How would you compare the Army of 1968 with the Army of 2018?

Fifty years ago on November 1968 I in fact was honorably discharged from the Army having served my three year enlistment, I am looking forward to the comments, thanks for the post SPC Mark Brown.

Served in Vietnam in the Central Highlands 69 -70. To today’s standards it was ill equipped and like today, both Militarily and politically correct and controlled. Medical evacuation then was dependent upon what medical and sometimes what any other Aviation unit was available, today medical recovery of the wounded and dead is prompt and swift. Communication was slightly different, in Vietnam we had the AN/PRC 25, manpack portable, today they utilize the AM/TRC 77 which like in Vietnam had its difficulties between mountain ranges and low lands. Satellite communications was something of science fiction then, but not so much today. NCO’s were highly dependent upon and respected much more from what I seen prior to retirement today. American soldiers in Vietnam received only three months of Basic Training, in fact the average age for Infantrymen was 19. Today they receive extensive training. Soldiers often moved individually to and from Vietnam not as a whole unit like they do today. Imagine being safe and secure today, and by tomorrow morning, you’re enroute to Vietnam, no fanfare, no goodbye’s. 363 days’ in Vietnam will get you sent to Saigon if you’re lucky, for out processing, if you’re lucky enough to out process in a day, you boarded the original freedom bird for your return trip to CONUS. Once arriving, you were on your own as if nothing ever happened. No welcoming committees, parades or greeting of any kind. We left young and vibrant, and returned old and worn. People scoffed at you if you were in uniform and often shown their distaste. Nothing like today where people pats you on the back, stands and claps and shouts welcome home. But hey, that was another time in history.

SPC Mark Brown Have to go back a few years from your dates to the '59 thru '62 time frame. I see the current Army as much more physically fit than in the "olden days", the education level (at least the folks on RP) is much greater. The periodic posts that discuss the need for junior enlisted to stand at parade rest when addressing SNCOs was, at least in the SigC company not in existence then. Overall, I think the current Army is in much better shape than the pre-Vietnam force I experienced. Thanks to all of you who have served and who are continuing to serve and protect this nation.