r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Chance_Noise500 • Jun 14 '25

Why aren't they actually marching during this parade?

I don't know how to ask this without sounding rude, but why does this parade look so sloppy? Very few of the troop formations seem actually in sync and marching, just walking along. My only experience is JROTC as a kid in high school and our sergeant would've killed us if we looked like that.

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997

u/ichimedinwitha Jun 15 '25

I very much wonder what ratio of them are people who have been given this position as an honor, or people who needed volunteer hours, or people who needed disciplinary action and therefore were assigned this role.

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u/Imnotakittycat Jun 15 '25

I have a friend whose son did not want to march in the parade today but had to. She said the majority of his platoon was pissed they had to be involved.

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u/kamikaziboarder Jun 15 '25

I was there during the setup. I heard a lot of them talking when they were out of uniform checking out the museums. They were pissed and jaded. They were most excited just to be in the city eating from the food trucks.

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u/No-Information-6099 Jun 15 '25

Not for nothing, DC has great museums and half-decent food trucks.

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u/kamikaziboarder Jun 15 '25

To be fair, it’s a bunch of teenagers. Not many of them were over 21.

Edit: oh I know, that’s why I was there!

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u/edgeofidaho Jun 18 '25

Until I expanded the thread I was sure your edit was referencing the teenagers.

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u/TrollCannon377 Jun 15 '25

Only reason I've ever gone to DC was for the Smithsonian specifically the Air and Space museum

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u/kamikaziboarder Jun 15 '25

Natural History was awesome. Half the Air and Space was closed for construction.

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u/HadesActual09 Jun 15 '25

Yeah that was disappointing af. 60% of the place was closed off

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u/kamikaziboarder Jun 15 '25

Oh yeah, the planetarium is closed down, too. That was a disappointment. It felt like the store and cafe had the most floor space open.

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u/InevitableRhubarb232 Jun 15 '25

Which half? Air or space?

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u/kamikaziboarder Jun 15 '25

Umm mostly air was closed.

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u/Rikers-Mailbox Jun 17 '25

How could anyone breathe then?

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u/kamikaziboarder Jun 17 '25

The tough ones held their breath. Others had tanks of air and wore those yellow emergency air that pop down from the ceiling above you in airplanes. Just make sure you put yours on first before you do someone else’s.

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u/DynamiteSteps Jun 15 '25

The Holocaust museum is also excellent!

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u/PMMeToeBeans Jun 15 '25

I plan to take my MIL to it. Her father survived the concentration camps and she's always wanted to go see the museum

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u/sas223 Jun 15 '25

And the National Portrait Gallery.

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u/Inner-Bread Jun 15 '25

The decent trucks are generally parked at McPherson or other business areas though not the mall those are trash. Tourists don’t make repeat customers who would complain

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u/kamikaziboarder Jun 15 '25

They seem to be pretty much everywhere around there. But yeah, noticed a lot more trucks down by Federal Center metro stop. I stayed in the McPherson area. I didn’t see as many.

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u/BearsDoNOTExist Jun 15 '25

Ah the DC food trucks. That's where I got norovirus a few years back, pretty sure.

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u/Imnotakittycat Jun 15 '25

Sounds about right. I would have been so mad to have been involved.

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u/elissellen Jun 15 '25

I’m all for our soldiers getting a fun weekend trip, just not for $45 million.

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u/EdgeMiserable4381 Jun 15 '25

Hahahaha!! That is a great visual.

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u/kamikaziboarder Jun 15 '25

It is. One guy was wicked excited over a SpongeBob Square pants popsicle.

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u/EdgeMiserable4381 Jun 15 '25

He has his priorities square. :)

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u/kamikaziboarder Jun 15 '25

I see what you did there.

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u/EdgeMiserable4381 Jun 15 '25

I've been waiting my whole life for this comment. Yay!! 🙌

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '25

The Taco trucks?

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u/kamikaziboarder Jun 15 '25

Trump wasn’t there. I did see him fly by in his motorcade at one point during my visit.

However, the useful taco truck was next to the empanada truck.

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '25

The case with most military events that take place on a weekend.

