What constitutes being "old school" in the military?

SSG Selwyn Bodley — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 18:09:28 -0400

I'm hearing/reading people saying "I'm old school, therefore..." So out of curiosity's sake, where is that ever-moving line?

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jul 1 at 2014 6:18 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 18:18:27 -0400

In my case I would say having to read TTY Tape at 50 Chars a Minute would probably make me "Old School:.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2014 6:43 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 18:43:29 -0400

when you look at the new people and think "Back in my day..." and then proceed to ""spice up" the truth

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2014 7:22 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 19:22:42 -0400

SSG Bodley,

Anyone in the Army who has ever done unit PT without a reflector belt, and lived to tell about it, is old school.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Jul 1 at 2014 7:56 PM

MSG Wade Huffman — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 19:56:52 -0400

"Old School" is a variable rather than a constant; a very relative term. I would say that having entered service in 1983 and retiring in 2006 I'm more 'old school' than most (but not ALL) on this site.
To add to the comment by SGT Private RallyPoint Member who discussed doing PT without a reflective belt as old school. I would say if you remember the wonderful banana suit, you are old school!

Response by SSG Trevor S. made Jul 1 at 2014 8:26 PM

SSG Trevor S. — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 20:26:27 -0400

If you remember skid helicopters being normal (aside from the LUH72), you might be old school.
If you remember sweats for PT you, might be old school.
If you ever sang a "banned cadence", you might be old school.
If you know how to apply face paint, you might be old school.
If you remember trucks that used standard transmissions, you might be old school.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jul 1 at 2014 8:52 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 20:52:10 -0400

If you ever:
wore yellow, nylon PT shorts
rode in a REAL deuce and a half
know what a gamma goat used to be
were transported in a cattle car
wore and washed in a steel pot
realized your M16 was built by the lowest bidding contactor
lived in WWII era barracks
thought the only definition of, "offensive" was "taking it to the commies"
actually put 2 shelter halves together to make and sleep in a tent
pressed your duty uniform
spit shined your boots
ate MREs...

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Jul 1 at 2014 9:09 PM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 21:09:04 -0400

Old school if you wore the LBE that needed to be touched up with MNU before Change of Command ceremonies. Also using Brasso to polish the brass door handles at BN or BDE.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Jul 1 at 2014 9:10 PM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 21:10:42 -0400

If you know what wall to wall counseling is...
Shine your boots with spit and kiwi with a brown tshirt
curse
drink at a NCO club on post
have weekly inspections of room in barracks by 1SG
all pictures on barracks wall framed
wear a banana suit for PT
starched your BDUs and Class B
sing cadence without repercussion
drive a 1/4 ton
drive a deuce and a half
smoke indoors
cattle car rides singing AC/DC songs
met the PT standard when you graduated basic training!!!!!!!!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2014 9:26 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 21:26:47 -0400

If you had an actual "brown bag" MRE as apposed to the "tan bag".
If you did basic training before they integrated (gender).

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2014 9:44 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 21:44:38 -0400

Remembering what it was like when the Army was not at war.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2014 10:20 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 22:20:03 -0400

If you can whistle-say 'old school'

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Jul 1 at 2014 11:06 PM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 23:06:02 -0400

Where's old BLUE?

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Jul 1 at 2014 11:16 PM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 23:16:36 -0400

Can't forget about the shelter half that many of us used during training

Response by MAJ Jim Woods made Jul 1 at 2014 11:19 PM

MAJ Jim Woods — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 23:19:13 -0400

Cotton Uniforms; Cotton & Canvas LBE; M-14; .45; Leather Boots; Blocked Caps; Breaking Starch: PT in Fatigues & Boots; Pile Caps; Cold Weather gear that added 35 lbs; I could go on but I'm starting to tear up and my Agent Orange is causing me to twitch!

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Jul 1 at 2014 11:53 PM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 23:53:28 -0400

1987.......PVT Baker

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made Jul 1 at 2014 11:57 PM

LCpl Steve Wininger — Tue, 01 Jul 2014 23:57:14 -0400

My profile picture shows four old school items. One is the Utilities. Two, is the two piece helmet that double as a shaving sink, or a cook pot, but I would not recommend cooking in it. Third is the jeep, we also still used Mules and Gamma Goats. Fourth is the radio. Although you can't see the radio, (PRC-77 I believe was the nomenclature, along with KY-38) I have the handset in my hand. Until recently, I had never heard of the term SHARPS or colored PT belts.

Response by SSG Selwyn Bodley made Jul 2 at 2014 12:03 AM

SSG Selwyn Bodley — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 00:03:07 -0400

Buying cans of spray starch for your BDU's
Stripping floors with Ajax
If you are as proficient with a Buffer as you are your rifle
Black berets were only worn by Rangers
If you were smoked simply for being a "Cherry "
If you had a green L shaped flashlight with interchangeable lenses.
If you were issued a Field Jacket
If you qualified with the Dragon

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Jul 2 at 2014 12:25 AM

SPC Charles Brown — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 00:25:35 -0400

Doing a land navigation exercise without any type of GPS.
Being bounced around by a Drill Sergeant because you don't know left from right.
Running into the tree outside the gas chamber at Fort Benning.
Company, platoon, squad punishment for another soldiers infractions.
Push ups for days.
Unkind nicknames.
Cadences before this PC bull.
Blanket parties.
Sanding the bricks.
Wearing blue boots in formation because it rained and you used Future floor polish to make your boots look spit shined.
Ever had to shine a pair of low quarter dress shoes.
Remember what an Acting Jack SGT was.
Could at one time name every color dye or chemical in a can of Kiwi Black shoe polish.
Ever ate powdered eggs for breakfast.
Can remember what was printed on the back of the Claymore mines left over from Vietnam.
Ever saw made by Mattel on the butt stock of your M16, which oh by the way, had no forward assist on it.

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made Jul 2 at 2014 12:29 AM

LCpl Steve Wininger — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 00:29:12 -0400

The only thing similar to a keyboard was a typewriter (Manual), and all phones still had a cord attached to them, and most of those were rotary dial. Text messages were sent via a messenger carrying a note.

Response by LCpl Steve Wininger made Jul 2 at 2014 12:32 AM

LCpl Steve Wininger — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 00:32:24 -0400

And lest I forget, Flack Jackets with the led or metal plates in them, i don't remember which they were.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2014 7:06 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 07:06:39 -0400

M60 machine guns and the M16A1 with the full auto setting on the selector switch. Manual transmission 5 ton and 2 1/2 tons. The all green wet weather gear that smelled like a fat sweaty clown.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2014 7:26 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 07:26:17 -0400

Lot's of great answers here I will just add that about every 10 years you will have a new generation of Soldiers that think they are "old school".

I had hand written counseling statements
Dot Matrix printers were the most awesome thing the PLL office had
You saw the CSM or 1SG coming and scurried away to hide
Promotion ceremonies meant you were going to bleed!
If you spent as much time in the field as some do deployed these days
Cell phones were not allowed on said field problems
Nobody had cell phones, it waited till the next day or they left a message on the answering machine.
PSG came back from the 1SGs meeting with a note tablet instead of the NCOs gathering in the office so he can read his emails.

I could go on and on, but many here are far more "old school" than I am.

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Jul 2 at 2014 7:31 AM

MSG Wade Huffman — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 07:31:46 -0400

OK. who else remembers lighting cans of Johnson's paste wax on fire and pouring the melted wax on the floors to buff (with a piece of wool blanket under the buffer) to a 'high gloss' shine! Think this finally ended when the Army installed smoke detectors in all the buildings! LOL!

Response by SSG Selwyn Bodley made Jul 2 at 2014 7:47 AM

SSG Selwyn Bodley — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 07:47:34 -0400

SFC Gilley suggested that every 10 years you have people claiming to be old school.

I'm sure this is true but do you agree? Does having 10 years of service make you old school?

Response by SSG Selwyn Bodley made Jul 2 at 2014 7:52 AM

SSG Selwyn Bodley — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 07:52:43 -0400

Honoring the PVS 4
and fuzzy green snow

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2014 8:42 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 08:42:20 -0400

Im not old school...but I guess old school would be if you were ever blood pinned, or conducted a Chinese field day before it was known as hazing.

Response by Sgt Jon Johnson made Jul 2 at 2014 9:12 AM

Sgt Jon Johnson — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 09:12:54 -0400

Is it really a moving line or more of a way of life? I have been out over twenty years and I still polish my shoes, hand press/iron my clothes (no starch out of a can), I still wear a flat-top haircut and I certainly still PT. I have been called "old school" many a times. lol

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Jul 2 at 2014 9:18 AM

SFC William Swartz Jr — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 09:18:05 -0400

-Blood-rank/wetting-down ceremony for promotions
-smoking inside all military buildings
-pt conducted in bdu pants, brown t-shirt and running shoes
-"mickey mouse" cold weather boots
-pyle caps and cold-weather ponchos with fur lined hoods
-GOERS, Gamma-Goats and M151A1 Jeeps
-Officer, NCO and Enlisted clubs on-post
-24-hour Motor Pool Guard
-NCOs conducting morning wake-up of barracks personnel and daily room inspections
-Standing at parade-rest anytime you were being passed by or when passing by an NCO until told to "carry-on"

Response by SSgt Tim Ricci made Jul 2 at 2014 9:43 AM

SSgt Tim Ricci — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 09:43:41 -0400

Distinctive Company or Battalion PT Uniform
OD Green Fatigues,
What is a P38
C Rations
XM-16
Duece in a halfs
Gamma Goats
T-10 or Dash 1 Parachutes
Squad Bays in WWII Barracks
Comunity Latrine or Head
Area Guard
Down town Hayes Street Drinking Gin
Cherry Hangings
Pink Bellies
Blood Wings
Specalists 5, 6, and 7
Dragon Club
Run, Skip and Jump and rope climb was part of the PT Test

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2014 11:57 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 11:57:39 -0400

Reading some of these posts brought back memories of things I have not thought about in years, like the "mickey mouse" boots, smoking in the offices, and who out there remembers the 2 beer limit at lunch (as long as you werent flying that afternoon)? Ahh, those were the good old days, even if I did get beat accross the head with a sawed off broom stick to help me remember. I liked the way my old seargents taught me back then, some of these young Soldiers today cant comprehend what it was like back then even as you try to tell them. How do you explain the smell of a duece and a half, or the way it whinned when you revved it up.

Response by Capt Jeff S. made Jul 2 at 2014 12:54 PM

Capt Jeff S. — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 12:54:46 -0400

Old school:

* You didn't get training time outs in bootcamp.
* The military was not a social experiment; it was dedicated to the sole purpose of fighting and winning wars.
* Responsibilty was delegated but accountability wasn't.
* Micro-managing was frowned upon. Good leaders trusted their subordinates because they properly trained them and knew how to delegate.
* NCOs exercised leadership and SNCOs weren't treated like NCOs by their officers.
* There was no such thing as zero defect mentality.
* Writing people up was a last resort and frowned upon; it was like admitting a leadership failure.
* Leaders commanded respect by their own exemplary conduct. They led by example -- from the front!
* Leaders expected 110% from their subordinates and knew how to give a good ass-chewing when needed.
* You said what you meant and you meant what you said. Critique was honest and sometimes brutal. PC wasn't even a word in our vocabularies.
* Lying was verboten. (People won't follow someone they don't trust is telling them the truth.)
* You could trust the people you worked with and not worry about them stealing from you. (Ex: You could leave your wallet on your rack in an open squadbay and nobody would touch it.)
* People were promoted based on how well they demonstrated the leadership traits and principles and took care of others (superiors and subordinates) << AND NOT on how well they dotted their "i's" and crossed their "t's" and took care of THEMSELVES -- on paper!

Response by SGT Craig Northacker made Jul 2 at 2014 1:32 PM

SGT Craig Northacker — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 13:32:27 -0400

I am the old school white guy in the rap world - I start with Chuck D in the 1980's...

Response by SGT Craig Northacker made Jul 2 at 2014 1:43 PM

SGT Craig Northacker — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 13:43:59 -0400

For me, being old school was being with our Viet Nam buddies before the non VN people came in and told us that we lost the war because we did not do the right things in Viet Nam. Then they proceeded to lots of other stuff that got a lot of folks killed - but at least they knew more than we did.

Response by Sgt Robert Kelly made Jul 2 at 2014 1:46 PM

Sgt Robert Kelly — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 13:46:31 -0400

When i was promoted to CPL in the marines i got tagged for the strips on the shoulder and down the leg for the blood strip. This was done back in the earliy
80's. I was sore for awhile. That was old school.

Response by CW5 Sam R. Baker made Jul 2 at 2014 4:13 PM

CW5 Sam R. Baker — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 16:13:41 -0400

Yes, a map with a compass! Forgot that folks used to use those, remember the SQT and then the revised SDT? The 1000 point promotion system?

Response by GySgt William Hardy made Jul 2 at 2014 4:57 PM

GySgt William Hardy — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 16:57:37 -0400

To me "old school" is when a military person served in a different time era where things were done a bit differently or had different equipment. I used the old 1954 canvas pack for a long time before the newer nylon packs and racks came in to use. Those that served before my time had an M1 rather than an M14 or an M16. Those that served after me asked about C rations. Old school is seeing a BAR in action. My time was the M60, and now they have the SAW. In my time in the Corps I took the old PFT then the newer PRT (physical fitness test). Not sure what they do now. In the old school we did a lot of hiking, and I mean a lot. No so much now. Changes in uniforms. Changes in organizations..such as the old Raiders no longer exists. Through it all we are the same in the end. We are Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, or Airmen. No better. No worse. Just serving in a different time.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2014 5:14 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 17:14:04 -0400

I am 58, I hope that answers your question! haha!

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2014 5:16 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 17:16:21 -0400

Oh and I forgot, when I was in, we used rocks as ammo. Times were tough I tell you.......tough.

Response by 1SG David Niles made Jul 2 at 2014 8:06 PM

1SG David Niles — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 20:06:07 -0400

me, I am old school because I am old. Well not as old as some of us on here but old enough.

To answer this, I think old school is from the last major change in something, IE uniforms or policy that radically changed the way things were. When I came in Old school was those who wore the pickle suits and smoked in their office and had a beer at lunch. For me I am old school because I wore BDU, We spit shined boots, so on and so on. I am old school because I am retired.

Response by SSG Jeffrey Spencer made Jul 2 at 2014 9:34 PM

SSG Jeffrey Spencer — Wed, 02 Jul 2014 21:34:33 -0400

When you like old music, drive old cars, talk about old values, and are called an old fart!

Response by SSG Selwyn Bodley made Jul 3 at 2014 7:21 AM

SSG Selwyn Bodley — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 07:21:17 -0400

After reading all these posts I would like to make a motion to bring back the old school way of doing things.

Response by SGT Steve Oakes made Jul 3 at 2014 3:00 PM

SGT Steve Oakes — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 15:00:38 -0400

Yes to all! I have also:
Fired a 1911 that rattled when shook, and used mogas as paint thinner.

Response by PFC Nathaniel Culbertson made Jul 3 at 2014 6:23 PM

PFC Nathaniel Culbertson — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 18:23:43 -0400

I think it is a relative term. even I would be considered "old school" because how my buddies and I were trained and how we would train others comes not from the current doctrine.

Response by SPC Richard White made Jul 31 at 2014 3:39 AM

SPC Richard White — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 03:39:08 -0400

If you ever wore an LBE
,rode in a deuce and half,
transported in a cattle car,
never wore a PT belt because they didn't exist,
ate MRE's,
had do everything manually in a tank not have a computer do it for you,
spit shined your boots and shoes,
pressed your uniform
,Have an MOS that is no longer in use
,standard uniform was BDUs
Trained at a station like Ft. Knox that no longer used for the training that you got

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2014 3:49 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 Jul 2014 03:49:31 -0400

My dad was in from the 60s through the end of 89. He was a Corporal prior to going to OCS, and he served as an Infantry PL despite being an Armored Cav Officer in Vietnam. He taught me the "Old School" values, and I took them to heart. I take the good parts of being "Old School" and try not to use the "not so good parts" on a daily basis.

Today the Army is becoming too soft and too individualistic. We need to get back to a point where the TEAM, the Unit, is the main priority, and not one person's delicate sensibilities. The world is falling apart around us. Our enemies won't care about anyone's feelings. Unit cohesiveness is the key to victory. When everyone worries about their own issues over the success of the unit or the mission, we ALL fail.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2014 12:47 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 12:47:47 -0400

Does this count? :D Fort Lee AIT, early 1992

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made Aug 2 at 2014 1:30 PM

SSG Mike Angelo — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 13:30:33 -0400

To me being old school is about perception from the traditional past to the ever dynamic present. There is a level of respect being old school, on the other hand, old habits can be troublesome.

The previous uniforms, equipment, chow, work culture and behavior is +++ in remembrance. Sometimes it is close then I see something that reminds me of that era and I may instinctively without a lingering thought go there in my mind or in action. Sometimes it is far far away in my mind and I lock it in there. In the latter, these things are locked away for reasons of lessons learned? Maybe I dont want to relieve them.

As humans, we are all creatures of habit. Leaders are change agents, and as such some of a leader's habits may give the perception of behavior from a different time. Is being old school bad? Not necessarily. Some behaviors are harmless while others may be both unethical or inappropriate in the present time.

I remember my first duty assignment at Ft. Ord, 7th ID and the Platoon Sgt, a Vietnam service member, and referred the Orderly Room as the Orderly House. People my age thought he was a old school. There were many Vietnam service members in the platoon and unit who were prior service and those who stayed in the military. I was 18 years old and one of the new replacements in a squad of these seasoned veterans. It was a different era and a different planet.

The uniform of the day was cotton fatigues and highly shined boots. Exceeding standards he would break starch and blouse the boots using inserts and rubber bands. He looked like a walking cardboard box. Common hair style of the 70s permanent party was different than today's standards.

My understanding and experience with blood stripes. My story is that when I was promoted to E-5/Sgt the rank insignia was place on the collar and pounded in. Not on the collar bone! Drawing a little blood and pain meant that I was not one of the troops anymore and the pain was to make sure I knew it. I made E-5 twice.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 2 at 2014 1:51 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 13:51:48 -0400

Hehehe!!! If you remember this, then...

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Aug 2 at 2014 4:24 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sat, 02 Aug 2014 16:24:35 -0400

You simply referred to President Bush as President Bush. Then junior came along and we had to add the Aich-Dubaya to distinguish the real pilot from the poser pilot.

I will admit - I did cast 4 votes for Bushes. Never drank any, just voted for them.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2014 1:50 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Nov 2014 13:50:25 -0500

SSG Selwyn Bodley, you hit the nail on the head when you said ever moving line, because as time goes by the line moves to the right. I'd say don't talk to me about "old school" unless you remember wearing the khaki uniform and the yellow PT uniform. Others might say Vietnam, brown boots (maybe still around), etc.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Nov 8 at 2014 4:25 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 16:25:34 -0500

Well for me, it was being trained by the Vietnam Soldiers of the 60s, 70s and the Soldiers of the 1980s. Things in my era were a lot different, because technology and equipment were a lot different from the present 2014. It was about standards and discipline back then- I tell you worked hard for your pay. Mines was $490 a month take home pay-getting paid out the ole pay-cage back in 1989 as a private from the pay Officer/Sergeant (with a salute). There was not a lot of programs to advocate Soldiers issues. The chain of command took it in their hands and handle it their way (WALL TO WALL COUNSELING). To me the law was my NCO support channel. " What was done behind closed doors, stayed behind closed doors. You barely talked to the 1SG/CO and when you did, you was shaking in them combat boots. That was the way they held checks and balances back in the late 80s and early 90s.

Response by LCpl Anthony Aguilar made Nov 8 at 2014 4:47 PM

LCpl Anthony Aguilar — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 16:47:48 -0500

Any thing north of a younger person. But more resources ful

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2014 5:22 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 17:22:43 -0500

If you:
1. Wore strached kakhi's as your Class B Uniform
2. Qualified Annually on a M551 Sheridan or M60A1 Tank
3. Remember the Black Beret belong to the Armored Cavalry Regiments in Germany...and wore one.
4. Drank 2 beers with lunch while on duty and it was legal.
5. Had a Wall locker display hanging on the instide of your metal wall locker, which showed exactly where every item in it was to be placed, every button buttoned, Sleeping bag and shelter half was rolled sitting on top of the wallocker next to your steel pot. Underwear was "rolled" and in its proper place.
6. Stood in line every payday in Class A to get paid...in cash, but the pay officer.

Just a few that I hadn't seen yet!

Oh...The Memories!

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 8 at 2014 5:29 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 17:29:59 -0500

If you have appurtenances on your NDSM you are old school. Let's keep it simple.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 8 at 2014 5:34 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 17:34:06 -0500

If you asked to borrow carbon paper while in any uniform.....

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 8 at 2014 5:32 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 17:32:40 -0500

If you received a check from the DOD on the 1st of the month..........

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 8 at 2014 5:33 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 17:33:33 -0500

If you ever saluted the pay master indoors to receive pay..........

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 8 at 2014 5:34 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 17:34:18 -0500

If your magazines held 20 rounds........

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 8 at 2014 5:37 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 17:37:14 -0500

If you changed uniform designs at least twice.........

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2014 5:35 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 17:35:13 -0500

everyone keeps talking about wearing the banana suit during PT. I am having a hard time imagining soldiers wearing this.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 8 at 2014 5:37 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 17:37:54 -0500

If you drank beer in the field........

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 8 at 2014 5:36 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 17:36:45 -0500

If your PT uniform weighed 10 pounds more after formation runs in the rain........

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 8 at 2014 5:40 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 17:40:10 -0500

If disputes were solved behing the woodshed and didn't involve paperwork..........

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 8 at 2014 5:42 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 17:42:59 -0500

If you were an expert with the LAW and Dragon (especially if you know what a C 2 identifier was)...........

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 8 at 2014 5:47 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 17:47:07 -0500

If you had a searchlight mounted on your tank.........

Response by Cpl Ray Fernandez made Nov 8 at 2014 5:56 PM

Cpl Ray Fernandez — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 17:56:39 -0500

Honestly it all depends on when you're in. Example Marines can now roll their sleeves again, so old school before that was people who previously rolled their sleeves, now that they roll sleeves again, the ones that were in when they couldn't would be more old school than the ones who came in when they couldn't. It's all a matter of what changes were made that affect boots that came after you that had something you didn't. When I joined the Crucible was still new, so if you were in before the Crucible event, you were old school.

Response by SFC Dave Joslin made Nov 8 at 2014 6:50 PM

SFC Dave Joslin — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 18:50:36 -0500

I think the term is dependent on the relative context of the conversation. If a bunch if medics were talking about licensure and EMT requirements, I would bust out the "old school" term since I was an EMT prior to it being an MOS required qualification, back when it was optional and only for those in the top of their 91B AIT class - old school until an original 91A steps up to trump me!

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Nov 8 at 2014 7:22 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 19:22:11 -0500

I was in the 7th ID from 1992-1993. We wore the Rag-doll Kevlar uniform . You want to talk about some good ole Soldiering Fort Ord, California was the place to be. I will never forgot the 25 mile road marches every quarter and 10 days of hell before you in-processed to your permanent party unit (hard-core). Long Live the Night Fighters of Panama.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Nov 8 at 2014 7:53 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 19:53:13 -0500

If you knew what a piss pipe was / ever used a piss pipe.
Were psyched to get summer weight BDUs without Elvis Collars.
NCOs smoked at their desks
Had H Strap LBE made of canvas (actually wore mine for the last time in OIF 1)
Were issued a bear suit
Operated off magnesium snow shoes without crampons....shavings taken off the sides to start fires
Operated with or supported an M551 Sheridan Armored, Airborne, amphibious reconnaissance vehicle, which really wasn't any of those things
Ran a M3 range (grease gun)
Winter gear consisted of OD green wool items...PG (pre gortex)
The value of your CIF issue was around $300 bucks

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Nov 8 at 2014 9:58 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 21:58:39 -0500

Deleted duplicate post

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Nov 8 at 2014 10:09 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 22:09:28 -0500

For the Loggies out there: TACS box running SAMS, ULLS G, and SARSS

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Nov 8 at 2014 10:36 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 22:36:49 -0500

All purpose insect repellent aka bug juice. 100 percent straight deet in oil. Also started fires and could serve as break free in a pinch.

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Nov 9 at 2014 1:07 AM

Cpl Dennis F. — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 01:07:20 -0500

If you saw and remember "herring bone" utilities.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2014 9:14 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 09:14:30 -0500

HAHAHA. Just thought of a really good one.

Old School: Using a typewriter, especially as a supply clerk to create Hand Receipts of the Commander's property. :D

TEEEEEEDIOUS!!!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2014 9:23 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 09:23:42 -0500

Old School: If you remember when you used 3.5" Floppy Disks for your computer.

Response by LTC Paul Heinlein made Nov 9 at 2014 11:12 AM

LTC Paul Heinlein — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 11:12:18 -0500

My First Unit......

We carried .45s and had the old black leather flap holsters that only came in a right hand version (I'm left handed).

We still had the old green flak vests with the zipper.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2014 1:30 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 13:30:02 -0500

Still had 38 cal revolvers and Colt 45 ACP's in our armory no M9 or M11.
Had C-Rats before there was MRE's
Did PT in our combat boots and wore our cammi pants (no BDU yet) and t-shirt.
Had M35 deuce and a half's, M561 gamma goats and M38 willys jeep's
Had black combat boots and spit shined.
Used starch on our cammies and cover.
Every one carried a half of a shelter in their gear.
Had ALICE packs (All-Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment)
It was a M-16A1 or M16A2

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2014 2:22 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 14:22:39 -0500

CPT Richard Riley i am so old school that Rations were in Roman Numerals and the expiration was; Eat By Lunch!! Col Private RallyPoint Member PO2 Ed C.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2014 2:39 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 14:39:15 -0500

I am so old school that the voices in my head are in Sanskrit! PO2 Ed C. But I am not complaining because my mancave is literally a cave.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2014 2:51 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 14:51:24 -0500

I am so old, that I put a feather in my hat and called it, 'Rice-a-roni;.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2014 7:45 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 19:45:27 -0500

It's weird to think the younger generations will still think they had it rough as a young member as easy as the military is nowadays compared to way back when.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Nov 9 at 2014 9:52 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 21:52:59 -0500

How about this oldie but goodie? "Go down to the Cash Cage and get your TDY funds" And you went down and they counted out the money to you, all of it.

Response by PO1 Mike Wolff made Nov 9 at 2014 10:07 PM

PO1 Mike Wolff — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 22:07:43 -0500

That's a matter of perspective - depends on when one served. My ideas of old-school would likely be different from someone currently serving.

Response by SGT Richard Jacobs made Nov 9 at 2014 10:30 PM

SGT Richard Jacobs — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 22:30:10 -0500

Basic with an M-14, shelter halves, Mummy fart sacks, spit shined boots/low quarters, white name tags, US/RA, PCPT, ..............

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Nov 9 at 2014 11:54 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Sun, 09 Nov 2014 23:54:57 -0500

Polishing boots might be a start...or shoes for that matter?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 6:01 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 06:01:34 -0500

Whatever someone else has, that you don't. Won't matter. Someone used to say, if you ain't airborne you ain't shit. So I went airborne. Then it was jump master. Then I didn't have a star. Then I didn't have a wreath. Then it was how many PJ duties I performed. Blah!

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Nov 10 at 2014 9:53 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 09:53:46 -0500

Do you mean "Brown Shoes or the brown boots I was issued at Ft Ord that had rough out bottoms and 2 buckles on the top? Or the HBT fatigues w/cargo pockets top and bottom?
By the way, as an aspiring Pvt 2, I learned to spit Shine those boots and would carry them to guard mount so the Kiwi wouldn't crack before inspection. It didn't always work; I walked guard once at Ft Knox, Colonel Smith, Armor, missed having me as orderly the next day.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 10:18 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 10:18:17 -0500

Having a ashtray on your desk or wearing a steel pot helmet

Response by SGT Craig Northacker made Nov 10 at 2014 11:10 AM

SGT Craig Northacker — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 11:10:57 -0500

Muskets and black powder...not being able to walk without a cane or walker, having had to fight the VA for decades, and watched and heard about hundreds of thousands of our comrades die or decompose prematurely because of atomic war fallout, Agent Orange, Gulf War Illness and other toxins, and for the generations of medically impacted children because of our altered DNA and other unmet needs. Understanding the betrayal that can be continuous and unrelenting once you are out.

These reasons, and many others, are why I put so much time, money and effort into doing what I do with Vets-Help - from the halls of the White House and Congress to people in the street. The sense of responsibility I feel to our brothers and sisters, and their families, has never diminished over time.

I ask for your prayers and good vibes on this Veterans Day as we honor our own. We are pushing hard because we are old grunts and that is what we do. My body has failed in a number of ways, but that only makes me more determined because I have greater empathy for those with needs I never understood before.

God Bless everyone, and blessings to those who do not believe.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 1:16 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 13:16:53 -0500

For me, old school means "Tough/Hard-ass Army." Everything seems to have gotten softer and softer throughout the years. I don't believe in stress cards, cell phone privileges, or these new barracks for IET soldiers. Other than the technology we train with, I don't see any reason for the way the "new army" is. When you hear a SSG complain that she has to share a barracks room with 3-4 other females *gasp* instead of staying in a hotel off post for a week long Conference/Dining In... Or that the other trainees in Ft Benning took video with their cells phones of your brother doing a power slide in a Bradley... Or not being able to punish your soldiers with push ups? Yea, that's new school and I'm not into it.

Response by TSgt Joshua Copeland made Nov 10 at 2014 3:08 PM

TSgt Joshua Copeland — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 15:08:13 -0500

two+ page shot records

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Nov 10 at 2014 3:38 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 15:38:56 -0500

SSG Selwyn Bodley, it's all relative. If a soldier entered the service before you, they're old school. To a soldier that came after you, you're old school.
For me, I was issued the 100% cotton olive drab (OD) fatigue uniform (Class C) when I arrived at the reception station and then headed off to BCT. They were starched at all times. Class Bs were the 100% starched cotton khaki uniform. For all PT, the uniform was fatigues and boots without the OD shirt. We shaved in steel pots and ate Meals, Combat Individual (MCI) in the field, which everyone called C-rations. We were billeted in the old WWII era white temporary barracks. I could go on and on about how old school I am.
However, I have a good friend who was actually issued brown boots when he enlisted. He was billeted in the old white barracks also, but the heat was provided by coal fired furnaces. The term fire guard was quite real for those soldiers. He's old school to me.
It's all relative.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 3:42 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 15:42:28 -0500

The fundamental belief in "Wall to Wall" counseling?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 4:47 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 16:47:29 -0500

Playfull answers aside,

I think that anyone who sticks with a previous ideal or thought, even after changes with time, tends to be the ones that use the "old school" phrase.

