Editing Marching

{{Short description|Formal style of walking}}
{{Redirect|Quick march|music|Quickstep (march music)}}
{{Hatnote group|
{{Distinguish|Marjing}}
{{Other uses|March (disambiguation)}}
}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2015}}
[[File:Battalion march with gas mask.jpg|thumb|US Naval Construction Battalion NMCB-1 ([[Seabee (US Navy)|US Navy Seabee]]s) marching in route.]]
[[File:Nara ww294 w455.jpg|thumb|370th Infantry Regiment, US Army, in route-step march toward the mountains north of [[Prato]], Italy, (the [[Gothic Line]]) – April 1945.]]

'''Marching''' refers to the organized, uniformed, steady [[walking]] forward in either rhythmic or [[military step#Marching types|route-step]] time; and, typically, it refers to overland movements on foot  of [[military]] [[troop]]s and [[military unit|unit]]s under [[five paragraph order|field orders]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=March Definition & Meaning {{!}} Britannica Dictionary |url=https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/march |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Marching is often performed to [[march (music)|march music]] and is typically associated with [[military parade|military]] and civilian ceremonial [[parade]]s. It is a major part of [[military]] basic training in most countries and usually involves a system of [[drill commands]]. It can also be used as a general term to describe a protest in which protestors move such as the [[March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom]], a watershed moment in the [[civil rights movement]].

== Purpose ==
It is said that many ancient empires first developed marching as a way to move troops from one place to another without them getting mixed up with other troops.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Military.com |date=2021-03-31 |title=The Importance of Drill |url=https://www.military.com/join-armed-forces/the-importance-of-drill.html |access-date=2022-03-11 |website=Military.com |language=en}}</ref> A soldier learning to march to [[drum cadence]]s, [[martial music]] and shouted commands is considered an essential element of teaching military [[discipline]].

In the [[United States Marine Corps]], [[close order drill]] is used to promote exercise, obeying orders, discipline, [[esprit de corps|morale]], confidence, and leadership.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marines.mil/Portals/1/Publications/MCO%20P5060.20%20W%20CH%201.pdf|title=Marine Corps Drill and Ceremonies Manual}}</ref>

== Military paces ==
In the military venue there are various rhythmic [[military step]]s or standard paces. One step occurs on each beat. A pace is the length of one step, assumed to be 75&nbsp;cm or 30"; (not to be confused with the ancient Roman unit of length (2 steps or 5 Roman feet = 148&nbsp;cm or 58")). The three most common paces are: 

* Quick March: The basic mobility. 120 beats per minute (beats/min. or bpm). In the US this is called "quick time".
* Double March: The basic run.  180 beats/min. In the US this is called "double time".
* Slow March: Ceremonial pace, 60 beats/min.
Some paces specific to particular units include:

* British armed services:
** [[Royal Air Force|RAF]],<ref>"RAF Drill and Ceremonial", AP818.  Available at e.g. https://www.200sqn.co.uk/resources/files/AP818-Condensed.pdf</ref> [[Royal Navy]],<ref>"Royal Navy Ceremonial and Drill", BRd 1834. Available at https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/a_copy_of_the_royal_navy_drill_m/response/1614088/attach/3/brd%201834%20book%201.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1</ref> and the [[British Army|army]]<ref name=":0">"The Drill Manual", Army Code No 70166. Available at https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5acf2fb740f0b617df33589e/2018-03287.pdf</ref> except the Rifles: Quick March 116 beats/min., Slow March 65 beats/min.
** [[Rifle regiment|Rifles]] March: Quick March 140 beats/min. (like double-time, this is a rapid trot, with the rifle usually carried at the trail, not on the shoulder), Slow March 70 beats/min.<ref name=":0" />
** [[Highland regiment|Highland]] March: Regiment-specific pace, 80 beats/min. when wearing kilts.

* [[French Foreign Legion]] Pace: 88 beats/min
* Paso Legionario: Specific march used by the [[Spanish Legion]], 144 beats/min, embodiment of their "espíritu de marcha".
* Typical [[Germany|German]] speed is 112 beats/min.

== Techniques ==
Marching techniques vary across military steps, countries, branches of military, and context. For rhythmic marching, individuals must maintain their ''dress'', ''cover'', ''interval'', and ''distance'' (DCID):
* ''dress'' — alignment with the person to the side;
* ''cover'' — alignment with the person in front;
* ''interval'' — space between the person(s) to the side;
* ''distance'' — space between the person in front. {{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}

For mechanical efficiency, opposite arms usually swing with each leg while marching. British and Commonwealth armed forces keep their arms straight and swing the hand as high as the shoulder while forward and in theory to the level of the belt when backward.  US Marines swing the arm six inches to the front and three inches to the rear while<ref>MARINE CORPS ORDER P5060.20</ref> US Army Soldiers swing the arm nine inches to the front and six inches to the rear. Some European armies bend the arm during the swing.  Many believe these differing practices help maintain rhythm for long route marches. US troops usually march long distances at "route step" which does not require them to maintain a specific pace or length of step. Some South American and Eastern European countries march on parade with the stiff leg earlier famous as the "[[goose step]]" of German troops. German and Scandinavian military bands and units swing with only the right arm, 90 degrees straight out. Some troops (like the Royal Swedish Lifeguard) swing with their left arm. This is because they carry their rifle in their right arm. {{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}
The [[Royal Marines]] refer to a long distance march carrying full kit as a [[yomp]]. The most famous yomp of recent times was during the 1982 [[Falklands War]]. {{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}

== Parades and protest ==
[[File:Marcha contra la criminalización de la protesta social - 8596261691.jpg|thumb|Protestors marching in opposition to an anti-protest law]]
For some people, marching is a major provocative ritual. In [[Northern Ireland]], for example, hundreds of marches occur annually. These are usually organized by groups such as the [[Orange Order]], which provide most of the participants. Music is provided by [[marching band]]s including [[silver band]]s, flute bands and others. Marching is often seen as a symbol of control over a particular area, and marching is often seen as a [[sectarian]] activity.<ref>{{cite book |author=Dominic Bryan |title=Orange Parades: The Politics of Ritual, Tradition and Control |publisher=Pluto Press |year=2000 |isbn=0-7453-1413-9}}</ref> 

Marching is often used - in the UK at least - during Armistice Day as a show of respect to those who fell during all wars and is done at the "slow march" from a pre-defined meeting place to the cenotaph. The march usually consists of Active Duty and Retired Military Personnel, Cadet Corps, Relatives and volunteer civilians.

During the [[civil rights movement]], marches across cities were used as method to protest against civil injustice by [[civil disobedience]], such as causing blockades, shutting down infrastructure, and to make protestors goals known.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://scholarlycommons.law.case.edu/caselrev/vol16/iss3/13/|title=Civil Disobedience in the Civil Rights Movement: To What Extent Protected and Sanctioned|first=Edward|last=Marek|date=January 1, 1965|journal=Case Western Reserve Law Review|volume=16|issue=3|pages=711}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{wikiquote}}
{{Commons category|Marching }}
* [[Drill team]]
* [[Exhibition drill]]
* [[Goose step]]
*[[Loaded march]]
* [[Lockstep marching]]
* [[Majorettes]]
* [[March (music)]]
* [[Marching band]]
* [[Military step]]
* [[Parade]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Military marching]]
[[Category:Uses of boots]]
[[Category:Police culture]]
[[Category:Military traditions]]