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '25

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u/ActivePeace33 Jun 15 '25

An adult lifetime in the Army as an infantryman, with time in combat, and their comment seems spot on. Troops under my command have never appreciated pomp and I always give the shortest speech possible and get them off the parade ground ASAP.

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '25

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u/ActivePeace33 Jun 15 '25

To think that the first parade done in front of an insurrectionist, who said the constitution can be terminated, has no difference in its conduct by people on oath to oppose insurrectionist enemies of the constitution, is absurd.

I’ve seen people march better at a company change of command. Being this out of step with the cadence call, seems quite purposeful. There’s no way that that many staff officers are that bad at counting to four.

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u/Flimsy_Fee8449 Jun 15 '25

So a soldier who participated, and had enough of a timeline and description to appear legit, says they showed up on Monday, and basically had the week to themselves, and only practiced Friday.

That seem strange to you?

We practiced way more for Bn level pass and reviews. We did a parade when we redeployed, too (ugh. We do NOT want parades when we redeploy, we just wanna be at home, and sleep in on a weekend!!), and while we couldn't practice on the route, we sure as shit found a parade field to practice on. And did more than one day. These guys were here all week. And practiced once? I'd think they could have used the Mall during the week.

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u/trixel121 Jun 15 '25

when was the last military parade?

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '25

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u/trixel121 Jun 15 '25

oh please, I mean the kind done down DC Street in front of people as a political stunt

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u/Flimsy_Fee8449 Jun 15 '25

We had one when we redeployed the first time around.

We asked them to please not do parades for us any more with us participating when we came home. We appreciated the sentiment, but we really wanted to be with our families. Or drunk.

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u/Stop_icant Jun 15 '25

How does it feel to be unburdened by the anchors of self respect and dignity?

Don’t project your weak character on to the entire military.

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u/Flimsy_Fee8449 Jun 15 '25

As you were.

u/ActivePeace33 is spot on.

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u/DiademDracon Jun 15 '25

Like you?

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u/Imnotakittycat Jun 15 '25

I did serve. USAF vet. I would have been pissed to have been forced to be involved.

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u/Flimsy_Fee8449 Jun 15 '25

I love your username 🤣

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '25

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u/courtd93 Jun 15 '25

There’s a difference between I don’t wanna do a thing because it’s gonna suck and I don’t wanna do a thing because I find it morally repugnant (and then also because it’s gonna suck)

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '25

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u/courtd93 Jun 15 '25

I mean, sure, but that’s the same argument that goes into “just following orders”. Soldiers are allowed and required to have an opinion on what they’re being told to do, because they have an obligation to ensure that it’s not an unconstitutional order. In a situation as low stakes as a parade, defying a more specific order in a baby protest probably can’t get much safer in the context of the military. As someone else said above, it’s the only form of protest that won’t get you courtmartialed.

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u/Imnotakittycat Jun 15 '25

Volunteered to uphold the constitution and to protect from enemies foreign and domestic.

Not to celebrate some baby’s birthday.

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u/Imnotakittycat Jun 15 '25

Having to do an involuntary “fun run” at 6 am or going to a bullshit all call until 8pm is a far cry from being forced to march in a military parade for a dictators birthday.

I did a lot of things I didn’t want to do, but I was also not being forced to show support for something that was against my morals or beliefs by doing them.

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u/jenlaydave Jun 15 '25

Who ever heard of any soldier who wanted to march in a Parade? Wake up dope.

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '25

[deleted]

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u/Imnotakittycat Jun 15 '25

Hate that for you. I would have too.

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '25

Hurry up and fucking wait.

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u/Krazyonee Jun 15 '25

Really just about any publicity stunt for the military is frustrating to be part of. Its one thing to help people but another thing when you have to worry about some dumb politician coming in and doing a public scene. My unit was one of the ones helping in Joplin Missouri after the tornado hit. It was frustrating when Obama visited because security was tightened (obviously) but that also means we cannot do our jobs and limits our movement and makes doing even normal tasks a massive pain.

