Calling all Branches! What traditions can your branch, or the military as a whole, do without?

Even less time.
Nobody in formation cares what the speaker is saying, cause their at attention or parade rest.
Never cared who was leaving, taking over or what their history was. If I wanted to know it, it's in the pamphlets and later posted online.
I swore in to follow lawful orders regardless of who was in command.

I’ve been retired for a few years but I seem to recall an actual regulation that dictates an allotted time limit for outgoing/incoming commander remarks. Couldn’t begin to remember the minute limits but I assume it was meant to limit the endless droning at CofC ceremonies

Changes of command - period! Let it go for Pete’s sake!

It wouldn't be quite so bad if the speeches weren't all the same. Outgoing commander says how proud he is of having commanded this find unit, recaps a few of the unit accomplishments (cribbed from his OER Support Form) and then says how sad he is to be leaving this great unit but that the service is sending him to a new assignment. Incoming commander says how proud he is to be taking command of this terrific unit, how he is confident everyone will give him the same outstanding performance they gave the previous commander, and how the unit will continue to do great things in the future.

I only saw one change of command that ever broke from that script. Outgoing commander made the standard speech. Incoming commander stepped up and said something like "Now I'm supposed to tell you how proud I am to be assuming command of this battalion. Well I'm not going to say that, because I'm not proud of this unit and you aren't proud to be here -- but we'll have another formation in a month and then I'll tell you that I'm proud of the unit, because you'll be proud to be here -- or you won't be here." That incoming commander turned around what had been a piss poor unit into a good one. It took him more than a month, but we were well on the way in that first month.

I was one of the last in the 82d (unless they brought it back) to make a 'cherry' jump with a 'cherry' helmet - it was a night jump so what was the point?

There is still shellback initiation just minus the physical abuse. Still not a pleasant day for wogs just no lasting bruises or injuries. I was initiated under the old system but look at the new system and still honor those sailors as shellbacks

MS1, it's good they're still doing it at least.

Everything about the military builds character, strength, and camaraderie. Hazing is not ok.

PO1 Charles Norris - Try doing away with civilian jobs and it won't be long before you will see the politicians up putting on a show about how important these jobs are to the military and the community.

Why wouldn't we be looking at getting rid of time-wasting, pointless traditions?

SGM Matthew Quick getting rid of traditions will benefit the military and the country. It's stupid to keep doing something stupid just because it's what you've always done. Nothing about tradition benefits the military, so getting rid of it will.

SGM Matthew Quick here's a better idea: stop being a dick to your soldiers by pretending traditions are important. Training people and putting them to work gives them a sense of purpose. Traditions just make people wanna off themselves.

This guy gets it

Hey, cold or not, what's the time limit for reaching into your pocket to get something?
Or, for that matter, should you even be allowed to have anything IN a pocket?

And, speaking of pockets, why does the military have a pen slot in the top flap of a shirt or jacket pocket if you are never supposed to have a pen there?? The specifications for the uniform REQUIRE the manufacturer to include the pen slot -- and having that pen slot certainly costs money (not much, maybe a penny, but the military buys a lot of shirts so it adds up)

If you have time enough to play pocket pool then you have enough time to do some hip pocket training. JMTC

MSG Thomas Currie - I remember when they removed the watch pocket from the uniform trousers, don't remember how many dollars they claimed that saved but it was quite an amount for that time.

CPT (Join to see) - auto correct is evil

The annual Division Review (what is really called) is a shiw of force and source of pride. I marched in 3 of them. They're agonizing and dreaded. But just like a 50k ruckmarch or PT in sawdust pits, I think ANY paratrooper who did time in Division would say that they were cherished memories. There are enough brokedicks at any time to cut grass and answer phones.

By the way, "Pass in Review" are the words every participant longs for: it is the final command, which ends the ceremony with a final PASS (as in marching, as opposed to the static inspection by the reviewing officer) in REVIEW (rendering respect to and from the commanding officer between each subordinate units).

Your "suggestion" highlights the difference between being airborne qualified versus being a Paratrooper.

There WAS a good reason for units to "Pass in Review" -- that reason is long gone, but the pass in review itself isn't all that terrible. Done right, it's impressive and even builds esprit, done wrong it's a farce but that doesn't happen too often.

BUT 1LT Rosa did hit on one part that has always bothered me. How many practices and dress rehearsals are really needed for a bunch of soldiers to learn how to
1) Stand at Attention
2) Stand at Parade Rest
3) Come back to Attention
4) Present Arms
5) March (Forward March, Column Right March, Column Left March (two or more times) and Halt)

I understand why the senior staff OFFICERS need to practice (certainly the Adjutant needs to learn that silly "Adjutant's Walk") -- but do they really need a thousand or ten thousand soldiers as nothing but training aids?? If a unit's soldiers cannot get dressed in a prescribed standard uniform and perform standard drill movements without multiple rehearsals, then something is seriously wrong.

MSG Thomas Currie - On the other hand, I did see ONE pass in review that suffered due to a lack of a full scale rehearsal. 1ID(Fwd) did a Change of Command with both a dismounted and mounted pass in review (same soldiers, dismounted first, then mount up and come around the road on the outside of the parade field). Problem was that they never practiced the mounted part with the whole unit and no one had thought to compare the total length of the mounted column to the circumference of the field. When the lead unit got all the way around the field there was still a line of vehicles on the access road blocking their path. A staff officer sent the tanks down a narrow side street that had been used for VIP parking on both sides. Anyone familiar with tanks knows what happened next.

PFC Bradley Campbell negative.

SSG Robert Perrotto is rather do that than listen to some lame ass speech about how he/she had the pleasure of working with us. I worked for you. No the other way around lol.

Cpl Eric Honomichl - just deal with it, CoC's are part and parcel of military life. Don't like the traditions and culture, get the hell out, always someone who will replace you. The Military is NOT about you, or individuals, it's about the institution, Just like saluting, parade rest, and a host of other things, these traditions have been ingrained into military culture since inception. Not gonna do away with them because a bunch of whiny children dislike standing in formation for 90 minutes.

SSG Robert Perrotto I’d rather do busy work than a CoC to be honest.

Sgt time training it always ended up being whatever the Commander or Platoon leader wanted not what the Squad leader or Section Chief wanted to train his troops on. And those mandatory balls that NCO,s and above have to attend for whatever branch you are celebrating your Saint

So, if a young person comes along with an idea that you don't like; they are a moron. That is one way of stopping any form of progress under any condition.

No, I was talking about actual MORONS. Just as I said. You know, the kind that can't comprehend simple English, for instance.

SSG (Join to see) - So the Commander and Platoon leader ran your Sqd/ Section, Why would you allow that?

On board ship you always had one set in case you got looped into being a line handler leaving or coming into port. But come on it is part of the tradition of being in the Navy and I loved both my winter blue and summer whites and the good old dungarees!

Po2 (anonymous) rofl haha

Shit ment 1

If you came back with clean uniform from liberty, then you didn't have a good time.

Finally someone with common sense!

SGT (Join to see) Your negitivity because lack of interest and desire to learn is what has devalued Tradition. Oh and i see you know each one of the people that started these traditions and have talked to them about how we should remove them to make the "more effective force". Funny you don't look that old. Guess we learn something new every day. I humble in your presence.

Too late now. Every private who completes basic training needs a bunch of participation awards so he can look like a Russian General. The only good thing is that the Army decided to not even make medals for some of those new ribbons.