Obaba Museum

Parade Attention!

Salute!

These are some of the few words of command most members of the civilian population resonate with. We sometimes wonder why the life of the Force is characterised by loud jamborees. There are of course many obvious reasons why the life of a soldier has to be regimented but today we would be discussing why soldiers shout the words of command, especially during parades.
The use of shouted military commands can be traced back to ancient times. It was particularly prevalent in armies before the widespread use of radios and other modern communication technologies. In order to ensure that the instructions were clearly heard and understood simultaneously by the soldier, especially in noisy and chaotic environments such as during combat or training exercises superior officers usually shouted commands. This made it easier for soldiers to hear and respond quickly. Ancient civilizations such as the Greeks and Romans established a formidable armed force which has remained a model for most military formations today in terms of discipline and regimentation, thus, most of the traditions remain in the military culture. In formations such as the phalanx, where soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder, commanders needed to shout orders to be heard over the noise of battle and ensure coordination, of course with the advancement in technology and historical experience many military exercises prioritise stealth in certain operations hence, not all commands are shouted. There are situations where quieter or more discreet communication methods, such as hand signals or radio transmissions, are employed to maintain stealth or operational security.
While advancements in communication technology, such as radios, have significantly changed military command and control methods, shouting commands is still employed in various situations. It continues to be used in training exercises, close-quarters combat scenarios, and situations where rapid and direct communication is required.
It’s worth noting that modern militaries have also developed other methods of communication, such as hand signals, radios, and encrypted digital systems, to complement or replace shouted commands, depending on the operational needs and circumstances. These additional communication tools provide more flexibility, security, and efficiency in relaying instructions, but shouting commands retains its significance in certain military contexts especially in most of ceremonial parades.

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