Is the requirement of writing/printing in all CAPS adding an unnecessary stress to our recruits and service-members?

ENS Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 13:07:07 -0500

I'm not even kidding: I was told recently by a newly graduated service member that there is talk of doing away with CAPS writing because it is adding an "unnecessary stress" to recruits who are already considered to be "at their limit". These are the same recruits who now are given free time and tablets to use during bootcamp.. 8 hours of sleep on top of that! Thought I'd ask your opinions..

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2016 1:09 PM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 13:09:34 -0500

You've got to be kidding me..

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Nov 15 at 2016 1:28 PM

SGT Ben Keen — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 13:28:34 -0500

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Nov 15 at 2016 1:33 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 13:33:07 -0500

ENS Private RallyPoint Member First, I ran out of Up Votes - it's a daily/morning thing for me. Secondly, wow have we really gotten that soft in boot camp and basic training that we have "time outs" for tablets and 8 hours of sleep. What happens when they get into the real battle rhythm, will they grumble and walk off their post because they didn;t get their free time, tablets, no CAPS, and 8 hours sleep. REALLY - WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON WITH OUR UNIFORMED SERVICES? SORRY IF I STRESSED ANYONE WITH THE CAPS!

Response by SN Greg Wright made Nov 15 at 2016 1:33 PM

SN Greg Wright — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 13:33:49 -0500

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2016 1:35 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 13:35:11 -0500

Either that's a joke or that person is not fit for military service.

Response by CPO Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2016 1:38 PM

CPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 13:38:43 -0500

Crap I got to deal with this PC bs for another 7 years... 8 ours of sleep? Navy Boot camp we were lucky to get 2, Tablets... when did they start handing out tablets at boot camp WTF? Print? Printing is stressful? REALLY? Its so we can read your sloppy writing. You who can not function without spell check and auto correct.

The Snowflakes are in for a world of butt hurt when they get woke up several times during the 5 or 6 hours of sleep they get each day underway. They are going to lose their minds when they are being screamed at while fighting a fire, shooting a gun, dealing with a flooding space. they will kill themselves the moment a Chief or LPO said a "mean" thing about how jacked up they are.

I am getting pissed at the morons that raised this new generation of cry babies. I knew a participation trophy was a bad idea.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2016 1:57 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 13:57:41 -0500

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot. Are we now catering to the millennials because they can't handle a bit of stress so they incorporate tablets (which is a load) and sleep? I was awake for almost 2 days when I first got to RTC. Battle Stations was another 36 hours of sleep lost and then graduation to A-school was another 36 hours. How are these "kids" going to deal with life on the ship, working 16-20 hours a day, possible hot-racking?

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Nov 15 at 2016 2:36 PM

SPC Erich Guenther — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 14:36:21 -0500

Ha-ha-ha, you know back in the 1990's I went through a management training program at I think it was EDS. Where they stressed that you should choose a non-threatening ink color when you write someones evaluation or font color when making emphasis in an Email. We were told to use Blue or Purple color ink or fonts because they were soothing colors. Also we were told in evaluations to avoid the use of the term "You" or "You need to" in an evaluation because it triggers defensiveness and sometimes blocks the evaluated person from listening as it is interpreted as "accusatory" language.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2016 2:49 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 14:49:56 -0500

Unbelievable!

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2016 2:51 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 14:51:42 -0500

Totally unbelievable what causes youngsters so much angst today. Will the armed forces be providing "SAFE SPACES" for them?

Response by SGT Alan Dike made Nov 15 at 2016 3:00 PM

SGT Alan Dike — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 15:00:52 -0500

HEHEHHE.. Join a job voluntarily where someone may actually try and kill you. Not figuratively, literally people with malice in their minds pointing guns at you and pulling triggers.. and caps stresses em out.. LOL.. Somebody didn't think this through very well did they

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Nov 15 at 2016 4:38 PM

SSgt Terry P. — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 16:38:00 -0500

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Nov 15 at 2016 4:59 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 16:59:55 -0500

Once I got past the YGTBSM (sorry there's a whole other post on that subject) response I started thinking this through. Could be that because today's recruits can't write and penmanship is no longer taught in school, the requirement was put there so that superiors have some way of figuring out what the recruits are trying to communicate to them. Seriously, are we really discussing this?