I am guilty of that whenever I refer to "NBC training" and when I get corrected to "you mean CBRN training, dontcha sarge?" I usually reply with a dismissive wave, "Ya ya, I'm old school".

Response by SGT Suraj Dave made Nov 10 at 2014 5:28 PM

SGT Suraj Dave — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 17:28:03 -0500

LOL I was in for 4 years, came in a PFC, left a SGT. Deployed twice. This is what a leader means when they are "old school".

- You do PT instead of getting counselings
- You do FM 21-20 instead of PRT
- You dont care about being PC (Politically Correct), you just want the job done

Response by SA Harold Hansmann made Nov 10 at 2014 5:44 PM

SA Harold Hansmann — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 17:44:30 -0500

Wow, reading through all these responses and remembering, y'all are about to make me tear up.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 6:18 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 18:18:13 -0500

"OLD SCHOOL"
1) Communicating with a PRC-77 or T-1 Field Phone
2) Happilly driving a JEEP; istead of "Leather Personnel Carriers" or LPC's
3) Wearing BDU's; Polishing Boots; LBE was an upgrade over just a Utility-belt
4) Advanced Arms included the LAW, M-16 A-1, & M-60; Steel-helmet Vs. Kevilar
5) C-Rations or when there were ONLY 12-MRE Types & they were Brown-colored
6) Night-vision meant letting your eyes adjust or conducting missions based on the lunar-calandar

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 10 at 2014 6:35 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Nov 2014 18:35:45 -0500

Reading a lot of posts on this topic and I would agree that it is an evolving term. When the Army changes uniforms again (hopefully soon) then the ACU generation will be "old school." I still have many sets of BDUs laying around! My dad came enlisted in 1972 as a field artilleryman and retired a LTC in 2001 (SDARNG) but didn't ever get mobilized except for a pretty cool exercise where they took his battalion (he was the S4 so very involved with the deal) of howitzers to South Korea for a month long FTX in '88. These days, man, with all the deployment activity and combat, well, my brother (E6) and I (O3) have seen a lot more ground than our father ever did and we still don't have the time in service he did (combined). We have active duty and National Guard time but yeah, Africa, Kuwait, Korea, Iraq, all sorts of duty stations across the US.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2014 12:27 AM

PO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 00:27:25 -0500

I dunno about old old school but I had a Chief who went to boot camp with Noah. So I knew an old school sailor at least. Oddly as prisoner escorts we wore those steel pot helmets painted a real pretty white. The Navy was probably the last holdout for those.

Response by Sgt Packy Flickinger made Nov 11 at 2014 12:32 AM

Sgt Packy Flickinger — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 00:32:15 -0500

In the Marines, I've hear it said many times that "old school" was pre McKeon incident. It apparently changed the way traing was conducted after that. Who knows for sure except that my grandpa in law is definitely old school. Pearl Harbor doesn't get much older than that.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2014 12:42 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 00:42:12 -0500

Most of the soldiers in my unit weren't born yet when I enlisted. I'm claiming old school status.

C-rats
green fatigues
cattle cars
M16A1
M1911
Steel pot
M151 jeep
West Germany
PT in fatigues pants and white t-shirt and boots

Response by PO3 Brendan "Smitty" Smith made Nov 11 at 2014 1:45 AM

PO3 Brendan "Smitty" Smith — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 01:45:12 -0500

Personally, I think "old school" is more of a state of mind, rather than a matter of dates. I think if you care more about getting the job done right and less about power point presentations, you're old school. If you don't mind getting your Crow tacked on (you have to make sure it doesn't fly away after all) you're old school. If you don't get your boxers in a bunch over a joke, you're old school. If you stand up for what's right, even when it's not convenient, you're old school. If you care more about speaking the truth, rather than politically correctness, you're old school.

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Nov 11 at 2014 6:40 AM

1SG Michael Blount — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 06:40:02 -0500

You know you're old school when you remember EVERY branch wearing BDUs

Response by SCPO Albert Lee Smith made Nov 11 at 2014 10:19 AM

SCPO Albert Lee Smith — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 10:19:12 -0500

I think the line is clearly defined, but hard to explain. In an age of political correctness, those who are "old school" don't get caught in the trap of holding their tongue at the risk of hurting people’s oversensitive natures or tendencies. Sometimes, in an effort to provide “stick and rudder” to a person in need, a feeling or 2 needs to be hurt.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2014 11:34 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 11:34:53 -0500

Can some one tell me when they stopped bayonet training in basic? I had some new soldiers ask me if I used bayonets in basic. I thought this was still being done. There is something about running through the woods with a sharp piece of steel strapped to the end of your rifle stabbing anything that moves that seems like a rite of passage. It also helped to weed out the weaker soldiers.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2014 3:58 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 15:58:13 -0500

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca And realizing that the M16 that was made by the lowest bidder also had parts built by Mattel, who built the toys you played with as a kid.

CMSgt James Nolan I remember going to the travel office to get our advances for per diem and travel. No such thing as a GTCC.

I feel I am old school, there are not a whole lot of us around that have a Southwest Asia Service Medal and Liberation of Kuwait Medal.

Going to the supply warehouse at least twice a year to inspect your 782 gear.
Being able to drink in the club on base, even if you were not of age outside the gate.
Flying in a C130, C141 or C5 wherever we went, none of this commercial flying like today.
We were issued the actual winter weather parka (with the furry hood), I did not like giving that back when I transfered.
You still smoked inside, and that included the hospital.
Air conditioning? What was air conditioning?
Wearing those ugly "chocolate chip" desert BDU's with huge collars, and doing a drug deal as soon as possible to get the tri-colors.
While deployed standing in line with everyone else to make a phone call home, "over".
Going to Dhahran with 5 C-Bags full of #10 coffee cans, and coming back with 3 aircraft pallets full of equipment we needed.

Response by SGT Gabriel G. made Nov 11 at 2014 5:02 PM

SGT Gabriel G. — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 17:02:30 -0500

I had BDUs, look how old school I am.

Response by PO1 Michael Fullmer made Nov 11 at 2014 7:28 PM

PO1 Michael Fullmer — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 19:28:31 -0500

Old School... to me...as a senior petty officer... it means following the rules/regs and not caring whether or not a decision makes the questioning junior happy or not. I have seen to many times juniors questioning directions from their seniors, because they were not prepared or didnt want to perform an assigned task or follow a specific order because they simply didnt want to. At what point does one "cave" on this sort of crap? Since the end of my time in the service...I still work for the DoD...I have seen political correctness take over in a way I see seriously degrading our military. My opinion of political correctness is that it is a load of Bovine Fecal Matter, and used by both males & females to try and circumvent their way around what they are told. Threats of EEO/harassment complaints, in order to get what they want, and rather than fight it their seniors just give in rather than fight or risk their reputations being sullied even by false accusations. I hope this makes some type of sense?

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Nov 11 at 2014 11:54 PM

MSG Brad Sand — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 23:54:16 -0500

P38 on your dog tags.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 12 at 2014 12:38 AM

SFC Mark Merino — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 00:38:05 -0500

If you held up a mop to adjust track and balance on the moving main rotor blades of your helicopter........Vietnam aircrew respect!

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Nov 12 at 2014 2:15 AM

1SG Michael Blount — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 02:15:40 -0500

1. When you prefer your Kevelar ("K-Pot") to the ACH
2. When you actually had to polish your low quarters, boots and brass
3. When you really didn't care what the DFAC was serving because you were going to eat it anyway.
4. When your first Squad Leader was the nearest thing to God you'd ever known -- until you glimpsed the CSM.
5. When you pressed your BDUs
6. When you lived in those WW II barracks and thought "hey, this ain't all bad"
7. When your Drill Sergeant wore a whistle along with that pistol belt and you thought those were the coolest things since sliced bread.
8. Showing pride in what you do and doing it the best you can.

Response by SPC Richard White made Nov 12 at 2014 4:46 AM

SPC Richard White — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 04:46:10 -0500

LBE,No cell phones,No P.T. belt,no GPS,rode in cattle car,ate MRE's and also had powdered eggs,passed APFT before graduation,drove deuce and half and 1/4 ton,

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2014 7:25 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 07:25:56 -0500

Well for me being "old school" is getting with the troops and verbally informing them of what's going. We send tons of emails everyday to our soldiers as well text messages etc...

Response by SSG Selwyn Bodley made Nov 12 at 2014 8:18 AM

SSG Selwyn Bodley — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 08:18:50 -0500

If you remember counseling sessions, or uniforms, BDU's and barracks that looked like these.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2014 11:23 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 11:23:40 -0500

Being over 40 and still on active duty. You sometimes feel like Rip Van Winkle. Where did all those teenagers come from?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2014 12:33 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 12:33:57 -0500

Old school is just code for I liked it better somewhere else or someplace else and it was better than you and this place now! Not always grounded in any real thought, analysis or critical thinking...just ones own belief that what they used to do was right, and what they are experiencing now is not. So it could be like a day old; I have actually seen that in the field...

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 12 at 2014 2:51 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 14:51:35 -0500

Carbon Copy leave forms.

Response by CPO John Dupee made Nov 12 at 2014 4:20 PM

CPO John Dupee — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 16:20:07 -0500

-Buttkits in the berthing areas and you could smoke on the mess decks
-Standing in the pay line and cashing your check on the mess decks
-Sea Stores cigarettes; Marlboros at $8.00/carton. Lucky Strikes $0.25/carton
-Boondockers!

Response by SGT James Elphick made Nov 12 at 2014 7:13 PM

SGT James Elphick — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 19:13:58 -0500

A combat patch from any conflict before the GWOT. Bonus "old school" points for multiple deployments without earning a star on your CIB.

Response by CW4 William Van Almsick made Nov 12 at 2014 8:50 PM

CW4 William Van Almsick — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 20:50:56 -0500

If you wore a white tee-shirt, fatigue pants, and your combat boots to complete your PT test.

If you ever had to do the Run, Dodge, and Jump and the horizontal ladder as part of the PT test.

A 2-mile run in boots, pants, and a tee-shirt in 12:30 as a young 18 year-old. Wow, I wish I had that back! lol

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2014 7:21 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 07:21:39 -0500

-Where soldiers executed their directives (lawful) with a 'Moving SGT ' and didnt as 21 question.
-Where in-ranks inspections were thr norm.
-The E-4 Mafia policed up the soldiers before the NCOs got wind of it.
-Wall-to-wall counselings.....(I know....Im reaching....lol)
-Sundays were dedicated to shining boots and ironing uniforms.
-If you used Sta-Flo versus regular starch.
-Melted fishing line in your uniforms to make a permanent crease.

Response by SSG Christopher Parrish made Nov 13 at 2014 1:31 PM

SSG Christopher Parrish — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 13:31:01 -0500

Black boots were issued
Non-coed training
tent halves
You wore a pot, not Kevlar
Drill Sergent could physically "instruct" you
No PT belt
Cold weather PT uniform was thick cotton sweats

Response by MSG Clifford Gaston made Nov 13 at 2014 2:59 PM

MSG Clifford Gaston — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 14:59:00 -0500

I agree with all that has been stated. If you came in after 9-11, it's safe to say you know nothing about being old school EXCEPT what you have been told by us "Old School" veterans. As for the SP5 - SP7, those days were gone even when I came in 1991. This is everything I have seen or done since coming in: rode in a REAL deuce and a half know what a gamma goat used to be were transported in a cattle car,lived in WWII era barracks, thought the only definition of, "offensive" was "taking it to the commies" actually put 2 shelter halves together to make and sleep in a tent
pressed your duty uniform spit shined your boots ate MREs, boarded for promotion, walked the gauntlet when you got SGT, know what a SP5, SP6, and SP7 is, used a TA312 and took the TA-312 challenge...it was very shocking, remember soviet bloc nations were the bad guys. Miss those days.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 13 at 2014 4:20 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 16:20:38 -0500

When the troops you lead could actually be your children.

Response by LTC Joseph George made Nov 13 at 2014 5:08 PM

LTC Joseph George — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 17:08:58 -0500

Discipline in all ranks and working to a common goal.

Response by 1SG Steven Holden made Nov 13 at 2014 7:53 PM

1SG Steven Holden — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 19:53:50 -0500

Used to be accused of this a lot because of my flip phone.... Still don't have a smart phone... I guess I'm not smart enough!!

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Nov 13 at 2014 8:25 PM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 20:25:23 -0500

20 years from now:

Actually sitting down to a meal instead of swallowing protein wafers.
Wearing body armor and knee pads in the days before Kevlar exoskeletons
Firing actual lead bullets from my M-4 instead of electrons from my M-99 Rail Rifle
Having to carry a basic load of ammunition
Driving in wheeled vehicles instead of air cars
Flying in an aircraft that required a pilot
Not being able to navigate by GPS on a cloudy day
Serving with a Bush or Clinton in the White House

Response by SFC Vernon McNabb made Nov 13 at 2014 10:22 PM

SFC Vernon McNabb — Thu, 13 Nov 2014 22:22:06 -0500

Fresh water came in a canvass bag strapped to three tent poles in the field
MREs didn't have heaters.
Coffee was so thick and strong you could grease a track with it.
Marlboro Reds were less than a $1.00 a pack.
Gas was less than a $1.00/gallon
Potbelly or Yukon
If you never saw your CSM, that meant you hadn't screwed up...yet.
SQTs determined if you should be promoted...no automatic promotions.
The Army ran on post housing, and you mowed your own grass.

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 15 at 2014 4:08 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 16:08:48 -0500

This may have been mentioned, trading C ration cigarettes for just about anything in the field. They were more valuable than money. That was old school.

Response by SSG Matt Murphy made Nov 15 at 2014 5:29 PM

SSG Matt Murphy — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 17:29:22 -0500

Pith helmets in Basic

Response by MSgt Randel "Chico" Aday made Nov 15 at 2014 6:35 PM

MSgt Randel "Chico" Aday — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 18:35:23 -0500

Old School...Before the Gender trap before the word Gay was used, when TI's could take you out back and whoop your ass and yell at you. You didn't have a Time Out, card when they hurt your feelings (there were no feelings in Basic Training), you were in, or you were out. You had an old Green wool blanket that made every one itch, and a old metal POC locker to hang your clothes in (Called the Brown Shoe Days). Everyone wasn't called a Hero like today. The word has been taken out of context now. Old School, when AF had 1505's (Tan Uniform). The B-52 (BUFF) was still a new weapon. There were no Camo BDU's and just plain green work uniforms (couldn't tell us apart from the Army) and white T shirts. All of our TO's came from the Army. Eating C-Rations. There were no battery operated hand drills, or saws, pocket calculators, cell phones or computers. Remember having punch cards. I think we trained with Old WWII helmets, with the liner inside. I was born in 1953, delayed enlistment in 1971, in basic 1972, retired 1992.

Response by 1LT William Clardy made Nov 15 at 2014 7:41 PM

1LT William Clardy — Sat, 15 Nov 2014 19:41:39 -0500

Who remembers the DA-2496 (a.k.a. "Disposition Form")?

Response by 1LT William Clardy made Nov 16 at 2014 12:31 AM

1LT William Clardy — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 00:31:22 -0500

Another item which I haven't seen anybody mention yet: s**t-burning detail.

How many of you got tagged for field sanitation duty, using diesel and mogas to reduce the solid waste, and having to stir the mix regularly to ensure proper burning?

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Nov 16 at 2014 3:17 AM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 03:17:39 -0500

When a 18 or 19 year old PFC with less than 18 months time in service says, "the Army needs to go back to old school way of doing things" I chuckle because that private doesn't know what he or she is talking about. lol

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2014 10:27 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 10:27:12 -0500

There is some of the "old school" I agree with, and there is some of the "new school" I agree with. If someone could find some sort of common ground for the two, that would be awesome. But the one thing I would bring back would be the Olive Drabs, and the green class A's.

Response by MSG Gene Potocki made Nov 16 at 2014 11:50 AM

MSG Gene Potocki — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 11:50:17 -0500

Being licensed to drive a U.S. Military M274 Truck, Platform, Utility 1/2 Ton, 4X4, with an international drivers license while stationed in Italy.

Response by PO2 David Wagner made Nov 16 at 2014 12:05 PM

PO2 David Wagner — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 12:05:50 -0500

I was looking for a post from a Coastie on this question, but if there has been one I missed it. I think that Coasties at least us old guys, think in terms of the “old Guard” as opposed to the “new Guard.”

I believe that us old timers think that the shift began around 1972, when the traditional CG uniform for enlisted personnel was changed to something resembling an Air Force uniform.

In my opinion someone who is old Guard remembers:

• Learning morse code
• rowing lifeboats in the ocean as part of recruit training
• 13 weeks of boot camp
• Black and white boot camp photos
• the OBA
• ABC Defense Drills
• Spars
• 40 footers
• Life aboard Cutters built in the 1930s and 40s
• Loran stations
• Lighthouse and Lightship duty
• Weather ships
• Antarctic service
• Sextants

If there are any other Coasties on this question, please weigh in.

Response by PO1 Donald Kennelly made Nov 16 at 2014 2:11 PM

PO1 Donald Kennelly — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 14:11:13 -0500

Good question.. After being out a few years I don't know what the "new" stuff is except what I occasionally see at the closest base to me (Rock Island Arsenal (Army base).
Old school for the Navy would consist of knowing what "holy stoning" was. Knowing how to do it was real old Navy. Non-buff waxing of the decks is/was fairly new, having to buff out the real wax was old. Having inverted creases in your uniforms was old school, knowing why you have inverted creases was real old Navy. Wearing a Dixie cup goes with the uniform, having it curled and wearing it forward and right is a Salt.

Response by CSM Christopher St. Cyr made Nov 16 at 2014 10:33 PM

CSM Christopher St. Cyr — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 22:33:59 -0500

If you've been around long enough to retire, but aren't smart enough to do so because you really are not quite sure what you would do otherwise.

If your Company Commander was born after you enlisted.

If you walk into the drill shed of a field artillery unit and have to pick your jaw up from the floor when your old driver, who is now a laucher chief introduces you to his new female driver (who happens to also be younger than your daughter).

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2014 10:42 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 22:42:58 -0500

Being an NCO before 2003

Response by SGT John Rice made Nov 17 at 2014 3:04 AM

SGT John Rice — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 03:04:30 -0500

I looked over a lot of the posts. To me, old school is fairly basic. I feel that old school is going back to the time that soldiers were soldiers, and politicians were politicians. They were totally separate, and quite often did not like each other, sometimes to the extreme. Before I left the service in 1996, I was seeing more and more that soldiers were also being expected to act as politicians. You had to be totally politically correct all the time. You had to be willing if introduced to another country's military, even ones that had been our enemy like Russia, and smile. I was in the field when we had a group of Russian observers brought through during the ending of the Cold War. We had to salute them, and answer any questions that they chose to ask. I got in a little trouble due to that. I just walked away from them.

Response by MSgt Kevin Willoughby made Nov 17 at 2014 4:20 AM

MSgt Kevin Willoughby — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 04:20:21 -0500

Old school....

SAC Alert duty
Blast fence training
Green Utility uniforms that were only worn for work
DEW Line across Greenland Ice Cap
The Cold War

Response by TSgt Tim Walker made Nov 17 at 2014 4:23 PM

TSgt Tim Walker — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 16:23:29 -0500

"Old School " starts at discharge. Anything after was not the way "it's supposed to be" and definitely is not the way it is intended to be.

Response by SFC A.M. Drake made Nov 17 at 2014 8:50 PM

SFC A.M. Drake — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 20:50:04 -0500

Stay in long enough and you will be considered "Old school!!"

Response by CW5 Derrick Edwards (Ret) made Nov 17 at 2014 10:25 PM

CW5 Derrick Edwards (Ret) — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 22:25:45 -0500

Today, you qualify as 'old school' if you:
-served during the cold war
-remember the return of soldiers from Desert Storm
-slept in a tent in the field constructed from you and your buddy's 'shelter halves'
-qualified to drive a 'deuce and a half'
-ate MREs packaged in dark brown packaging (omelette with ham, chicken a-la-king)

Response by CW5 Derrick Edwards (Ret) made Nov 17 at 2014 10:29 PM

CW5 Derrick Edwards (Ret) — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 22:29:48 -0500

Here's another 'old school' reference point: when you are still on active duty and NCOs are young enough to be your kids!

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 6:58 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 06:58:30 -0500

"Ols school" is in the eyes of the beholder. For me the 90s are school, for some tha came after me the 2000...... And sometimes we just use the word to describe something were told that is old. My two cents

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 12:49 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 12:49:03 -0500

I believe at one point, everyone believes they are "old school". We are in a constantly evolving organization. New regs, new technologies, new TTPs, it's always changing. I myself feel old school due to the fact that I came in wearing BDU's and carried an M16 during my first tour. But during that time, I heard the "old timers" talking about wearing OD's and shooting grease guns. In summary, old school is truly subjective.

Response by SPC Ryan Verdery made Nov 18 at 2014 2:52 PM

SPC Ryan Verdery — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 14:52:37 -0500

Steel Pots
LBE
Colt 1911's
M151 JEEPS!
UH-1 Hueys
M60 MBTs
Deuce & a Half's
M113's

Response by MSgt Ryan Tanner made Nov 18 at 2014 4:38 PM

MSgt Ryan Tanner — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 16:38:37 -0500

When your boot's laces have more time in service than the member in question...

Response by PO1 Walter Duncan made Nov 18 at 2014 5:37 PM

PO1 Walter Duncan — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 17:37:44 -0500

1. You know you are Old School when - you hear the word, "Digital" and you think "Knuckles".
2. You know you are Old School when - you went to Basic and you washed your clothes by hand.
3. You know you are Old School when - the ship you were on got underway, the engineers were yelling "Stroke, Stroke, Stroke"
4. You know you are Old School when - crossing the Equator and Arctic Circle meant something.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2014 7:42 PM

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 19:42:35 -0500

"Old School" military was when my farther-in-law and my dad were in the service, before the Army started going soft in Basic. Now they got stress cards.

Response by 1SG Nick Baker made Nov 18 at 2014 10:01 PM

1SG Nick Baker — Tue, 18 Nov 2014 22:01:01 -0500

Rolling up t-shirts and underwear 6" and socks individually. Displaying a shaving brush. Khakis with jump boots. C-rations and John Wayne toilette paper.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2014 1:54 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 13:54:09 -0500

Banana Pants - Grey's don't count! When you had cold weather gear that did not work! Stupid got a hands on experience! Soldiers did what they were told! BASD on or before 1990! Your military license was for a Chevy Blazer or Dodge Truck! Need I go on!

Response by SSG Selwyn Bodley made Nov 19 at 2014 7:06 PM

SSG Selwyn Bodley — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 19:06:53 -0500

So many great responses!!!

Response by 1st Lt Ed Tillman made Nov 20 at 2014 8:14 PM

1st Lt Ed Tillman — Thu, 20 Nov 2014 20:14:05 -0500

I personally think the dividing line between "old school" and where we are now began somewhere in the late 1970s. Prior to that, I remember:

- Khaki brown summer uniforms, Ike Jackets and Long Sleeve dark blue flannel shirts - in the Air Force.
- Annual re-qualifications with Mattel M-16s using .22 caliber inserts
- Wearing a S&W .38 Police Special when serving as an NCOD in a secure facility
- C-Rations -- yeah, the boxes marked "1949" that still had cigarettes and matches in them
- Auto-ordered PB&J boxed in-flight lunches if you didn't order better or in advance
- Being issued a field jacket, which, incidentally, never fit right
- Manual Radar sites (no computers) (UPA-35, FPS-6, Back-Plot Board & grease pencil)
- Beer in the NCO's Mess - and we were allowed to have one 6oz beer with lunch
- Meal Cards for the Airmens' and NCOs Messes - if you lived in the barracks

...these are a few of my favorite things... I'm "old school."

Response by SFC Doug Harvey made Nov 21 at 2014 7:54 AM

SFC Doug Harvey — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 07:54:09 -0500

Starched OG107 fatigues, suntan summer uniform, a real steel pot for a helmet.....

Response by SFC Royce Williams made Nov 21 at 2014 3:26 PM

SFC Royce Williams — Fri, 21 Nov 2014 15:26:00 -0500

Anything prior to the generation your talking to

Response by SSG Selwyn Bodley made Nov 22 at 2014 4:38 PM

SSG Selwyn Bodley — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 16:38:19 -0500

Just saw this today! Thinking you might be old school if you were in when this was being used...

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2014 7:30 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Nov 2014 19:30:31 -0500

This turned into a great discussion, SSG Selwyn Bodley. Thanks for starting it.

If someone hasn't already said it, I'll add that the five-event Army PT test is old school.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2014 7:46 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 07:46:39 -0500

Still respecting your superior. Such as if you're a specialist and ur talking to an NCO u go to parade rest. Also an E-5 going to parade rest for an E-7.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2014 7:48 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 07:48:17 -0500

BDUs if you still own a pair. Using tents and tent stakes/poles. That blasted camp net nobody knew how to put up.

Response by SGT Virgle Pitchford made Nov 23 at 2014 9:12 AM

SGT Virgle Pitchford — Sun, 23 Nov 2014 09:12:29 -0500

being considered old school is being old army or old military. they switched in 1979. if you was in the lastcycles in july then your considered old school.

Response by MSG John Wirts made Nov 26 at 2014 1:20 AM

MSG John Wirts — Wed, 26 Nov 2014 01:20:53 -0500

Depends on your start point, I started with the M-1 Garand , old school was the 1903 Springfield, and M-17 Enfield are old school. Any questions other then what are those?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 1 at 2014 11:02 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 23:02:43 -0500

Having standards and sticking to them.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 1 at 2014 11:17 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 Dec 2014 23:17:48 -0500

Gamma Goat=Old School

Response by MSG Reid Zohfeld made Dec 2 at 2014 12:38 PM

MSG Reid Zohfeld — Tue, 02 Dec 2014 12:38:22 -0500

I have seen alot of Posts that I can relate to.
But I have not seen anyone mention Re-Forger yet.
I was on re-forger when the first Black Hawk was Bang around coming out of the ships haul in Belguim and the pilots hoping it was not there bird LOL

Response by SSG Robert Burns made Dec 3 at 2014 2:47 PM

SSG Robert Burns — Wed, 03 Dec 2014 14:47:15 -0500

What's on your iPod or.....walkman.

Response by MAJ David Vermillion made Jan 28 at 2015 4:44 PM

MAJ David Vermillion — Wed, 28 Jan 2015 16:44:29 -0500

I think "Old School" simply means things have changed from the way the prior service members did things when they were in the military. Old school is thinking in the past and not in the future, the way we use to do it is not always the best way to do things.

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Feb 5 at 2015 11:19 PM

SSgt Dan Montague — Thu, 05 Feb 2015 23:19:51 -0500

If this was your battle rattle

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2015 3:20 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 03:20:43 -0500

When you had to report to the pay officer to get your paycheck.

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Feb 6 at 2015 9:42 AM

SSgt Dan Montague — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 09:42:11 -0500

Old salt, old Corps or old school? I joined in 92. I was considered old Corps before I retired. I look back and see the era I served in. There were a lot of changes in 20 years. So maybe its the era you served that makes you "old school". I guess it would really be the WW2 vets, then Korea then so on and so on. We will all have our turn at being old school.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Feb 6 at 2015 9:45 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Fri, 06 Feb 2015 09:45:06 -0500

To me it throws red flags as to that SM openness to change, willingness to look at the "new" way honestly and give it FULL support before denouncing it as not as good as the "Old School" way.

Did I keep in mind how we "used to do it"? Of course, for examples of both a better way, and a worse way not to repeat. Or to base a new way on an old, but modify it to work for the current situation.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2015 6:43 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Feb 2015 18:43:22 -0500

This sounds a lot like "Old Corps" in the Marines.

Who knows what the following are or have fired (some are Marine specific):

- M151
- P38/John Wayne
- Dragon
- M60
- PRC 77
- LVT
- REMF

Of course, there are older dudes that will call out some older stuff.

I guess it's a generational thing going back to our earliest roots in the U.S. and militaries in general going back millenia. Warriors are warriors back to when we first started organizing and hanging out in pubs.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Feb 8 at 2015 2:47 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 14:47:17 -0500

By the time I retired from the Navy, every ship I had served in had either been scrapped or sold to a foreign Navy. I was old school...

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2015 3:54 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 15:54:35 -0500

We just had this discussion a day or so ago. The army is always evolving so old school is a matter of perspective. In the 80s there were 5 key tasks you had to accomplish to be considered successful. That changed to 46 tasks in the 90s and is now up to 176 tasks. A Soldier with 25+ yrs has a completely different perspective on things than a Soldier with 1-10 yrs. It's a sliding scale that changes with the times and technology. Some of my Soldiers consider me old school based on my experiences and how I react to and handle different situations.

Response by SPC David S. made Feb 8 at 2015 4:02 PM

SPC David S. — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 16:02:48 -0500

You had a blue coat and musket.

Response by SGT Kevin Gardner made Feb 9 at 2015 12:44 AM

SGT Kevin Gardner — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 00:44:59 -0500

If you know what wall to wall counseling is you might be old school.

Response by SGT John Adam Prolo made Feb 9 at 2015 1:05 AM

SGT John Adam Prolo — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 01:05:49 -0500

My squad leader was a Spc 5 in 1984.

Response by SPC James Mcneil made Feb 9 at 2015 9:21 AM

SPC James Mcneil — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 09:21:22 -0500

Old school refers to doing things the way they were done when you were a new soldier. Not the way those people did it before you. Those guys were crazy. LOL

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2015 9:15 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 09:15:17 -0500

I would say, served at least a year prior to 2000. That puts you in Cold War times.

Response by GySgt Joe Strong made Feb 10 at 2015 9:39 AM

GySgt Joe Strong — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 09:39:29 -0500

If you know why the name John Walker makes some old School Comm guys get shivers up their backs, followed by immediate paranoia, anxiety, and a desire to choke the living shit out of his (recently) dead ass. You might be Old School.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2015 9:46 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 09:46:28 -0500

I guess if you could drink at lunch would qualify you as old school.

Response by GySgt Joe Strong made Feb 10 at 2015 9:55 AM

GySgt Joe Strong — Tue, 10 Feb 2015 09:55:09 -0500

Look, If I stood on the Yellow footprints before you did, ..., even if you got off of the same bus, well, you should see the way it used to be... :)

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2015 9:52 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Mar 2015 21:52:53 -0500

Two years in Germany with the 3rd ID then Ft Stewart GA with the 24th ID

Response by 1SG David Lopez made Mar 15 at 2015 6:18 PM

1SG David Lopez — Sun, 15 Mar 2015 18:18:33 -0400

Back in the late 80's as a squad leader. I had a Joe spurt out "high stress sergeant". Of course my old school mentality did not understand this pukes cry for help. Another one of my squared away soldiers interpreted for this incident. In their basic training, if the Drill Sergeant stressed a basic trainee too much, the term taught to the basic trainees was "High Stress Drill Sergeant", and the DS would have to give them a few minutes of NO STRESS. Well now this Joe was in the real Army, Infantry unit. He got smoked (stressed) and physically disciplined for hours that day, and every opportunity I had to change this young man's attitude. I don't know if he ever stood in the Army, as I PCS'd shortly after that incident. Also I preferred a good PT smoke session vs. writing a soldier up. That was true discipline in my world. I figured why ruin a guys life by writing him bad reports. PT Smoke the crap out of him, he'll be in good shape and show love and respect for their future. As a disclaimer: I performed every exercise during every PT smoke session with every soldier, Amen.

