One of the things I expected to experience during basic training was running together as a unit and singing cadence. This was one of the things I looked forward to as I prepared to train with the U.S. Marine Corps. You may not know this, but I spent some time in the Marine Corps delayed entry program (DEP) after I finished my Associates Degree. I eventually switched branches because my recruiter did not seem to have my best interests in mind.
Anyway, I figured that Air Force basic training would be along the same lines and provide a similar style of training to a degree. I know USMC boot camp is the most difficult, but I expected that we would at least run in formation and march in formation while singing cadences. It was one of the things I most looked forward to. But this was not to be. Our Military Training Instructors marched us solely by going “left, left, left, right left, hut, two, three, four, left, left, left, right left.” That was it. They never called cadence or had us sing or engage.
I think throughout my entire time in basic, one of my TIs might have called two lines of cadence. I got so excited and thought, “Oh man, here it comes, my real military experience.” But it was just that one or two lines and never again. Thinking back on it, I equate it to teaching fitness. I do not know if it is a cultural Air Force thing because I can only relate to and speak on my flight’s experience. But I am inclined to think that this came down to the individual instructors putting in varying levels of effort. Similar to how some group exercise instructors put in more effort than others, I presume the same happens here. I am not entirely sure because I can only speak for my flight. I never saw anyone calling cadence, except some Navy guys once.
Since this is how my boot camp experience went, I did not come back with a host of running songs and cadences after boot camp. In fact, I do not recall ever once running together in formation. We would get up early, go to a road, and it was basically every Airman for themselves. There were a bunch of us from different flights running and we were all trying to make some run time in 1.5 or 2 miles, I forget which.
That was one of my most disappointing encounters during boot camp. Granted, I lost about 25 pounds, but that was because we marched everywhere, they put me on a diet, and we had a very controlled eating regimen. Also, I was made a road guard — you can read more about that here. In any case, since I did not have the boot camp experience I expected, I have to improvise when I go running now. I love to run to military cadence, and frankly, the only Air Force album I found was not great. There were like only two songs I liked and the rest did not do much for me. The USMC has the best cadences and the Army has some nice ones too.
When I run, I put on my headphones, I dig up my USMC running cadence album with percussion and I hit the pavement. I will be honest, it feels a little awkward to me since I was not a Marine. So if people are around, I will replace “Corps” with “Force,” and any references to the Marines, I change them to the Air Force. I know how protective Marines are about that title, and not having earned it, I feel funny running and calling it “My Corps” when it is not. So instead I say, “My Force, your force, our force, Air Force.” They put it out there for people to use, and I sure do enjoy a good Marine Corps cadence. At least I have the decency to change the lyrics to reflect the branch I actually attended!
So what do you listen to when you hit the road?
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