In ancient times, "marching" generally referred to the use of troops, but today it mainly refers to the organized movement of troops in columns along designated routes, and is the basic method of troop mobility. The common terms used in troop marching include "regular march" (or march), "rapid march", "forced march" and "rush", all of which refer to the military activity of troop marching, but each has its own emphasis depending on the specific situation. A march carried out at a normal speed and daily itinerary is called a regular march, which is generally carried out when the troops are performing non-urgent tasks, and is usually referred to as a march.

"Rapid marching" emphasizes the speed of marching, emphasizing that troops march at the fastest speed, and is one of the ways to march in an emergency.

"Forced march" emphasizes the intensity of marching and refers to continuous marching at high speed and for a long time in harsh environments and emergency situations. Usually in this way of marching, the physical and mental endurance of officers and men reaches the limit. Rapid march and forced march are two concepts with similar meanings, and in the 60s of the last century, our army gradually replaced the "rapid march" with the term "forced march".

"Rush" emphasizes both the speed of the march and the purpose of the march, and its meaning is to rush quickly and make a surprise attack on the enemy from afar. Under peaceful conditions, the meaning of rushing has also gradually changed, and the "attack" here no longer only means attacking and fighting, but also implies the meaning of completing the task.

Speed requirements vary depending on conditions

Generally in the case of marching on foot, the speed of "regular march" is 4~5 kilometers per hour, and the daily distance is 30~40 kilometers, the "rapid march" is about 10 kilometers per hour, and the "forced march" is more than 50 kilometers per day, and the continuous march of more than 12 hours a day and night is basically the same.

But this association is not certain. First of all, depending on the means of transport, it is impossible for a march on foot to be the same as a march by car. Secondly, depending on the natural conditions, it is impossible to have the same speed requirements for a march on the plains as it does on a hilly swamp. Again, depending on the load, a soldier with 30 kg of equipment on his back cannot run as fast as a soldier with 10 kg of equipment on his back.

Fast marches are more victorious

Everyone knows that "soldiers are expensive and fast". When fighting and performing tasks, the troops are good at marching, which is of great significance for striving for the initiative, forming a favorable situation, and ensuring the smooth completion of tasks. In the second battle of the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, the 113th Division of the 38th Army of the Chinese Volunteers forcibly marched for 14 hours, marched 72.5 kilometers, and interspersed with Sansholi to cut off the retreat of the US 9th Army.

During the Wenchuan earthquake, it was precisely the forced march of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) and the People's Armed Police Force day and night that quickly rushed to the disaster area under the harsh conditions of "Shu Road is difficult, and it is difficult to go to the blue sky," thus winning precious time to save the lives of the people affected by the disaster.