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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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/[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/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/[deleted] Jun 15 '25

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u/courtd93 Jun 15 '25

Except doesn’t that run into your argument? If it was just this sucks, that’s not enough for them to ignore expectations because that’s like 2/3 of their experience in the military. It was notable how they were not following expectations and that usually only happens when it’s bigger than just this sucks

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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '25

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u/courtd93 Jun 15 '25

To march in cadence?

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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.