marching songs??

[PARAMEDIC]

Hey all 
So I was watching TDV( truth, duty, valor) on tv and a few things striked me as odd.

before I start be forewarned that this maybe offensive to serving members of said regiment. I dont want to ruffle feathers just want honest opinons as to why.

1) Im not sure what its called but im going with marching song or jingle " if i die in a combat zone box me up and ship me home" well you get the picture...the jingles made popular by most combat movies. The royal 22e  were training in Fort Drum and they were singing american jingles not that theres anything wrong with that but we are canadian and Im sure we have some jingles of our own that our boys would be proud to sing.
was it just propaganda to inflate american morale that troops from around the world want to emulate the american army. We always hear our army is second to none but doing that contradicts that.

2) I know that its a hard and difficult job but when your in infantry your weapons and the knowledge of all your arsenal is esssential, even if you dont use that weapon often.
the reason for this is that while watching TDV  they were talking about the carl gustav and the pte. who was being interviewed was knowledgeable about some of the armaments but for one he said "i dont know" that struck me as odd.

I dont mean to stir shite here but im just curious.

That being said, I believe that our boys did us proud in the states and who knows may have convinced a few to start specialist training with us. The show was very informative and gave the canadian army a face to be recognised. It showed a lot of people even canadians who have the wrong impression of what our army does i.e ( we do get into hostile zones and engage, not only hand out rice and sleeping blankets)

Oh BTW if  this post rubbed you the wrong way PM me BUT if you have insight into these two queries feel free to post your opinions.

Thx cherio

 

[Fusaki]

1) Im not sure what its called but im going with marching song or jingle " if i die in a combat zone box me up and ship me home" well you get the picture...the jingles made popular by most combat movies. The royal 22e  were training in Fort Drum and they were singing american jingles not that theres anything wrong with that but we are canadian and Im sure we have some jingles of our own that our boys would be proud to sing.
was it just propaganda to inflate american morale that troops from around the world want to emulate the american army. We always hear our army is second to none but doing that contradicts that.

I remember that episode, and it struck me as something those guys were just doing for the camera. After all, why would a French speaking unit sing an english song? Besides, no one sings marching songs... At least not in my part of town. You'd get laughed at.

2) I know that its a hard and difficult job but when your in infantry your weapons and the knowledge of all your arsenal is esssential, even if you dont use that weapon often.
the reason for this is that while watching TDV  they were talking about the carl gustav and the pte. who was being interviewed was knowledgeable about some of the armaments but for one he said "i dont know" that struck me as odd.

If the pte didn't know the answer to an unreasonable question, it doesn't speak any less of him. On the other hand, I've seen people not understand the simplest concepts or remember the most important bits of information. You can't expect him to know EVERYTHING about the weapon, and if you can't even tell us what the question was you're not going to get much in the way of comments on the subject.

 

[PARAMEDIC]

the question put forward to the pte was, what were the different types of projectiles.
he answered 1 was for tank killing etc etc  he explained them all, except one for which he said i dont know.
I dont think less of him (im not shouting)  its not that i think less of him or of his abilities dont get me wrong its just that  it struck me as odd. maybe he didnt feel comfartable with the camera and didnt answer it correctly or was nervous.

they idea of them putting on for the camera seems the most logical

the idea of this post was not to grill the pte, but to find out the thought process behind singing american jingles, the pte scenario was just an addition.

 

[pbi]

The observation by Ghostwalk:

remember that episode, and it struck me as something those guys were just doing for the camera. After all, why would a French speaking unit sing an english song? Besides, no one sings marching songs... At least not in my part of town. You'd get laughed at.

is interesting. It reminded me of an experience I had as a brand   new Pl Comd in 3PPCLI. As a Militia soldier for eight years prior to transferring to the Regular Army, I had grown up with the idea of singing: singing when marching, running, or riding in trucks. We had lots of great songs (usually filthy...) and we didn't think twice about singing them.

I arrived at 3PPCLI and took my platoon out for its first run. I tried to get the platoon singing, and got a very spotty, lukewarm response. Afterward my Pl 2IC took me aside and said: "Sir--we don't sing in the Regular Force". Of course, I felt like a total fool, but now that I look back over the years, I see that he was right. Regular Canadian soldiers do not, as a rule, sing as part of any activity, much unlike their US counterparts.erhaps they just think it is a "Militia" thing, or too "American": I don't know.  I agree that the R22eR guys singing on TV was probably staged, esp if singing in English. Cheers.

 

[Crazy_Eyes]

Too Bad We dont sing any songs, I know a handful of cadence songs and they're pretty fun. But I guess thats the way it's always been and gonna be

 

[Infanteer]

I've never sang a song in the Reserves.

If you've got the air to sing, you ain't running fast enough....