Response by CPL Anthony Slaughter made Nov 15 at 2016 6:04 PM

CPL Anthony Slaughter — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 18:04:50 -0500

Response by PO2 Marty Sharpe made Nov 15 at 2016 6:16 PM

PO2 Marty Sharpe — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 18:16:40 -0500

Sounds like something in life is missing here.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2016 6:34 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 18:34:32 -0500

Civilian world is just as bad (if not worse). So no shit there I was (true story) I'm at my civilian job after retirement, and one of the supervisors is showing me something on the computer. She's around my age'ish, and her husband served so we have kinda a common ground on some things. Well she's explaining something, and I asked her to repeat it (I was taking notes) she looked at me with a exaperated kind of look, and I just popped right off at the top of my voice STOP YELLING AT ME! She looks at me really confused, and then I told her that I'm sensitive and HAD a feeling once. Again confused look. She asks me what I said, and I go nothing your hair looks nice. Then it dawns on her what had just happend and she busts out laughing and called me a assortment of words I won't repeat...lol. Well there is a younger Supervisor standing there 23-24 yrs old, and he looks at me dead serious, and goes that wasn't very nice....by then both myself and the lady are in tears laughing so hard. I won't repeat what I told him, but needless to say I did hurt his feeling(s).

I don't know if civilian life is cut out for us military folks, and our off the wall humor....

Response by SFC George Smith made Nov 15 at 2016 7:08 PM

SFC George Smith — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 19:08:44 -0500

it's time for folks to get a grip...

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Nov 15 at 2016 7:24 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 19:24:08 -0500

CAPS-stress,if I only had a time machine to introduce these people to a certain SFC Aubrey Smith circa 1965 Fort Lewis Wa.basic training - now people that is stress and we hadn't even got off the bus yet!

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Nov 15 at 2016 8:16 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 20:16:15 -0500

All of this is completely beyond the absurd, ENS Private RallyPoint Member.

Response by PO2 Jerri Jackson made Nov 15 at 2016 8:53 PM

PO2 Jerri Jackson — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 20:53:27 -0500

Well they are certainly more pampered, coddled, and awarded than ever!
I work at a Navy base, I'm retired Navy, and a lot of these kids are spoiled, not all.
Considering that I retired in 1995, n watching these sailors for the last 13 years, it's crazy! Lazy n spoiled a lot of them.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2016 10:05 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 22:05:24 -0500

This seems entirely unnecessary. It isn't in the least bit stressful to read/write in all caps. I think it looks more official.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Nov 16 at 2016 12:34 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 00:34:43 -0500

ENS Private RallyPoint Member If this continues; only a certain percentage of Marines, for instance, will have a secondary job title as riflemen! The remainer will have gone thru a non-stress boot camp and will not bear arms!

Response by SGT Justin Singleton made Nov 16 at 2016 5:45 AM

SGT Justin Singleton — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 05:45:55 -0500

Well...um...I guess I can see where they are coming from. In a world of texting, social media, etc...I guess I can understand the "stress." That said, yelling at recruits is a part of the game!

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Nov 16 at 2016 8:15 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 08:15:11 -0500

No and hearing things like this infuriate me because Naval messages are a big portion of my MOS and there is nothing wrong with the format.

Also... I just finished reading your passage as I was typing my response... are recruits really given tablets during bootcamp... my mind is now blown.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2016 8:11 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 20:11:18 -0500

Maybe they need a tissue or two. lol

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2016 11:19 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 16 Nov 2016 23:19:16 -0500

Weak!

Response by SPC Nicholas Allen made Nov 17 at 2016 1:24 AM

SPC Nicholas Allen — Thu, 17 Nov 2016 01:24:57 -0500

I will respond as soon as i stop laughing

Response by SPC Kenneth Koerperich made Nov 18 at 2016 12:21 AM

SPC Kenneth Koerperich — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 00:21:11 -0500

I seriously hope this is a joke! OMG, 8 hours sleep...lmfao, we barely got 2 hr in a row, wake up, exercise, sleep 2 hours, rinse repeat. Worse is somebody wasn't "fast" enough. Glad I'm out, I'd beat somebody for this stupidity.

