Was Basic training Harder in the 80's and 90's compared to now, with the drill sergeants and drill instructors having theirs hands tied?

2017-11-30T04:09:02-05:00

Response by CW5 Jack Cardwell made Nov 30 at 2017 4:50 AM

2017-11-30T04:50:13-05:00

Went to basic in the 70's. Not very impressed with latest product.

Response by SGT David T. made Nov 30 at 2017 8:06 AM

2017-11-30T08:06:59-05:00

Hard is subjective. The society in the 80s and 90s was different than it is today and the military was also different. So I don't think that you really can compare them to the training today.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2017 8:39 AM

2017-11-30T08:39:30-05:00

First I went thru basic at Leonardwood in 92, as a corporal I assisted in BCT mission in the late 90's at Knox, as a SSG I was support Cadre(ran the rifle range at Jackson). First let me say the Standard at Knox was much higher than the standard at Jackson and I was shocked when I arrived at Jackson. Now I have no experience that Sill or Benning provide.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2017 11:20 AM

2017-11-30T11:20:25-05:00

The generation before always had it harder. Basic in 1992 wasn't hard, but it's gotten lighter since.

They have canteen refueling stations at Lackland now. We just called them water fountains. Kids today will never know the struggle.

Response by CPL Brendan Hayes made Nov 30 at 2017 1:51 PM

2017-11-30T13:51:30-05:00

I went through basic in the mid 90's, so I can only attest to my experiences. With that said, I'm a high school teacher, and I have students who are enlisting approach me for "What to expect..." advice a couple of times a year. Typically, this listen to what I have to say and ship out with those expectations. Almost universally, they contact me after the fact and say their experiences were very different and much easier.

I don't know if that answers the question, but it's all I have.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Nov 30 at 2017 7:13 PM

2017-11-30T19:13:03-05:00

I went to basic training in 1965 and our training NCOs always said how easy we had it compared to theirs,I think it's just that age old comparison of who had it harder,although my older brother was in the Air Force at the time and I know that I had it harder than him by a long shot!

Response by SFC Greg Bruorton made Nov 30 at 2017 7:42 PM

2017-11-30T19:42:53-05:00

I'm not certain how the 1960s compare with the 80s and 90s. When I went into Basic at Fort Knox there was a Korean War veteran that was uncommonly aggressive during his bayonet training. His eyes always glazed over the moment he fixed the bayonet to the M1 and we slick-sleeves stayed clear as much as possible. The 1960s merged into the green uniform from the brown-boot and Ike uniform Army. Those Eisenhower uniforms were hot and heavy and smelled when wet.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2017 11:30 PM

2017-11-30T23:30:00-05:00

The way your question is phrased made me chuckle because you lump the 80s and 90s together as if they were the tougher "old school" days. But I clearly recall in the early 90s everybody bitching about how easy the "new" basic had become compared to the 80s. So I found it funny that what was considered the soft, easy time frame for basic training (the 90s) is now looked upon as the hard basic period. But that cycle applies to any time period you pick. Each decade is considered easier than the one that proceeded it by those who served in both. It's the same principle as "the last hard class" phenomenon for schools like Ranger School or Airborne School.

Response by MSgt Steven Holt, NRP, CCEMT-P made Dec 2 at 2017 10:06 AM

2017-12-02T10:06:41-05:00

I realize Today's society is different than it was in '89 when I went to Basic but I'm not overly impressed with the current batch of service members. Every time I go to a military base the majority of individuals I see lack the pride, professionalism, and discipline I was used to seeing "back in the day".

Response by PFC Roy Burnett made Dec 3 at 2017 1:03 AM

2017-12-03T01:03:44-05:00

I was in basic in the late 70s! Piss off the DI and he would beat you!