Since I watched the class of 2016 in their Reception Day parade, I thought I would go and watch their Acceptance Day parade as well. This is was one of the other reviews that I had yet to see. I'm glad I went. It was quite impressive. (And of course, the kids decided to stay home because who wants to see another review when you've already seen more than one....C, reading over my shoulder said, "What do you mean by more than one, we've seen over like 20,000")
Like all of the reviews, the band marches down diagonal walk and takes their place. Then the cadets come out of the sally ports.
The "new cadets" march out of the ends of the building, down the sides of the plain...
and form up on the plain, facing the core of cadets.
There is the normal "bring your units to attention, present arms, etc."
Then, in a military tradition that dates back to the Crusades, the band performs a "sound off" marching in front of the "new cadets" and the core indicating that these units have been selected for battle. (This .... only happens at the "R" day review.)
After the band returns to their position the new cadets step off and march into the core, signifying their acceptance into the core and their promotion from "new cadet" to "plebe".
What an impressive site, to see all 4000 of them formed up on the plain.
This review then concludes like all others, with the inspection of the troops, ... the "pass and review". The band leads it off by marching in front of the reviewing party and then taking their place at the center of the field....
followed by company after company of cadets marching past the reviewing party...
and back to the barracks.
This whole process takes quite a while and the band stands and plays the whole time.
After the last company of cadets marches past the reviewing party, the band follows them and the parade finishes.
No comments:
Post a Comment