Response by SSgt Dale W. made Nov 27 at 2016 1:10 AM

SSgt Dale W. — Sun, 27 Nov 2016 01:10:18 -0500

Channeling my inner Eddie Murphy: "Get the f*** outta here!

Response by SCPO Don Baker made Dec 28 at 2016 7:57 AM

SCPO Don Baker — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 07:57:55 -0500

Part of the "Wussification" of America. Look at them wrong and you'll be standing on the wrong side of podium before the "old man". Say, "bust their nuts" and get relived of command. It's getting sorry out there.

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 28 at 2016 8:23 AM

LTJG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 08:23:02 -0500

TABLETS??? I didn't have any electronics for 3 months! I thought the purpose of all caps was to making people more careful when they wrote and therefore more legible.

Response by PV2 Chino Gonzales made Dec 28 at 2016 11:24 PM

PV2 Chino Gonzales — Wed, 28 Dec 2016 23:24:23 -0500

This is a joke, right?! I'm sorry, I can't waste my time with this attempted distraction.

Response by SPC Jeffrey Reese made Jan 2 at 2017 5:25 PM

SPC Jeffrey Reese — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 17:25:24 -0500

Start passing out Pacifiers and pampers to the new recruits make sure their Mama is on speed dial so they don't get home sick. What happened to the Military this isn't the cub scouts quit coddling them and make them grow up. Quit changing the policies to enable these babies! You are there to turn them into men/women not to help them regress. Change the Policies back to 30 or 35 years ago and leave them alone. 8 hours sleep in training oh my god we were lucky to get 6 on Sundays and don't get caught in your rack napping!

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2017 11:33 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 23:33:10 -0500

OMG the "Safe Space" generation has joined our military! We are doomed as a society.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2017 11:55 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 23:55:16 -0500

Wut?

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 3 at 2017 10:14 AM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 10:14:20 -0500

This is messed up! They should be proud to serve our country not be bitching and moaning about the lack of things.

When I went thru basic training and AIT, I had a very rude awakening, I didn't sleep much in basic because I found out that I was allergic to the wool blankets we slept on and the grass we did PT on. So every night I was in the latrine coughing and hacking until finally someone went from a different platoon to night CQ watch NCO about me being up all night. It just happened to be one of my DI's on duty. From then on I was fine but I wasn't miserable, he sent me to sick call the next morning. I didn't complain, I sucked up and drove on.

These pampered panisies need to grow up or get another job. The military needs to go back to where the DIs at basic are in your face to break you down then to rebuild you back up. Not to babysit and hand out pacifiers. Next thing we know the DIs will be spoon feeding them and wiping their asses too.

Oh Lord Help Our Miilart Now before it's too late to get it turned around.

Response by Sgt Joseph Baker made Jan 3 at 2017 4:09 PM

Sgt Joseph Baker — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 16:09:19 -0500

I can speak for all Marines here: What I would have given for 8 continuous hours of sleep even one night in boot camp.

Response by PFC Jonathon Luken made Jan 3 at 2017 5:55 PM

PFC Jonathon Luken — Tue, 03 Jan 2017 17:55:09 -0500

I honestly thing all caps could go away as this was a hold over from the days of shaky printing of a type writer. With font size, and type we shouldnt need to use all caps to get a message across. It drove me bonkers since my mother was a typist and taught me to type from a young age. I work with accountants and it still drives me bonkers.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Jan 4 at 2017 12:18 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Wed, 04 Jan 2017 00:18:17 -0500

Seems to Me the purpose of Basic is to prepare recruits for Military service and life. How is pandering to them and wet nursing them going to do that.? They need to learn to accomplish tasks because they need to be done as We always have without whining and crying. How will they ever survive combat ? These pansy wimps need to grow up and learn to live in the real world !

Response by SPC Byron Skinner made Jan 10 at 2017 9:29 PM

SPC Byron Skinner — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 21:29:48 -0500

Sp4 With all the whining here I would seriously have to question the last sentence.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 15 at 2017 7:05 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 15 Jan 2017 19:05:21 -0500

I simply cannot imagine how stressful this is. My HOW THINGS HAVE CHANGED since I was a new recruit (1961)!

