Cadence and marching are an important part of military tradition. They are also an effective way to move troops from one point to another. For these reasons, you will do lots of marching in formation, from the first day in reception to the day of graduation. Along with these marches, as mentioned, are cadences, a call and response iniated by the drill sergeant. Popular cadences may make reference to the number of weeks until graduation, the effect of "tiny bubbles" in alcohol, the location of one's bayonet (in a commie's back, perhaps) and even the drill sergeant's grandmother (and what she did in her 90's). As you can see, no one is excluded from the sheer joy of cadence call, and the practice lends humor and life to otherwise boring, hot marches. The practice will also likely exhaust your vocal cords within a week.
Along with company and platoon marching is "drill and ceremony", a series of facing movements, group commands, and rifle commands which are used for formal and ceremonial occasions. The Army is a proud, tradition based unit, and the teaching of such commands is vital to keeping this spirit of history alive.
