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When they're not yelling, drill instructors use a technique called ‘sing song’, which sounds like a chant, but is actually a command civilians wouldn’t understand because its giving marines basic instructions like ‘turn to the left’ and ‘turn to the right’.

Former drill instructor 1^st Sgt Javier Duarte says marines use cadence as a form of discipline, respect, and communication.  “A cadence gives a command.  It may mean left and right to a recruit, but to the basic listener it’s just sounds and noises” says Duarte.  The goal of the cadence is to get a marine to respond to a command at a moment’s notice. All of the cadences have a beat, which explains how fast or slow the marine or entire unit is supposed to move.  During a walk, jog, or run, marines can improvise the lyrics to the cadence as long as they maintain whatever pace they're supposed to execute.

Duarte sings an example: “Look 2 the front and who do I see? That motivating CO leading me”.

That is what you hear when you see marines on the move.