 

[pbi]

I've never sang a song in the Reserves.

Really? During my time (1974-1982) it was commonplace. I can't remember a bus ride or deuce ride that we didn't sing something. We sang in the mess, and we instilled various songs into the troops in recruit training (quite often songs that insulted other Regts...) We sang when marching (if possible, but obviously not if tactical) and the few times I actually participated in organized PT (usually on a course) we usually sang something when running.

So, IMHO, it was (at least at one time) very common in the Reserve. Anybody else with similar/different views? Any Regular soldiers to comment on why you almost never hear a note sung in any Regular battalion? Cheers.

 

[devil39]

I was in the "MO" in 84-85 and we often sang in the back of Duece-n-halfs.  

In phase trg (BOTC '85, Inf '90), we generally sung in the back of MLVWs.  

When on course and on PT we never sang.   Miserable "Patricia's" would generally make us run faster the moment a squeak came out of anyones mouth.   My Militia Recce course was run by a PPCLI Captain, as was my BOTC, Ph 2 Inf and Ph 3 Inf.   Cured me of singing.

 

[Scott]

I've never sang a song in the Reserves.

If you've got the air to sing, you ain't running fast enough....

Aye! My Platoon Commander on my QL3 loved it when guys started chatting during a run or a march, he'd push out the pace until you had nothing left. Some of the guys asked about singing and were given a very short and to the point answer about why Canadians do not sing, the main reason, which was repeated several times for effect, was that "WE ARE NOT AMERICAN!"

My thoughts

 

[pbi]

Hi  >  39: Roger that. But what about "The Sound of Music" in battalion life (you being more current than I, although you are a pogue now...)

Cheers

PS: I'm not talking about singing in the Officers' Mess (although that has died off, too..)

 

[Inch]

I find that odd that the Patricia's don't sing, it was a Patricia WO that made my entire BOTC company memorize the Patricia Medley in preparation for the 13km march. When I was in the militia we didn't sing at all, except Bonnie Dundee at mess dinners.

Cheers

 

[devil39]

Hi    >    39: Roger that. But what about "The Sound of Music" in battalion life (you being more current than I, although you are a pogue now...)

Cheers

PS: I'm not talking about singing in the Officers' Mess (although that has died off, too..)

I've found that, other than late night mess functions and coy parties (brings out he Neil Diamond fans), its pretty quiet.   Pt today is also much more intense than it was 12 years ago in my opinon.   Most people don't know the words to the Regt'l songs that they would have heard 10-15 years ago.

Damn, am I ever a pogue.   Don't rub it in, you'll make me cry. :   )

 

[Fusaki]

Any Regular soldiers to comment on why you almost never hear a note sung in any Regular battalion? Cheers.

In the regs, the novelty of riding in MLs has worn off, as has the novelty of Ruck Marches and Runs.

 

[devil39]

In the regs, the novelty of riding in MLs has worn off, as has the novelty of Ruck Marches and Runs.

Reads like a French existentialist novel.  

20 yrs old, jaded, done it all.

You Regs....

 

[pbi]

Actually, I think Ghostwalk may have hit it on the head. For Reserve soldiers (at least us musical types...) it was all Great Fun Doing Soldier Things, but for Regular soldiers it is just "same old same old". That, and I think Canadian Regular soldiers are by nature skeptical and suspicious of "motivational" things that others might respond to. Not a slight, at all, but an observation over a few years. Cheers.

 

[chrisf]

For some reason I always start singing the lumber jack song while riding an ML...

 

[skura]

How about the "Old School" marching song;

"I don't know but it's been said, one more lap and I'll be dead"

 

[Crazy_Eyes]

I dont know but it's been said, one more lap and i'll be dead....lol thats great

 

[Genetk44]

I find it interesting that a number of posts on this thread refer to CF regulars not singing because either "we're not Americans" or because it seems too American to do so. So, what about the French Foriegn Legion...they have a whole slew of marching songs....i believe that recruits are required to memorize them....and they do sing them while marching. Saw a march past while in France...very impressive and they ain't Americans ;D

 

[nbk]

" if i die in a combat zone box me up and ship me home"

I remember that from Full Metal Jacket.

If I die in a combat zone, box me up and ship me home
Lay my medals upon my chest, tell my mom I done my best
Bury my body six foot down, till you hear it hit the ground
When it hits the bottom you'll hear me say:
"I wanna be a drill instructor"
"I wanna cut off all of my hair"
"I wanna be a drill instructor"
"I wanna wear my Smokey Bear"
Hu-ah hu-ah hu-ah
Mama and Papa were laying in bed
Mama turned over this is what she said:
"A gimme some"
"A gimme some"
"PT!"
"PT!"
"Good for you"
"Good for me"
"Real good"
"Mmm good"
"Hell yeah"
"Aww yeah"