The value of marching isn’t about the act itself, but about the discipline, skills, and teamwork it instills that can be applied to many different areas of life.
See also https://thedrillmaster.org/2025/01/22/understanding-the-benefits-of-military-drill/
How Marching Truly Wins Wars
“Marching doesn’t win wars.” It’s a common refrain, often said with an air of dismissal. It is stated by those ignorant of what marching actually accomplishes. Is everyone in uniform expected to have the ultra-precision of the Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps or the Silent Drill Platoon, arguably the best marching unit in the US military? No, of course not.
The image of soldiers in perfect formation, parading in review, seems like a relic of a bygone era—a formality with no real combat application. But to believe this is to fundamentally misunderstand what marching is and what it accomplishes.
The truth is, marching absolutely wins wars. Not because the act of walking in unison defeats an enemy, but because it is the fundamental training that forges a group of individuals into a cohesive fighting force.
More Than Just a Walk
Think of any successful team—a football team, a championship-winning swim team, or even a top-tier surgical unit. Their success isn’t just about their individual skills; it’s about their ability to operate as a single, synchronized entity. Marching is the military’s version of a team practice drill.
It is a discipline that instills:
- Precision and Discipline: Every step is practiced to be exactly the same. This isn’t for show; it’s a deep lesson in following orders with absolute precision. In the chaos of combat, this muscle memory is what allows a unit to execute complex maneuvers under extreme pressure.
- Unity and Cohesion: When you march in formation, you are literally and figuratively in sync with the person next to you. Your success depends on their pace, and their success depends on yours. This shared physical experience builds an unbreakable bond and a sense of collective responsibility.
- Focus Under Duress: Marching, especially with heavy gear and for long distances, is a test of physical and mental endurance. It teaches participants to shut out distractions, ignore discomfort, and maintain focus on the objective—all essential skills for a soldier in the field.
These aren’t just military skills; they are life skills. They are the same attributes that lead to success in any demanding field. The discipline of a long-distance runner, the teamwork of a basketball squad, the focus of a surgeon—they are all learned through repeated, disciplined practice, just like a soldier learns to march.
From the Parade Ground to the Battlefield
The battlefield is the ultimate test of a unit’s training. A squad that can move together as one, react to commands without hesitation, and maintain formation under fire is a squad that has a significant advantage. This level of synchronization is not something that can be learned on the fly; it is the direct result of countless hours of marching and drilling.
So, the next time you see a group marching, whether it’s a military parade or a high school band, look past the simple motions. Recognize that what you are seeing is the mastery of foundational skills. You are witnessing the development of discipline, the forging of teamwork, and the building of a force that is prepared to face any challenge. Marching doesn’t just look good; it prepares soldiers to be great. And in war, being great is the only way to win.
“We have More Important Things to Do/Fix”
Someone always claims that we must fix one problem before we can fix another. “We have barracks that are not livable! Fix that and then…” That does not work as an argument.
The infrastructure on military installations has fallen into severe disrepair. I can see that all across social media. It is inexcusable that the civilian and military leadership over the last 40+ years has let all of this slide while contractors make money hand over fist. There is much to fix, but to say that one issue needs to be addressed and then another implies a false choice argument and can be a form of the False Dichotomy or False Dilemma fallacy.
- False Dichotomy/Dilemma: This fallacy presents only two options or solutions when, in reality, there are more. In your scenario, the person is presenting “fixing military housing” and “fixing the other problem” as mutually exclusive options that must be addressed sequentially. They are creating an “either/or” situation when it’s likely possible to work on both issues simultaneously.
Other related concepts and fallacies that might apply include:
- Argument from Priority: While not a formal fallacy, this is a common rhetorical strategy. It’s the assertion that one issue is more urgent or important than another and therefore deserves immediate and exclusive attention. The problem arises when this assertion is used to dismiss or ignore the other issue entirely, especially if the prioritization is arbitrary or baseless.
- Zero-Sum Fallacy: This is the mistaken belief that a gain for one side must result in a loss for another. One person might be viewing resources (money, time, effort) as a fixed pie, believing that any effort directed towards drill and ceremonies must necessarily be taken away from “military housing,” when in reality, more resources might be available, or different teams could work on both issues at the same time.
It is a common tactic to simplify a complex situation by presenting it as a choice between two things when a more nuanced, simultaneous approach is possible. So, we can address several issues at the same time and continuously.
When Do We Practice?
You have a morning formation for PT, As part of your warm up and cool down routines, march. Form up for your shift or chow, make time, even just an hour a week in between other activities and you will see a change in the unit.
We can figure this out and make our warfighting capabilities great again.