How to Run in Formation

Almost everything in the military is done with precision and group movements are no exception. From the moment you arrive at basic training, regardless of the service or service academy, you’ll need to learn to run in a tightly packed formation over great distances. This isn’t intended as harassment or hazing, it’s simply the easiest method to ensure that large groups of soldiers, sailors, airmen or Marines arrive at a common destination quickly and simultaneously. Running in formation requires skill and some degree of training. Without it, or when someone makes a mistake, a number of people in the formation could trip and fall. Here’s how you can stay on your feet during long or short formation runs.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Military formation

1. Running in a military formation is akin to jogging. At a march the rate of movement is 90 paces per minute. At double-time, the jogging speed used in a formation of troops, that rate increases to 180 steps per minute. Double-time is used during all military training and those leading the formations are adept at sticking precisely to that rate.

2. Know that you’re in close quarters with everyone around you in any formation but when your unit is at double-time, that proximity can become hazardous. You should be an arm’s length from the person in front of you, and you should be an elbow’s length from the person beside you. In any formation, the “dress” is always right; therefore, you should stay even with the person to your right.

3. Stay in step. The “left, right, left” cadence being sung by those in charge of the formation ensures that the rate of movement, double-time, is maintained. In formations, everyone’s left foot should move forward simultaneously; there should be no “wave” actions. If you fall out of step when running, you run the risk of either tripping the person in front of you or being tripped by the person behind you. This can happen if your advancing left foot collides with his (or her) trailing left foot. If anyone in the formation collides and falls, the effect is like that of dominoes. Strive to keep in step at all costs carefully skipping a step if necessary to regain the cadence.

4. Know that it’s easy to acquire tunnel vision during formation runs. This happens because you’re focused less on the run and more on keeping your place in the formation. When tunnel vision sets in, inexperienced runners have a tendency to faint. Most organizations frown on individuals within the formation looking around, but do your best to maintain an awareness of where you are on the run route by stealing glances to your front and to the left and right. Situational awareness will help stave off tunnel vision.

5. Contrary to battlefield rules, if anyone drops out of a formation run it is not your responsibility to stop and offer assistance. In fact, doing so will only add to the confused “traffic jam” nature of the situation. Military formations always position people at the end of the unit whose job is to police up and care for those who have fallen out of the formation.

Tips & Warnings

• Learn to use your peripheral vision in order to maintain your “dress” within the formation.
• If the person to your front begins to slow down and thus starts to hinder your progress, it is often acceptable to place your hand on that individual’s back to keep her (or him) from endangering you.
• Make sure you’re physically capable of maintaining a double-time pace of 180 paces per minute.
• Before you straight-arm the person in front of you as they begin to fall back, make certain your actions are sanctioned by the unit’s standing operating procedures.