Which statement about the three marching steps is accurate?

• A. The 15-inch step, the 30-inch step, and the 30-inch step, double time at 180 steps per minute are the prescribed steps
• B. The steps are 12-inch, 24-inch, and 36-inch
• C. The steps are 18-inch, 30-inch, and 60-inch
• D. The steps are 15-inch, 30-inch, and 60-inch

Answer: (A)

Understanding marching step lengths and cadences in drill and ceremony. In Army drill, there are three standard step lengths used in common marching: a short step of 15 inches for close-formation movements, a normal stepping length of 30 inches for standard marching, and, when moving in double time, a 30-inch step at a cadence of 180 steps per minute. The cadence increases in double time, while the step length remains the same (30 inches per step).

The correct statement lists these exact values: 15-inch step, 30-inch step, and a 30-inch step in double time at 180 steps per minute. That alignment with both the standard step lengths and the correct cadenced speed makes it the right choice. The other options propose step lengths that aren’t used in standard drill (such as 12/24/36 or 18/30/60 or 15/30/60), and the 60-inch measures are impractical for regular marching.