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

2018-04-09T20:32:56-04:00

My interest today concerns the differences between the Army of 2018 and the earlier iteration, the Army of 1968. Just 50 years ago last week I willingly, as folks do these days, entered the US Army - and do not have any regrets. Things have changed in these intervening 50 years. Can you tell us, from the perspective and any year or era, what the differences are? How have you been affected? If you were a career soldier having spent 20, 30 or more years active duty, what do you think has changed over the years?
Here is a good place to start?
https://www.federalpay.org/resources/pdf/MilPayTable1968.pdf

MilPayTable1968.pdf

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2018 8:44 PM

2018-04-09T20:44:42-04:00

From what I read and hear, I feel in our days it was, "What I can do for my branch of service." Now a days it's like, "What can I get out of my branch of service." Just an opinion.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Apr 9 at 2018 9:05 PM

2018-04-09T21:05:59-04:00

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.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 9 at 2018 9:32 PM

2018-04-09T21:32:09-04:00

I think we are coddling our troops now.

Response by SFC Greg Bruorton made Apr 9 at 2018 10:00 PM

2018-04-09T22:00:46-04:00

In my view, the field uniforms--camouflage and more--had changed drastically from the normal fatigues I had worn up to my retirement day. When assigned to the 82nd, I wore the standard camouflage-issue in jumps, but back to normal fatigues after that.

I certainly hope that Nazi-looking combat helmet of today is more comfortable than the old steel pot we wore and bathed in from World War II and through Vietnam.

This was my Army when in 1968 I PCSd to Germany as a Staff Sergeant.

Postscript: I often wonder why the Dress Blues replaced the standard green Class As after my retirement.

Response by PO1 Gery Bastiani made Apr 9 at 2018 10:14 PM

2018-04-09T22:14:00-04:00

My first enlistment was July 71 to August 75. Then re-enlisted in June 81 and retired in may 97 as a PO1/E6 and was making about 2100.00 a month more then and E6 made in 1968. Now I'm working for the county school maintenance dept and making 300.00 a month then an E6 is making now, go figure. But what I've read I don't think I'd like to be in now with the way they messed with the retirement system, etc

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2018 10:17 PM

2018-04-09T22:17:10-04:00

The most obvious difference in my mind is the general state of US Foreign Policy. In 1968 the US had (fairly) recently deployed 200,000 troops into 'Nam. The US was in the middle of the most deadly conflict the US has had since WWII. I can imagine basic training was some serious shit then, with the recruits fairly certain that they were likely going to Asia. This was before the draft lotteries started, so they must have volunteered knowing this potential reality.
I am sure that a good portion of the senior leaders were WW2 and Most certainly Korean Conflict Vets. I imagine they did not take much bullshit from the junior Soldiers.

I think that there was closer attention to close combat tactics during Vietnam, particularly the use of bayonets. While there is still training on modern-day approaches to close combat fighting, technology has really changed the shape of modern warfare. Asymmetric warfare is a big part of current warfare. We use computer technology and remote weapon platforms more and more.

Response by SP5 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2018 10:43 PM

2018-04-09T22:43:13-04:00

PVT 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.

Response by Maj John Bell made Apr 9 at 2018 11:08 PM

2018-04-09T23:08:18-04:00

I wrote out a pretty long, detailed dinosaur version of back in the "old Corps." My wife read it.

On the advice of my wife I am exercising my rights under the fifth amendment to not piss off almost everybody, old and new. ;)

Response by MSG Louis Alexander made Apr 10 at 2018 2:52 AM

2018-04-10T02:52:58-04:00

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.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2018 8:32 AM

2018-04-10T08:32:42-04:00

Well since 1968 the NCOES system came into being, formally educating NCOs in their duty's. At least during my time we had a lot more responsibility and accountability, Officers didn't get in our business. Professionalism was expected and the skill craft did more damage than any other forms of counseling that may have existed back in the 60's. McNamara's hundred thousand were a thing of the past, soldiers were smarter and clever. Collage was being pushed hard, and mandatory up or out with rank was in effect, no longer was a career E-4 seen. UCMJ would kill a NCOs career, I remember my chiefs talking about them like badges of honor, and God help you if you received a DUI. As a young Buck SGT I was expected to be in my soldiers room first thing before PT to ensure they were up and the room was halfway decent. I can remember teaching a soldier how to wash cloths. As a Senior NCO we had to knock and ask permission to enter, make an appointment to inspect but still held responsible if they were a mess (we were in transition), soldiers now had rights. I was all for that but don't hold me responsible for something I cant fix. We were well trained, Monday was motor pool, Tuesday was collective training, SGTs Time every Wed, all planned and executed by NCO's , and it was time that was hands off to anyone else unless you were in the field. Thursday afternoons was training meetings, we planned long term training and explained what we were doing next week. Friday was back in the MP. not that Mon and Fri were the only days in the MP, most of the time we lived there. as a SSG we started getting PVTs out of basic that were spoiled because of the new standards in basic, I was quick to tell them in not a Drill SGT and am not confined by the standards they are so if you don't like that F%^K comes out of my mouth once in a while, Tough Shit. this is just a couple of things I remember. Im positive things have continued to change since I retired in 02.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2018 8:33 AM

2018-04-10T08:33:32-04:00

You dont.....

Response by 1SG Frank Boynton made Apr 10 at 2018 9:11 AM

2018-04-10T09:11:45-04:00

I can’t tell you about today, but the time between 1968 when the war in Vietnam was raging and 1972 when the Volar Army was in full swing, destroyed much of what had made the Army great. And they’ve never looked back. After Desert Shield/Storm there was another major swing in the military. No more going to war and killing the enemy and then coming home. Now our military has become a police force. We’ve become entrenched in foreign countries and their politics, under the guise of fighting terrorism. Our soldiers are on a non-stop rotation schedule, that destroys all semblance of a normal life. 22 suicides a day from current and former soldiers and no one cares. The war must go on.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Apr 10 at 2018 9:33 AM

2018-04-10T09:33:56-04:00

Its not easy to really have a way to accurately contrast 1968 & 2018's Army in that I can't imagine you'll find anyone who has served in both eras; most of us only have impressions about what the other era was like; right or wrong. Though--as you wisely included in your post PVT Mark Brown--those who have been in the longest ("20, 30 or more years") might be in a better position to better estimate that difference, than the rest of us who served in one era or the other, but not both.

Response by Yannis Johnson made Apr 10 at 2018 12:20 PM

2018-04-10T12:20:29-04:00

Nice question

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2018 2:39 PM

2018-04-10T14:39:16-04:00

I obviously wasn't in the service in 1968 but even I have seen changes since I first enlisted in 1994. The issue isn't that the Army (or other service) is changing, it's that America is changing. The military is made up of Americans. As those Americans change with each passing generation, so does the military.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2018 2:48 AM

2018-04-13T02:48:52-04:00

I’ll just ask my dad who’s going to be 88 years old in two days. He was definitely old school since 1950-1972.