Response by GySgt William Hardy made Jan 18 at 2017 10:15 AM

GySgt William Hardy — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 10:15:08 -0500

Remember the movie "No Time for Sergeants"? In the beginning Will has to fill out a card with his name. Will asked if he had to use capital letters. The guy said, "It's printing, it's all caps."

On a serious note . . .
If there is any truth in this then we are headed towards a weak military. All this business about stress cards is just bull. I don't think Al Qaeda cares if our soldiers are stressed or not.

I remember back in the late 80s when our National Guard unit went to Germany for Reforger. We left out of Ft. Campbell, made a stop in Maine, and the off to Belgium. They kept saying we would have time to catch some sleep and adjust to the new time zone, but every time we saw a break coming we were assigned something else like taking a test for the international driving licence. After being up for about a day and a half, they fed us a breakfast of cold cuts and fruit. The soldiers were very upset and wanted eggs and bacon! Then they loaded us on buses and took us to an air field where one by one we were picked up on a C130 and flown into Germany. As soon as we landed we were lined up and a half dozen nurses were taking our vitals. Blood pressure was the primary thing they were look at. The nurse looked at me and said, "Didn't any of this stress you out?" I just smiled and said, "It's not my first rodeo." I just go with the flow. Instead of moaning and groaning, I sat my butt down wherever I happened to be and took cat naps. When food or drink arrived, I ate. Sound familiar to you? I bet all of you "old timers" did the same.

We don't need time outs and stress cards. What we need is more of the old fashioned training so soldiers can learn to deal with stress. I can recall training one day on escape and evasion. Spent all day in classes about all sorts of related topics and then about sundown we were all taken to a POW camp. We were searched and any food items we had from M&Ms to Vienna Sausages were confiscated and placed in this huge black pot. They dump a sack of rice in it and then water. It boiled up over a fire. When it got nice and mushy, we had to file by with our canteen cups and get a serving. After eating, it was about 2100 and we were "allowed to escape". We had to make our way down this valley to the rally point many miles down. My group of 3 guys made it without incident. We got lucky. About midnight we arrived and sat around the big fire that was burning. We then laid back and got some sleep. As soon as everyone arrived and was accounted for, we were marched another 5 miles or so to the barracks where we had about an hour before chow. Some took a shower, but I just got some more sleep. They lied again. They ran us through a quick chow line. No tray, just grab some bread, sausage, and container of juice and back into formation. We ate as we started down the road for more training.

This all happened at Staging BN at Camp Pendelton before going to Nam. I am sure many in our training company found this a walk in the park compared to what was coming in the year ahead.

What about the stresses of Graff for my Army friends? The cold, snow, and mud was stressful wasn't it? We don't need to train sissies. We need a military that is strong mentally as well as physically.

Response by SGT Tim Fridley made Jan 18 at 2017 7:15 PM

SGT Tim Fridley — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 19:15:51 -0500

NO WORDS LOL I GOT STRESSED OUT READING THIS BULLSHIT LOL LOL LOL

Response by CPO Robert Schmidt made Jan 19 at 2017 12:12 PM

CPO Robert Schmidt — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 12:12:45 -0500

Legibility or readability is the goal, so Put on your big boy pants, Quit crying and get on with it.

Response by CWO3 Warren Gaudreau made Jan 24 at 2017 8:50 AM

CWO3 Warren Gaudreau — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 08:50:37 -0500

Gee,golly. Just have all the CCs and DIs give them all big hugs!

Response by CWO2 Shelby DuBois made Jan 24 at 2017 9:05 AM

CWO2 Shelby DuBois — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 09:05:34 -0500

POLITICAL CORRECTNESS is a disease. Military doctors should prescribe a swift ass kicking to anyone caught infecting the members of our military with it. Carriers can be identifed by hearing them utter the words "I miss Ash Carter".

Response by SFC Garry Kolberg made Jan 24 at 2017 1:41 PM

SFC Garry Kolberg — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 13:41:56 -0500

Soon they will want safe rooms to get away from those mean old Drill SGT's. We are told we have highly intelligent, best trained soldiers and yet it sounds more like we have a bunch of babies who will automatically run in the other direction if their feelings are hurt. Drill SGT's are the leaders that make men and women, Adults, able to face the stress's of the military. They don't have time to run counseling services for hurt feelings and the stress of using capital letters.

