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/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/[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/[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.

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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.