Response by SFC Collin McMillion made Mar 16 at 2015 1:57 AM

SFC Collin McMillion — Mon, 16 Mar 2015 01:57:04 -0400

Let me see.......steel pot, c-ration, bivwac, half-shelters, M-14 was primary rifle, olive drab, no limits on pt, worst chow in the world, push-up, pull-ups, situps before entering the chow line, remembering weather to yell "US or RA" on request, old wooden barrack, fire guard, bunks with no springs and a 2in mattress, blanket parties, dropping yous weapon and getting down there with it, never, but never call your weapon a gun, challenge your DI and then meet him behind the barracks to find out, and the list goes on and on......lol. "Old School"!!!!!!

Response by SFC Dennis Yancy made Jun 19 at 2015 6:43 PM

SFC Dennis Yancy — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 18:43:39 -0400

It is a generation thing. When the troops get to be 15 years younger than you you are old school. Like it or not

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jun 19 at 2015 7:25 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 19:25:01 -0400

Brown boots with rough-out lowers and smooth leather tops with 2 buckles!

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Jun 19 at 2015 8:19 PM

LCpl Mark Lefler — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 20:19:42 -0400

I guess I see old school as the vietnam era and before. Time after that is modern to me.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 19 at 2015 11:10 PM

PO1 John Miller — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 23:10:27 -0400

If you ever:

Wore dungarees
Washed your White Hat in salt water to get a good shape to it
Shaped your White Hat
Wore Boondockers
Pressed your Dress Blues by folding them and putting them under your mattress and sleeping on them.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Jun 19 at 2015 11:15 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 23:15:22 -0400

I'm old school..enlisted in 66. Been through 6 presidents, 4 uniform charges, 3 different families of tanks 3 different families of utility vehicles, two different families of radios and wore out more duffel bags than most have worn out GI socks.

Response by SGM Eric Lobsinger made Jun 19 at 2015 11:45 PM

SGM Eric Lobsinger — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 23:45:43 -0400

Every generation has it's "old school" so this is a moving target. A few fond memories:
Reporting for pay and having to make your way through your 1SG and CSM for whatever they were collecting for.
If the first military vehicle you drove was a jeep (or perhaps an Gama Goat, a CUC-V, or a "Duece and a half?"
When you fondly remember your P38 (can opener) as the wonder tool?
If you are Yukon stove or Potbelly stove qualified.
When you cooked, shaved and bathed with your steel pot?
Being able to fire your M16 (no "A" anything) on full rock-and-roll (auto, before three-round burst).
When you actually liked the Army slogan: "Be All You Can Be"
The days of M-Nu, Brasso, spit shining, ironing uniforms, melting wax to shine floors, 6-man rooms for permanent party, amongst thousands of other memories.
Don't forget the retired CSM trying to sell you a life insurance policy or a membership that "everyone" is expected to join.
Enjoy the here and now ... and then you can enjoy it later when it becomes someone else's "Old School."

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 20 at 2015 3:16 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 03:16:13 -0400

If you have been in the Navy longer than your newly reported Seaman has been alive, you're old school.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 20 at 2015 3:19 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 20 Jun 2015 03:19:06 -0400

If your first ID card was a piece of green paper with your picture glued to it and your information typed on it with an actual typewriter and laminated.

If you had to stand in line to cash your paycheck on the 1st and 15th, and had to check in with Doc to make sure you weren't missing anything in your medical record before you could get your money.

Response by SGT Mike Rudd made Jun 22 at 2015 2:15 AM

SGT Mike Rudd — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 02:15:32 -0400

Well for the military "old school " everyone that went to basic before the "new"military was formed, joining the military and going through basic,AIT ment you went through it ALL !!! Combat ready now it's done according to what MOS you are going for!!! So you haven't been through it ALL. Most of us went through basic,war,war ,war. We didn't have the technology today's army has it was more hand to hand combat. I hope I have shed some light on this. Don't feel bad if your to young to be "old school" it's technology helped you in today's Military

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 22 at 2015 12:27 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 12:27:01 -0400

Green label Lucky Strike cigarettes in the old C-Rats that got so dry, they'd smoke like tiki torches.

Learning first hand what "M-1 Thumb" was.

Everything canvas.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2015 9:09 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 09:09:58 -0400

The term "Old School" is usually said by someone who's been in the Service long enough to witness a change in standards or policy, but doesn't agree with or want to comply with said change for example," Smoking a Soldier is considered hazing? Well, I'm an Old School
NCO. Back in the day my PSG made me push until he was tired. Today's Army is get too soft."

Response by SSG John Erny made Jun 24 at 2015 10:41 AM

SSG John Erny — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 10:41:20 -0400

Jumped a Huey
Jumped a C-141
Cussing was normal speech
Kept a wall locker inspection ready at all times and had extra uniforms and gear for daily use
Most of your Senior NCO's and Officers were Vietnam vets
Put Mop and Glo on your Jump Boots for Class A Inspection, that little secret really messes with peoples head. Do not try it now!
Troops actually feared the 1SG and CSM
NJP was feared more than an Article 15: Being the 1SG's / CSM's boy was to be avoided at all costs! Mowing the Brigade Parade field with a push power in full battle rattle!

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 5 at 2015 8:57 PM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 20:57:57 -0400

Thanks for sharing

Response by CW4 Guy Butler made Aug 5 at 2015 9:16 PM

CW4 Guy Butler — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 21:16:35 -0400

You have M151-series and Gama Goat on your OF 348.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Aug 5 at 2015 9:17 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 21:17:13 -0400

I have a serial number

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Aug 5 at 2015 9:27 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 21:27:43 -0400

WO1 Tim Vaclav, when I took this photo of the Green Beret (aka Bronze Bruce) in AUG70, it had been there less than a year. I made my cherry jump with SFTG at Salerno DZ on 18APR70 (just before going to Camp Mackall for Phase 1). There was no celebration or hazing, or blood wings or anything. It was Saturday afternoon, and we just walked off the DZ, got in trucks (maybe a bus) and rode back to the barracks at SFTG.
FYI, SGT Private RallyPoint Member. No blood wings on Fryar DZ either. Just pinned them on and got on the bus to go back to the 47th Company area.
SSG Selwyn Bodley, I have no idea how this comment got placed on this thread. I guess two threads were merged!

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Aug 5 at 2015 11:39 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Wed, 05 Aug 2015 23:39:16 -0400

Crap I must be Fossil School. I don't relate to most of them but my quals were with the M-14.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2015 12:27 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 00:27:55 -0400

Didn't qualify with the M1911, but I did qualify with the M60, M14, and M16A1.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Aug 6 at 2015 1:42 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 01:42:11 -0400

1. Remember when the Computer and the Crypto were Seperate pieces of equipment.
2. Familiar with a "Quick Brown Fox Test, Reversals ryryry and remember synching up Crypto with BIs.
3. Held Chad Parties for your shipmates (Dump Chad (Holes punched out of Teletype Tape) on your coworkers)
4. Completed your quals for E-6 on a Mod 28 Electro Mechanical Teletype.
5. Know how to do an emergency destruction Degause of a UYK-20 Computer by running the disk drive up to full speed and smacking it in the side with a Sledgehammer.

Response by SSG Jeff Binkiewicz made Aug 6 at 2015 6:37 AM

SSG Jeff Binkiewicz — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 06:37:09 -0400

Those were all great, I can attest to many of them.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 6 at 2015 7:01 AM

PO1 John Miller — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 07:01:18 -0400

When the only working uniform for E-6 and below was dungarees and white hat, or a command ball cap.

Response by SFC Douglas Duckett made Aug 6 at 2015 8:14 AM

SFC Douglas Duckett — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 08:14:58 -0400

When an Auto-rifleman was issued the snap on bipod for the M16A1.
When some shithead put CS gas on Ardennes during morning PT runs.
Yellow was the color for APFT uniforms.
Not everybody had Kevlar Helmets yet.
The M249 SAW was the coolest thing you ever saw, until you were assigned it.
You had to use the CEOI with the PRC77 in order to transmit messages.
When the "Rainbow" bedspread was issues for your barracks bunk, and that was what you used, period.
Dumping all your DRF load at CLAC and overloading on ammo when prepping for Operation Urgent Fury

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Aug 6 at 2015 8:50 AM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 08:50:36 -0400

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Aug 6 at 2015 9:52 AM

LTC Bink Romanick — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 09:52:56 -0400

I qualified with the M1, M1 Carbine. The M14 and had a service number!

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Aug 6 at 2015 10:08 AM

SSgt Terry P. — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 10:08:41 -0400

If you remember Ham and Lima Beans(called by a different and slightly vulgar name by most in the Marines) from C-Rations in Basic,you are definitely "Old School".

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Aug 6 at 2015 12:17 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 12:17:39 -0400

For me serving since 1974 and finally retiring in 2015, and applying the lessons taught to me by WWII, Korean and Vietnam Vets, that were my instructors, 1SGT, MSG and 0-6; we ran in combat boots then, I am Old School.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Aug 6 at 2015 1:21 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 13:21:54 -0400

When you looked at the Women Army Corps (WAC) and fell in love.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Aug 6 at 2015 2:48 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 14:48:16 -0400

Service between 1775 thru 1897. Anyone serving after that is not old school...

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2015 3:43 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 15:43:33 -0400

The guy on the left (dad) now that was my definition of "old school"
Me on the right at 17 yrs old in 1985

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 6 at 2015 7:36 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 19:36:25 -0400

Response by PO2 Jeffrey Sheibels made Aug 6 at 2015 11:41 PM

PO2 Jeffrey Sheibels — Thu, 06 Aug 2015 23:41:29 -0400

I'm old school, therefore when you get seasick you don't get to go to your rack. You have to continue to work. Feel like throwing up? Throw up over the side and then back to work.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2015 7:07 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 07:07:57 -0400

Anyone before "Army of One" for sure.

Response by SPC Eddie Espejo made Aug 7 at 2015 7:44 AM

SPC Eddie Espejo — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 07:44:57 -0400

remembering when mre's came with a cigarette. that would be old school

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2015 1:36 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 13:36:55 -0400

I remember my first enlistment where males and females just started training together. 5 platoons of males and 1 platoon of females. you ordered correspondence courses and mailed in your answers. You were proud to have to best looking uniform and boots. PT was a way of life not an option.

Response by CPT Alan W. made Aug 7 at 2015 3:34 PM

CPT Alan W. — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 15:34:34 -0400

When I went to Jump School at Ft. Benning, we ran and did pt in combat boots. I feel that could be classified as "old school".

Response by SGT(P) Harry Clyde Jr. made Aug 7 at 2015 7:29 PM

SGT(P) Harry Clyde Jr. — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 19:29:02 -0400

If you came in 25 years ago or previously. Equipment, personalities, attitudes that no longer exist.
Anyone after, try to keep up. We old schoolers like to Keep It Simple .......Stupid.
There it is.

Response by MSG Sean Milhauser made Aug 7 at 2015 11:06 PM

MSG Sean Milhauser — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 23:06:05 -0400

A good question, and you're right, it seems to be an ever-moving line. For example, soldiers that enlisted post 9/11 act like doing the mundane garrison activities such as post police call, gate guard, mowing details, working in the post gym, etc. are something new. They don't realize that's "old school"! Before the Army made a push to reduce "borrowed military manpower" by contracting those jobs, that is what soldiers did when they weren't training or in the field, NTC/JRTC, etc. Now deployments winding down and the DOD trying to save money by cutting back on contracted positions, Soldiers have to perform those tasks again.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 9 at 2015 10:51 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 10:51:30 -0400

There is no line. The unknown reality is that you become the soldier that brings you up. That is to say, the leadership style you experience during the impressionable time as a private or IET/BFN soldier is the leadership style that most imprints on you, and more than likely, the style you develop into. That being said, the generation of NCO's that brought up the current generation of NCO's were old school. Most junior and some senior NCO's (with less than 25 years TOS), were brought up by "Old School" NCO's and are there for poser "Old School" NCO's themselves. It has been my experience that anytime someone responds with” I guess I’m just Old School", it’s during the course of a conversation/situation in which they are unable/unwilling to adapt or imbrace a new standard or methedology. Its right up there with “That’s how we've Always done it" for me. My common reply is “What was desert storm like?" or, " No, the way we always did it was to stand shoulder to shoulder, and shoot at an enemy that’s 50 meters away with lead balls at a rate of one round per 90 seconds...since then things have changed!". Most of my peers were in middle school (like I was), when the Old School army was doing its thing.

Response by CW3 Ian Mains made Aug 9 at 2015 4:58 PM

CW3 Ian Mains — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 16:58:13 -0400

At a minimum (for Army folk) I'd say you have to have worn the old woodland BDU, know what M-Nu is, remember having only the old dark brown 1-12 MRE cases, shined boots, and worn the old "inappropriate" gray PTs (man they were comfy though).

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Aug 9 at 2015 10:33 PM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Sun, 09 Aug 2015 22:33:19 -0400

SSG Selwyn Bodley I think when most people say that they are old school they mean that they are not PC.

Response by SPC James Burkett II made Aug 28 at 2015 3:48 AM

SPC James Burkett II — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 03:48:56 -0400

I think it being "old school" is kinda set by a lot of things. I know for me I'm considered old school because I been in the same unit for 6 years and I seen alot happen and so many people and coc that I'm called old school.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Aug 28 at 2015 5:34 AM

SSgt Terry P. — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 05:34:29 -0400

Old school if you ever used the flash-suppressor on a m-16 to break the bands on a pallet.

Response by SSG Leo Bell made Aug 28 at 2015 8:39 AM

SSG Leo Bell — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 08:39:33 -0400

If you went thru basic without a time out card ( your yelling at me card I need to call my mommy and take a timeout)
Driven around in a old Chevy 1/4 ton truck. Fired a LAW rocket. Wore the old style gas mask. Have your BDU's starched were they stand on there own. Spit shine your boots or use leather luster for your inspection boot. Know what the brown bag MRE had in it. What a C ration is. Wore the black and yellow PT uniforms or the gray ones. Did PT in boots and BDU's. Worked in a MOS that no longer exists.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Aug 29 at 2015 12:06 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sat, 29 Aug 2015 00:06:20 -0400

SSG Selwyn Bodley, My having worn boots, 1953 issue with rough-out leather on the bottoms and smooth leather for the uppers w/ 2 buckles = OLD SCHOOL AND EVERYTHING ELSE!

I hereby claim maximum seniority points in RP's "Old School"!

PS, I learned to Spit Shine those rough-out boots and was normally anointed COL's Orderly after guard mount!

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Aug 29 at 2015 12:07 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sat, 29 Aug 2015 00:07:47 -0400

Re-up quickly, as you said it is a moving line!

Response by PO2 Ron Burling made Aug 29 at 2015 12:53 PM

PO2 Ron Burling — Sat, 29 Aug 2015 12:53:09 -0400

I'm pretty sure I'm 'old school', black boots, one color green utilities, carried an XM16E1.

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Sep 2 at 2015 1:31 PM

TSgt Kenneth Ellis — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 13:31:34 -0400

Knowing what a p38 is.

Response by SSG Michael Hartsfield made Sep 2 at 2015 7:36 PM

SSG Michael Hartsfield — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 19:36:14 -0400

If you ever had company or battalion-sized brawls on Ardennes...
If you ever jumped with an ACE harness...
If you ever participated in "Match of the Day..."
If you ever took another company's guidon and got praised from your Chain of Command...
Thunder Runs...

Response by CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 2 at 2015 7:54 PM

CPL(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 19:54:20 -0400

BDU's and black boots

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Sep 2 at 2015 9:38 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Wed, 02 Sep 2015 21:38:10 -0400

Having a duffle bag with one handle, not shoulder straps!

Response by MSG Carl Clark made Sep 3 at 2015 5:15 PM

MSG Carl Clark — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 17:15:06 -0400

Do you carry a notebook and pen in your pocket? Challenge stupidity when you witness it? Wear a wrist watch, carry a knife, wear your wedding band and don't hit on your friends wife? Do you remember Captain Kangaroo, and Get Smart? Can you lay a howitzer battery using the stars, and know what smoked iron sights are? If so you might be old school.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Sep 4 at 2015 12:52 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 12:52:32 -0400

Old school:
Saw a Commander strip rank of people,
Smoking in classrooms so thick you could not see the screen
Beer in the Soda machine
Had to be an E-5 to own a car
Putting beer on the window ledge, as no one had refrigerators
Going on field exercises with ALICE pack full of Class VI
Your drove a non turbo deuce made by a company called Studebaker
You remember MOGAS
You knew M880's were built by Dodge
You know the M7 Bayonet was built by the Imperial Knife Company in Providence Rhode Island
Rooms so small, during an IG inspection you had to leave the room so the General could go in.
You had to earn E-4, because there was no such thing as automatic
You have fired the grease gun
You have qualified with a .45
The .45 you fired was made by Singer in 1943
You have eaten C rats, K rats, LURPS, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and I don't know how many other generations of MRE's
If one of your buddies got in a fight, you all got in a fight
Shower parties, meant some scuzz ball got the banjo brush
Conex counseling was not a good thing
First Sergeants gave article 15's
First Sergeants would go on beer runs at the end of a long FTX
You watch a tracked vehicle go through a home on a REFORGER exercise
You know what EDRE stands for.

Response by SSG Nick Tramontano made Sep 26 at 2015 12:26 AM

SSG Nick Tramontano — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 00:26:03 -0400

Response by SSG Nick Tramontano made Sep 26 at 2015 12:32 AM

SSG Nick Tramontano — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 00:32:07 -0400

Running PT in boots, OG fatigues , Khaki uniforms, Men doing PT without shirts (Jump School in the Summer time), wearing black boots / OD Jungle Boots, Humping an M-60 MG, Just to name a few !!

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Sep 26 at 2015 10:47 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sat, 26 Sep 2015 10:47:50 -0400

Serving between 1775 thru 1884. Anyone serving after that is new school ;)

Response by Sgt Ken Prescott made Oct 1 at 2015 9:49 PM

Sgt Ken Prescott — Thu, 01 Oct 2015 21:49:57 -0400

Back when the Z248 was pretty spiffy.

When F-4 Phantoms ruled the MAG-15 flightline at MCAS Iwakuni.

When you could shout "A-4s and Outlaws Forever!" at El Toro or Iwakuni and be accepted as a brother.

When you could be stationed at El Toro or Tustin.

When VMFA-122's callsign was "Crusaders."

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2015 1:54 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 06 Oct 2015 13:54:03 -0400

Steel Pots and M-16A1s. M1911s and M151 Jeeps. That's old school to me!

Response by SGT Dan Finnegan made Oct 26 at 2015 10:35 PM

SGT Dan Finnegan — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 22:35:02 -0400

Seems like the term can float. Basically, "Old School" is a term used for those who wear digi/multi camo to describe the BDU/Tri desert wearers… and BDU wearers to describe the OD wearers… and the OD wearers to describe the…eh.. older OD wearers…. and the older OD wears to describe the M42/M43 wearers…etc… It's all perspective. We'll all be old school one of these days. Oh the joy

Response by SSG Selwyn Bodley made Oct 28 at 2015 7:05 AM

SSG Selwyn Bodley — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 07:05:48 -0400

You may be old school if you were around when this thread was originally posted!!!! It happens that quickly :).

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2015 3:55 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 03:55:01 -0500

Old school=spit shine boots,of green fatigues starched, Kaki's ,summer and winter dress greens.D.S. could cuss at you cadence songs contained dirty words example up jumped the monkey from the coconut grove,you could tell he was a cool m***** f****r by the cut of his clothes...pt in fatigues and combat boots. Being dropped for pushups, digging a 6×3×6 hole to bury a CIG.butt you dropped on the ground.to me that is the old army.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2015 7:55 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 07:55:35 -0500

The line moves everytime a new or better way to do something is invented. What I hear when someone says "I'm Old School, therefore..." is, "I don't know how to do it that way, but I want to maintain a certain level of dignity so I won't admit I have a shortcoming..."

Response by Capt Walter Miller made Nov 3 at 2015 7:09 PM

Capt Walter Miller — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 19:09:58 -0500

Making fun of the other services, especially the Army.

Walt

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2015 7:56 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 19:56:23 -0500

Old School means I joined the military when one size fit all. I can stilat

l wear the Navy Boot Camp-issued boxer luposhorts, 12 ea. I had a 28-inch waist then. Those shorts fit perfectly now on my 42-inch frame, just as if they were issued yesterday, not close to five decades ago.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 3 at 2015 11:41 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 23:41:30 -0500

"Old School" means you are unable to adapt to change

Response by MAJ David Vermillion made Nov 4 at 2015 3:18 PM

MAJ David Vermillion — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 15:18:28 -0500

To me "Old School" is the generation of service members prior to you serving.

Response by SSG Michael Scott made Nov 4 at 2015 3:27 PM

SSG Michael Scott — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 15:27:03 -0500

When the standards were true. Soldiers "Deal with the suck". Did not complain, obeyed the law, did not have stress cards for boot camp. Did what it took to won. Did not have pansy rules of engagement and a person who did did not say America is sorry.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2015 4:49 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 16:49:35 -0500

When you had to call these guys for artillery fire.

Response by LTC Ed Ross made Nov 4 at 2015 4:51 PM

LTC Ed Ross — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 16:51:56 -0500

Old school is anything older than 10 years.

Response by MSG Michael Shannon made Nov 4 at 2015 7:14 PM

MSG Michael Shannon — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 19:14:01 -0500

Pretty odd that I see you ask this question only after I had a conversation with a young E4 about this just the other day. We were talking about deployments, as most Soldiers do, I was telling how my deployment was in 03… No laundry; we had to use a bucket of water for a while until we got sinks. we eventually got machines. Alcohol was not the issue that it is today or maybe it was, I don’t know. What I do know is that no one really got in trouble for drinking the local homemade vodka. Tents with 20 Soldiers on an old green cot was the norm. That’s when he looked at me in complete disbelief and said, “oh yeah… I forgot... you're old Army.” I never thought much about it until then. Time has gone by so fast. I think the term “old school” is a mentality and a way of thinking. We didn’t have xbox to keep us entertained; we just had shananagins! We didn’t have a cell phones at BCT or AIT… just a long line at the pay phone. A 4 day pass was a privilege NOT a known day off. Garrison leadership was important and boots required a keen eye the night before. “look sharp be sharp” was a motto most Soldiers lived by with pressed BDU and cochrans so sheen you could see the PS smile in them in the AM. Come to think about it maybe we need more Soldiers today to have an “old school” mentality regarding appearance, respect, and honor.

Response by MSG Michael Shannon made Nov 4 at 2015 7:18 PM

MSG Michael Shannon — Wed, 04 Nov 2015 19:18:19 -0500

Sorry... I forgot to answer you question with my post below... the line in my opinion is 2006ish... I think that was the mandatory time for all Soldiers to have ACUs. That my friend is the line for "old school."

Response by PO2 Peter Klein made Nov 5 at 2015 10:21 PM

PO2 Peter Klein — Thu, 05 Nov 2015 22:21:13 -0500

Grey hair

Response by TSgt Kenneth Ellis made Nov 8 at 2015 1:30 AM

TSgt Kenneth Ellis — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 01:30:28 -0500

Someone who knows what a P38 is and used one .

Response by SSG Katherine Likely made Nov 9 at 2015 7:35 AM

SSG Katherine Likely — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 07:35:13 -0500

old school is honoring old traditions
rising in the ranks - from the bottom up
knows what a old deuce and a half drives like and has ridden in one
steel pot
M16 was your real buddy
was in a a barracks with a multiple people
slept in a tent with your team player by marrying your tents together
crawled from your tent for the days exercise in a cow pasture when the cows were present
the old food packets that came in cans
warmed the old cans or the MRE packets by placing on the air filter and driving to your location before eating lunch
spit shine
wall to wall counseling
starched BDU'S
BDU cap starched over coffee can
sing cadence that actually rhymed
there was no such think as politically correct

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2015 1:27 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Nov 2015 13:27:32 -0500

being p***** off that things are not what they used to be . things change too fast.

Response by CPO Jim Wingate made Nov 17 at 2015 9:48 PM

CPO Jim Wingate — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 21:48:39 -0500

So much changes in the services that old school is get shorter from the present, my opinion anything over 15 years.

Response by SPC Christopher Perrien made Nov 17 at 2015 10:43 PM

SPC Christopher Perrien — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 22:43:41 -0500

Before PC, the wall coming down, the Gulf "WAR", - i.e. around about 1990.
If you remember Jeeps and 45's and a Combat Patch was uncommon, and know of shaving with your helmet you are old school. However, all this is relative except for Truly the biggest difference is PC. There is no way for a military to function the best with that.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2015 11:45 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2015 23:45:02 -0500

It's a really stupid saying. And used out of context. I had an E-5 who was about a year or so older than me always talking about how he's "Old school" (In terms of his being in the Army and an NCO) Which mostly went hand-in-hand with him getting worked up over stupid stuff and threatening to "Take me behind the tree line." Just general meathead stuff.

Response by Sgt Frank Rinchich made Nov 26 at 2015 11:51 AM

Sgt Frank Rinchich — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 11:51:26 -0500

When you can't remember half dozen things about boot camp or combat training 60 + years ago that is old school you knew it happen but forgot most of it. but still to this day you have tremendous pride in something that was so long ago you can't remember , but it's still in every fiber of your body.

Response by PO1 Donald Hammond made Apr 4 at 2016 6:02 PM

PO1 Donald Hammond — Mon, 04 Apr 2016 18:02:23 -0400

Got away with saying "Nuke 'em till they glow and shoot 'em in the dark"
Submariners wore beards while underway.
Could duct tape a person naked upside down from the steam pipes and attach a vacuum cleaner to certain portion of his anatomy and when the Commanding Officer walked by he would just say "If you have time to hang around, you have time to clean" and keep going.

Response by Sgt Frank Rinchich made Apr 7 at 2016 2:37 PM

Sgt Frank Rinchich — Thu, 07 Apr 2016 14:37:47 -0400

Not knowing what the hell is going on today, rifles don't look like rifles, combat dress is nothing like it was 60 years ago. We had no knee pads, no gloves. no goggles , no BP vest , no MRE or what ever took the place of c rations., don't know if a good kick in the ass is still with us or not., no fancy quarters, only had Quonset huts or tents. any older than that we would be in the cave man days, I know from WW11 till at least 1959 seems not much changed, after that,, today I would not know where to start. so I guess 60 years could be considered old school.

Response by MSG John Wirts made Jan 23 at 2017 10:02 PM

MSG John Wirts — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 22:02:04 -0500

Depends on the member, for me old school M-1 was a rifle not a tank. M-16 was an anti-tank mine not a rifle. Grenades were thrown, or launched from the grenade launcher adapter on the end of your rifle, the squad automatic weapon was the BAR. In a platoon there were 1911 45 cal pistols. M-1 carbines, M-1 Garand, BARs, M1918 30 cal MGs, and 3.5 in rocket launcher. In Europe that changed to M1911 45 cal s, pistols, M-14s, M-60 mg, grenade launcher for the M-14, and 3.5 in rocket launcher. The M-16,and later the M-16A1 were deployed with grenade launched off the flash suppressor, later the M-79 grenade launcher appeared. Vehicles M-38, M-38A1, and M151 jeeps, M-37 A1-5 3/4 ton trucks, M35 plain M35A1 and 2. Those to me are old school.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jan 23 at 2017 11:23 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Mon, 23 Jan 2017 23:23:16 -0500

SSG Selwyn Bodley If anyone on RP can beat my "two buckle", rough side out, boots, they are 'older Army' than myself.

The photo is at Camp San Luis Obispo, CA in July 1953. I was trained for MOS 3097, Telephone Installer Repairman.

Response by LTC Ed Ross made Jan 29 at 2017 10:41 AM

LTC Ed Ross — Sun, 29 Jan 2017 10:41:42 -0500

Old School is anyone who entered service 15 to 20 years earlier than you did.

Response by SGT Richard Jacobs made Feb 2 at 2017 1:54 PM

SGT Richard Jacobs — Thu, 02 Feb 2017 13:54:04 -0500

Fatigues for PT, Kiwi polish for spit shines, Brasso for buckles/buttons, C Rations, M-14 for Basic/AIT, police call, fire watch, PCPT test, PRC-25 radio.

Response by 1SG Bill Farmerie made Feb 3 at 2017 4:23 PM

1SG Bill Farmerie — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 16:23:24 -0500

If you ever took the SQT test and drove the M151

Response by SPC Jeffrey Reese made Feb 3 at 2017 7:07 PM

SPC Jeffrey Reese — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 19:07:31 -0500

Was in the Army before the Humvee and the transition to the M1A2, still had the Blazer the pickup truck the Deuce and a Half the 113 APC the 109 Howitzer, Smoking cigarettes in Basic, Smokem if you gotem and if you don't get them from a buddy! Smoke breaks on a road march.

Response by Cpl Mark A. Morris made Feb 3 at 2017 7:32 PM

Cpl Mark A. Morris — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 19:32:13 -0500

5 bucks on anyone is old school south of gender neutral PFT scores. Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot. Over.
M. Morris RVT

Response by GySgt Melissa Gravila made Feb 3 at 2017 8:01 PM

GySgt Melissa Gravila — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 20:01:49 -0500

Old school:
1.If you have ever used M-Nu, Brass, shimmie shine
2. Qualified on the rifle range with iron sights and the M-16 A1
3. Raked lines in the sand outside of the Quanset hut that you called home
4. Set up wall lockers inside your home to section off cubicles for privacy
5. Got on your hands and knees to strip the old wax from where the baseboard meets the floor- to get that uniform shine from the buffer.
6. Ridden the buffer when you were F.U.B.A.R. drunk
7 got your ass chewed for messing up the buffed floor with your drunken joy ride
8 kept issues "in house" - chalked it up to learning experiences, only pulled out the pen as a last resort.
9 what the HELL is a cell phone, and a GPS?
10 a tablet is filled with paper

Semper Fi

Response by SSG William Segel made Feb 3 at 2017 8:06 PM

SSG William Segel — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 20:06:08 -0500

You are "old school" when you are not able to conform to the new generation. Soldiers think it's "cool" to say they are "old school". All it does is tell everyone else you are not able/willing to adapt to your current surroundings.

