Paul Taylor — Tue, 29 Mar 2016 13:38:09 -0400

Some of the guys calling cadence knew what we needed to hear to get us moving and others fell short. You knew if it was going to be a good run or a tough run by the NCO standing out front of formation. I remember one NCO would always get up there and guys would start whispering "embrace the suck".