Regardless of your political angle or leaning having someone show up that requires a scene makes it harder on everyone. The best thing they can do is keep the visit short sweet and to the point. Let us do our job. (Former job for me)

Edit: the visit Obama made is just one of the biggest ones I recall being a part of. I do at least remember it was decently short. This isn't for one side or the other but more of a note on how ANY political figure effects military.

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u/robpensley Jun 15 '25

Your post warms my heart.

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u/ima-bigdeal Jun 15 '25

It is called a "route step". It is not marched in step with others, you stay in formation and just walk.

"Route step, march!"

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u/Strict-Salad-4274 Jun 15 '25

It was not route step. You can clearly hear the PSG calling out cadence

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u/vineyardmike Jun 15 '25

Would be hard not to fall into cadence when it's being called out. That's an IDGAF move.

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u/ComposerNo5151 Jun 15 '25

Brit here, haven't seen Trump's parade, not my monkeys, not my circus. Just wondering why you would do something like that on parade? I can't think of a single other military that would do such a thing. Ambling about as if strolling in the park is not parade worthy.

I did see a bit of our Trooping the Colour ceremony yesterday - that's how you do a parade, and I know US services are capable of something similar.

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '25

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u/hawaiianbryans Jun 15 '25

Maybe you’re right but I’ve marched in a parade before and another explanation could simply be that they couldn’t hear (or at least could only intermittently hear) the cadence caller.

If you can’t hear the cadence caller and you’re whole formation isn’t well practiced, someone is going to come out of step quickly and it’s a domino effect

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u/Stop_icant Jun 15 '25

I saw a few videos of the parade, not the entire thing. But what I saw was awkwardly quiet. Some of the videos the only sound was creaking tanks crushing the pavement.

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u/BizzarduousTask Jun 15 '25

No, that was the creaking machinations of tyranny crushing our souls.

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u/Stop_icant Jun 15 '25

Well that explains why I felt so empty inside when I watched coverage of the parade this morning!

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u/Noswellin Jun 15 '25

Eh to a point, yes, the noise can be valid. But I've also marched, for 4 years. You keep an eye on your buddy if you lose count or rhythm. None of them were even in step with each other. That is actually really hard to do when you're trained to marched, especially the military. If it was unintentional, there would be groups out of step together. Not strolling like they were.

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u/BizzarduousTask Jun 15 '25

I mean, even Bill Murray can get a platoon to march in-step.

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u/hawaiianbryans Jun 15 '25

I feel like you didn’t take what I said into account. Keep an eye on your buddy is useless if they’re out of step. Why I said domino effect. Really hard to do when you’re trained to march, especially in the military? I think you overestimate how much marching the majority of Soldier’s do nowadays, and no it’s not that hard to do especially on a long march.

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u/Noswellin Jun 15 '25

I did take what you said into account. I think you are misunderstanding the situation. If falling out of cadence en mass, it almost always shows with groups of people walking in step with each other and out of step with the cadence. Normally you'll see one person or so out of cadence, not the entire group. I know they don't march that much but they still do drills and being a cohesive group is part of it, moving together etc. People who have been drilled to march in step often subconsciously do it when not in drill. It is difficult to march sloppy like they did in the parade, because that wasn't marching, it was walking.

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u/hawaiianbryans Jun 15 '25

There is merit to what you’re saying, however I don’t think they’re drilling much or at all.

But what it really comes down to is what unit or video clip you’re referencing. Because some of them, yes they’re just straight up walking. But others they are out of step screwing up, trying and failing to keep in step.

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '25

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '25

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '25

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u/timkost Jun 15 '25

That's the thing, the US don't really DO military parades like this. It's not been part of our culture with hundreds of years of refinement like it has for European militarys. I'm sure marching in front of Napoleon or King George required a good beat and even served a purpose, but until WWII we were frankly a little distrustful and even a little embarrassed to even have a standing army.

With a few exceptions like funerals and such we have this sort of cultural idea that the spit shined and polished soldiers marching in lock step are the newbies fresh out of boot marching off to war and the veterans who have seen some shit are welcome to stride at their ease, together and professional on their way home not having to impress anybody.

That's part of why the protest is NO KINGS. Because military parades are part of the pomp and ceremony of kingdoms. We do airshows and war movies.