Response by MSgt George Cater made Feb 3 at 2017 8:31 PM

MSgt George Cater — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 20:31:21 -0500

If you wore sateen utilities and repairable soled boots in the Marine Corps you are Old Corps. If the Gunnery Sergeants and above that trained you as a private wore Korean (or WW2) service ribbons, you are Old Corps. If your dress blue coat was actually very dark Navy blue (instead of black), you are Old Corps. If you were issued a nylon green raincoat & 'horse blanket' overcoat, you are Old Corps. If you've seen an Ontos, Mighty Mite, or flamethrower in service, you are Old Corps. If you ironed on your EGA & USMC, you are Old Corps. If you know how to assemble the M1941 haversack/knapsack/suspenders pack system, you are Old Corps.

If you wore herringbone utilities and boned & dyed your rough-out brown boots to make them black, you are VERY Old Corps.

Response by SCPO Morris Ramsey made Feb 3 at 2017 10:23 PM

SCPO Morris Ramsey — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 22:23:55 -0500

If you are an old school marine, you remember the old school guys wearing herringbone twill uniforms. If you are an old school sailor you remember the old school sailors remembered being right arm ratings.

Response by SSG John Jensen made Feb 4 at 2017 1:34 AM

SSG John Jensen — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 01:34:52 -0500

don't have the book at hand:
"The Quartermaster" 'Lincoln's General'
Biography of Montgomery Meigs
in the the Civil War he invented Army uniforms of Small, Medium, and Large,
and the shelter half because he hated the Sibley tents because they took up so much room in the wagons that they couldn't be used to haul ammo
Fantastic book!
handled the entire war budget and none of it went into his pocket!

Response by SGT Bryan O'Reilly made Feb 4 at 2017 2:33 AM

SGT Bryan O'Reilly — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 02:33:51 -0500

I'd say, it's soldiering. Knowing your job and meshing with your team. Leading by example and definitely not being too PC. But, if you know your art. of freedom, constitution etc, you don't need to be PC. People are only like that because they don't know their rights and limitations, IMO, "All your life you will defend a code against those have none."- Gen Hal Moore.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Feb 4 at 2017 11:34 AM

SFC Pete Kain — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 11:34:23 -0500

The line is when VOLAR was introduced in the early 70's.

Response by CPO Roy Thornton made Feb 4 at 2017 4:53 PM

CPO Roy Thornton — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 16:53:57 -0500

Fan Room Counseling USN

Response by CPO Roy Thornton made Feb 4 at 2017 4:57 PM

CPO Roy Thornton — Sat, 04 Feb 2017 16:57:05 -0500

USN Also:
Bucket of steam.
Bulkhead remover,
Sea Bat,
with USMC Crossing the line,
and last but not least CPO Initiation...not induction.

Response by Maj John Bell made Feb 5 at 2017 3:29 PM

Maj John Bell — Sun, 05 Feb 2017 15:29:32 -0500

One day of service more than to whom you are talking.

Response by SSgt Brad Ball made Feb 6 at 2017 6:17 PM

SSgt Brad Ball — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 18:17:35 -0500

You are old school if your SSN is stamped on your Dog tags.
And you cooled your beer at the end of the runway with the used Argon canisters from the Aim-9 missals.

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Feb 6 at 2017 9:46 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 21:46:25 -0500

You want old school, I'll give you I hope a friend of mine on RP ,CSM Charles Hayden this gentleman is truly old school,he was in Korea when I was nine years old,and I am 71 and served in Vietnam in 1966-1967 now that's old school,CSM Hayden if you read this I hope we can still be friends didn't want to overstep,but you are my example of a true professional!

Response by SGT Lou Meza made Feb 6 at 2017 11:05 PM

SGT Lou Meza — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 23:05:36 -0500

Class B uniform with a cunt cap ? Is that maybe old school ?

Response by SSG William Jones made Feb 6 at 2017 11:42 PM

SSG William Jones — Mon, 06 Feb 2017 23:42:12 -0500

I went through basic at Ft. Polk with an M-14. That's crowding the "old school A.O." danger close, wouldn't you say?

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Feb 7 at 2017 6:31 AM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 06:31:46 -0500

Basic training using the old steel pot, "Nam drill Sgt's, and using the good old mess kits.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2017 8:43 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 08:43:19 -0500

Not having the "safe space" option

Response by GySgt Kenneth Pepper made Feb 7 at 2017 10:54 AM

GySgt Kenneth Pepper — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 10:54:59 -0500

I've told this one before, but here goes...

Tun Tavern, 1775
The first Marine recruiting station was set up (in a bar of course)

Two young men approach Captain Nichols and within moments decide to volunteer.
Capt Nichols asks 2 screening questions:
1. Do you have a rifle? Which was answere "Yes"
2. Do you have a knife? Again, the answer is "Yes"
Congratulations, have a seat at the bar. Stand by to stand by.

This goes on all day and into the evening.
The first 2 recruits, who have been watching all day, observe something odd....

A young man approaches and is asked:
1. Do you have a rifle? Answer is "Yes"
2. Do you have a knife? The young man nervously answers "Sorry, but no".

Capt Nicholas says "Well, we will have to issue you one."

Upon hearing this, the first recruit turns to the second and says..
"Back in the Old Corps we had to bring our own knives."

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2017 11:42 AM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 11:42:11 -0500

Ha! This has come up in other forums. I'd say that if you ate C-Rats in the field, you're old school. But even that's new school/corps. I bought an old Leatheneck magazine from 1944-ish and a PFC wrote a letter to the editor complaining about "old corps" (school), so I guess we've been arguing about that since it all began. We used to say that the guy who joined a day before you is old corps (school). LOL

Response by MSgt Neil Greenfield made Feb 7 at 2017 1:02 PM

MSgt Neil Greenfield — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 13:02:20 -0500

Having worn the khaki uniform when I first went in the Army in 1979 (yes, I switched services). Oh! Forgot about when women wore the mint green uniforms. Now that was something to look at. So, for those ladies that served in the Army, what was your opinion on the mint green uniforms?

Response by MSgt Neil Greenfield made Feb 7 at 2017 1:05 PM

MSgt Neil Greenfield — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 13:05:24 -0500

The famous mint green uniform. Circa 1979.

Response by MSgt Richard Randall made Feb 7 at 2017 2:16 PM

MSgt Richard Randall — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 14:16:25 -0500

• When your first boss was a prior service Marine who’d fought in WWII at the battle of Okinawa
• When GPS meant, Grain Belt, Pabst and Schmidt
• When you had to “shoot” the north star with a theodolite and transfer angles manually to a missile guidance set
• You used a slide rule in electronics class
• When you’d done KP, halls & walls, weeds & seeds and TLC and enjoyed it
• You qualified with a S&W 38
• You actually thought “potted meat product” C-Rats were pretty good

Response by SPC Christopher Perrien made Feb 7 at 2017 3:24 PM

SPC Christopher Perrien — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 15:24:06 -0500

After reading a lot of these and thinking about it when the army changed from something it was since before even WWI. The real "old school" dividing line , Was the 45 .

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2017 5:02 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 17:02:24 -0500

if you ate c rats, bathed from a steel pot, dug a hole to sh*t in made tents out of shelter halves, didn't see a shower for more than 30 days, you might be old school

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 8 at 2017 7:43 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 07:43:20 -0500

The line moves with every new generation of Soldiers. My personal opinion is that this is why it is so important for us to remember our own military history in order to help keep traditions alive.

Response by SGT Charles King made Feb 8 at 2017 9:34 PM

SGT Charles King — Wed, 08 Feb 2017 21:34:43 -0500

How about hours and hours of DNC. Now days it is hilarious just watching them try to march in a straight line. Man I miss DNC

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Feb 9 at 2017 12:43 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 00:43:30 -0500

Having one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel ?

Response by SFC Richard Bennett made Feb 9 at 2017 1:55 AM

SFC Richard Bennett — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 01:55:59 -0500

I had senior NCOs that were WW2 and Korea Veterans. When I joined My Dad's Post he introduced me to a member he said he was a Veteran of the Spanish American War ! Dad had to be kidding me ! I have saluted Former POW s including a Battan Death March POW. I remember Water cooled Machine guns and fired them in training, qualifying with the 1903 Springfield, That is what we carry now. What a trip down memory lane ! The picture of the grave stone is from the time of the French and Indian Wars, We were not yet a Country.

Response by CW3 David Covey made Feb 9 at 2017 7:02 AM

CW3 David Covey — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 07:02:35 -0500

Man... I was just telling a friend about doing this the other day. After looking for a can of Johnson's paste wax at Wally World. Couldn't find any..

Response by SGM Bill Johnson made Feb 9 at 2017 2:08 PM

SGM Bill Johnson — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 14:08:30 -0500

"Old School" now probably refers to 1980s Cold War Soldiers when everything was about enforcing the standards, preparing for boards (by reading every regulation you had in the unit library), and conducting training constantly (including hip pocket training by junior NCOs in any slack time). The 70s, 80s, and early 90s Soldiers and junior leaders were much, much more knowledgeable about the Army and Air-Land battle and they did large scale exercises in Germany and Korea every year to test and practice that knowledge. Today's Soldiers don't learn regs because they can look up answers on their phones. They are also, for the most part, now "small wars" experts (counterinsurgencies) and have no idea how to operate in an Nuclear-Biological-Chemical environment. Nor do they know how to operate in an environment where we don't have air superiority or where there is a high threat from massed indirect fires or electronic warfare.

Response by SGT Ray Maine made Feb 12 at 2017 1:42 PM

SGT Ray Maine — Sun, 12 Feb 2017 13:42:22 -0500

Old school for me would be before the year 2000, and the age of electronics, when the fast computer a soldier carried was his brain, instead of his cell phone.

Response by CPO Emmett (Bud) Carpenter made Feb 12 at 2017 7:14 PM

CPO Emmett (Bud) Carpenter — Sun, 12 Feb 2017 19:14:19 -0500

You are old school if:
You served on a CVA
You wore seafarer dungarees
Your squadron flew F11,F9,F8 or A4 aircraft
You thought the Chief was the most powerful man on earth

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 14 at 2017 2:35 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 14:35:10 -0500

In simple terms being Old School is preferring the original method, process or procedure that has been changed.

Response by PO1 Donald Hammond made Feb 16 at 2017 12:37 PM

PO1 Donald Hammond — Thu, 16 Feb 2017 12:37:23 -0500

When you show up to formation like this. You have gone as old school as you can.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Feb 18 at 2017 11:28 AM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Sat, 18 Feb 2017 11:28:29 -0500

You might be "old school" if:
-You wore sage green or olive drab fatigues or BDUs
-Knew a WAC or WAF
-Flew an aircraft powered by an internal combustion engine(s) after pilot training
-Wore full-color unit patches and rank on work or specialized uniforms
-Had shiny black boots
-Saw Air Police (security forces) dressed in "class B" uniform working the gate
-Drove onto a military installation without being stopped at the gate
-Received a paper pay check or stood in a pay line for cash
-Wore in a cotton fight suit and a wool dress uniform
-Wore Air Force buttons that actually had the Air Force crest on them
-Saw separate clubs for airmen, NCOs, and officers
-Experienced an airman standing up from his desk when you approached and asking, "how can I help you, sir?"

Response by CSM Robert J. "Bob" Parr, RD made Feb 20 at 2017 10:58 AM

CSM Robert J. "Bob" Parr, RD — Mon, 20 Feb 2017 10:58:04 -0500

Perhaps if you do things because they are the tradition of the Service. My Father was "old school" because he served pre-war (1938).

Response by PO3 Dave Alperovitz made Feb 23 at 2017 7:39 AM

PO3 Dave Alperovitz — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 07:39:45 -0500

Serving on a WWII Sumner Class Destroyer, USS Wallace L. Lind, DD-703
Wearing dungarees and boon dockers
Wearing Kapok life jackets during a re-fueling
No ear protection issued when in a 5 inch gun mount
Having to show a liberty card in order to leave the ship
Cinderella Liberty
No zippers on issue uniforms

Response by CW4 John Patterson made Feb 23 at 2017 7:49 AM

CW4 John Patterson — Thu, 23 Feb 2017 07:49:47 -0500

All of that plus: green fatigues (purchased, not issued), khaki Class Bs (purchased, not issued), C-rats and "Elvis collar" BDUs.

Response by SSG Robert Pratt made Feb 24 at 2017 9:00 PM

SSG Robert Pratt — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 21:00:48 -0500

Big collar BDU's with OD Green Field Jackets.

Response by SSG Robert Pratt made Feb 24 at 2017 9:03 PM

SSG Robert Pratt — Fri, 24 Feb 2017 21:03:32 -0500

SPC4, SPC5, and SPC6's in the Army.

Response by SPC Jeffrey Reese made Feb 25 at 2017 9:22 PM

SPC Jeffrey Reese — Sat, 25 Feb 2017 21:22:44 -0500

I remember when the ARMY was switching over to the Abrams M1A1 we still had M60's we trained on both in AIT. We trained on both the Bradley and the M113 and we still trained on the M109 howitzer. we were just starting to get the Hum-V. We could smoke in basic in the barracks steel pot and liner shelter half. Going to the range and the only way you fired was steel sights only none of this optics assisted crap. Oh and lets not forget those wonderful green heavy flack jackets on long road marches when our company commander would get in the mood. Oh and 5 to 10 mile some times 15 mile road marches in full mop gear lets not forget that fun. Is that old school enough Oh and CW 5 wasn't even invented yet.

Response by Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. made Feb 26 at 2017 12:16 AM

Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. — Sun, 26 Feb 2017 00:16:12 -0500

Having enlisted 51 years ago during the Vietnam War :) I was "old school"! Yeck, I was old school when commissioned as a mustang. I even retired form the military old school.

Items not on the other lists, were some of the military social norms of the "old school" days. Just a couple. while in uniform" could not carry our small children (including babies). Also, we could not hold an umbrella with our right hand which for example placed my wife to be on the street side. And, we could not hold the hands of our wives / girl friends while in uniform outside a building.

Response by GySgt Gregory Robeson made Feb 28 at 2017 10:02 AM

GySgt Gregory Robeson — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 10:02:07 -0500

If you have to ask....you are not "old school". In short though, it's someone who served and learned the processes before a new process/procedure/order came into affect. So, it is a moving line and depends on the topic of discussion.

Response by TSgt David Desmarais made Feb 28 at 2017 10:14 AM

TSgt David Desmarais — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 10:14:23 -0500

Any service prior to 1993. I always thought that I served in 2 very different services. I experienced noticeable change around 1993.

Response by SP6 Charlie Kastens made Mar 1 at 2017 9:26 AM

SP6 Charlie Kastens — Wed, 01 Mar 2017 09:26:37 -0500

smoke 'em if you got 'em.,,and have to give a few to guys without 'em.

Response by SGT Mark Sprague made Mar 2 at 2017 10:32 AM

SGT Mark Sprague — Thu, 02 Mar 2017 10:32:18 -0500

Old school behavior and culture:
- Wall to wall counseling to resolve problem troops
- Nightly trips to the EM and NCO clubs drinking 3.2 beer
- Professional privates in every platoon
- Ham and Mothers goes to the last guy to make it to the C ration box
- KP and Guard Duty took precedent over training (builds character)
- Professional scroungers didn't go to jail when caught
- Getting busted in rank did not end a career
- Morning runs in jump boots
- Froze / roasted your ass off in WWII barracks
- You were issued M1's than later the M14
- You broke starch every morning in formation
- First Sgt. solved most disciplinary problems before they got to the CO.
- If you got punched out by your SGT you didn't complain to JAG

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 8 at 2017 2:36 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 08 Mar 2017 14:36:36 -0500

In 78 I saw a plaque in window of shop on Okinawa. It had a shield, broadsword, fighting knife and mace on it. The caption read "Unless your war gear looks like this, don't talk to me about the Old Corps". No matter how old we get we can usually find someone that served before we were even born. Sadly they're dying every day.

Response by SSG John Jensen made Mar 30 at 2017 1:37 AM

SSG John Jensen — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 01:37:18 -0400

nowadays just drinking coffee is old school

Response by CPL Jeff Hill made Apr 21 at 2017 11:45 PM

CPL Jeff Hill — Fri, 21 Apr 2017 23:45:14 -0400

MRE's is old school? How about C rations?

Response by SSG S. Wilkerson made Apr 28 at 2017 2:12 PM

SSG S. Wilkerson — Fri, 28 Apr 2017 14:12:05 -0400

You might be old school if...

The smoke pit was where you got smoked, not a place where you smoked cigarettes.

You called home from Basic at a line of payphones.

You blouse your boots by actually tucking your trousers into them.

You know what to do shelter halves.

You've witnessed "The Atomic Situp".

You could say damn near anything and get away with it, so long as it was expressed through cadence.

You sang songs about yellow birds, your girlfriend that lives in the hospital, McDonald's & playgrounds, and you know what her dad is keeping for you behind the door & why.

Response by PFC Timothy Ahern made May 7 at 2017 7:36 AM

PFC Timothy Ahern — Sun, 07 May 2017 07:36:31 -0400

I remember wearing the "pickle suits" eating C-rations riding in real duece and a half driving jeeps and m113a1's and a2's

Response by SGT Sam Molletti made May 9 at 2017 2:30 PM

SGT Sam Molletti — Tue, 09 May 2017 14:30:36 -0400

5 mile "Airborne Shuffle" in fatigues and jump boots, before breakfast.

Response by SGT Mark Turner made May 11 at 2017 9:24 AM

SGT Mark Turner — Thu, 11 May 2017 09:24:42 -0400

lit up the C-ration peanut butter to mark the LZ for extraction

Response by SGT Mark Turner made May 11 at 2017 9:25 AM

SGT Mark Turner — Thu, 11 May 2017 09:25:12 -0400

lit up the C-ration peanut butter to mark the LZ for extraction

Response by SGT George Smith made May 11 at 2017 6:57 PM

SGT George Smith — Thu, 11 May 2017 18:57:35 -0400

I was in back 1961-66. That is old school in my book. Those older thasn me will disagree and thats their right. Moost anything over 50 years back.

Response by TSgt Robert Allen made May 13 at 2017 3:18 PM

TSgt Robert Allen — Sat, 13 May 2017 15:18:52 -0400

When you remember the pickle suits, the leather removable patches on your BDUs, you know what a P38 is, and you know MREs used to be a lot worse.

Response by SGT John Wesley made May 13 at 2017 6:00 PM

SGT John Wesley — Sat, 13 May 2017 18:00:59 -0400

Junk on the Bunk inspections

Buffer bronco rodeo

Bruised by the Drill Sergeant's hat

Drove the old dodge pickups (pre-CUCV)

Ate pork patties in MRE's...

Response by CW4 Glen Nardin made May 15 at 2017 2:13 PM

CW4 Glen Nardin — Mon, 15 May 2017 14:13:40 -0400

Old school used to be push-ups "until I'm tired" (yelled by a Non-Comm wearing brown boots).

Response by SP5 Joseph Howard made May 16 at 2017 10:51 AM

SP5 Joseph Howard — Tue, 16 May 2017 10:51:27 -0400

Your SS number is not your Army serial number...that is Old School! RA126#####.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made May 16 at 2017 9:21 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Tue, 16 May 2017 21:21:38 -0400

80-column computer punch cards
Starched uniforms
Spit shined black boots
Military aircraft with piston engines
Orange flight suits
Cloth rank that wasn't subdued
Brick radios
Trucks and busses with standard transmission
SAC
Aircraft type codes with 3 numbers
APs with white hats

Response by Sgt John Harris made May 17 at 2017 3:37 PM

Sgt John Harris — Wed, 17 May 2017 15:37:51 -0400

I just found out that my 3rd Great Grandfather, enlisted in the US Marines in 1811. Long before I went in in 1961. He was "Old Corps"

Response by MSgt Jeff Greene made May 19 at 2017 5:36 PM

MSgt Jeff Greene — Fri, 19 May 2017 17:36:30 -0400

I know he USAF isn't as old as the other branches but I was issued fatigues that had to be starched, chukka boots along with combat boots and low quarters which all had to be spit shined. If you weren't in maintenance you wore 1505s (tan) uniform until they were phased out in the late 60s or early 70s. I ate C-rats on deployments and discussed the difference with older guys who remembered K-rats. I also remember rank meant something to those who had less than you.

Response by SSgt Michael Cox made May 19 at 2017 7:05 PM

SSgt Michael Cox — Fri, 19 May 2017 19:05:27 -0400

For me being old school means wearing BDU's and being afraid when you hear the E-7 wants to talk to you when you were an E-3. It meant smoking in military vehicles and aircraft in flight (sitting on the ramp).

Response by PO3 Don Goracke made May 19 at 2017 8:51 PM

PO3 Don Goracke — Fri, 19 May 2017 20:51:43 -0400

If you can recall smoke breaks just to smoke alongside your company commander, living off gee dunk, and when standing watch with a trusty 45 sidearm was the only option in town.
Someone said when you drank beers with lunch- you mean your not allowed to do that?

Response by PO3 Don Goracke made May 19 at 2017 8:56 PM

PO3 Don Goracke — Fri, 19 May 2017 20:56:19 -0400

Blanket party's & soap on a rope

Response by PO3 Don Goracke made May 19 at 2017 9:02 PM

PO3 Don Goracke — Fri, 19 May 2017 21:02:51 -0400

Calling home from ship using MARS & hearing a growler

Response by PO3 Don Goracke made May 19 at 2017 9:09 PM

PO3 Don Goracke — Fri, 19 May 2017 21:09:58 -0400

Talking on the 1mc from dc central

Response by SFC Sandor Asboth made May 23 at 2017 10:29 AM

SFC Sandor Asboth — Tue, 23 May 2017 10:29:24 -0400

20 year letter and you're still serving!

Response by SFC Sandor Asboth made May 23 at 2017 10:34 AM

SFC Sandor Asboth — Tue, 23 May 2017 10:34:00 -0400

You have a 20 year letter and you're still serving!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2017 12:42 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 May 2017 12:42:09 -0400

Nowadays simply having discipline is considered old school.

Response by CW3 Dick McManus made May 25 at 2017 3:19 PM

CW3 Dick McManus — Thu, 25 May 2017 15:19:21 -0400

Teaching soldiers to waste time spit shinning the boots/shoes when a just good maintenance (a shin) will do. Yelling at soldiers when assertive behavior works bests. Yelling in the new school is only when a safety issues needs an immediate warning. The Science of Assertiveness theory -- aka folk knowledge (trial and error science)

Assertive (Leadership) behavior by humans: Builds relationships

Will the long-term affects be worse than any short-term discomfort I may feel if I am assertive in the first place?

An angry and loud communication can be assertive if one is expressing feelings (Using the word "I", ( I am really god damn anger at you ...)

vs. HOSTILE behavior-destroys a relationship: for example, ... “You dumb ass, didn't your mother teach you to report to work on time, etc. etc. Why, didn't you do such and such.... You should do such and such”

If someone has a habit of saying, "Why, don't you do such and such..." we all understand this to mean "I want you" to do such and such. There seems to be some kind of a taboo in our culture against people saying straight up, that they want.
On the use of the word YOU:

...the use of the word "you" is assertive when a person is acting in the role of boss, parent, or leader, for example, a law enforcer, a teacher, the chair of a meeting.

"You are expected to" (follow the rules, etc) , then every time the other person comes up with excuses, sob stories, etc, repeating this phase again and again ("You are expected to" (aka using the broken record shows the other person that you are not afraid to stand your ground and they need for them to rethink their poor behavior.

But remember being skeptically silent is assertive. Meaning, if I try to get the last word.. will I get punched in the nose or some other bad result.

Speaking up in a group to speak is assertive because one is taking the "psychological space" of the whole group.

Hostile behavior: A person uses sarcasm and intimidation to get what they want. One may get what they want, but destroys the relationship afterwards.
It is easy to give up the benefits of hostile behavior when I value myself enough to avoid getting agitated over minor issues and when I am imperfect and incorrect.

Non-assertive behavior: (shy behavior) doing nothing about unpleasant situations and simply try to ignore ones feelings and desires. While it may prevent conflicts with others, one probably will wind up feeling helpless, exploited, angry, and disappointed with one’s self. Being “too shy” to do something.

For example, “I am sorry to bother you.” This is an example, of how being NICE sucks us into a non-assertive down-hill fall. vs. “I want to talk to you.” “ I need your help or I need or want to talk to you.”

or "It was nice talking to you." (when it wasn't and you didn't enjoy talking to them).

Basic Assertive Rights:

1. The right to act in ways that promote my dignity and self-respect as long as others’ rights are not violated in the process.
2. The right to be treated with respect.
3. The right to say no and not feel guilty.
4. The right to experience and express feelings.
5. The right to take time to slow down and think.
6. The right to change my mind.
7. The right to ask for what I want.
8. The right to do less than I are humanly capable of doing.
9. The right to ask for information.
10. The right to make mistakes.
11. The right to feel good about myself.
Must I always assert my rights?
No, I am always free to choose not to assert myself, assuming that I am also willing to take the responsibility for whatever consequences may then occur.
Source: The Assertive Option by Patricia Jakubowski and Arthur J. Lange
and NO TRESPASSING by Barker and Barker.
Richard McManus
Chief Warrant Officer-3/counterintelligence special agent, and combat paramedic, Vietnam, US Army retired, Everett, WA

Response by CPT Larry Hudson made May 25 at 2017 4:32 PM

CPT Larry Hudson — Thu, 25 May 2017 16:32:58 -0400

Pealing potatoes in mess hall, Duce and half driver, nonconforms got the grease pit, WWII barracks, coal fired tent heaters, C-rations, M-14 rifle,

Response by 1SG Marion "Ron" C. made May 26 at 2017 9:25 PM

1SG Marion "Ron" C. — Fri, 26 May 2017 21:25:17 -0400

After reading most of the comments, the one thing I did not see was Spec 5, 6, & 7. I saw someone post acting jack though. I did not personally see a Spec 6 or 7, but I did see a Spec 5.

Response by SGT Eliyahu Rooff made May 27 at 2017 2:44 AM

SGT Eliyahu Rooff — Sat, 27 May 2017 02:44:10 -0400

I suppose it's all a matter of perspective. To my Navy dad, old-school was wearing his crow on the right sleeve and a Donald-Duck hat with his uniform. To me, old-school Army was the long-sleeve khakis and Eisenhower jackets we wore in ROTC, qualifying on an M-1 and M-1 carbine, familiarization firing a .30-cal M-1917 machine gun, drinking from an aluminum canteen, etc.. Later on, it was short-sleeve khakis, qualifying with an XM-14A2, having fatigues with yellow and black US Army tapes and black and white name tags, and having a platoon sergeant with ribbons from WW2. To my mother, old-school would have been talking with the two elderly Civil War veterans who lived down the hill from her when she was a child. As I said, it's all perspective.

Response by SSG Katherine Likely made May 28 at 2017 7:18 AM

SSG Katherine Likely — Sun, 28 May 2017 07:18:49 -0400

I'm old school. came in Oct 21st, 1978. we were taught differently then.

Response by SFC Dave Nutter made May 30 at 2017 5:20 AM

SFC Dave Nutter — Tue, 30 May 2017 05:20:05 -0400

Wore od green fatigues with so much starch in them you could not bend your knees or elbows.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 30 at 2017 9:33 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 May 2017 09:33:43 -0400

Response by PO3 Lee Oliver made May 30 at 2017 2:37 PM

PO3 Lee Oliver — Tue, 30 May 2017 14:37:52 -0400

"Old "School" is indeed a relative term. When I joined the Navy in 1962 there were sailors who served during WWII still serving. I met one who was in the Bataan march. These were truly 'Old School" sailors who couldn't believe how easy we had it. At least two generations of sailors have passed since I was discharged in 1966, so I figure I would be "Ancient School" today.

Response by PO3 Vince Gibson made Jun 1 at 2017 8:38 AM

PO3 Vince Gibson — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 08:38:42 -0400

Boot camp at San Diego NTC, Lived in WWII era barracks, attended 'A' school on Treasure Island, used asbestos blanket to cover yourself while welding, served on a ship with wooden decks, wore dungarees, boondockers and work cap, polished brass and copper with brasso, saw the coin dancer and ate monkey meat in Olongapo, sailed into Pearl Harbor and still felt anger toward the 'Japs', handed a 1911 45 for duty watch, and never had women on ships, unless they were visiting.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 2 at 2017 9:46 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 09:46:17 -0400

SSG Selwyn Bodley, "Old School" means anything more than 20 years ago. In my short 18 years of service so far, I have seen more than three uniform changes from the BDU to DCUs in Iraq, then bluish-gray ACUs and now back to a green ACU, not to mention to changes to service uniforms and PT uniforms. I have seen the Army and the military in general change to where the previous generation would not recognize it. So for me, "old school" constitutes the previous generation of servicemen and before.

Response by 1SG Michael Bonnett made Jun 2 at 2017 11:12 AM

1SG Michael Bonnett — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 11:12:24 -0400

If one of these was yours.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jun 2 at 2017 2:28 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Fri, 02 Jun 2017 14:28:45 -0400

Worn HBTs fatigues w/ a 'gas flap' behind the steel buttons of the blouse and a 5 point cap. Worn boots w/ 2 buckles.

Response by SFC Gordon Robertson made Jun 6 at 2017 12:19 PM

SFC Gordon Robertson — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 12:19:50 -0400

As far as C Rats go, ham and M-Fers (lima beans) was the worst of the worst. Always the last box left in the case.

Response by SFC Gordon Robertson made Jun 6 at 2017 12:35 PM

SFC Gordon Robertson — Tue, 06 Jun 2017 12:35:04 -0400

First issue weapon was M1 Garand in OKARNG in 1969. Our crew served weapons were .30 air-cooled MG and 3.5" rocket launchers (bazookas). We drove M38 1/4 ton (Korean War era), 3/4 ton, and 2 1/2 ton trucks. Black spit shined Corcoran jump.boots. SFC OKARNG 1969-1979.

Response by SSG Vincent Wilson made Jun 10 at 2017 1:36 PM

SSG Vincent Wilson — Sat, 10 Jun 2017 13:36:56 -0400

When you didn't need a safe space, you provided one for others.

Response by 1SG Gerald Schroeder made Jun 11 at 2017 5:03 PM

1SG Gerald Schroeder — Sun, 11 Jun 2017 17:03:35 -0400

Here is an Old First Sergeants opinion...if you have to ask, then you're not!

Response by SSG Vincent Wilson made Jun 11 at 2017 6:55 PM

SSG Vincent Wilson — Sun, 11 Jun 2017 18:55:55 -0400

Back when we had the common sense to not call this hazing.

Response by SMSgt Lawrence McCarter made Jun 14 at 2017 3:29 AM

SMSgt Lawrence McCarter — Wed, 14 Jun 2017 03:29:51 -0400

Prior to Me entering the US Air Force I had been a Cadet at Bordentown Military Institute, in Bordentown, NJ which the training was Army Infantry. There was an active duty Military training group of Officers and NCOs to stationed there to train all of us. Of course the brass on Your uniform, collar brass, belt buckles, hat emblem, side buttons on the service cap. and buttons had to be shined. Thats when Brasso came in and You needed the button boards as shown here to keep the Brasso off the uniform's material. There was also what was called a Blitz cloth, which contained polish but Brasso still worked better. I sure learned how to spit shine My shoes and everything was squared away. Tradition was alive and well in a school that was established in 1881. Constant inspections made good habits that lasted My entire Military career and never faltered from what was learned at BMI on sharp Military appearance both in the USAF and also in a civilian Police Dept which also required proper haircuts, uniforms, spit shined shoes. Some things just stay with You.