Response by Cpl Kenneth Rousey made Jan 25 at 2017 1:53 AM

Cpl Kenneth Rousey — Wed, 25 Jan 2017 01:53:15 -0500

Maybe in the army , navy and air force . I can't believe the U.S.M.C. is giving recruits a tablet and free time other than the 30mins given to them in the evening , 4hrs on Sunday , and the 8hrs on Saturday in wk. #12 of boot camp .

Response by SGT Gary DeFelippo made Feb 5 at 2017 8:05 PM

SGT Gary DeFelippo — Sun, 05 Feb 2017 20:05:58 -0500

What the hell is a stress card? Stress goes with bacon eggs and coffee in the morning like PT.

Response by MSgt George Cater made Feb 5 at 2017 9:50 PM

MSgt George Cater — Sun, 05 Feb 2017 21:50:12 -0500

I wonder if ISIS, Al Qaeda, the Chinese and the Russians get stress cards and tablets during boot camp? i think these silly kids are so conditioned to all caps meaning yelling on their social network sites that they don't even realize it's for clarity, especially since most of them aren't taught cursive anymore. Whoever came up with the 'snowflake' moniker for these jokers sure picked an apt one.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Feb 6 at 2017 1:17 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 01:17:04 -0500

The statement they are an adult isn't supported by the childish whining and crying from them. Seems 8 hours of sleep is plenty, OMG, I can hardly believe a Drill instructor would yell at them. Give that recruit a pacifier to fight the stress. If They are that big a wimp who even wants them ?

Response by SFC Scott Parkhurst made Feb 6 at 2017 3:44 AM

SFC Scott Parkhurst — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 03:44:12 -0500

WHAT??!!! FREE TIME, AND TABLETS TO USE? AND WHAT'S THIS...8 HOURS OF SLEEP?! ARE YOU *$^@(!?!&$%#@?!!! KIDDING ME?! All I can say is THANK GOD I went through basic training when I did! 1990.....I'm sorry but I feel that what I went through just made me a better Soldier and a better person and sure as hell a STRONGER ONE!!! I did'nt need no stink'en stress card!

Response by SPC Boomer Mease made Feb 7 at 2017 9:15 PM

SPC Boomer Mease — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 21:15:40 -0500

This what happens when discipline has never been asserted, this generation has no concept of responsibility ( sure a small percentage may). Demonstrating the weakness in this method of child rearing. Real world does not give awards for just being in the game!

Response by SGT Ron Case made Feb 8 at 2017 9:57 AM

SGT Ron Case — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 09:57:30 -0500

8 hours sleep no CAPS, How the hell are they going to fight??

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2017 2:56 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 14:56:33 -0500

Seriously

Response by SGT Derrick Drake made Feb 9 at 2017 8:07 AM

SGT Derrick Drake — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 08:07:45 -0500

I thought the whole Ideal was to break you down and rebuild you into a fighting machine. Sounds to me like the DI's are nothen more than spoild brat baby sitters who can not do their jobs because the younger gen cant handle life let alone the real life of a soldier. I went through basic and AIT back in the early-mid 80's and I dont think a lot of the new soliders could handle that time of the hands on DI and wall to wall counseling...

Response by Deborah Gregson made Feb 26 at 2017 12:46 PM

Deborah Gregson — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 12:46:45 -0500

OMG!

Response by SGT Michael Thorin made Feb 26 at 2017 6:46 PM

SGT Michael Thorin — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 18:46:30 -0500

MY UNPROFESSIONAL AND POLITICALLY INCORRECT RESPONSE IS IF THESE QUESTIONS ARE THE ONES OUR LEADERSHIP IS HAVING TO FOCUS ON, THEN WE HAVE ALREADY LOST THE EDGE.

For the record and professionally speaking, I apologize if my previous statement offended you because of the manner in which it was presented.

Response by COL Charles Williams made Feb 26 at 2017 11:41 PM

COL Charles Williams — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 23:41:53 -0500

WTF....