Marching is not just a tradition.
Marching gained popularity during the imperial days, where
armies used to face of each other like hay dummies,e.g The
Patriot
It teaches you discipline in that you are able to move with the
rest of your platoon as a cohesive unit. If you have drilled with a
platoon before, you'll know this is more difficult than it
sounds.
There are many other ways to build discipline.
While parade square movements does not look anything like combat
movements, it teaches men to follow orders instantly. When a
command is shouted during a drill, you respond immediately. In the
field, when a silent hand signal is given by the commander,
everyone stops and take cover. Isn't this like drilling on the
square?
IFC signals are not similar to parade commands!!! That is the
reson why they are classified in a category of their own.
Another use for marching is when men are dead tired during long
route march. The platoon will start to straggle and the slow ones
will start to fall behind. A commander is able to get everyone to
fall in order and move in formation again. A formation gives
strength to the weaker members of the group - like migrating birds
fly in formation. You can't do that if soldiers don't know how to
march.
The point about the psyhcological effect of the route marching
example you have given is vaild, however do understand I'm refering
to ceremonial marching being useless.
And really, if soldiers do not know how to march, how are they
different from mob?
The Israeli army would be considered well trained, well equiped,
well supported yet they view ceremonial marching as
unimportant.
While there are a lot of smart people there are also a lot of low
IQ folks or "kwailan" ppl in the army. And for these people,
learning how to instanly obey an order starts in the parade
square.
Again there are other ways to teach people to take orders. The
time spent in the parade square could be spent construtively
elsewhere.
People running armies all over the world are not stupid. Marching
has been practiced by armies for centuries and they will continue
to do so. Don't knock something cos you don't understand
it.
They may not be stupid but they have the old school mentality
that grand useless ceremonial parades are somehow suppose to
instill regimental discipline.
And people like you my friend are awestruck by such superfical
things that don't matter in combat.