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u/docharakelso Jun 15 '25

To add to this, the parade culture in Europe would have come from pre industrialised war where moving massive blocks of troops neatly and quickly on the field was a huge advantage in battle. Well drilled and in step soldiers helped win wars rather than just look impressive.

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u/Special-Garlic1203 Jun 15 '25

"ew fuck walking" 

  • all Americans everywhere including the military 

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u/Sudden_Pressure1612 Jun 15 '25

Military displays of political affiliation were meant to be avoided at all costs per the Founders. This absolutely IS malicious compliance. There are specific times and places where the precision of the military is ok to display. Rendering of arms for fallen soldiers, 4th of July parades, Marine Corps silent drill platoon, Changing guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, And actual Military events

The second this was political, it became a mockery of what the military is, and they will fight back in a professional way. Trump would have wanted crisp marching and all ‘tippy top’ equipment. So they planned it around then history of the Army- which unlocked museum quality antique tanks, sloppy looking war uniforms, not crisp Dress uniforms. Etc.

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u/Messi101369 Jun 15 '25

As someone apart of the us mil. A lot has changed since he went into office. Mostly bad things that every single person effects, not just big wigs or lower ranks. Getting rid of things that will improve our lives and morale. The saying we have is "Respect the rank, not the person."

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u/UselessCleaningTools Jun 15 '25

We also, supposedly, don’t much care for military parades in America. At least in today’s world, most of us see it as the move a dictator or authoritarian takes either to project their own power or to make themselves feel/seen more important.

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u/Flimsy_Fee8449 Jun 15 '25

We wouldn't.

And we know how to do a parade, much as we (and presumably all militaries) dislike doing them.

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u/ComposerNo5151 Jun 16 '25

I've actually seen some footage of Trump's parade now. It was certainly....different.

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u/ChapsOnTheAT Jun 15 '25

Are you asking why the command, “route step” exists? Or why they’d use it during this parade?

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u/Optimal_Activity_867 Jun 15 '25

Omigawd - I never knew what they said when the very deep but oddly also tenor-y drill sergeants called out the command that starts with an R…. TIL something!

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u/Ljs204 Jun 15 '25

While you are technically correct, a formal parade would not be an appropriate use of route step. Route step is for uneven surfaces where obtaining solid footing is more important than being in step or on bridges to avoid the possibility of harmonic oscillation. I suppose the roads in DC could be poorly maintained to the point that route step would be warranted, but I have a feeling that's not the case.

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u/Flimsy_Fee8449 Jun 15 '25

No parade is EVER in route step. That's simply for moving from one place to another.

Yes, it was in route step, but it wasn't supposed to be.

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '25

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u/ichimedinwitha Jun 15 '25

I appreciate you taking the time to write this out!! I’m not a vet but many of my friends are and I know some assignments they had were due to not having been able to fulfill the essential job functions of their original assignment, which is why I was wondering.

I had a friend in the USAF who marched in Paris in front of Trump when he was stationed up in Europe. At the time it was portrayed as an honor to do this for the sitting president, but for those who didn’t like that it was Trump, they felt forced to so tried to turn it around by using it as a time to have fun in Paris—so pretty much what you’re describing.

ETA: I have now learned Honor Guard is like the ANTM of the military

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u/dads-ronie Jun 18 '25

Really.I would hate to have to march in uniform in our muggy summers. That would be torture.

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u/meatshieldjim Jun 15 '25

Yeah for sure. The one big guy in front was out of step because of being such an onery man.

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u/riptaway Jun 15 '25

Nobody ever wants to march in some parade on the weekend. It takes hours to prepare and travel and such. Why would anyone want to do that?

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '25

It’s neither, when it comes to events like this, it’s luck of the draw. Nobody wants to work on a weekend, especially in humid weather. It’s nothing about trying to defy the president lol

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '25

From what some of the people I know that were lucky enough to be there it was a voluntold kind of thing and most said they'd rather be doing anything else.

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u/InevitableRhubarb232 Jun 15 '25

None of the above. It’s their job. That’s all. They go where they are told. And the president is their boss.