Command Voice

[CadetColonelToBe]

let's say a girl in CAP wants to be a flight sergeant but she's not sure how to use a command voice... she doesn't want to sound like shes trying to sound like a boy but doesn't want to sound to girly. What should she do?

[bflynn]

Be herself.

Command voice is more about projection, cadence and tone, not about sounding like a boy.

[RogueLeader]

I had a Platoon Leader that definitely had a "command voice."  She did NOT sound like a man (or boy for that matter.)

[abdsp51]

Be herself.

Command voice is more about projection, cadence and tone, not about sounding like a boy.

Partly right your command voice should consist of the following,

1) Loudness
2) Projection
3) Distinctness
4) Inflection
5) Snap

These are what you need per AFMAN36-2203 for your command voice.  Also when you call your commands you give a slight pause between the prepatory andthe execution commands.  And make sure you are projecting from the diaphram and not your throat.

[Eclipse]

Think before you speak.

Do not try to show off, be direct and indicate what you need to happen succinctly.

Look people in the eye.

A low volume with a "business tone" and a "3000 psi stare" can be much more effective then yelling.

[abdsp51]

Think before you speak.

Do not try to show off, be direct and indicate what you need to happen succinctly.

Look people in the eye.

A low volume with a "business tone" and a "3000 psi stare" can be much more effective then yelling.

Mind if I borrow that?

[Eclipse]

All yours - those come from two Lt Cols (1 Army, 1 USAF) for whom I have a lot of respect and who practice what they preach.

[EMT-83]

Think before you speak.

Do not try to show off, be direct and indicate what you need to happen succinctly.

Look people in the eye.

A low volume with a "business tone" and a "3000 psi stare" can be much more effective then yelling.

+1  A command "presence" is at least as important as the command voice. Ever form a first impression about someone, based on how they present themselves?

It can be "wow, he/she really has their stuff together" ... or not.

[coudano]

Partly right your command voice should consist of the following,

1) Loudness
2) Projection
3) Distinctness
4) Inflection
5) Snap

These are what you need per AFMAN36-2203 for your command voice.  Also when you call your commands you give a slight pause between the prepatory andthe execution commands.  And make sure you are projecting from the diaphram and not your throat.

Don't forget 6) Cadence, and you're good.

[abdsp51]

Partly right your command voice should consist of the following,

1) Loudness
2) Projection
3) Distinctness
4) Inflection
5) Snap

These are what you need per AFMAN36-2203 for your command voice.  Also when you call your commands you give a slight pause between the prepatory andthe execution commands.  And make sure you are projecting from the diaphram and not your throat.

Don't forget 6) Cadence, and you're good.

Per AFMAN cadence is not a characteristic it is the measure or beat of the movement  AFMAN 36-2203 2.4.1 for cadence and 2.3 for voice characteristics. 

[coudano]

Hmm, yeah i'll buy that.
I always thought of cadence as included with the others, but it certainly is a different section from the chracteristics.

Probably because of the intro paragraph:  "It is given in a tone, cadence, and snap that demand a willing, correct, and immediate response. "

[CadetColonelToBe]

thank you everyone

[AngelWings]

The best advice (other than be yourself) is to practice. Your voice needs, I repeat, needs to be heard by everyone you are in command of whie you are marching. The only problem I have with girl flight sergeants is when they try to overcompensate for not being as loud (in their minds) as a man, so they yell so loud and high pitched my ears bleed or I can't even hear them (much like a dog whistle). Listen to male and female drill sergeants, instructors, MTI's, and whatever the Navy and Coast Guard call their military training instructors. They are not loud, they are commanding and stern voice that is clear and concise.

[CadetColonelToBe]

The best advice (other than be yourself) is to practice. Your voice needs, I repeat, needs to be heard by everyone you are in command of whie you are marching. The only problem I have with girl flight sergeants is when they try to overcompensate for not being as loud (in their minds) as a man, so they yell so loud and high pitched my ears bleed or I can't even hear them (much like a dog whistle). Listen to male and female drill sergeants, instructors, MTI's, and whatever the Navy and Coast Guard call their military training instructors. They are not loud, they are commanding and stern voice that is clear and concise.

thanks i just want people to take me seriously when I'm drilling a flight.

[SarDragon]

Other sources for info on voice control are the choir folks, and the drama club. They have similar issues.

[AngelWings]

The best advice (other than be yourself) is to practice. Your voice needs, I repeat, needs to be heard by everyone you are in command of whie you are marching. The only problem I have with girl flight sergeants is when they try to overcompensate for not being as loud (in their minds) as a man, so they yell so loud and high pitched my ears bleed or I can't even hear them (much like a dog whistle). Listen to male and female drill sergeants, instructors, MTI's, and whatever the Navy and Coast Guard call their military training instructors. They are not loud, they are commanding and stern voice that is clear and concise.

thanks i just want people to take me seriously when I'm drilling a flight.

The command voice is the least of your worries. I was a Flight Sgt. just a few weeks ago, ending a few month streak as one, and now I am deputy commander. The best way of being taken seriously is to earn the respect of who you are drilling. Respect comes with time, and discipline. Hopefully you do not have any sexist men in your unit, and (as a guy who takes human rights and respect very seriously) if you do, tell them to stop the attitude, and if they do not, then go to a Senior immediately (I would say go through the CoC, but sexism is not well corrected by other cadets, and the matter is extremely serious).

If you want some tips on earning respect from your flight, message me.

[EMT-83]

The very first CAP cadet I met was female, the Cadet CC. She stood not quite five feet tall, and made no attempt to sound like a drill sergeant. There was, however, absolutely no question as to who was in charge.

[AngelWings]

The very first CAP cadet I met was female, the Cadet CC. She stood not quite five feet tall, and made no attempt to sound like a drill sergeant. There was, however, absolutely no question as to who was in charge.

They are the preachers and teachers of their services C&C and D&C, among many other things. They are supposed to represent their services cadence and command voice (with maybe exception given to the USMC).

[SarDragon]

Huh?

[coudano]

I have often tried to explain the command voice to cadets having trouble getting it this way;

Think of your mom, yelling up the stairs, for you to get downstairs NOW for some reason.
That quality that makes you cringe or even wakes you up from being asleep, or makes you cringe or even wince a little...
(some moms are better at this than others, eh  so experience may vary)
Even if YOUR mom doesn't do this, you have probably heard it somewhere else, at some other time...


But if you think about the clarity of that voice in terms of  loudness, projection, distinctiveness, inflection, snap (and cadence) it IS the command voice...  And it's not "male" at all.