Response by SPC Kenneth Koerperich made Jun 15 at 2017 6:03 AM

SPC Kenneth Koerperich — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 06:03:35 -0400

Old School:

DI's could pound your ass in the PIT and call it "Corrective Training"
Jeeps before Hummers
Spit shines
Starched to the hilt
Brasso Everything
15lb Radios
Cadences banned...NOT!
Wood line was a Sgt's best friend for "Corrective Training"
Barracks floors had "Mirror" shine or no R&R
Beer in the pop machine
Camo ALL exposed skin, not your nose & cheeks....
Full Auto M16's
M1 Garands
Stick shift know how or you never got to become a Driver
.45's not M9's until last year in

List goes on, many I've probably covered again, and some that haven't been.

Enjoy!

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jun 15 at 2017 6:28 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 06:28:56 -0400

Service between 1775 thru 1899..... everyone else is a boot! =o)

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Jun 15 at 2017 7:54 AM

Sgt Wayne Wood — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 07:54:57 -0400

You remember when there were no female paratroopers & the 101st was actually airborne.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 15 at 2017 3:33 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 15:33:20 -0400

I think as soon as new guys show up to your unit with uniforms/gear different than what you showed up with you start calling yourself old school. But there will always be someone who is "older school". Every time I start feeling old school, I find a WWII/Korea/Vietnam veteran and my humility quickly returns.

Response by Lt Col Ben Beeson made Jun 15 at 2017 10:54 PM

Lt Col Ben Beeson — Thu, 15 Jun 2017 22:54:16 -0400

Back when dinosaurs used to roam the terrazzo, I knew a Colonel that was enlisted in the Army before there was an Air Force. After WW2, he crossed over to the USAF and was sent to university and then commissioned. That Colonel still had, and once in a while wore, the brown boots the Army had issued him back in the day. I have yet to see anything more old school than that.

Response by SGT Linda Burgess made Jun 20 at 2017 9:30 PM

SGT Linda Burgess — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 21:30:53 -0400

Relying on technology too much is dangerous. I'm old school, I still read a map, I keep paperwork, I know how to do things without technology.

Response by LCpl Michael Parker made Jun 20 at 2017 11:15 PM

LCpl Michael Parker — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 23:15:48 -0400

I just had this discussion with an Army Sgt.this past weekend. We served in different times and branches of service. Thus "OLD SCHOOL" becomes relative to your time in service, and how you interact with those around you. when I was in Vocabulary was loose an F=Bomb was the morning greeting and the list went on both agreed that today's D.O.D. has gotten far to PC and undermines the what the warriors of today are to do.
PC is nothing more than a means to pussification of the military. what is old school knowing that PC dose not win battles in the real world.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Jun 21 at 2017 8:42 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 20:42:38 -0400

Where to start?

Response by LTJG Charles Vroman made Jun 21 at 2017 9:45 PM

LTJG Charles Vroman — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 21:45:53 -0400

As mentioned by numerous people on this list, the term "Old School" is relative to the person/group using the term. I had been told many times during my times during my time in the service, by the "Old Timers", that things were done differently in the old days and that they should still be done the "Old School" way.

There have been many things I have seen happen since I was forced to medically retire after 22 years in 1993. Many times I have thought: "these idiots really need to go back to the "Old School" way of doing things". Each time, I had to counsel myself that times have changed and, perhaps, the requirements have changed as well.

The levels of training have drastically changed since I went to Polaris Electronics "A" School in 1972. The personnel coming in really aren't any less intelligent than we were - they just are not as well trained as we were in all of the areas we were. We lived by the mantra: "We train like we fight so we will fight like we train." Those were tense times - Vietnam was still going hot and heavy; the Cold War was at it's height; we had operations like Panama, Grenada, and Lebanon going on, not to mention the small skirmishes in the Baltics with Croatia that we became involved in through NATO. Things slowed down, and the military pared down and changed from a war machine to a peace-keeping force. A very different focus and level of training and funding.

9/11 put a different focus on the military and the mission. Very few remained with any experience to plan/direct a successful war fighting effort. Additionally, the American public insisted that they know everything that occurred in the conflict. This led to embedded reporters. This is now the "Old School" way of doing things, from one perspective.

Personally, I could care less if things are done the "Old School" way, the new way, or how they are done. My concern is that there is very little being done other than posturing for popularity points. Too many items are being released for general knowledge that don't need to be. Way too much emphasis is be placed on high tech systems that require extremely stable environments to operate properly. To me, "Old School" means simpler and more reliable.

Response by LtCol George Carlson made Jun 21 at 2017 11:47 PM

LtCol George Carlson — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 23:47:36 -0400

Simple answer: YOU are "old school" (or "old Corps") if lieutenants and PFCs look at you the same way you looked at retirees/older vets when you were a lieutenant or PFC. I could add to the growing list, but the lists change over time too.

Response by SSG Howard Dennard made Jun 22 at 2017 12:38 AM

SSG Howard Dennard — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 00:38:55 -0400

For me, being a Military Policeman, old school is those of us who carried the 95B MOS.

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Jun 22 at 2017 10:41 PM

Sgt Wayne Wood — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 22:41:17 -0400

When you retired before to current top-honcho enlisted/was commissioned.

Response by SFC Bill Mace made Jun 23 at 2017 10:33 AM

SFC Bill Mace — Fri, 23 Jun 2017 10:33:32 -0400

Implementing an action without consulting every single person in your chain-of-command.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2017 9:01 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 09:01:28 -0400

When you and your unit actually trained and had fun doing it. When you were treated like a Soldier and to took honor in being one. When you're in a 360 full MOPP, look left and see someone pass out face first into the mud because drinking tubes were for the weak. When NCOPD included beer and 1SGs choice was Piels. When you would get pissed if your boot shine cracked because you just spent hours getting them to look like glass. When you use to melt pennies on the old pot belly tent heater. When everyone knew DNC. When you use to glue the inside seam of your starched BDUs. When you walked around with a permanent dirt stain in your APFU sweat pants and shorts. When Soldiers use to get haircuts before first formation by an NCO because they weren't in reg. When awards came when deserved.

Response by Cpl Ryan Berry made Jun 26 at 2017 10:05 AM

Cpl Ryan Berry — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 10:05:10 -0400

I don't know...im too old school to get wrapped up into that. Semper FI

Response by SCPO Ysmael Ramos made Jun 26 at 2017 2:22 PM

SCPO Ysmael Ramos — Mon, 26 Jun 2017 14:22:19 -0400

Politically Correctness was not in when I was on active duty.. Back in my day you were told exactly what you were and no one cared about being the bad guy or hurt someone's feelings. Mission came first above all.

Response by SGT Willie Williams made Jun 29 at 2017 2:02 PM

SGT Willie Williams — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 14:02:23 -0400

Anytime before ACUs

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2017 5:16 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 17:16:23 -0400

Having been retired for 32 years, there are some, I am sure, who would classify me as "old school". However, SSG Bodley, as you commented, the line appears to be moving constantly. The services have significantly eased up on their personnel who used to live in 50 year old (or older) wooden firetraps (I mean barracks) of the open bay & everyone crowded in style to semi-private accommodations. Instead of kick-a$$ brutality in many/most cases, personnel are treated considerably more easily. There (might still be) some discipline in the ranks, but believe me, in most cases, each generation has it easier than the ones preceding it.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2017 5:22 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 17:22:10 -0400

If you have to ask you are not. Joined before 1990

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2017 5:25 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 17:25:49 -0400

Just out of curiosity why is SSG before your name and you have most as 11B2P it should be 11B3P, just wondering

Response by Sgt Pete Sipperly made Jun 30 at 2017 7:45 AM

Sgt Pete Sipperly — Fri, 30 Jun 2017 07:45:43 -0400

If that constitutes "old school", what arebyoubif you were pre-M-16, used am M-1 in ITR and an M-14 in RVN and ate C-Rats and never saw an MRE...?

Response by SGT Craig Northacker made Jul 4 at 2017 10:26 AM

SGT Craig Northacker — Tue, 04 Jul 2017 10:26:34 -0400

It comes just before the person you are talking with went active so they can't refute it.

Response by MSgt James "Buck" Buchanan made Jul 11 at 2017 11:37 PM

MSgt James "Buck" Buchanan — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 23:37:41 -0400

My response is related to the influx of computer technology into my old AF career field. The dependence on what computers can or have the capability to do has resulted, IMO, in a job force of clerks rather than career field technicians. For me, "old school" is being able to take the data we are given, analyze it per rules and practices and arrive at a decision process that produces a product of value to the customer. The way "we used to do it" and the way it is done now may produce the same physical product, but the knowledge to educate the customer about the product is severely lacking.

Response by PO1 Dennis Herdina made Jul 13 at 2017 7:39 AM

PO1 Dennis Herdina — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 07:39:39 -0400

All of the above and then some

Response by SSgt Holden M. made Jul 13 at 2017 7:52 AM

SSgt Holden M. — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 07:52:12 -0400

I think it tends to vary from branch to branch but as a whole I think it generally means before the military had to go all politically correct. I personally feel as though I was one of the lucky last few to be in the old school bunch when I got issued BDU's in basic and had to shine my boots and shoes. And when paperwork wasn't the first thing that you got when you screwed up.

Response by TSgt Lars Eilenfeld made Jul 13 at 2017 12:46 PM

TSgt Lars Eilenfeld — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 12:46:55 -0400

If you rode on a horse instead of a tank in the Calvary

Response by PO3 Don Goracke made Jul 13 at 2017 1:24 PM

PO3 Don Goracke — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 13:24:05 -0400

When our side arms were our trusty 1911 colt 45's....

Response by GySgt Richard Morrison made Jul 16 at 2017 12:58 AM

GySgt Richard Morrison — Sun, 16 Jul 2017 00:58:28 -0400

If you ever were an ONTOS crewman!!!

Response by Sgt Heriberto Salinas made Jul 16 at 2017 10:11 PM

Sgt Heriberto Salinas — Sun, 16 Jul 2017 22:11:21 -0400

Lived in a WWII era barracks? Wow, you've been in England here recently haven't you? I remember trying to learn computers in the 80's, nobody new jack diddly squat. The deuce and half was being fased out, and replaced with the Hummer. The C - 117 was just a concept. The problem with the C - 130 was that the government paid the cost to operate the plane to the cost OF the plane every three years. Yea, I remember that.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Jul 18 at 2017 4:03 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 16:03:41 -0400

Basic with an M-1 Garand.

Response by PO3 Vince Gibson made Jul 21 at 2017 9:28 AM

PO3 Vince Gibson — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 09:28:36 -0400

If you served on a ship with wooden decks, you are old school.

Response by PO1 Matthew Maxon made Jul 21 at 2017 9:48 AM

PO1 Matthew Maxon — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 09:48:53 -0400

That depends on when you served I guess. I came in 1990 and people who served in the 80's said, the 90s navy was too wishy washy. I'm sure the people in the 70's said the same thing about the 80's and before and before that and before that!!!.....That "Old School" is crap and was probably just before you served.

Response by MAJ Kyle Crawford made Jul 21 at 2017 2:54 PM

MAJ Kyle Crawford — Fri, 21 Jul 2017 14:54:17 -0400

Not using the phrase "old school" would be the guys I say are over that line.

Response by CW4 John Wheatley made Jul 23 at 2017 5:43 PM

CW4 John Wheatley — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 17:43:53 -0400

Normal 5 1/2 day work week (that always seemed to morph into a 6 day work week ) Saturdays were made for inspections of every kind. !st Sgt getting pissed at you because you had made the man on guard mount and had a Saturday off and he could,nt put you on KP. PT Uniform was take your shirt off . M38 and M38a1 jeeps M37 3/4 tons M135 ,M211 and M35 2 1/2 ton trucks . Last but not least then as now the best friends and people you will ever meet.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Jul 23 at 2017 5:48 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 17:48:00 -0400

When all of your favorite music is suddenly Oldies or Classic...

Response by MAJ Judd Clemens made Jul 23 at 2017 8:31 PM

MAJ Judd Clemens — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 20:31:07 -0400

As an old first sergeant said one time "The Army ain't like it used to be, and it never was."

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Jul 25 at 2017 12:08 AM

SSgt Dan Montague — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 00:08:09 -0400

If this was your uniform and primary weapon.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2017 3:22 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 15:22:42 -0400

Being in the WWII barracks at Fort McCoy, where the building temperature was dictated by the amount of coal that was fed into the furnace. Plus, you had to have a literal fire guard day and night to ensure the fire didn't get too low or make sure the barracks didn't burn down.

Each sleeping bag was extreme cold weather issue, so it might be bitter cold without it but a furnace inside of it. Worse if the barracks temp was sky high.

And the latrines: six thrones, three on each side, facing each other, no barriers. We had Soldiers who would play cards while sitting on the thrones.

Then having to yell "Fire in the hole" before flushing, as a courtesy to the guys in the shower that were about to lose hot water for a few seconds.

Being out on a tank gunnery range in October, so old that we were downrange with a radio, running the tank silhouette back and forth on rails as dictated by the tower, using a gas-powered generator for power. And our vehicle was a jeep.

Immersion heaters in tents.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 27 at 2017 3:34 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 15:34:23 -0400

T-rats (I think that's what they were called) every day for meals in the field. Breakfast was scrambled egg with sausages embedded in it. Lunch and dinner could be scalloped potatoes, some kind of beef or pork, fruit salad (again, all in t-rat form, a pan boiled in hot water in the field kitchens).

But, the best was the reconstituted chocolate pudding t-rat, made with reconstituted milk. It was, in effect, liquid Ex-Lax. I was enlisted at the time, on the crew of an M88 recovery vehicle. After being served the pudding at multiple meals on multiple days, we started avoiding it because of the effects. However, our TC on the 88 was a Polack named Tomaszewski, and he would gather up the uneaten pudding t-rats and eat them, like a kid on Christmas Day with his favorite present. That was one long field exercise for us.

Response by SPC Joel Quey made Jul 27 at 2017 6:46 PM

SPC Joel Quey — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 18:46:36 -0400

Man, some of these definitions are terrible. A lot of these things applied to me, and nobody would ever accuse me of being old-school.

Personally, I think old-school means you cleaned your musket, clutched your raggedly clothes in the harsh winter, you served in an all-white, all-male unit, and you mourned your buddy when he died of dysentery. And I don't know why anyone would think the old ways were automatically better...

Response by SSG Steven Mangus made Jul 27 at 2017 8:04 PM

SSG Steven Mangus — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 20:04:42 -0400

Went to school of the soldier..

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Jul 27 at 2017 8:43 PM

Sgt Wayne Wood — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 20:43:04 -0400

You can call a fire mission using a map & compass

Response by SSG Steven Mangus made Jul 27 at 2017 8:57 PM

SSG Steven Mangus — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 20:57:16 -0400

Forgot a couple:
Playing pushball for PT
Pay call (which I only saw in OSUT)
Dining facility prices never exceeded $.35 per meal
Not wearing PT belt
Wall locker SOP

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Jul 27 at 2017 9:50 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Thu, 27 Jul 2017 21:50:54 -0400

My son had Basic his Junior summer in High School at Ft Dix while I was an Army Recuiter. I have a picture somewhere.

Response by CW4 Abdulaziz Bulling made Jul 28 at 2017 11:09 AM

CW4 Abdulaziz Bulling — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 11:09:10 -0400

If you ever:
Drove or road in a 5/4 (precursor to the Gama Goat)
Used to raid and throw parts over the fence from the salvage yard to keep trucks on the road.
We used to run PT in boots.
Hid the extra inventory from the IG behind the Quanset hut walls in the shop.
Had counseling sessions in the battery room, you had respect whoever won.
Police call included fishing the drunks out of the drainage ditches.

Response by CPT Brad Wilson made Jul 28 at 2017 3:14 PM

CPT Brad Wilson — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 15:14:59 -0400

For you Artillerymen out there you remember the battalion FDC was in a TACFIRE van. The Battery Computer System Charts and Darts meathod of computing firing data Laying the battery with an aiming circle and safeing the battery with the safety circle before firing Calling for fire with your eyeballs map compass and binoculars no lasers

Response by SPC Kevin Antrim made Jul 30 at 2017 11:45 AM

SPC Kevin Antrim — Sun, 30 Jul 2017 11:45:17 -0400

Running PT in T-Shirt and Fatigue Pants and Boots, that's old school!

Response by SPC Woody Bullard made Jul 31 at 2017 12:10 AM

SPC Woody Bullard — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 00:10:05 -0400

You know your "Analog Old School" if you had a RA or US service number on your dog tags. As a MP
wore the Khaki summer uniform with duty white hat, patent leather gear with .45 Caliber pistol and police baton with spit polished black boots. Wore the old OD green fatigues and the "steel pot" helmet. Qualified with and carried the M-14 rifle two years before being issued the M-16 rifle. Assigned the Vietnam era jeep with mounted M-60 to drive for MP patrol duty. Active duty: 1968-1971

Response by SSG Earl Coolman made Jul 31 at 2017 8:46 PM

SSG Earl Coolman — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 20:46:53 -0400

OD fatigues, polyester. C rats, kiwi spitshine boots. Doing PT in the same fatigues and combat boots. Smoking in the mess hall at the table after a meal. The mess hall was segregated back then, i.e.; enlisted section, NCO section, and officer section. This was my old school.

Response by CPL Rakhu Copeland made Jul 31 at 2017 9:26 PM

CPL Rakhu Copeland — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 21:26:57 -0400

If your PT consist of the daily dozens and you had not alternate exercise for your PT test, than you are old school. If your Day Room had a beer machine along side a soda machine, than you are old school. If you were a 76Y Unit Specialist/Armor and your Company's Linen was on the FMO PB, than you are old school.
LOL

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jul 31 at 2017 10:36 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 22:36:18 -0400

Ft Ord, 1953. I washed my HBT Fatigues in the mop sink. When they dried, I was an old Soldier and flaunted my time-in-service!

Response by Maj John Bell made Aug 1 at 2017 4:36 AM

Maj John Bell — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 04:36:15 -0400

If you have less time in service than the person talking, the day before you got in.

If you have more time in service than the person you are talking to, the day after you got in.

Response by MSG Kristin Wahl made Aug 2 at 2017 1:28 AM

MSG Kristin Wahl — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 01:28:42 -0400

I'm Old School Army and proud of it.

Response by SGT William Bowers made Aug 2 at 2017 9:45 AM

SGT William Bowers — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 09:45:24 -0400

PT uniform was unbloused boots and no fatigue shirt. To this day, I still check my gig line - at work, wearing a suit and tie!

Response by LCDR Kevin Dean made Aug 2 at 2017 3:14 PM

LCDR Kevin Dean — Wed, 02 Aug 2017 15:14:34 -0400

If you remember the blessed anonymity of not having name tapes on your Marine cammies, and the joy of a really well-polished boot.

Response by PO1 Dennis Herdina made Aug 4 at 2017 4:58 PM

PO1 Dennis Herdina — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 16:58:18 -0400

Old school is anyone who came in one day after you did. THAT makes you old school.

Response by LtCol John Chase made Aug 6 at 2017 1:11 PM

LtCol John Chase — Sun, 06 Aug 2017 13:11:41 -0400

Back in the '60's I asked the LtCol who was my NROTC MOI, "Colonel, when did the 'Old Corps' end and the 'New Corps' begin?" His response was that it depended on when you entered the Corps, for every Marine, the 'Old Corps' ended the day they joined.

Response by SSG George Duncan made Aug 7 at 2017 4:11 PM

SSG George Duncan — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 16:11:44 -0400

fixed bayonets and P38s

Response by SFC James William Bolt [ 40 Yards ] made Aug 7 at 2017 4:40 PM

SFC James William Bolt [ 40 Yards ] — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 16:40:41 -0400

It was when you wore brown boots with straps on them to blouse your pants and you knew when shit was about to hit the fan Your NCO was god all mighty

Response by 1SG Eric Marsh made Aug 7 at 2017 9:11 PM

1SG Eric Marsh — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 21:11:48 -0400

Doing what you were told, when you were told and no questions asked.

Response by TSgt James Carson made Aug 10 at 2017 2:25 PM

TSgt James Carson — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 14:25:48 -0400

It's hard to believe the military was taken over by the left. Basic training is more like girl scout camps of the sixties. They don't actually make warriors anymore. They are mostly wanna bes. It's so politically correct these days you are expected to cry like a baby, when you have to stand at attention for a minute.

Response by PO3 Mitchell Haynie made Aug 10 at 2017 2:32 PM

PO3 Mitchell Haynie — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 14:32:15 -0400

In the Navy, if you wore either of these, you're old school! This was our version of BDUs, "Dungarees" and I am wearing (center back to camera) what today is called SCBA!

Response by CPT Earl George made Aug 10 at 2017 2:43 PM

CPT Earl George — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 14:43:32 -0400

I was an ROTC cadet in 1968. Most schools that had an ROTC program had an OIC(usually a LTC close to retirement) and several NCO's led by a SGM(also close to retirement). Our SGM enlisted in 1943 and had seen duty in WWII,KOREA, and VIETNAM. When the PMS came into the office in the morning, the SGM would stand at the position of attention and render the sharpest salute and greeting of the day. The same would occur at the end of the day also. The SGM always stayed until the PMS left for the day. I asked Why? once. SGM replied," guess I'm old school" was the reply.

Response by CAPT Hiram Patterson made Aug 11 at 2017 1:30 PM

CAPT Hiram Patterson — Fri, 11 Aug 2017 13:30:36 -0400

Doing PT at AIT in '80 wearing green cotton sateen uniforms and boots. And just after you showered.
Eating C-rats.
Reporting to the training unit CO and 1st Sergeant on payday and telling them how much of your pay you sent home.
107mm recoiless rifles were our standard anti-armor weapon prior to the TOW.
M-16 A-1 rifle.
Singing cadences you'd be given NJP and extra military duty for these days.
Jeeps.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2017 10:11 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 10:11:48 -0400

No school like the old school. As a private, my primary weapon was an M16A2. The SAW had a plastic hand guard with the cleaning kit inside. I drove a '53 Studebaker "duece and a half," with a manual transmission. You weren't cool unless you had a pair green jungle boots. But I'm a cherry compared to SFC Ross. He redefines "senior" NCO! SFC Private RallyPoint Member

Response by CDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2017 10:42 AM

CDR Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 10:42:37 -0400

Old School is a relative term, of course, but things certainly have changed since I first joined.

During my first tour:
1) Patch pocket, bell bottom dungarees with hand stenciled shirts and boondockers (half-boots) were the uniform of the day.
2) My first unit came out with a "liquid lunch" policy, limiting alcohol consumption at lunch to no more than one mixed drink or two beers...and people were infuriated at the limit!
3) MWR paid for strippers to work the base NCO club on Friday and Saturday nights to draw in Sailors (not even kidding). Say what you will about this, but it kept Sailors from going out in town and getting into trouble.
4) Smoking in the office had just gone away, and folks were still angered by the change.
5) Our semi-annual physical fitness tests were run by everyone on the same day, and ended with a "kegger" party at the beach right after the test (usually around 0800).
6) First pistol quals: .45 1911, and .38 revolver (using speed-loaders).
7) First rifle qual: M-14.

Yeah, a lot has changed...that's for sure.

Response by SSG Diane R. made Aug 12 at 2017 12:40 PM

SSG Diane R. — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 12:40:43 -0400

If you wore BDU's or mint greens, you're old school. Lol

Response by 1stSgt Edward Jackson made Aug 12 at 2017 5:16 PM

1stSgt Edward Jackson — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 17:16:10 -0400

Checking the bulletin Board duty rooster to see if your got barracks detail, or KP.
Know what KP is.
Know what a day room is, and when you use it.
Used a pen or pencil and a clipboard for filling out forms.
Actually read the base newspaper.
Know what a 'meal card' is.

Response by PO2 Gerry Tandberg made Aug 15 at 2017 10:51 PM

PO2 Gerry Tandberg — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 22:51:52 -0400

Well, when I was in they had finally determined electricity flowed negative to positive. So, old school in this case is basing your diagnostics that electricity flows positive to negative. Also, old school is there were no small arms chambered in anything under 30 cal. (.308). Old school is dungarees with bell bottoms and a white hat. I can go on and on.

Response by CPT Russell Brown made Aug 16 at 2017 12:56 AM

CPT Russell Brown — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 00:56:31 -0400

Yep. I agree with the responses here completely. I did all of this stuff, as well as sang dirty and offensive cadence. Enlisted in '85 during the cold war, got out for a little while, got commissioned and went back in.

The only other thing that I would add that proves you are true "old school" military is, despite why you went in initially, you learned that the camaraderie and esprit-decor is the reason we all stayed. We learned that we are all responsible for each other and to keep each others "6" safe. "We are all our brothers keeper and they are ours."

Response by PO2 Zeek Tomczyk made Aug 16 at 2017 1:36 AM

PO2 Zeek Tomczyk — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 01:36:02 -0400

Old School.......
Actually spit shining your boon dockers,flight/jungle/jump boots with no lighter or edge dressing.
Keeping your gig line staight even on the flught deck(Navy deck crew will get this)
Wantung to salute a Senior or MasterChief over any O except the Skipper.
Hot racking
Seeing an E3 get Asschewed by an E4 that had their shit together.
Command barracks inspection where a Masterchief didn't give a rats ass if boit was over.Yoy went UNSAT he'd tear your room down for ya.
Women wore women's dress uniforms and not my cracker jacks.
Enlisted dressed as enlisted and not a half assed combo of both.
Toith paste served as Brasso to polish brightwork .
You knew how to buff a deck with johnsons floor wax, lemon pledge ,and a wool blanket under a buffer.
You were on liberty and had to be back inside the gate before Cinderella.
You crossed shit river.
You had to endure shipmates/squadron mates smoking in your compartment.
Payday was an actuall check or cash signed for.
The ship had two drunks in the galley.
Coffee,and bug juice.

Response by MSgt Carl Stokes made Aug 16 at 2017 9:40 AM

MSgt Carl Stokes — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 09:40:15 -0400

if anyone is claiming old school now, thay have to have over 20 in. prior to epr's

Response by SGT George Smith made Aug 17 at 2017 3:51 PM

SGT George Smith — Thu, 17 Aug 2017 15:51:07 -0400

RA service number. Blocked (Castro type) fatigue hat, went through basic with fear of your drill Sgt. and u did what u were told when u were told, with no bullshit. Term "politically correct" didn't exist. You lived in a wooden barracks where u could probably see light between the board. Your heat and warm water came from a coal furnace. More later.

Response by SSG Robert Clark made Aug 18 at 2017 1:23 PM

SSG Robert Clark — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 13:23:09 -0400

To me, I would have to say that having CSM Glen E. Morrell as my first BN CSM makes me kind of old school. One of my favorite comments from him to the Bn in PT formation was that the new ranger battalion hair cut policy would be, we were authorized to grow our hair as long as he had his. By the end of the day nearly all of 1st Ranger Bn. had shaved our heads.

Response by SGT Reed Cundiff made Aug 19 at 2017 7:29 PM

SGT Reed Cundiff — Sat, 19 Aug 2017 19:29:47 -0400

It was Brown Boot Army when I was in 1964-67: brown combat boots, M1 Garands, and those funny cylindrical caps. These were the older sergeants with WWII and Korean War combat patches, second award of CIB from those wars, and the military-gold stars on their jump wing. I remember the 1st Sgt of A/4/503 PIR remembering about the time we got to 173 Airborne that some LT had asked him how he liked Dominican Republic (82nd had been involved there in early 1965) and he had been with 82nd for drops at Normandy and Market Garden

Response by 1LT Peter Duston made Aug 19 at 2017 8:35 PM

1LT Peter Duston — Sat, 19 Aug 2017 20:35:54 -0400

Old School for me as a young soldier was that almost all our field grade officers and senior NCO's were WWII vets and the junior grades were Korean War vintage. We were the M-1, brown "gown" (WWII Ike Jacketed), brown shoe Army and we wore "fatigues" with white name tags, steel pots (see photo from Mannheim, Germany) and "Castro" caps. PS: The local Germans used to laugh at American GI's who would climb on this statue outside the art museum and behave inappropriately so my young German friends to whom I had given some uniform parts and a helmet dressed the statue and this photo appeared in the city Newspaper entitled" Bild ohne Worte" - no caption necessary... They all knew!!!

Response by 1LT Peter Duston made Aug 19 at 2017 10:13 PM

1LT Peter Duston — Sat, 19 Aug 2017 22:13:37 -0400

Blankets, shelter halves and LBE mostly all dated 1944 and 1945 in basic training and an M-1 "thumb" for the greenhorn! Live bugler in basic training - that was me!

Response by SFC Ernest Thurston made Aug 20 at 2017 10:24 AM

SFC Ernest Thurston — Sun, 20 Aug 2017 10:24:45 -0400

I guess I'm old school. But a transitional old school. I. Lived through all of that and also: starched fatigues, starched khaki, TWS, class A shorts going to lime green from tan., Dress Blues, pedestal gun mounts in M151 jeeps with fold down windshields, humping a prick (PRC) 77 radio. I also remember when HMMWVs, M1s, Bradley's and Sinar were new. I remember the first time putting on BDUs and trying to figure out what to do with all of those extra pockets.

Response by SGT Lloyd Burge made Aug 21 at 2017 8:01 PM

SGT Lloyd Burge — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 20:01:46 -0400

In the field received cigarettes in your C rations. In garrison paid $3.50 for a carton of cigarettes.
Ran PT in fatigues and combat boots.
Put 2 shelter halves together (I still have mine)
The only way to get to see the commander was to either screw up really bad, or do something outstanding.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2017 6:10 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Aug 2017 18:10:25 -0400

You wore Green Satine or starched cotton Fatigues.
You ate "C" rations in the field.
GP Mediums with pallet floors were up town.
You polished your brass with Brasso before putting it on your Dress Greens.
Spit shined boots and shoes.
Your 1st Gen NVG's are held on with surgical tubing.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2017 7:50 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Aug 2017 07:50:26 -0400

PT in boots, OD green uniform pants and white t-shirt. Ate C-rations... and had a favorite. Drove a jeep (M151A1). Know the plan for the Fulda Gap. Had a "Graf Hat." Called anyone on a TA-312. Saw the new XM-1 do tank tables at Hoenfelds and Graffenweir.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2017 3:55 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 03:55:54 -0400

If you ever stood in line to get paid "Cash". Or My favorite, when you went to the field you put on your field pants, OD Green Field pants.

