How to March, Army Style

This basic marching information pertains to all marching movements.

a.   All marching movements executed from the Halt are initiated from the Position of Attention.

b.   Except for Route Step March  and At Ease March,  all marching movements are executed while marching at Attention. Marching at Attention is the combination of the Position of Attention and the procedures for the prescribed step executed simultaneously.

c.   When executed from the Halt, all steps except Right Step begin with the left foot.(See Chapter 3, paragraph 3-1a and paragraph 4-15a.)

d.   For short-distance marching movements, the commander may designate the numberof steps forward, backward, or sideward by giving the appropriate command: One step to the right (left), MARCH; or, Two steps backward (forward), MARCH. On the command of execution  MARCH,  step  
off  with  the  appropriate  foot,  and  halt  automatically  after completing the number of steps designated. Unless otherwise specified, when directed to execute steps forward, the steps will be 30-inch steps.

e.   All marching movements are executed in the cadence of Quick Time (120 steps per minute), except the 30-inch step, which may be executed in the cadence of 180 steps per minute on the command Double Time, MARCH.

f.   A step is the prescribed distance from one heel to the other heel of a marching Soldier.

g.   All 15-inch steps are executed for a short distance only.