BEING IN STEP

 

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

 

26/I/2025

 

Let me start this article by wishing each proud Indian a very Happy Republic Day. What a grand parade it was today. My heart swells with pride when I say that in the Mechanised Contingent, my Unit 17 Mech Inf (Recce & Sp) (Tr) participated, showcasing the coveted ‘Nag’ Anti Tank Missile.

 

The whole parade starting from the laying of wreath at the National War memorial, to the mechanised columns, followed by the marching contingents and tableaus, to the culminating event of the fly past was all about precise timings and being in step.

 

The digging of heels and swinging of arms is so precise that even if one in the whole group is a little slow or fast can be picked out. The whole spectacle gets off set. Even a person who is not used to drill and parades can point that anomaly out. That is why we rehearse, rehearse, and rehearse.

 

In the forces and Army in particular we have a habit to be in step. Even if two people are moving, the junior tries to look from the side of his eye to adjust to the speed and length of the step of the senior and gets into the same rhythm as him at the first instant. This is what makes us stand out from all those in the civil, who may or may not think about it.

 

By the way, it looks nice to walk like an Army man. It is simple, we match our steps and move.

 

That is why we have a band accompanying our Marching troops. The beat is in ‘threes’ signifying left-right-left. A fauji, no matter where, starts walking with his left foot first. It becomes part of life. The right hand follows the left foot without a thought. Chest out, chin in and walk ramrod straight is how it is done.

 

I remember, ‘not matching’ steps can lead to disaster. An example of this was the Cross-Country run-in NDA. All squadrons lined up at the glider dome at the start point waiting for the chequered flag to be waived. At that very moment a flood of cadets would take off into the wilderness.

 

The worst used to be if someone stepped on your heel. The PT shoe used to come off which was the most irritating thing on earth. Not that you would have come first, but to get that damn shoe back on again could cost you an enclosure at the finish line.

 

Have a look at the ‘pall bearers’. Carrying a coffin is the most difficult thing if the drill has not been coordinated. A wrong step can disbalance the coffin, which I noticed yesterday when I went to bid farewell to a colony mate, who set out on his last journey. Eight people of different heights carried him.

 

The first twenty meters seemed as if the body might topple. Then everyone realised that it is time to get into step and rhythm. Luckily, the hearse was not placed very far and everything went well.

 

What I noticed today was the matching of steps by the three Chiefs at the wreath laying ceremony at the National War Memorial. Whom do the four walking behind the PM match their steps with. The PM or the RM. Or alternatively, all in uniform need to follow the steps of the CDS.

 

The speed and steps of the PM and RM did not match. The Air Chief lost his step a couple of times and as usual tried to get into step with the other officers. The CDS and the Army Chief are the same height and remained in step. The Naval Chief being the tallest missed out on matching his steps too.

 

Moment, they felt they were out of step a drill called ‘kadam badal’ was done and the four got into step.

 

I think the military mind is automatically tuned to the sound of the drum. A side drummer could mark the pace of steps from somewhere behind the buglers for the Chiefs and the CDS to mark their steps.

 

I am not sure if anyone from the civil would have noticed it, but I and many other people from the forces watching the wreath laying ceremony would definitely have noticed it. The civil dignitaries found nothing wrong in matching their steps and walking. However, the row behind was busy getting into step.

 

Being in step signifies that all of us are on the same grid and unison. We in the forces practice and coordinate things. After all it is ‘our’ show as the major portion taking part is people in uniform.

 

Have you ever gotten out of step and then quickly corrected yourself? I wonder!!!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0kIFEh0dzw

JAI HIND & A HAPPY REPUBLIC DAY

©® NOEL ELLIS