Response by Sgt Scott Cruse made Aug 25 at 2017 12:38 PM

Sgt Scott Cruse — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 12:38:41 -0400

C-Rats for sure.

Response by SSG Stephan Pendarvis made Aug 25 at 2017 4:08 PM

SSG Stephan Pendarvis — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 16:08:41 -0400

Every generation of service members will say they are old school.

Response by SGT William Nixson made Aug 25 at 2017 6:38 PM

SGT William Nixson — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 18:38:53 -0400

Starched green cotton fatigues, khaki's as dress uniforms, steel pots, M151 Jeeps, deuce and a half, tail-gate jump deployment, spit-shined jump boots, and tan poplin Class A shirts under dress greens!

Response by CPL Norris Carden made Aug 25 at 2017 7:55 PM

CPL Norris Carden — Fri, 25 Aug 2017 19:55:53 -0400

How about driving a Jeep without a roll bar? ... or even with a roll bar!

Response by CMSgt Milton Newtom made Aug 27 at 2017 3:26 PM

CMSgt Milton Newtom — Sun, 27 Aug 2017 15:26:21 -0400

Eating C-rats, pup tents, Fatigues , white t-shirts, M-1 rifle, PT with boots, metal mess kits with metal canteen and cup. metal trays mess hall. 3/4 ton trucks, 2 1/2 ton automatic trucks, two story wood barracks, no A/C, gang latrines, urinal troughs.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2017 11:50 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 28 Aug 2017 11:50:14 -0400

If when you joined the Army,
You dated a dancer who worked at Ricks Lounge on Hay Street
Your BDU's had "Elvis collars"
There were only 2 Ranger Battalions
Your PSG was a Vietnam vet
There was only one "Selection" course in the Army
Jumped out of C-141s
You were a M60 gunner.....

Response by MSG Tim Donahue, M.Ed. made Aug 30 at 2017 9:04 AM

MSG Tim Donahue, M.Ed. — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 09:04:55 -0400

Did PT in boots during Basic Training our in my case - OSUT at Fort Benning - 1982

Response by LTC Dave Leppanen made Aug 30 at 2017 9:52 PM

LTC Dave Leppanen — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 21:52:50 -0400

Old school is:
Using a P38 to open C-rations.
Writing and mailing letters from your duty station.
Filling out a form, writing a check or money order, and mailing it to AAFES to order an item.
In your living quarters you had a stereo with a phonograph and a duel cassette player.
Sometime during your military career you owned a briefcase and an OD map case.
You've typed on an IBM Selectric typewriter and have used whiteout and correction tape.
You've used a DA 2496 (Disposition Form).
You've used transparencies to give your briefing.
You know what a REMF is.
You've used the word beaucoup. (I spent beaucoup bucks at the bar last night.)
You've set the selector switch on your weapon to rock and roll.
Wearing jungle fatigues and/or jungle boots.
Driving a government jeep with a manual transmission.
Wearing German Army boots while stationed in Germany.

Response by SGT Christopher Lachcik made Aug 31 at 2017 3:11 PM

SGT Christopher Lachcik — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 15:11:19 -0400

Before the pussification of the military...when smoking wasn't considered "hazing"...when you were allowed to conduct wall to wall counselings....that's old school :)

Response by LTC Richard Cooper made Sep 1 at 2017 3:17 AM

LTC Richard Cooper — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 03:17:25 -0400

When I was a cadet many years ago my first year we had M-1 which we had the opportunity to fire on the range at old Fort MacArthur in San Pedro, California. My second year we switched to M-14s. When I enlisted we had M-3 Grease Guns in the company (A/1/15 IN, Harvey Barracks, Germany) and at battalion we had one M-28 Davy Crocketst system. This was when we rode in M-151 Jeeps, ran PT in combat boots and wore starched green uniforms, and had payday inspections.

Response by Sgt Doug Kemp made Sep 1 at 2017 11:45 AM

Sgt Doug Kemp — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 11:45:04 -0400

When I first joined the Marine Corps we wore red shorts and a yellow shirt for PT. And unfortunately I later join the Army National Guard and in 2011 before I retired I still was staying in World War II barracks.

Response by SGT Beau Thomas made Sep 1 at 2017 11:08 PM

SGT Beau Thomas — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 23:08:35 -0400

I remember reporting for pay. "Private Thomas reporting for pay!" And receiving about $220 after taxes. I also remember my Gun Chiefs having massive handle bar mustaches. Everyone got hot drunk in the field. And my unit used to ambush the other batteries and beat the hell out of each other about 3-4 times a year. I'd consider that pretty old school.

Response by SGT Ron Imer made Sep 2 at 2017 7:09 AM

SGT Ron Imer — Sat, 02 Sep 2017 07:09:48 -0400

Yep I'm old school. ..lol

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Sep 2 at 2017 6:29 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Sat, 02 Sep 2017 18:29:07 -0400

Old school is a relative term SSG Selwyn Bodley. In this nation French and Indian War veterans told young Revolutionary War soldiers that the former were old school, similarly veterans of the War of 1812, the 1846 Mexican American war and the Seminole Indian wars told young Civil War soldiers in both sides that the newbies were not old school. Great war veterans told WWII draftees that the former were old school, etc.
This discussion was started before I joined RallyPoint but I was tagged so I am respond now.
I have served in uniform since Gerald Ford was President, through Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W Bush, and exited before Barrack Obama was President. [Thank you LTC Bink Romanick for reminding me that you served through six Presidents.
1. When I enlisted in November 1974, the Drill Sergeants and later the soldiers I served with sometimes mentioned Old School - those who were used the M-14 rifle were prone to tell us as were using the M-16 that they were old school.
2. We shined our black combat boots and low quarters in the 1970s. I remember thinking that Corfram low quarters were definitely new school.
3. We did PT in combat boots while wearing OD green fatigues in the 1970s. That was old school. Those who came later started out in sweats and running shoes for PT.
4. M-151 jeep, M113 APC, M-60 Tank, M-54 5-ton truck, M-51 dump truck, M-88 tank retriever were old school IMHO :-)
5. Smoke breaks were those who didn't smoke had to work through the break was old school. :-)
6. Ironed and starched fatigue uniforms were old school. :-)
7. Encouragement to drink alcohol and eat fatty foods with no concern for cholesterol, etc. was old school. :-) Copying some from my friend [SPC Charles Brown]
8. Doing day and night land navigation exercise without any type of GPS.
9. Pumping MOGAS and using it in vehicles and fuel driven tools such as chain saws
10 Blanket parties with OD green blankets.
I for one am glad Old School is indeed old and in many ways it is good it has been replaced :-)
Images: 1982 Hohenfels 1LT Stephen Ford; 1975-03 Ft Leonard Wood, MO - AIT B-2-4 PVT Steve Ford smoking in formation at rest; Grafenwöhr August 1981 - Success on Range 35 Platoon Live Fire by 2nd PLT 1-52 IN – Left to right facing camera Correa, 2LT Ford, Ballinger, SGT Collie, Shreves - (2 of 5); Grafenwöhr August 1981 – Combat Support Company, 1-52 IN – M901 ITV Swimming
FYI LTC Stephen C. MSgt Private RallyPoint Member SFC William Farrell PO3 Edward Riddle SGM Mikel Dawson SGM Gerald Fife SSG Selwyn Bodley SPC Private RallyPoint Member GySgt Jack Wallace SFC William Swartz Jr CW3 Kevin Storm SSG John Erny MSG John Wirts

Response by SGT Philip Roncari made Sep 2 at 2017 7:14 PM

SGT Philip Roncari — Sat, 02 Sep 2017 19:14:00 -0400

CSM Charles Hayden he was a professional when I was in grade school and I've been out of the Army for nearly fifty years,now that's old school goddamn it!

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Sep 2 at 2017 8:22 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Sat, 02 Sep 2017 20:22:23 -0400

A service number
Did PT in fatigues often carrying your M-1
bathed from your Steel Pot

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Sep 2 at 2017 10:37 PM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Sat, 02 Sep 2017 22:37:52 -0400

Being AF, I didn't get transported in any cattle cars(seen them when they came to MCGuire to pick up Prisoners at the flightline that came back from Europe.

Did the melting of wax to do the floors ..

Used the t-shirt to polish shoes ..

Instead of writing up it was OJT time in the Kitchen.. (sanitation maintenance of kitchen equipment, going over CDCs ..).

Setting the example was a prime subject
In whatever we done; uniforms, the way we did our job position.. ect.,..

Everything was covered what was stated up top With exception of using Group, Wing, Squadron, instead of the company, brigAde, and battalion..

Response by CPO Michael Hendricks made Sep 2 at 2017 11:16 PM

CPO Michael Hendricks — Sat, 02 Sep 2017 23:16:31 -0400

Washed your uniforms on a washboard, when it rained, grab a bar of soap, and have a refreshing shower in the jungle, laughed at the person wearing white sneakers in boot camp, looked foreword to service week, sleeping in any possible position, oh the fun we had!

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Sep 3 at 2017 1:34 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 01:34:56 -0400

SSG Selwyn Bodley, this is old school - it was an attitude.

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Sep 3 at 2017 11:46 AM

SFC Jim Ruether — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 11:46:37 -0400

Hey buddy I hope you didn't have the 7 bean salad for lunch!

Response by SFC Jim Ruether made Sep 3 at 2017 11:49 AM

SFC Jim Ruether — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 11:49:04 -0400

Does anyone remember the SMART book in basic training? I think it stood for Soldier's Manual of Army Tasks. It was your daily bible for every thing you needed to master as a soldier in the Army while at basic to graduate.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Sep 3 at 2017 2:24 PM

Capt Tom Brown — Sun, 03 Sep 2017 14:24:51 -0400

This could be a compromising position to be in if the guy in front was badly hung over from the night before of drinking and eating bean tacos.

Response by SSgt Daniel d'Errico made Sep 4 at 2017 12:05 PM

SSgt Daniel d'Errico — Mon, 04 Sep 2017 12:05:06 -0400

Old school people tend to be set minded in their thoughts, actions and speech. They don't like change. A new C.O., section NCOIC, or airman who maybe younger, a woman, of a different religion, color of skin, too tall, too short, etc. Will always bring a snide remark or fustrated look from "old schools". Old school people either won't change for the better or for what's best for all.

Response by CPT Wes Marsh made Sep 6 at 2017 10:57 AM

CPT Wes Marsh — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 10:57:56 -0400

Interesting question. Yeah, I remember trading c-rat smokes and a whole bunch of the items these folks have listed. Oh how the times have changed. Just not my Army anymore. I'd say the line moves when you look at anything - vehicles, policies, uniforms, weapons, whatever and say to yourself (or anyone else for that matter) "Well, that's not how we did it (used it, worn it, etc) when I was __________ (fill in the blank). Then Sarge, you know are old school).

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2017 11:52 AM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 11:52:02 -0400

Well, first is you must be OLD. I've yet to see more than a handful of active duty Flag officers or senior NCOs in any service who wear Viet Nam ribbons. That means I AM OLD. Second, you cannot give one flaming rat fart what officers say about the way things "will be done." You will still do it the RIGHT way. More than not, you must also be retired. It's completely impossible to be OLD SCSHOOL in today's military. That's would be an oxymoron!!!

Response by PO1 Aaron Baltosser made Sep 7 at 2017 4:28 PM

PO1 Aaron Baltosser — Thu, 07 Sep 2017 16:28:15 -0400

Having gone to Great Mistakes Illinois for boot camp during the time there were red ropers, and you marched as a company for roughly 27 miles during boot camp. Having gone to Hospital Corps School in Great Mistakes as well. That heritage area is now completely destroyed and has been turned into Section 8 housing in a very disgraceful manner. Having been around long enough to have been issued Green Jungle boots or an M-16A2. There are older school examples of course as equipment changed over time. I respect those folks as well.

Response by SSG Kenny Searles made Sep 8 at 2017 7:36 PM

SSG Kenny Searles — Fri, 08 Sep 2017 19:36:59 -0400

I am Old School because I first wore green fatigues, carried an M16A1, wore a steel pot and parachuted from a C123 Provider.

Response by CSM Bruce Trego made Sep 9 at 2017 12:32 AM

CSM Bruce Trego — Sat, 09 Sep 2017 00:32:07 -0400

Boots for PT. Zero an M-14. What women soldiers? Your number starting with US, RA, NG, .....

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2017 4:44 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 Sep 2017 04:44:23 -0400

Cheese and Veggie Omelette, anyone?

Response by Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen made Sep 10 at 2017 6:52 PM

Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen — Sun, 10 Sep 2017 18:52:40 -0400

Rode in and drove actual deuce and a half and in Thailand lived in trailers that had placards from Wheelis AFB.

Response by Sgt Walter Peterson made Sep 17 at 2017 5:49 PM

Sgt Walter Peterson — Sun, 17 Sep 2017 17:49:01 -0400

Marine Corps changes....
Horse blanket to James Bond coat
Satine to poplin to woodland all the while keeping OD field jackets
Watching c-rats phase out and dark bag mre's that were hard to open
M49's bringing diesel for the heaters and mogas for the M151's and M880's
M50's bringing the drinking water with water bulls for backup
Splitshifting the 5-tons up hills to 900 series automatics and super-singles (both of which sucked)
Women on ship.
Women on the range
Chevron on the cover/Chevrons off (cover unserviceable because of pinholes)
OD covers still acceptable in formations with cammies
White t-shirt to OD and back again
Hummers replacing the 151's
Dragon wagons that were so touchy Marines getting pinned between them
M123 pulling tanks on Okinawa streets in the middle of the night between Foster and Hansen with road master(road bastards) escorts
Civilian clothes in olongapo drinking right next to Russians in civilian clothes and neither realizing
Walking the wings of the Bronco to fuel them with JP5 from the M870 hand nozzle
Hot-fueling CH53a and e's in the snow at Bridgeport
Catching the 870 on fire with starter Fluid and praying the P19 driver gave me time to extinguish it before hitting me with the turret!
Korean kids selling us glass bottled coke and moon pies at hill 190 while fueling the tracks with diesel
Standing all day on the Pendleton flight deck in '83 only to stand down
Breaking down new boots with shaving cream before building up to spitshine
Warm feet when the Korean boy sets your boot on fire with kangaroo polish and uses his bare fingers to work in the melted wax
Breaking the belt on a runaway 60 and swapping hot barrels
Phasing out the A1 triangular grip to the tootsie roll garbage
Full auto phases out to 3 round burst on the M16a2
Iron on EGA on crooked poplin blouse pocket
Piss cutters and Wooley pulley
Mixing napalm somewhere in the hills of camp Pendleton
These are only a small portion of my memories. Nobody can seperate me from them Semper Fidelis

Response by SSG David Ryan made Sep 18 at 2017 3:43 PM

SSG David Ryan — Mon, 18 Sep 2017 15:43:14 -0400

When asked are you old school?
I simply reply no.
I built the old school

Response by SSG James Behnke made Sep 19 at 2017 8:34 AM

SSG James Behnke — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 08:34:12 -0400

I think at this point amyome who had to starch and iron their BDUs and spit shine their boots can be considered "old school".

Which begs the question, what do we call the OLDER school?

New discussion, anyone?

Response by SMSgt Thor Merich made Sep 19 at 2017 3:07 PM

SMSgt Thor Merich — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 15:07:27 -0400

Old School Army

- no PT uniforms. We wore unbloused fatigue pants, issue combat boots, and a white t-shirt (basically we did PT in uniform)

- ate C rations

-drove in M151 Jeeps

- used M79 Grenade launchers

- wore cold weather gear that was originally issued during the Korean War

- Used "steel pot" helmets for everything from showering to protecting our heads

- stayed in WWII barracks, through out your entire career

- you have become best friends with "the pig."

- were issued Khaki uniforms

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 22 at 2017 7:35 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Sep 2017 19:35:11 -0400

If you ever:
Had CRATs with Kool's, Lucky Strike or Marlboro left over from the Korean War
Knew how to make CRAT Ham and Eggs edible
Remember when our Vietnam POWs came home and rejoined the unit - a really good day!
Remember when the Huey's always seemed to have engine problems at the worst possible time
When Infantry had Proficiency Pay!
You might be old school. Though it is always a moving target as my son the Army Infantry Sergeant reminds me. There is always another generation of "Old School."

Response by SGT Kent Bredbenner made Sep 23 at 2017 10:55 AM

SGT Kent Bredbenner — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 10:55:25 -0400

BDU AND MRE? How about pickle suit and C rations. Deuce and a half' s were around until the the early 2000's. Try a M151 jeep. Now that's old school.

Response by SPC Dawn Appelberg (Johnson) made Sep 23 at 2017 3:47 PM

SPC Dawn Appelberg (Johnson) — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 15:47:12 -0400

If you can fix any medical issue with water and a Motrin you are old school.
If a 25 mile ruck with pack is your daily PT goal, you are old school.
If you have been smoked until you puke and still had to push you are old school.
If stress cards, attitude towards command, back talking, failure to follow through, whining, and excuses make you want to rip a soldier a new one you are old school.
If your two hots were out of aluminum trays for the unit you are old school.
If an open bay with 30 other soldiers was home you are old school.
If you spit shined boots, hand ironed your uniform, still fold your clothes like basic you are old school.
If you still believe in God, Country, then family you are old school.
If you know you were not issued a family with your duffel, hence don;t whine about conditions you are old school.

Response by PO2 Merrill Morris made Sep 23 at 2017 5:42 PM

PO2 Merrill Morris — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 17:42:43 -0400

Eating 1945 C rations in 1968.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 23 at 2017 9:55 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Sep 2017 21:55:17 -0400

It really depends what generational gap you were actually born in. Fo example, WWI, steel pot from the French, Bootleggings, 1901 Springfield rifle. WWII, for Marines Camouflage Cover and special units with Unit Insignias, the Bayonet and our favor Khakis, Island Hopping, Amphibious landings. Korean Conflict, this was no conflict by the way. The powers to be just didn't want to call it WWIII. Nothing has changed much but close air support, no winter clothing and a Army General who wanted our forces to not only cross the Yalu River but take China over period. Then our everlasting, misunderstood Nation, Hippie going knuckleheads, yep the Vietnam War. We as a Nation blame our Military for our incompetent Politicians and Military Leaders. We still are suffering from this particular war. Then our Gulf War, the line drawn in the sand. Sadly we had to stop fighting on the so-called political correctness of 100 days of fighting, but who's counting, us or the bean counters. Desert cammies, Desert Boots, New fighter jets, missiles, you name it we had it. Oh by the way we also used satellite images and cellular data and phones. Well enough of the BS, but as the saying of one of our most decorated Marine General, Old Corps, New Corps, whatever at least it's The Marine Corps. If you stay in long enough to be called the Old Man, then I guess you're considered to be Old School. Just this Marines Opinion.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Sep 24 at 2017 1:40 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 01:40:44 -0400

Capt Jeff S. Honesty? You have heard the tales of demolition contractors finding wallets discarded by thieves in the heating systems of the WW II barracks as they were demolished?

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Sep 24 at 2017 1:52 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 01:52:56 -0400

Starched Khakis? DO NOT in hot weather wipe the dust from your low quarters on the back of your LEG! Kiwi polish melts in hot weather!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 24 at 2017 11:22 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 Sep 2017 23:22:52 -0400

If you've been in a grand total of two years longer than me, you're not "old school."

If you were in during Vietnam, Korea, WWII, etc - then you can rightfully claim "old school."

Nothing annoys me more at 15+ years in than running into someone with 17 years in acting like they were part of the "old Army" and trying to tell me "how we used to do stuff."

Kick rocks.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 25 at 2017 9:45 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Sep 2017 09:45:09 -0400

Em-nu

LBE
SC Johnson wax

Being licensed on the Duece and a half

Your first wrapons qual outside of Boot Camp was on the M60

You didnt want to have to speak to your PSG and about pissed yourself if you had to see the CSM

Had your "walkman" confiscated the day you went to basic training

Had no clue what the Internet was

An pay phones were still 25 cents

Response by MAJ James Woods made Sep 26 at 2017 12:29 PM

MAJ James Woods — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 12:29:33 -0400

Spit polishing your boots. Know there's little difference between a patrol base and a FOB (before they added AAFES). You dug a latrine in the field, not look for port-a-johns. Coffee is breakfast and what's hot chow. You slept on the ground not on a cot. You had a fire guard in the barracks in case of fire; those WWII era wooden barracks didn't have smoke alarms. Show your age if you remember wearing OD, BDU, DCU, ACU, and Multi-Cam from training camp to combat. Finally, spent more time studying Soviet and Chinese battle formations and Order of March for field maneuvers. Haha!

Response by SGT Sherrie Fanning made Sep 28 at 2017 8:45 PM

SGT Sherrie Fanning — Thu, 28 Sep 2017 20:45:55 -0400

Hmmm ,I'm thinking the line for me at least is when we finally got rid of those Horrid OD Green Uniforms we had in the Early 80s..Along without that Baseball Cap that was even worse..That was one Milestone I remember.

Response by LCDR John Marciano made Sep 29 at 2017 10:30 AM

LCDR John Marciano — Fri, 29 Sep 2017 10:30:41 -0400

Had a drink at lunch in uniform shoreside and used a sextant at sea.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Oct 5 at 2017 9:38 AM

SGT Dave Tracy — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 09:38:24 -0400

An old topic, but I'll jump in.

While I've seen many a change in the 8 years I was AD and Reserve, I wouldn't consider myself "Old School".

That said, given enough time, eventually we ALL reach "Old School" Status!

Response by CSM Elmer Feick Jr. made Oct 5 at 2017 10:56 PM

CSM Elmer Feick Jr. — Thu, 05 Oct 2017 22:56:06 -0400

After reading the many responses of what "old School" meant to others, I have to say they are all right....I came in 1978 and we definitely did things a lot different from today. I still remember doing the APFT in duty fatigues (pickle suit) when it was a five event test...when C-Rations had Lucky Strike cigarettes...when living out of a foot locker was standard practice...but aside from all that, the thing I most remember about "old School" was that the leadership was a lot better than it is today. Back then, just three years after Vietnam, many of the NCO's and Officers who stayed in represented the post war period and they knew how to take care of Soldiers...no like today's generation...nuff said!

Response by GySgt Craig Averill made Oct 6 at 2017 3:58 AM

GySgt Craig Averill — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 03:58:54 -0400

I was issued an M14, Ate "C" Rats with the John Wayne, was in Plt 1018 at P.I. and stayed in the BRAND NEW Brick barracks across the parade deck from the old WWII wood mess hall. We had Elliot's Beach at P.I. Had 782 gear, had a shelter half. Got hauled around in a Cattle Car, we spit shined our boots with lighter fluid and kiwi, used Dura-Glit or Brasso on our Brass, had the Green Utilities and white T-shirts, our Utilities and cover were so starched they could stand on their own. Rode in many a Six By, and drove two kinds of Jeeps. Had NCO Clubs and Staff NCO Clubs as well as Officer Clubs on base, My first November 10th I was at A.O. School and they brought a Water Buffalo to the Marine barracks filled with beer and we all got drunk and I woke up in a dipsy dumpster. Our Helmet liners were painted silver and we wore those in training until ITR and then it was the entire steel pot. In WesPac that steel pot, was our head, cooking pot and pillow. Got a chipped tooth where the D.I. hit me for using a pronoun when I said "I" instead of the "Recruit". Beautiful sounds of the day were F4s taking off with full A.B.s or the sound of a Huey or a Cobra. We still got our Stripes pinned on and that was a very painful experience to the point you almost did NOT want to get promoted, Our rank on our Utilities was metal and had to be painted when they showed any wear, our cadence was pretty raw by today's standards, if you were lucky enough to get a date it was fine until the parents found out you were a Marine, Roach Coaches and GeDonk Trucks came by, foot lockers were wood and unless you were an E5 or above you stayed in a squad bay and only had your lockers to make cubicles. Field Days every Thursday. I was in Duty Section 4.

What hasn't changed is you stood tall and was PROUD to be called a U.S. Marine.

Yet I was NOT old Corps or Old School, the guys who had the Herring bone utilities were and they had brown leather belts on their Class A dress Greens and no Cross Rifles.

Response by SFC James William Bolt [ 40 Yards ] made Oct 6 at 2017 9:30 AM

SFC James William Bolt [ 40 Yards ] — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 09:30:28 -0400

When the mess SGT served meals out of a mess kit cleaning unit and no one wanted the ham @ egg c ration meals . Wanted the beans @ franks meal . When the troops ask the battery clerk what the weather was like in reference the mood of the First SGT . sign 40 yards

Response by BG Jim Drago made Oct 7 at 2017 10:23 PM

BG Jim Drago — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 22:23:02 -0400

Carried a M60 MG and had jungle fatigues with slash pockets

Response by PO1 Gery Bastiani made Oct 7 at 2017 10:29 PM

PO1 Gery Bastiani — Sat, 07 Oct 2017 22:29:14 -0400

ate C-rats
worked and rode in M715, M37, M54.
wore and starched the 8 point utilities hat
starched the utility green uniform for Friday mornings inspections
being mistaken for a Marine until they saw the Seabee on your uniform pocket.

Response by MAJ Gregory Moon made Oct 8 at 2017 12:31 PM

MAJ Gregory Moon — Sun, 08 Oct 2017 12:31:45 -0400

When privates weren’t even born when you entered service and you see all the equipment you knew as LT in a a museum or your colonel asks why your war storie at 20 years old

Response by SSG David Forler made Oct 11 at 2017 2:19 AM

SSG David Forler — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 02:19:21 -0400

Ft. Lenordwood 1979; Ft. Sam Huston, Ft. Bending 1980, Then Ft. Bragg 1980-83
Old school. All my platoon leaders and up were Vietnam War Veterans.
D. Forler

Response by SPC Steven Depuy made Oct 13 at 2017 12:29 PM

SPC Steven Depuy — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 12:29:30 -0400

Being older than the person your comparing yourself to, lol.

Response by SGT Robert Peterson made Oct 13 at 2017 7:22 PM

SGT Robert Peterson — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 19:22:18 -0400

used a P38 to open your meal and we're so tired and so hungry you ate it right out of the can and it actually tasted good

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Oct 14 at 2017 6:09 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 18:09:17 -0400

If you loaded your rifle from the muzzle.
If you hung out with the crew of rebels at Valley Forge.
If you recall having to read the Articles of War'
Your warship had to tack into the wind
You rode with Paul Revere
You can recall when it was legal to shave in the morning with a straight razor.
You knew all the bugle melody's and the bugler wasn't on a boom box
I could go on, but those were some of the ones I heard over the years.

Response by GySgt Richard Morrison made Oct 14 at 2017 7:00 PM

GySgt Richard Morrison — Sat, 14 Oct 2017 19:00:40 -0400

In the Marine Corps if you know what the MOS 0353 is!

Response by MSgt L Lee Parmeter made Oct 15 at 2017 10:22 AM

MSgt L Lee Parmeter — Sun, 15 Oct 2017 10:22:17 -0400

Being "old school" is age related. Do any of you remember putting belt hooks on your OD Ike Jacket to keep it from riding up? When brown shoes turned black do you rememebr the issue dye that was impossible to get off your hands. How about the issue shoe shine box that had to be displayed with your last 4 inside. Ahh then there were the monthly pay lines when we all saluted the paymaster, collected our pay in cash. Waiting at the end of the line was the 1stSgt, Red Cross and always the savings bond where they wanted $18.75 for a $25 bond and the pay for an E4 over 4 was $137.59 plus oversea pay at $13.00 a month. As an E4 over 4, I could own a car and my payments were $23.55 a month. Those were some of my best military memories were friends were comrades in arms. By the time I made 1stSgt, the military had changed so much that I hardly recognize the old days as my uniform was different and my shoes black but duty, honor and country is always first.

Response by Sgt Michael Betts made Oct 16 at 2017 9:21 AM

Sgt Michael Betts — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 09:21:22 -0400

You carried a rifle made of steel and wood in .30-06 caliber and could shoot a gnat off a flea's ass at 500 yards.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2017 10:25 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 22:25:25 -0400

Joining 18 months before the “new school”...

Response by SP5 Ward Posey made Oct 21 at 2017 9:13 AM

SP5 Ward Posey — Sat, 21 Oct 2017 09:13:54 -0400

PT uniforms, yeah right. Come on old school is KP, Spit Shine, OD fatigues, M-14, Fri. Night fights @ Jump School to avoid KP, Shipping out overseas on jump seats in a C-141 as a unit with all your company gear in the middle of the aircraft. Brasso, and WTF is a "time out" in training. '66-'68.

Response by SSG Gerald King made Oct 22 at 2017 7:22 PM

SSG Gerald King — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 19:22:11 -0400

Starched fatigues and Khakis with a crease sharp enough to shave with. C-rats dated in the early 1940's. No time outs. No special privileges - everyone is equal and must play by the same rules. Driving 1/4 ton jeeps and deuce and a halfs. No stripes for E1 or E2. Green dress uniform with tan shirt and spit shined shoes.

Response by GySgt Richard Morrison made Oct 23 at 2017 3:21 PM

GySgt Richard Morrison — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 15:21:11 -0400

You may be Old Corps If you are a Marine and know what the MOS 0353 was! Proud Tennessee Volunteer. Semper Fi. GySgt USMC (Ret) '65-'85.

Response by Sgt Charles Welling made Oct 27 at 2017 10:41 AM

Sgt Charles Welling — Fri, 27 Oct 2017 10:41:19 -0400

If this web site is a cross section of the military of today, "Old school" would be those who believe and serve the Constitution of the United States of America. The Frankenbama era personnel I see are largely self serving, have an agenda other than the Constitution and freedom and even believe the Constitution is flawed. Take your agenda and unconstitutional beliefs and get out, the military needs and deserves those that will fight in unity for freedom. Your agenda fragments strength and weakens unity and you serve a deluded purpose.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2017 1:55 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Nov 2017 13:55:53 -0400

I still have a steel pot.

Response by Sgt John Koliha made Nov 4 at 2017 7:49 PM

Sgt John Koliha — Sat, 04 Nov 2017 19:49:31 -0400

Stood a "Junk on the Bunk"

Response by SSG Craig Newton made Nov 5 at 2017 9:50 AM

SSG Craig Newton — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 09:50:56 -0500

Doing PT in fatigues and combat boots. 1 believe we were finally allowed to start wearing running shoes around '84 or '85. Spit shining your boots using a white t-shirt. If you wore the tan dress shirt.

Response by SSG Steven Mangus made Nov 5 at 2017 6:12 PM

SSG Steven Mangus — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 18:12:09 -0500

School of the soldier..

Response by SPC Daniel Rankin made Nov 5 at 2017 10:35 PM

SPC Daniel Rankin — Sun, 05 Nov 2017 22:35:32 -0500

We were considered old school, not because of what we wore, but because of the fact that I was in one of the classes that still showed respect to the leaders, and that included the drill sgts and they showed respect to those of us that were older then them. I was at least 10 years older then my instructors and they showed respect but worked me just as hard as the 20 year olds. (I was 33 in basic) and yet I could out do most of the kids. When I went in I was 5'7" and weight 155 lbs they said I was too light and needed to gain weight lol. So I ate anything and every thing but could not gain more then 10 lbs when I left recovery school 7 months later to report to my first unit. So being old school was hard work and showing respect just like you were taught under the rules of your house. Anything before the 2000's would probably be considered old school.

