This wasn't a SNAFU. I think the choice to march route-step by a number of units was a deliberate act of defiance. They certainly know their D&C and could've marched lockstep if they wanted to. They weren't going to be toy soldiers for Donny's birthday. Respect to the troops. "This We'll Defend."
Marching in step was a thing that started in Jr. High marching band for me. I can't believe they're not even marching in step just because it's the logical thing to do. Must be one of those new Trump admin things.
Other groups do march to rock music, and even if soldiers and cadets dont. And it makes our soldiers look sloppy, and lazy. You shouldn't see that in Trumps want to be North Korean America.
I served in the army too and that was the first thing I noticed, they are all out of step. That's a very big deal in the army and any group past the second week of basic training knows how to march better than this. Maybe a way to silently protest, or maybe they are so disgusted they just don't care
The soldier at the :54 mark gives zero fucks. My drill instructors would have screamed “ hippity hop, mob stop!” and made us go back to the beginning to start over.
Marching in step is not hard. (Not easy on Day 1 of Boot Camp but you soon find it.) And you don’t need music or a snare drum to keep time. It’s muscle memory. Maybe marching to a cover band playing Night Ranger was too much. Some may have intentionally gotten out of step, or didn’t care, or both.
Nope! that's their best. The US military are a danger to themselves and anybody unfortunate enough to be allied to them.
Friend of mine in 7th Armoured in the Gulf War told me they were shooting at themselves and us on a daily basis.
Quote 'Bunch of arseholes the lot of them'
Grew up in the USAF and I immediately noticed that too. I find it hard to believe anything except that it was intentional. The Army's way of protesting(?).
Yes. "[P]ainfully obvious" was my experience too. I'm reminded of some movie I saw where a soldier was ordered to salute s.o. he vehemently disagreed w/ and the soldier shoved his hands deep into his pockets. Thank you for your sacrifice and service. 🫡
I’m surprised their commanding officer allowed it. Or maybe they decided to do it at the last minute. Or maybe we are all wrong, and because they were going to march for a long distance, they were allowed to do it this way?
I've wondered the same thing. (1) the CO was on board; or (2) they got in trouble and didn't care. I've seen "dressing downs" before and it's a lot of yelling but that's it. MAYBE they got some demerits and/or crap duty (like cleaning toilets or mess duty (KP)). My best guess.
I never served in the army, but this doesn't look like a group marching out of step to me. Wouldn't they be bumping into each other in that case? It does look like a group that's shambling, trying to keep in step enough not to bump into each other, but not really crisp in their movements.
Watching the parade excerpts was a saddening experience for me. Our dedicated men and women in the army deserved a celebration of the U.S. Army's 250 years of service. Because it was linked to tRump's birthday celebration, and about him, they weren't celebrated as they should have been.
I was thinking that all day. Most of them were just walking by, formations out of sync. If it was protest, good for them, but they looked like a bunch of slobs.
In military or drill contexts, "route step, march" signifies a command to march in a relaxed manner, allowing individuals to maintain intervals and distance but not necessarily requiring them to stay in step or maintain silence.
Comments
They are definitely showing a lot of pride while representing the United States of America.
Those poor guys
They did.
Friend of mine in 7th Armoured in the Gulf War told me they were shooting at themselves and us on a daily basis.
Quote 'Bunch of arseholes the lot of them'
It’s awful. Like first week of basic awful. I can’t imagine it being accidental as terrible as it is.
those troops are absolutely marching under duress
Good for them.
Subtle, but noticeable.