Photo By Cpl. Mark Stroud | Marines from the Staff Non-commissioned Officers Academy, Marine Corps Base Camp...... read more read more
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CAMP HANSEN, Japan - It’s not the rooster’s crow, reveille or morning colors that breaks the early morning silence on Marine bases.
The wakeup call is most often a single Marine shouting, “Double time!” Then a cadence starts, which slowly brings the silent streets of the base to life.
Cadence is an integral part of the Marine Corps because it provides motivation, builds confidence and promotes leadership traits and unit cohesion.
“[Cadence] makes that run much more motivating and enjoyable,” said Master Sgt. Darcy D. Dean, an equal opportunity adviser for Marine Corps Base Camp Butler. “Any time we get the opportunity to do anything together as a team, it helps to draw us closer together and helps to make for a more cohesive unit.”
The Marine calling cadence for a unit is in an important leadership position. It is important that young Marines master cadence to be prepared when they become the corporals and sergeants, said Sgt. Johnathon V. Wood, a student at the Sergeants’ Course, Staff Non-commissioned Officers Academy here.
“[Cadence] is extremely important, especially for a non-commissioned officer. It provides the subordinates with confidence in their leader,” said Wood. “I make my [private first classes] call cadence. It allows them to get out in front of their peers and gain confidence in themselves.”
For Marines unfamiliar with calling cadence, the experience can be intimidating.
“When I first started calling cadence, my voice would go out, and I’d be frustrated. I would forget the lines,” said Wood. “When I kept doing it, I built that confidence up.”
Like many things, practicing is the key to mastering cadence.
“Start off simple and practice often, even if means singing to yourself,” said Dean, who is a former drill instructor. “The more that you do it, the better you’ll get at it, and the more confident you’ll become.”
Marines who gain confidence in their ability to lead their peers in a cadence run may also experience benefits outside of the PT field.
“The confidence that you gain from being in front of your peers in a PT environment can transfer to a work environment and a combat environment,” said Wood.
Along with building confidence, calling cadence is a good way to increase Marines’ ability to make themselves heard, which is crucial in a combat environment where being heard over the din of battle means the difference between life and death.
“In combat situations especially, it would help them move that air to be able to sound off,” said Wood.
Marines become louder and louder as they to exercise their vocal muscles, diaphragm and lungs.
“Like any other muscle in your body, the more that you use [the diaphragm] the bigger, stronger and more efficient it becomes over time,” said Dean.
Keeping the cadence from becoming repetitive is important to maintaining its effectiveness as a motivating tool.
“It is important to bring new [cadences] to the table. You can’t be calling the same cadence every time you are out there,” said Wood. “My favorite cadence is one I came up with [based off of a rock song].”
You can mix it up and make your own cadence; it doesn’t all have to be Marine Corps cadence,” he said.
On the PT fields and streets of Marine Corps bases everywhere, the tradition continues with time-tested and new cadences alike.
The daily songs, beginning in the wee hours, continue to build confidence, encourage leadership traits, promote unit cohesion and start off the Marine Corps’ day with a blast of motivation for all those within earshot.
| Date Taken: | 08.11.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 08.10.2011 23:52 |
| Story ID: | 75164 |
| Location: | CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 363 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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