Response by SPC Steven Nihipali made Nov 6 at 2017 9:18 AM

SPC Steven Nihipali — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 09:18:04 -0500

In reading responses.. it's easy to know that there are folks who served long before my time. 02/04-02/10, now retired. Anyone, I mean, anyone, who came before me or send in a time before me. My 2 brothers were old school, my parents who both served during Vietnam, definitely old school. Both grandfather's served during WWII (ONE being in Hawaii, so that was a given, the other was a paratrooper in Europe). Those "men" we're digging old school as shit. Bless their souls.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 6 at 2017 11:29 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 11:29:13 -0500

If you were in before 1992 you're 'old school' by modern standards. The "Brown Shoe" army veteran REALLY old school.

Response by SGM Charles Twardzicki made Nov 8 at 2017 3:14 PM

SGM Charles Twardzicki — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 15:14:18 -0500

PT in fatigues after 30 minutes of drill.

C rats,not MREs

White t-shirts

3/4s before the goats.

Response by SGM Charles Twardzicki made Nov 8 at 2017 3:40 PM

SGM Charles Twardzicki — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 15:40:26 -0500

Did I forget to mention KP? Single wall locker and a foot locker? No more than 3sets of civvies? (with all the uniforms issued it was difficult to get those 3 sets of civvies in the locker -1 summer class A, 1 woolen class A, 1 long Aleve class A shirt, 2 sets of kakai, 4 fatigue, rain coat, winter woolen class A long coat, field jacket.). Permission from cmdr to live off post or register a POV on post. I was lucky, off post passes and the requirement to wear at least a class B uniform when on pass had just ended! And I'm not old school by any means. The M14 and brown boots were gone!

Response by SPC Dale Mullens made Nov 8 at 2017 5:17 PM

SPC Dale Mullens — Wed, 08 Nov 2017 17:17:35 -0500

After reading some of the responses here, I’m definitely old school. No one leaves the rock. X-ray out.

Response by SSgt Liam Babington made Nov 9 at 2017 2:08 PM

SSgt Liam Babington — Thu, 09 Nov 2017 14:08:13 -0500

Running PT TEST in your BDU’s! Yea tennis shoes were accepted back in those days! Now a days it’s fancy-schmancy

Response by SFC Sfc Darwin Maring, USA Ret made Nov 10 at 2017 7:55 PM

SFC Sfc Darwin Maring, USA Ret — Fri, 10 Nov 2017 19:55:23 -0500

Old School - I ternational Harvestor M1 in basic and firing an Anti Tank round off of it while standing, now that is OLD SCHOOL.

Response by Cpl James Smith made Nov 11 at 2017 5:54 PM

Cpl James Smith — Sat, 11 Nov 2017 17:54:07 -0500

The ever moving line...I believe it to be when something changes in a significant way as to be a "turning point", for instance, I was in one of the last plt's to graduate Paris Island before they started the crucible as the finsl stage, so all the boots that showed after...crucible Marines..as in I'm old school and your not, graduated 2 months apart! Or say a Ranger who wore the "black" beret, before they gave it everybody, he's old school...
Anybody wanna contribute examples?

Response by TSgt J.L. Brown Jr made Nov 12 at 2017 2:50 AM

TSgt J.L. Brown Jr — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 02:50:22 -0500

back in my final years in the Air Force they changed our AFSC, renumbered them, to use old farts we were 462, Aircraft Armament then they changed it to 2w1. then the kinder, gentler air force came too be

Response by SFC Derahn Thornton made Nov 12 at 2017 6:40 PM

SFC Derahn Thornton — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 18:40:06 -0500

Back when all it took was a SGT(E-5) or a CPL(E-4) to get shit done!
Back when cadences were like(Combat Arms Days):
If women were like pies....
All on the shelf
If I was a baker
I'd eat em all myself....
HEY HEY BAAAAABEREEEBAHHH!!!

Back when we told a soldier to push and heaven help you if you said...."you gotta get down with me"

Or the old Colombo cadence...
Back when 1SG and the CO gave you corrective training because it made you a better soldier and didn't wanna ruin you with an Article 15...

Response by LtCol Robert Quinter made Nov 12 at 2017 8:55 PM

LtCol Robert Quinter — Sun, 12 Nov 2017 20:55:26 -0500

Flying a helicopter with a Lycoming O-435 or R-1820 and getting into PaPa boats using a cargo net

Response by PO2 Sam Tkach made Nov 13 at 2017 5:12 AM

PO2 Sam Tkach — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 05:12:28 -0500

I would say "old schoolers" are those who think that women don't belong in the military. Just my two cents worth.

Response by Capt Terry Fillmore made Nov 15 at 2017 10:40 AM

Capt Terry Fillmore — Wed, 15 Nov 2017 10:40:31 -0500

Sateen utilities, wearing a chrome dome, and taking salt tablets. Carrying the transport pack and field transport pack.

Response by SPC David Willis made Nov 17 at 2017 4:17 PM

SPC David Willis — Fri, 17 Nov 2017 16:17:51 -0500

The answer to this question will always change. In twenty years my generation will say we were the old school army. The folks who served in the 80s-90s will say it was their experience. The people who served in Vietnam will say it was what they experienced. WW2 would put down what they went through. Technically Washington's first continental Army is the old school army haha.

Response by SSG Thomas Barry made Nov 22 at 2017 10:47 PM

SSG Thomas Barry — Wed, 22 Nov 2017 22:47:38 -0500

how about 90 cents for a haircut and buy an apple with the dime buitt you better eat it fast cause if the DI saw you there was hell to pay

Response by SPC Richard White made Nov 23 at 2017 5:57 AM

SPC Richard White — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 05:57:30 -0500

Black boots with spit and polish,woodland camo, certain MOS like I have 19E

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2017 5:11 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 17:11:14 -0500

Muskets & sailing ships, more than likely. I have been retired for 30+ years and am still trying to figure the "old school" out.

Response by SFC Leo Augustin made Nov 26 at 2017 10:50 AM

SFC Leo Augustin — Sun, 26 Nov 2017 10:50:21 -0500

my example of old school. when i first joined the military we had lay outs, where we lay out our TA-50 for inspections, make sure it was clean and serviceable. after every field exercise and deployments our TA-50 was washed and Direct Exchanged if need be and stored for the next exercise. before i retired i noticed that this was no longer done. i retired and worked at the Central Issue Facility and i noticed soldiers ETS of PCS bringing me equipment that was soiled, thick layers of grease around the collar, when i refused to accept it they would get angry and tell me of their deployments, and field exercises like i was never in the Military. so old school is to clean your equipment after every filed exercise and deployments, DX if need be. new school is to keep using your equipment over and over never cleaning it, and no one holding soldiers accountable for the cleanliness of their equipment. i even had a soldier remove a jacket while in line turning in his equipment and handed it to me and got angry because i refused to accept it, this is the same equipment that will be issued to another soldier take it home and wash it. these are New school, i have many more examples but i think this one is good enough.

Response by MSgt Tina Ellis made Nov 27 at 2017 3:53 PM

MSgt Tina Ellis — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 15:53:12 -0500

Tredition, honor, integrity, duty, service BEFORE self

Response by PO3 Kenneth Mckinnon made Nov 29 at 2017 3:20 AM

PO3 Kenneth Mckinnon — Wed, 29 Nov 2017 03:20:07 -0500

We used to have a chief back in the 80's, of him it was said, "When God created water Chief was on the pier with his seabag."
I might say I'm salty...but never say I'm old school.

Response by SSG Paul Carrier made Nov 30 at 2017 4:11 PM

SSG Paul Carrier — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 16:11:57 -0500

Khaki "B"s and doing PT in fatigue pants, white Tee shirt and boots.

Response by SGT Charles Sullivan made Nov 30 at 2017 4:53 PM

SGT Charles Sullivan — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 16:53:08 -0500

I did retrans in korea in the back of a Gamma Goat, I drove jeep wiley's with a 10 ft whip antenna, I drove deuce and a half's and 5 ton's and thought a m80 was a luxury truck lol

Response by SFC John Jackson made Nov 30 at 2017 11:24 PM

SFC John Jackson — Thu, 30 Nov 2017 23:24:14 -0500

The Army mule and Gamma Goat for mortar platoons.
Eating LRRP’s
Running in boots during Basic Training
Wearing the khaki Class B uniform
Only Officers and senior NCO’s has Dress Blues
Sending cherries to get canopy lights for night jumps

Response by MAJ Edwin Webster made Dec 2 at 2017 12:09 PM

MAJ Edwin Webster — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 12:09:24 -0500

I guess I predate “old school.” My basic training was with an M-1 while all the other basic training companies were training with the M-14. We wore fatigue uniforms with blocked caps and spit-shined our boots. We wore white T-shirts, white name tags on our fatigues, and sewed our stripes on our sleeves. We were transported in cattle cars and drove M151 1/4 ton trucks.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Dec 2 at 2017 3:02 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Sat, 02 Dec 2017 15:02:04 -0500

I do

Response by CPT Robert Boshears made Dec 7 at 2017 12:20 PM

CPT Robert Boshears — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 12:20:50 -0500

Start off by remembering what today is. Without the news, which very little has been said, remember your military history, or get ready to repeat it!

Response by SSG Craig Newton made Dec 10 at 2017 10:25 AM

SSG Craig Newton — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 10:25:54 -0500

If you did PT in fatigues and boots.

Response by Sgt Bruce C. made Dec 10 at 2017 11:44 PM

Sgt Bruce C. — Sun, 10 Dec 2017 23:44:58 -0500

How many Airman here have worn “tans”

Response by PFC Robert Fowler made Dec 18 at 2017 8:36 AM

PFC Robert Fowler — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 08:36:28 -0500

rode in a REAL deuce and a half, drove those and bigger
know what a gamma goat used to be, drove one of those.
were transported in a cattle car, pulled one.
wore and washed in a steel pot, with the genuine MC camo cover.
realized your M16 was built by the lowest bidding contactor, carried and qualified with a M14
lived in WWII era barracks, yep
thought the only definition of, "offensive" was "taking it to the commies", the ultimate bad guys.
actually put 2 shelter halves together to make and sleep in a tent, BTDT
pressed your duty uniform, starched and pressed OD utilities. Starched and formed our covers.
spit shined your boots, one pair spit shined for inspections, one pair buffed for everyday use.
C-Rats. I loved the green eggs and ham. Swapping cigs to get ones you liked.
I still have a P-38, it's on my dog tag chain.

Response by Cpl Jim Tubridy made Dec 19 at 2017 10:53 AM

Cpl Jim Tubridy — Tue, 19 Dec 2017 10:53:19 -0500

If your "brand new" Honeywell computers with 4-inch monitors in SUDAPS had metal tags reading "Property of US Air Force", you know you're Old School. If your entire warehouse inventory of repairable aircraft parts worth over $250,000,000 was tracked by hand on Stock Status Cards, you know you're Old School. When physically "disciplining" an obstinate troop got you a quiet handshake and an "attaboy" from the Gunny instead of Office Hours, you know you're Old School.

Response by LTC Michael Keenan made Dec 21 at 2017 11:36 PM

LTC Michael Keenan — Thu, 21 Dec 2017 23:36:07 -0500

Eating C-rations that were canned 3 years prior to your birth.
"Breaking starch" on your fatigues more than once a day.
Getting your first sets of permanent press, wash & wear fatigues and khakis.
Having rank (and branch insignia for officers) on your collar where they belong and not on your belly.
Doing PT in trousers, boots, and a tee shirt with a four mile run in formation to finish each day's session.

Response by PO1 Cliff Heath made Dec 22 at 2017 4:40 PM

PO1 Cliff Heath — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 16:40:55 -0500

When beards were allowed in the Navy, and the worst uniform ever in any service.The infamous Good Humor Ice Cream Man, or Milk Man uniforms so glad when Navy went back to Crackerjacks.

Response by SGT Tim Tobin made Dec 24 at 2017 8:10 PM

SGT Tim Tobin — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 20:10:19 -0500

I ate C rations, wore mono colored fatigues and drove a gamma goat ambulance. And even though we said the M-16 was made by Tonka I could shoot the heck out of it!!

Response by SGT Tim Tobin made Dec 24 at 2017 8:12 PM

SGT Tim Tobin — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 20:12:17 -0500

And ohh yeah, PT uniform for me was boots a t shirt and those same mono colored fatigues pants. We never had a PT "uniform" shin splints we're rampant!!

Response by SFC Greg Bruorton made Dec 24 at 2017 10:38 PM

SFC Greg Bruorton — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 22:38:33 -0500

Teaching a platoon the old infantry drill of Civil War times. for competition.

Response by SFC Greg Bruorton made Dec 24 at 2017 10:43 PM

SFC Greg Bruorton — Sun, 24 Dec 2017 22:43:11 -0500

Teaching a platoon the Old Infantry drill of Civil War times for competition. FM 22-5 was merely a guide.

Response by MAJ Andrew Ready made Dec 25 at 2017 10:06 AM

MAJ Andrew Ready — Mon, 25 Dec 2017 10:06:47 -0500

If you have to ask, you aren’t and never will be. Lol

Response by CW3 William Couch made Dec 28 at 2017 5:43 PM

CW3 William Couch — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 17:43:50 -0500

You are old school if you wore OG107's, had to starch and press everyday, shine your boots, if you can remember when high and tights were expected. If your 348 has 1/4 Ton, 2 1/2, and the old Gamma Goat. You were woke up every morning for room inspection and first PT Formation. For you Paratroopers...You had to go get a license for the MC1-1B...known as a -1 card...because we still conducted mass tacs with them. If you remember Recondo school. Lol I could go on....

Response by SPC William Szkromiuk made Dec 30 at 2017 2:49 PM

SPC William Szkromiuk — Sat, 30 Dec 2017 14:49:12 -0500

Knowing what F.T.A. stood for and what the average soldier actually said.....:-)

Response by SGT Phil Marsh made Dec 30 at 2017 8:00 PM

SGT Phil Marsh — Sat, 30 Dec 2017 20:00:03 -0500

Old school:

You got to drive an army jeep, before the HMMWV was ever heard of.

Response by SGM Frank Marsh made Dec 31 at 2017 9:23 AM

SGM Frank Marsh — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 09:23:09 -0500

basic with an M-1...many places with WWII barracks/fire watch...khaki shorts/long stockings as part of class B uniform...tuck in necktie on class A khakis..heavy wool Class A's with heavy overcoat with detachable wool liner...brown footgear issued, dyed black the third week of basic...pre-turbo 2 1/2 ton trucks...dodge power wagon (junk) 3/4 ton....pre-ford jeeps...all I can think of right now

Response by Cpl David E. Jenkins Jr. made Dec 31 at 2017 8:55 PM

Cpl David E. Jenkins Jr. — Sun, 31 Dec 2017 20:55:10 -0500

Anything in the Military prior to 1985

Response by MSG Michael McEleney made Jan 1 at 2018 1:07 AM

MSG Michael McEleney — Mon, 01 Jan 2018 01:07:18 -0500

Being promoted to PFC and still not making $100 a month.

Response by PO2 Gerry Roberson Sr. made Jan 2 at 2018 9:19 PM

PO2 Gerry Roberson Sr. — Tue, 02 Jan 2018 21:19:53 -0500

Would you regard Navy, 1974-1985 old school?

Response by LTC John Bush made Jan 3 at 2018 12:35 PM

LTC John Bush — Wed, 03 Jan 2018 12:35:45 -0500

If you were part of the drafted Army you can claim "old school" and really back there if you qualified with a Garand, m1919A6 or a .30 Carbine (I did), wooden barracks, gang showers, coal yard detail, carried live ammo on guard duty and had a basic load of ammo and food on your APC. Did you deploy to an alert position with full kit and live ammo when Kennedy was shot? OH by the way no pt uniform and only combat boots allowed

Response by Sgt Michael Betts made Jan 5 at 2018 12:21 PM

Sgt Michael Betts — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 12:21:41 -0500

I was in a discussion on Facebook the other day and it was decided that I was an "Old Salt" because I had carried a rifle with a wooden stock while I was in the Corps.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 5 at 2018 3:06 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 15:06:32 -0500

If the first ship's office that you worked in had a mimeograph machine for copying sets of orders. If the Yeoman Class "A" School you attended used actual typewriters for the typing tests. If you marched to and from classes carrying a copy of the single volume, very large hard bound, not yet computerized, Coast Guard Personnel Manual under your left arm. Also: If you served when beards were allowed and boondockers were worn. When coming back to the ship drunk was part of being in the Coast Guard. When the proper answer to the question of "what kind of beer do you drink" was "beer".

Response by LtCol James L. Owens made Jan 5 at 2018 8:42 PM

LtCol James L. Owens — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 20:42:29 -0500

Heating water for C Ration coffee a in metal canteen cup over a burning piece of C4.

Response by SFC James William Bolt [ 40 Yards ] made Jan 6 at 2018 4:52 PM

SFC James William Bolt [ 40 Yards ] — Sat, 06 Jan 2018 16:52:05 -0500

The old brown boots M1Thumb no EGO in your unit commander officer you only saw om inspection or when hell was on the way ,NCO that words or orders that you could count as hard cash . their was a shit list that you try to avoid at all cost sign 40 yards

Response by SFC Brian Speich made Jan 7 at 2018 7:18 PM

SFC Brian Speich — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 19:18:53 -0500

Being able to call someone sweetheart without The U.S. Army yanking a nomination to a third star because it determined that calling a female congressional staffer “sweetheart,” violated the Army Command Policy’s rule on “dignity and respect.” Give me a break, what has become of my Army? How do you people talk to each other? Text everything, OH no that would be sextexing. I understand maybe we overdid it back a few years but sweetheart? I call my wife and kids, boys and girls that and they are in their 50's. Am I that far out on line and time?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2018 10:54 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Jan 2018 22:54:47 -0500

I think I'm OLDer school: Back in MY day, I carried an M1 Garland in Basic. I was in the California National Guard and my home unit went from M1s to M14s when I got out in 1969. When I went back in 1976, we had M16s. Inside the handguard it said Mattel. The rifle was made, if I remember right, by the Springfield Armory. Sorry to, as my mom said, "Prattle on."

Response by LtCol James L. Owens made Jan 8 at 2018 4:01 PM

LtCol James L. Owens — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 16:01:07 -0500

I was in boot camp at Great Lakes in 1947. We had a 2 CPOs who taught Marlinspike Seamanship. Both wore the square knot of Apprentice Boys. They were old school.

Response by PO1 Kevin Arnold made Jan 10 at 2018 11:16 PM

PO1 Kevin Arnold — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 23:16:59 -0500

Wow i guess i am old school military. Hey how about using a typewriter, roller copy machine, microfiche, tape for corrections, floppy disks, spit shine boots with water and an old t-shirt and if lucky a lighter, smoking lamp everywhere except sleeping quarters and galley when meal is served, no real names just nicknames, hazing what is that it was earning your respect and qualifications, going naked on the boat except for your TLD and belt (we had someone actually do this), get drunk and not get in trouble due to your crew covering for you while you puked, getting poured down the hatch due to being drunk, halfway night, wog/pollywog iniations, pranks in general (to many to mention), and well so many more things that made it fun even though it was hard work. We said we worked hard so we played hard.

Response by SSG Russell Busicchia made Jan 13 at 2018 9:09 AM

SSG Russell Busicchia — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 09:09:44 -0500

My boots were black and highly polished every day. We relied on maps and navigation skills, not GPS. No time outs in training. When we messed up we took our punishment, no excuses, and moved on. When an NCO or officer gave us an order we didn't ask why, we did our duty.
Every generation thinks they had it tougher. My uncles say it was tougher in their day, they fought in WW II. My father was more Korea/Vietnam, he says it was tougher in his day. I enlisted at the end of Vietnam, beginning of the Volunteer Army, training was a bit tougher than today.
To me Old School is keeping faith with each other, the service, our country. Doing your job as best you can every day. Hoorah!

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2018 3:13 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 15:13:27 -0500

That is when men where men

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Jan 13 at 2018 4:15 PM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 16:15:48 -0500

If your manual of arms ever included a blunderbuss!

Response by SP5 Joel McDargh made Jan 13 at 2018 8:43 PM

SP5 Joel McDargh — Sat, 13 Jan 2018 20:43:11 -0500

For my part old school would be those times prior to women being able to go through jump school or holding any type of combat role. Not that I am prejudiced on this matter as I have known some fine women paratroopers/riggers; Joyce Kutch being the very first and most well respected. That would be the time line I seperate the old army from the new.

Response by PO2 Frank Busch made Jan 14 at 2018 9:27 PM

PO2 Frank Busch — Sun, 14 Jan 2018 21:27:09 -0500

How about a sailor who wore dungarees instead of stupid cammo. Sailors are meant to wear blue!

Response by Sgt Heriberto Salinas made Jan 15 at 2018 12:13 AM

Sgt Heriberto Salinas — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 00:13:03 -0500

Just because some new piece of technology comes along to replace the old, doesn't necessarily constitute the definition of "old school ". There has to be a cut off date, or perhaps a war or conflict to separate new and old.

Response by SFC Jim Dorsey made Jan 15 at 2018 7:23 PM

SFC Jim Dorsey — Mon, 15 Jan 2018 19:23:29 -0500

Keep it simple ...steel pot, P38, starched fatigues enough said!

Response by SGT Todd Beay made Jan 16 at 2018 1:24 PM

SGT Todd Beay — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 13:24:04 -0500

O my, I can relate to all of these. And I'm not quite as old as dirt! My drive was a 1/4 tom willies with a trailer, I also drove a gamma goat! Those were the days. Then I got a hummer, what an upgrade.

Response by MAJ Gary Rayl made Jan 16 at 2018 7:00 PM

MAJ Gary Rayl — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 19:00:58 -0500

We might add wore OD uniform and black boots

Response by SSgt Tony Woconish made Jan 20 at 2018 9:08 PM

SSgt Tony Woconish — Sat, 20 Jan 2018 21:08:38 -0500

I ate C rats left over from VN War, fired the M16A1, have NEVER worn a flack jacket, only worn the old steel pot helmet and only fired the old M1911 Colt .45 auto pistol. YES, I am “Old School”
PI

Response by PO1 Robert Johnson made Jan 21 at 2018 9:02 AM

PO1 Robert Johnson — Sun, 21 Jan 2018 09:02:34 -0500

Be
Being an Old Navy man, I can tell you that my vary first observation was that a goodly number of khacki clads hadcaffer mugs surgically fitted to their dominant hand which was held at waist level along side of well rounded bellies. They had voices that rivaled dump trucks full of gravel. They talked of times in their past of ships of wood and men of steal. They taught us everything we needed to know to do our jobs and to survive life in the jungles of the outside world . That is "Old School" the Navy way.

Response by Sgt Anthony Maske made Jan 23 at 2018 8:38 PM

Sgt Anthony Maske — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 20:38:45 -0500

Old School ... can't forget them Jeeps ... gotta love them jeeps ...

Response by SP5 John Kirtley made Jan 24 at 2018 5:16 PM

SP5 John Kirtley — Wed, 24 Jan 2018 17:16:31 -0500

There was no PT uniform. We took off our fatigue blouses and wore our boots. When we went to the rifle range, 9 out of ten times we marched. We didn't eat MRE's, it was WWII C-Rations. This was feb-mar. 1968 for basic. In VN it was 'C's also, No bdu's or Acu's, Starched and Ironed fatigues with sewn on patches. The rank pins came around 1970, so that's my idea of " old school". Pre 1974.!!!

Response by SPC Gary Hunt made Jan 26 at 2018 12:56 AM

SPC Gary Hunt — Fri, 26 Jan 2018 00:56:48 -0500

I trained and was issued an M-14.
We did PT in fatigue pants, no shorts.
I guess I must be old, old school.

Response by SrA Merlin Ewing made Jan 28 at 2018 2:44 PM

SrA Merlin Ewing — Sun, 28 Jan 2018 14:44:18 -0500

HOW ABOUT NOT WEARING YOUR FATIGUES OFF BASE EXCEPT TO GO BACK AND FORTH TO THE BASE?

Response by SSG Ryan Molton made Jan 30 at 2018 5:01 PM

SSG Ryan Molton — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 17:01:24 -0500

This is funny ..... I joined in 2001 -2010 used shelter halves in basic but really wouldn’t consider myself old school but...... got to serve during the best time ever

Response by Maj Michael Howard made Jan 30 at 2018 8:47 PM

Maj Michael Howard — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 20:47:29 -0500

If you can not tell byAnyone with a enlistment date at least one day before yours is "Old School".

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Jan 31 at 2018 3:22 PM

MAJ Matthew Arnold — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 15:22:03 -0500

The pickle suit and knowing what the pickle suit is.

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Jan 31 at 2018 3:35 PM

MAJ Matthew Arnold — Wed, 31 Jan 2018 15:35:59 -0500

If you know how to put 16 map sheets 1/50 together into a continuous folding map book and use it.

Response by PO1 D Crawford made Feb 1 at 2018 8:55 PM

PO1 D Crawford — Thu, 01 Feb 2018 20:55:26 -0500

When in Boot Camp you hand washed your own Lids and belts. Outside on the concrete wash tables.

Response by MAJ David Atkinson made Feb 4 at 2018 12:13 AM

MAJ David Atkinson — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 00:13:16 -0500

During the fuel shortage I had to use a gamma goat for roving guard. Our PT uniform consisted of unblousing your boots, and removing your shirt and cover.

Response by SGT Frank Pritchett made Feb 4 at 2018 10:58 AM

SGT Frank Pritchett — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 10:58:40 -0500

Card Board Trucks, stove pipes for mortars and horses, welcome to the modern military.

Response by MSG Jim Gawne made Feb 4 at 2018 2:43 PM

MSG Jim Gawne — Sun, 04 Feb 2018 14:43:39 -0500

If the M16A1 you used in basic training was made by Mattel, you may be old school

Response by SSG Michael Wills made Feb 6 at 2018 8:23 PM

SSG Michael Wills — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 20:23:48 -0500

Old school, anyone in the military back in 1961-1991 that's old school military from where I stand

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Feb 7 at 2018 4:59 PM

MAJ Matthew Arnold — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 16:59:59 -0500

Forgive me if someone already wrote this:
The 5 event PT test (in fatigues and boots)
Horizontal ladder
Run dodge and jump
push ups
sit ups
2 mile run

Response by MSG Louis Alexander made Feb 9 at 2018 11:27 PM

MSG Louis Alexander — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 23:27:25 -0500

When your Sergeant assigns you to furnace detail and you’re told not to sleep, but in the morning, you’re covered from head to toe in coal, telling the Sergeant you feel asleep. Or when the Sergeant runs the platoon up the hill and back, then have you low crawl 20 yards to the mess doors. If he’s creative, has you duck walk from one end of the company street to the other. When your Sergeant is verbally eating away your sweaty little face and there’s no fawking stress card in existence to bail you out, yeah, you might be old school.

Response by MSG Louis Alexander made Feb 9 at 2018 11:34 PM

MSG Louis Alexander — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 23:34:18 -0500

When your fine dining experience means you open a box of C- Rations and separate your dinner entrée and desert cans to include your gum, matches, toilet paper and 5 cigarette (Single) pack from each other, yeah, you might be old school.

Response by MSG Louis Alexander made Feb 10 at 2018 12:10 AM

MSG Louis Alexander — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 00:10:01 -0500

When you’re issued a gray, long length 6 button, waist belt raincoat that never, ever repelled rain or used a coat hanger to open the legs of an extra heavy starched pair of cotton, olive drab uniform trousers, or when using the term WAC didn’t mean whacking someone, but meant Woman’s Army Corps. That’s right boy’s and girl’s there were no co ed back then, just simple segregation. Yeah! You might be old school.

Response by SP5 Larry Morris made Feb 10 at 2018 1:49 PM

SP5 Larry Morris — Sat, 10 Feb 2018 13:49:27 -0500

To me it was just do it and shut the hell up

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2018 2:39 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 02:39:35 -0500

Yesterday.

It is ever revolving.

Response by SGT Frank Pritchett made Feb 11 at 2018 7:21 PM

SGT Frank Pritchett — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 19:21:00 -0500

Good question, I joined the Army when it was called the "Modern Army", (1974).

Response by Sgt John Koliha made Feb 15 at 2018 8:13 PM

Sgt John Koliha — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 20:13:44 -0500

In the Marines we refer toit as the"Old Corps." Or being Old Corps.

Response by SPC Mike Lake made Feb 15 at 2018 10:48 PM

SPC Mike Lake — Thu, 15 Feb 2018 22:48:04 -0500

I guess this makes us old school

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 16 at 2018 1:16 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 13:16:05 -0500

Approach to solving simple problems.

Response by SPC Miles Blackman made Feb 16 at 2018 3:43 PM

SPC Miles Blackman — Fri, 16 Feb 2018 15:43:26 -0500

Remember the different types of alerts in Germany and prayed that it was not a "praise the Lord and pass the ammo the Russians are on the way" alert after a holiday and half the company or Battalion is huno over.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2018 2:41 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Feb 2018 02:41:17 -0500

Pork patty dehydrated- Living in WW2 Temporary open Bay Barracks for two years. Wearing a yellow banana suit, at 0530 PT 7 mile Run. Yep- I am old school

Response by SSgt Daniel d'Errico made Feb 24 at 2018 3:58 AM

SSgt Daniel d'Errico — Sat, 24 Feb 2018 03:58:46 -0500

Strached your OD Green fatigues
Wore white T shirts on duty
Ate C rations 3 times a day
Mandatory commande's call every month
Beer thirty at the NCO Club
BBQ Fridays
Eating at the Chowhall a week prior to pay day
Making sure all issue items line up in your foot and wall locker
Polishing you service hat ( the bus driver's hat)
Going to the Commissary on pay day for steaks
Snackbar runs on Friday nights for munchies
Claiming your favorite chair/sofa in the day room

Response by SSgt Jim Gilmore made Feb 24 at 2018 4:51 AM

SSgt Jim Gilmore — Sat, 24 Feb 2018 04:51:38 -0500

This is old school...

Response by SSG Gerald King made Feb 24 at 2018 4:40 PM

SSG Gerald King — Sat, 24 Feb 2018 16:40:41 -0500

Breaking Starch! Qualifying with the M-14. Spit shining your black boots and shoes.

Response by CPL Philip Mender made Feb 24 at 2018 11:25 PM

CPL Philip Mender — Sat, 24 Feb 2018 23:25:47 -0500

Knowing what a prick-77 is, wearing a battery against your body to keep it warm on patrols on the "Z" in Korea, on patrol and sending some "smuck" up to look around. when in formation told to "at ease" and the platoon sgt. says "smokem if you got'em

Response by CPT Earl George made Mar 11 at 2018 6:39 PM

CPT Earl George — Sun, 11 Mar 2018 18:39:51 -0400

Are you old school when you are The platoon leader and half your people are drafted and the other half are volunteers?

