San Diego, California. (March 11, 2025): In this photo by Lance Corporal Janell B. Alvarez, Sergeant Angel Felix, a drill instructor, recites Marine Corps knowledge to recruits during a 2-kilometer introduction hike at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. For these Marines, the marching has just begun. Before their training is over, these recruits will have marched hundreds of miles in a series of progressively longer hikes.

But why all the marching?

For centuries, the only way to get soldiers to the battlefield was on foot. Today, we have every conceivable means of transportation, yet our troops still find themselves marching constantly from the first day of Basic training.

The reasons are many. First, marching establishes order and teaches obedience to commands. Managing large numbers of troops requires creating close formations and getting troops to respond to orders. These commands often come in the form of cadence or military songs led by a unit leader to keep a uniform pace and to maintain morale. Troops quickly learn to instantly follow commands as they gain greater confidence working as a team.

The second major advantage of marching is it is a full body exercise, particularly hauling heavy equipment. Toting fifty pounds of equipment for miles challenges one’s core muscles, legs, upper back, and shoulders while building strength and endurance. Every step tests each member’s endurance and desire to win. The Army Rangers, for example, are required to carry a 35-pound rucksack over 12 miles and maintain a pace of up to 15 minutes per mile. The ability to march a certain distance carrying a load of equipment is central to almost all military units and is still a part of military training today.

Finally, and most importantly, marching ensures resilience and mental toughness develops within an infantry unit. The group learns to ignore pain, fatigue, and a lack of food and water with a certain grit and determination. For these reasons, troops will continue to march and absorb all the lessons it teaches.