Response by SSgt Tony Woconish made Mar 15 at 2018 9:28 AM

SSgt Tony Woconish — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 09:28:55 -0400

Response by CPL Jack Rand made Mar 19 at 2018 9:44 PM

CPL Jack Rand — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 21:44:30 -0400

Forget the yellow outfit
If your old school you wore fatiques and undershirt !

Response by SGT Jeremy Sedeño made Mar 22 at 2018 10:15 AM

SGT Jeremy Sedeño — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 10:15:07 -0400

Doing PT in your boots! period! old school!

Response by CW2 Donald Loughrey made Mar 22 at 2018 2:43 PM

CW2 Donald Loughrey — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 14:43:10 -0400

Enlisted for 4 years in Combat Arms for the $2,500.00 bonus.
Traded C-Rat Cigarettes for Pound Cake or John Wayne Bars.
Celebrated when Tuna Fish was added to the C-Rat menu.
Refused the Fruit Cake no matter how hungry you were.
Did PMCS on a 113 (in the Regular Army, not Reserves).
"Turned Blue" in Infantry AIT...at Ft Polk La...and got to wear a Web Belt with your cotton Fatigues unili Graduation.
Did a Road March having to carry the 90mm Recoilless Rifle.
Did time with 10th Group on Ft Devens.
SOT-A's were SODs
Had a Candy Stripe.
Got to go to Mott Lake for SOT.
Went to "Flintlock" when it was in Germany.
Remember when there were 05H and 05D MOSs.
You were in the ASA before "CEWI" units existed.
Were a 96C before they were 97E...before they were 35M
Were an E7 with 14 Years before you were Selected for Warrant Office School.

Response by MSG Michael McEleney made Mar 22 at 2018 10:15 PM

MSG Michael McEleney — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 22:15:35 -0400

1968 Knew a MGYSGT who walked into the HQ and announced he wanted to retire as soon as possible. When the Commander asked what the rush was since he still had a few years on his enlistment he replied. I served during the banana wars in the mid-30s. The PX no longer carries the ribbon. Time for me to go

Response by MSG Michael McEleney made Mar 22 at 2018 10:23 PM

MSG Michael McEleney — Thu, 22 Mar 2018 22:23:21 -0400

Cooking C-Rats using C4

Response by Cpl Isaac Cruz made Mar 27 at 2018 11:04 AM

Cpl Isaac Cruz — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 11:04:43 -0400

If you ever had to look up a hill called, “Mt. Mother-F’er”

Response by SGT Jamie Campbell made Mar 31 at 2018 8:14 PM

SGT Jamie Campbell — Sat, 31 Mar 2018 20:14:46 -0400

PT in boots, breaking starch, opening C-rat cans with a P38, 20 meter shuttle run, run dodge and jump.

Response by PV2 Carlos Molano made Apr 1 at 2018 9:34 AM

PV2 Carlos Molano — Sun, 01 Apr 2018 09:34:39 -0400

do any of you remember doing K.P. if you do then you really old school like me.

Response by SPC William Richardson made Apr 1 at 2018 4:12 PM

SPC William Richardson — Sun, 01 Apr 2018 16:12:51 -0400

was there for most of it some came after I was gone

Response by CPL Jack Rand made Apr 3 at 2018 9:09 PM

CPL Jack Rand — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 21:09:27 -0400

Old school is spit shined boots

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Apr 4 at 2018 10:32 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 04 Apr 2018 10:32:29 -0400

The day/month/year before last!

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2018 7:48 AM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Apr 2018 07:48:08 -0400

Was issued solid olive drap uniforms and khakis as the B class uniform.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2018 2:39 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 02:39:23 -0400

Old School.....1972-1994......MCRD, San Diego, CA......MCCES, 29 Palms MCB, CA........4/12, 3/12,
Camp Hauge, 3rd MarDiv, Okinawa, Japan....105’s, 155’s.......Camp Fuji, Base Camp w/ 3/12....
Subic Bay, Mindoro, PI......just love these out houses where you had 55 gallon drums for your toilets, Cold Showers, and your basic Quonset Huts with Cable Crossings over head for your typical Typhoon weather. Life as it should be In those days of days! Semper Fidelis Brothers and Sisters.

Response by 1SG Michael Farrell made Apr 13 at 2018 3:45 PM

1SG Michael Farrell — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 15:45:37 -0400

Every older soldier active, retired, whatever has a tendency to look at the newer soldiers and say sadly that they're just not as smart, tough, STAC (that's old school for you) sharp, and so on as we were. Yeah, sure, right. The important part of old school is the ethic of soldiering, and that is passed on through traditions, guidance and role models. Loyalty, honor, taking care of your sisters and brothers, not being selfish, not being greedy, not being lazy...that's old school. We prefer the way it was when we were...but what's important and has been important for over 200 years and 10000 years for the profession, is what made us what we were and are. That's the old school.

Response by SFC Bosun Frusher made Apr 13 at 2018 8:57 PM

SFC Bosun Frusher — Fri, 13 Apr 2018 20:57:21 -0400

Old school is when you are standing in a parade formation in lbe and the bn commander keeps coming back to you a rechecks your your uniform three or four times. Then it dawns on you that you are the only person wearing canvas lbe

Response by CW5 Dennis Stewart made Apr 16 at 2018 9:29 AM

CW5 Dennis Stewart — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 09:29:21 -0400

Old School? Yes in 1974 it was M151, the gama Goat, a duce and a half my dad drove, tailored OD Green, Cockern jump boots, C Rats with your P-38 ( i still have mine ) M3 45 cal burp gun. and a whole list of other stuff In my 40 years of duty I saw a lot of changes

Response by Sgt William Coffee made Apr 16 at 2018 2:20 PM

Sgt William Coffee — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 14:20:00 -0400

If you wore tennis shoes in boot camp, yellow sweat shirt and slept in a quonset hut your close. Rifle qual was with an M14, iron sights. I didn't see an M16 until staging battalion. We had no "barracks" and had to rake the sand every morning. Let me know if I'm getting close?

Response by 1SG Clifford Hendricks made Apr 19 at 2018 11:14 AM

1SG Clifford Hendricks — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 11:14:38 -0400

Having been issued a "U.S. Rifle Cal. 30 M-1 as your primary weapon would qualify as "Old School" to me.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2018 1:17 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 01:17:48 -0400

You are school of you fix bayonet for Change of Command Ceremony only to see some poor battle buddy, a guy from the other platoon, got sliced while passing out from attention.

Response by SPC George Edwards made Apr 21 at 2018 10:34 PM

SPC George Edwards — Sat, 21 Apr 2018 22:34:14 -0400

Old school was getting the hell beat out of you by your platoon sgt inj basic. Later, the Army designated a Platoon Guide who did it for the sarge.

Response by GySgt Richard Morrison made Apr 26 at 2018 8:07 PM

GySgt Richard Morrison — Thu, 26 Apr 2018 20:07:45 -0400

You are 'Old Corps" if you know what an "ONTOS" is!

Response by SPC David Whitney made Apr 29 at 2018 7:19 AM

SPC David Whitney — Sun, 29 Apr 2018 07:19:51 -0400

ABLE, BAKER, CHARLIE, DOG, EASY, ETC.... AND iKE JACKETS ...

Response by MSG John Duchesneau made May 4 at 2018 12:09 AM

MSG John Duchesneau — Fri, 04 May 2018 00:09:40 -0400

I'm "old school" because I originally wore the green fatigues they Army had before BDUs. When I joined the guys who were "old school" were the guys who wore brown boots when they joined.

Response by MSG Frank Kapaun made May 13 at 2018 10:13 AM

MSG Frank Kapaun — Sun, 13 May 2018 10:13:15 -0400

Having a psychotic, alcoholic, ‘Nam vet in the throes of PTSD as you drill sergeant.

Response by SFC Patrick Lonergan made May 13 at 2018 6:36 PM

SFC Patrick Lonergan — Sun, 13 May 2018 18:36:00 -0400

Driving / 4 wheeling in a M151A2
Flying in an OH-58 to mermite chow
Heating up C Rations on the manifold of your jeep (ham and eggs, chopped, and then meld the can of cheese)
1SG's carrying a brass tiipped swagger stick
Referring to "Old-School" as "Brown Booters."

Response by SFC Ssg Sabin made May 19 at 2018 10:00 AM

SFC Ssg Sabin — Sat, 19 May 2018 10:00:55 -0400

"Old School"? Was your D.I. a member of the "brown shoe army"? Do you know what an M-1 thumb is, slept with your M1 in a fart sack in your 'shelter half' in the pouring rain just to find out the your half was not 'water-proof'; attended the 'school of the bayonet', had the privilege and honor of pulling K.P.; and If so, was it before or after the automatic potato peeler? Do you know what it means to 'break starch'? And here is the kicker. Do you understand what 'blood stripes' are?

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2018 1:06 PM

LCpl Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 May 2018 13:06:09 -0400

Burning you know what. f-14,, A-6 intruders. rain showers, then using helmet holding mekong water before seabees came. M-14. Old wooden cot and poncho liner for bed , jungle boots,

Response by MAJ Montgomery Granger made May 22 at 2018 5:34 AM

MAJ Montgomery Granger — Tue, 22 May 2018 05:34:33 -0400

What comes to mind is never complaining. Being a mustang officer I know what being a private is, and what doing the jobs no one else wants to do is like. That perspective is priceless as an officer. But Old School isn't necessarily working hard if working smart gets the job done just as well or better. Old School is never telling someone HOW to do a task, but giving someone a task and then letting them surprise you with their ingenuity. Old School means when you're tired, hungry, wet and cold, you drive on in spite of everything else going on around you and inspire others to do the same. Old School is doing it the right way, every time. Old School is never leaving your buddy behind. Old School is knowing, believing in and living the Army Values: Loyalty, Duty, Respect, Selfless Service, Honor, Integrity and Personal Courage. Hooah!

Response by SSG Jeffery Payne made May 22 at 2018 11:01 PM

SSG Jeffery Payne — Tue, 22 May 2018 23:01:00 -0400

Sorry we ate C-rations. In the field rode in a personal carrier m113a1. Loved the old helmet you cook sit on it, wash in it, cook in it, use it as a pillow. The rest I loved. I remember blood stripes. Grenade range, 50 cal range, 60 range, m-16 range. Lots of time in Germany, fighting the Russians. Boarder markers, A & B bags, alerts, riot duty, MOP gear, banging metal together. A air strip so small on the top of a mountain that you can stand on end and see the curve of the mountain top. PT running from the top of mountain to the gate at the bottom and back to the top. All good things were O.D. green.

Response by SGT Dannie T. McLaughlin made May 24 at 2018 11:27 PM

SGT Dannie T. McLaughlin — Thu, 24 May 2018 23:27:59 -0400

If you still have your dress green somewhere, But your ETS date was in the 1900's well need I say more.

Response by SGT Jose Matias made May 28 at 2018 1:23 PM

SGT Jose Matias — Mon, 28 May 2018 13:23:41 -0400

To me it means carrying on with all that the military taught you back in the day and applying it to your civilian life

Response by SSgt Robert Prest made May 28 at 2018 6:55 PM

SSgt Robert Prest — Mon, 28 May 2018 18:55:36 -0400

Time is relevant, things change to fast.
If you are the oldest Vet alive you are old school.

Response by MSG Chester Beaver made May 31 at 2018 1:37 PM

MSG Chester Beaver — Thu, 31 May 2018 13:37:47 -0400

If you know what DRO stands for you are old school

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2018 8:53 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 31 May 2018 20:53:46 -0400

Wore od green fatigues ran pt in combat boots did your pt test in fstigues and boots with a 20 lb ruck sack did 5 t0 10 miles every morning for pt in fatigues and boots in sand .

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made May 31 at 2018 9:00 PM

MSG Danny Mathers — Thu, 31 May 2018 21:00:57 -0400

Old school is a a style of soldering that were doctrine in the past. It is or was the old ways of doing thing such as changes in disclipine, changes in regulations and most importantly, policies changes.

Response by SGT William Benson made Jun 3 at 2018 3:05 AM

SGT William Benson — Sun, 03 Jun 2018 03:05:27 -0400

As long as he or she is junior to you: The day after they came in...

Response by MAJ Michael Nettrour made Jun 9 at 2018 1:04 PM

MAJ Michael Nettrour — Sat, 09 Jun 2018 13:04:31 -0400

We called them big bird PT suits. Add peeling your frozen to the ground sleeping mat, or patching your leaking air mattress.

Response by Lt Col Bill Fletcher made Jun 9 at 2018 3:21 PM

Lt Col Bill Fletcher — Sat, 09 Jun 2018 15:21:32 -0400

It's whatever the longest serving guy you are with says it is because it all got easier after that and the last group that had difficult standards was his. Just cause he served with LTC Custer at the Little Bighorn doesn't make him a Cavalry expert :)

Response by MAJ Gregory Moon made Jun 10 at 2018 6:50 PM

MAJ Gregory Moon — Sun, 10 Jun 2018 18:50:39 -0400

You forgot using a P38. If you can find your equipment from your platoon in a Museum.

Response by SSG Jason Carter made Jun 13 at 2018 5:13 PM

SSG Jason Carter — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 17:13:42 -0400

I was in 1998-2006. I'm not as "old school" as some but I do remember:

Polishing and spit shining black boots.
Woodland camo BDU's were the issue uniform.
Grey PT shorts and T-Shirts.
Buffer "rodeos" in the squad bay while paste waxing the floors.
Being issued a shelter half to be used with your battle buddy who had the other half.
Using Brassiere to polish the trash can and the shower drains.
Being issued an M16A1 at my reserve unit until we got A2's.

Response by PFC David Gettman made Jun 14 at 2018 7:18 PM

PFC David Gettman — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 19:18:02 -0400

Guess my dad (WANG 1930-38, USA 1942-71) would qualify as old school. I didn't serve until the early 1970's.

Response by CPL Larry Carroll made Jun 14 at 2018 9:42 PM

CPL Larry Carroll — Thu, 14 Jun 2018 21:42:31 -0400

Remember them all, good times, D51

Response by PO1 Aaron Baltosser made Jun 16 at 2018 6:11 PM

PO1 Aaron Baltosser — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 18:11:32 -0400

Being issued Green combat boots, understanding that mission accomplishment comes before troop welfare for the board answer, but seeking good balance in reality. Never letting anyone senior to you outdo you in PT. Knowing the systems involved in your service and being able to manage them to accomplish what you need in a timely fashion. Knowing each individual in your unit and how to best apply each person to get a job done. That is just my two cents though.

Response by PO1 Douglas Shonk made Jun 20 at 2018 1:02 PM

PO1 Douglas Shonk — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 13:02:26 -0400

Active Duty
19 AUG 1983 - 20 SEP 1987
Reserves
20 SEP1987 - 1 MAR 2008
Old school to new school

Response by SGT Armando Sanchez made Jun 21 at 2018 7:46 PM

SGT Armando Sanchez — Thu, 21 Jun 2018 19:46:01 -0400

MRE's I guess I was really really old school! M-14's and C Rations. I would do it all over again.

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Jun 25 at 2018 6:26 AM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 06:26:19 -0400

For each current generation... it is usually the generation that’s a couple generations before the current one..

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Jun 25 at 2018 6:47 AM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 06:47:19 -0400

You know you’re old school when you reported to an AFB to be permanent party and a foornote on your orders might say your 1st 6 months would be like a continuation of BMT...

After you arrived there you find that continuation thing had been eliminated...
Or had never existed and put on to put a scare into Airmen just out of BMT(as kind
Of a joke?).. I might expect s’thing like this out of a S.A.C. Base as a sick joke..
Some ol’ timer in personnel looking to get a NFG’s blood rolling..

Response by LTC Thomas Tennant made Jun 28 at 2018 9:40 AM

LTC Thomas Tennant — Thu, 28 Jun 2018 09:40:01 -0400

LOL...For many of us "Old School" is marked when we entered the military. I find that funny because when I came in back in 1970 the "Old School" was defined by the WWII and Korean war veterans. Now it is defined by the few Vietnam Era and 1st Gulf War veterans with the current crop of OEF/OIF veterans emerging as the "New Old School." What makes it fun to watch how certain things are now colored by each veteran's experienced.

HOWEVER. Each generation is very much a product of their age and yet when you drill down what remains constant is the core values and ethos of each military service. It is also anchored the US Constitution, Bill of Rights and free market capitalism watered by the exceptionalism of America. We are a country of competitors and winners....where one generally advances on their own merits.

FINALLY ... The backbone of the military (regardless of service) has been and will always be the NCO Corps. If you question that assessment read "Guardians of the Republic - A History of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps of the U.S. Army"
https://www.amazon.com/Guardians-Republic-Ernest-F-Fisher/dp/081172784X

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51XX6V2AEBL._SX316_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

Guardians of the Republic: Ernest F. Fisher: 9780811727846: Amazon.com: Books

Guardians of the Republic [Ernest F. Fisher] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. This is the definitive work on one of the least studied aspects of military history-the noncommissioned officer. Since colonial America

Response by Cpl Mark Sullivan made Jul 1 at 2018 7:53 PM

Cpl Mark Sullivan — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 19:53:54 -0400

1911

Response by PO1 Eric Booker made Jul 1 at 2018 8:51 PM

PO1 Eric Booker — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 20:51:14 -0400

-Having a CO with Vietnam service ribbons
-Needing to know the 600lb steam plant for your ESWS
-Seeing a female on a surface combatant only when dependents day rolls around
-Going to Subic Bay Philippines for liberty
-Ever called back home via "MARS"...
-Spending $200 to make an hour call back home while overseas
-Wearing the "Johnny Cash" uniform

Response by SPC Scott Fahs made Jul 1 at 2018 9:36 PM

SPC Scott Fahs — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 21:36:44 -0400

Banana suits never got pants way above your ankles and jacket had 3/4 length sleeves

Response by CPO Dave Royce made Jul 1 at 2018 10:33 PM

CPO Dave Royce — Sun, 01 Jul 2018 22:33:05 -0400

if you ever carried And qualified with-and M-14
While on active duty , took a shower , utilizing
A steel pot, ever pull out house cleaning duty ,
Than you could be Old School,

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2018 2:58 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 02:58:40 -0400

Kool cigarettes in C Rats

Same C Rats, but only Camel or Lucky Strike left over from the Korean War

Humping a 90mm RR - a really fun experience for the gunner

Happy that I became an M60 gunner and never wanting the 90 back.

Ground guiding a Huey slick and the pilots betting how close they can put the skid to your helmet without hitting you

Same but dragging the skid on the ground during takeoff

Response by MAJ Tim Burns made Jul 2 at 2018 9:37 AM

MAJ Tim Burns — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 09:37:04 -0400

Don’t forget eating C-rations and using a P38

Response by SFC Bruce Revelle made Jul 2 at 2018 12:21 PM

SFC Bruce Revelle — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 12:21:48 -0400

In basic, you were issued two pairs of boots, which you rotated daily. You broke them in (and destroyed your feet) by doing all of your PT in them. The tennis shoe was only a dream at the time. If you wore yellow PT outfits and wore tennis shoes, you are not old school.

Response by CPL Larry Searcy made Jul 4 at 2018 7:51 PM

CPL Larry Searcy — Wed, 04 Jul 2018 19:51:44 -0400

Had P38 races to open C-ration cans

Response by SPC Robert Stearns made Jul 5 at 2018 9:53 PM

SPC Robert Stearns — Thu, 05 Jul 2018 21:53:12 -0400

Brown shoes.

Response by SGT Morrison (Mike) Hogwood made Jul 10 at 2018 9:56 AM

SGT Morrison (Mike) Hogwood — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 09:56:23 -0400

Digging the dreaded latrine holes for the double seated crapper with splinters and using real cs on field exercises and sometimes a liquid lunch.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2018 4:04 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 12 Jul 2018 16:04:06 -0400

This question has different answers, but old school Army is the way we used to train, guide and mentor Soldiers. These days you cant do or say much without getting some back talk.. Soldierd stood at parade rest to whomever put ranked them. We counseled and disciplined soldiers in a way they never wanted to do the action again. You have the untrained training the untrained.. Young E5 do not show they want the job? Corporals acted as if the rules the Army now they throwing it to the untrained. Just too much, but I hope you get the gist..

Response by SSgt William W. Whitley II made Jul 17 at 2018 10:46 AM

SSgt William W. Whitley II — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 10:46:39 -0400

After reading the posts and their lists of totally different practices compared to today, I am definitely in the “old school” crowd, and glad that I was.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Jul 22 at 2018 11:25 PM

SSG Brian G. — Sun, 22 Jul 2018 23:25:07 -0400

Old school is defined by the era that one joined the military.

Old school for me was BDU's before they went digital. NON-PC, don't ask don't tell. Discipline not discharge. Leadership, not politics. PT gear before it was reflective. Basic when it was not co-ed. WW2 era barracks. Jeeps, not HMMWV's. MRE's when they were not cuisine meals today and you were glad to get the chocolate bar. Spit shined boots, pressed duty uniform.

Response by SFC Stevie Weaver made Aug 2 at 2018 1:42 PM

SFC Stevie Weaver — Thu, 02 Aug 2018 13:42:10 -0400

I joined the US Army in 1979 where boys went in and men came out. I had two tours to Iraq and retired in 2006. I went through some tough training during my career but it made a good man out of me. They need to go back to that type training and maybe we would not have a bunch of spoiled babies playing games all the time. Just saying.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2018 5:09 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 04 Aug 2018 17:09:08 -0400

I am in my 50s, started service in 1983, served every President since Reagan and still serving. I am old school lol.

Response by MAJ Bob Firth made Aug 7 at 2018 10:30 AM

MAJ Bob Firth — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 10:30:33 -0400

Got paid in cash on payday....

Response by SSG Russell Ruhl made Aug 9 at 2018 1:54 PM

SSG Russell Ruhl — Thu, 09 Aug 2018 13:54:09 -0400

Issued an M1 Garand in Boot Camp, M14 in Unit.

Response by MAJ Samuel Weber made Aug 20 at 2018 8:14 PM

MAJ Samuel Weber — Mon, 20 Aug 2018 20:14:07 -0400

You may be “old school”; If you ever requested your “microfiche” sonyou could validate your file before a board; If you had an “I love me” book so you could validate your 201 file atbthe PSB; If you ever had to type an award or NCOER on a type writer and hand sign it before it was mailed to PERSCOM (now HRC); If you were ever informed that you were on orders to PCS by a PERSAGRAM; If you had to report to the pay officer to sign for your monthly pay and ten convert all you money into money orders because there was no direct deposit; If you ever used emnue and edge dressing to blacken your rank and the soles of your boots and low quarters; If you’ve ever had to pull Guard Duty in the Field and use challenge and password because we had no radios; If you have driven or used an 800 series 5-ton Wrecker; If you fielded the “new” HEMETT and LMTV; If having six ribbons made you look like a General; If PT involved no stretching but did include running 10 miles...every....day; If you took part in an “Alert”, which was the CQ knocking on your door at 0400. Then you may be considered “Old School”.

Response by PO1 Michael Garrett made Aug 24 at 2018 3:27 PM

PO1 Michael Garrett — Fri, 24 Aug 2018 15:27:27 -0400

If you served in the military before political correctness set in.

Response by SPC William Szkromiuk made Aug 25 at 2018 7:05 PM

SPC William Szkromiuk — Sat, 25 Aug 2018 19:05:45 -0400

Being "issued" an M-14 auto-selector.
PT in full fatigue uniform. Boots bloused. no shorts or t-shirts, in Fort Gordon in July.
Sleeping in pre WWII barracks. Doing a fire watch.
Wearing an overseas cap.
Flying on standby in uniform and getting upgraded to First Class.
Paying 25 cents for a mixed drink and 15 cents for a beer at the EM club.
I could go on, but I'm old and forgot.

Response by SSG David Forler made Aug 29 at 2018 6:11 PM

SSG David Forler — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 18:11:48 -0400

Mentally harder training, more physical and challenging, Army Must Stop Giving away MOS's, advance training, etc Certificates, awards etc...Army does not hold Soldiers to Standards, USMC Never gives it away. That is till first Women became Grunt PL...

Response by MAJ Raymond Haynes made Sep 8 at 2018 12:38 AM

MAJ Raymond Haynes — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 00:38:56 -0400

The guy in front of you in the chow line.

Response by CW4 Ad Foster made Sep 8 at 2018 9:47 AM

CW4 Ad Foster — Sat, 08 Sep 2018 09:47:21 -0400

You didn’t go far enough back. In 1964 there was no such thing as issued PT clothes.

Response by PO2 Keith Reese made Sep 9 at 2018 9:21 PM

PO2 Keith Reese — Sun, 09 Sep 2018 21:21:58 -0400

WWII barracks, plain green fatigues and cap, PT uniform was blue shorts/white t shirt/low quarter tennis shoes with white socks (no such thing as running shoes), spit shined boots and low quarters.

Response by Sgt Michael Betts made Sep 10 at 2018 1:00 PM

Sgt Michael Betts — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 13:00:38 -0400

You were old school if you were armed with a rifle with a wooden stock.

Response by SFC Ernie Lowery made Sep 19 at 2018 5:25 PM

SFC Ernie Lowery — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 17:25:37 -0400

How about being issued brown combat boots that you had to dye black? Fort Jackson basic, 1960. An old Field First who hated any one with education ("Youse guys can take all dose college degrees and jam them all the way to your shoulder"). Old School. indeed.

Response by SGT Mark Sprague made Sep 22 at 2018 10:55 AM

SGT Mark Sprague — Sat, 22 Sep 2018 10:55:55 -0400

Old school are the senior NCO's (and their methods) who experienced the war previous to your enlistment. For me those were the WW2 and Korean War vets. These included Vietnam era vets who did TDY tours in Laos and Vietnam from 1957 to 1964.

Response by PVT Steven E Gnapp Jr made Sep 29 at 2018 1:20 AM

PVT Steven E Gnapp Jr — Sat, 29 Sep 2018 01:20:28 -0400

came in 1966 ft Knox had the m14 rode in stack bed trucks and 2 1/2 ton then Aberdeen Md for AIT then off to Germany didn't have short for PT had jeeps 3/4 ton trucks 2 1/2, 5 ton

Response by COL Rich McKinney made Sep 29 at 2018 10:18 AM

COL Rich McKinney — Sat, 29 Sep 2018 10:18:06 -0400

OD green fatigues

The correct burst for an M60 was pull the trigger, say "kill a commie for God" and release the trigger.

Last beer of the night was in the parking lot before PT

Still drink beer from a canteen cup

Eating out of a steel mess kit

C-rations

Wool winter shirts

Border duty along the Iron Curtain

Response by GySgt Mike Swisher made Sep 30 at 2018 12:18 AM

GySgt Mike Swisher — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 00:18:48 -0400

When I enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1967, my Bn SgtMaj who landed on Iwo Jima as a Pfc was "old Corps" (old school), my nephew who's in the Corps now considers me old school, his son who's 3 and will keep the family tradition of service going will consider his dad "old school".
So . . . "old school" is the tradition of handing down the values that we all cherish. Our values are all the same, irregardles of branch . . each service branch has its own traditions, but our values are all the same . . from generation to generation.

Response by CW4 John Wheatley made Sep 30 at 2018 11:09 AM

CW4 John Wheatley — Sun, 30 Sep 2018 11:09:53 -0400

When the army work week was 5 1/2 days and the Saturday duty day was comprised of uniform and barracks inspections.

Response by CPT Kevin Handy made Oct 8 at 2018 1:41 PM

CPT Kevin Handy — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 13:41:26 -0400

If you ever melted Paste Wax in the can and used it to shine barracks room floor in preparation for inspection. Once a month take the old wax off, get it all mopped clean, heat and spread the wax, buff it in with the buffer, and finish if off with the toilet seat cover.

Response by MAJ Stacy Lively made Oct 8 at 2018 2:13 PM

MAJ Stacy Lively — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 14:13:57 -0400

Old School if you ever had to stand in line to see the Payroll Officer to get your monthly pay.

Response by MSG Pete Miller made Oct 14 at 2018 5:52 PM

MSG Pete Miller — Sun, 14 Oct 2018 17:52:00 -0400

Cigarettes in every box

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 19 at 2018 12:43 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 00:43:51 -0400

If your CO name was GEN Washington, George

Response by SSG Cliff Karolak made Oct 19 at 2018 7:22 PM

SSG Cliff Karolak — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 19:22:01 -0400

Most of the old school people like myself served late 60's early 70's till 1993 when we retired

Response by 1SG Klayton W. Hayes made Oct 26 at 2018 6:03 PM

1SG Klayton W. Hayes — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 18:03:31 -0400

The Continental Soldier is the true example of OLD SCHOOL. NEW SCHOOL is the ability of our leaders, in todays Army, to train our soldiers to sacrifice their individualism for that of the mission before them. In every Unit, at all levels of Command, this should be posted: Soldier are you prepared to go into battle today? You are carrying on for The Continental Soldier. "THIS WE WILL DEFEND, YORKTOWN 1775".

Response by PFC David Gettman made Oct 27 at 2018 1:33 PM

PFC David Gettman — Sat, 27 Oct 2018 13:33:14 -0400

Standard issue Springfield M-1903. That's old school in anybody's book!
Miss you, dad!

Response by SFC Ssg Sabin made Oct 28 at 2018 3:25 PM

SFC Ssg Sabin — Sun, 28 Oct 2018 15:25:23 -0400

Serving on the border of East & West Germany in the late '70s and waiting for THE BALLOON TO GO UP. Pulling SDNCO at 11th ACR HQ and receiving coded messages from USAEUR throughout the night, then Bingo, you get one that trips the alert siren! Not knowing if it's a test or for real, going through the motions to put the Regiment on Alert, including setting the 'cack code' gun for the Crnl's bird, running it up to the airfield, and keying the transponder on his chopper; then joining your own unit after being relieved, pick up your steel pot, LBE, Ruck, weapon and move to your assigned position on the fence.
Dependents would be prepared to move out. Usually, the sign that it was just a drill, was whether or not they were actually moved. I recall one time witnessing them being loaded up and the busses moving. We thought for sure this was the real thing! Fortunatly someone at USAEUR thought they would take the alert to the next level as part of the test. Sure fooled us for awhile!

Response by SFC Ssg Sabin made Oct 29 at 2018 10:28 AM

SFC Ssg Sabin — Mon, 29 Oct 2018 10:28:35 -0400

Firing "RIFLE GRENADES' with the best rifle a grunt ever had, the M1!

Response by CPL Brian Prosser made Nov 1 at 2018 11:45 AM

CPL Brian Prosser — Thu, 01 Nov 2018 11:45:50 -0400

The black boot Army
Beepers
Starched BDUs
No sensitivity training (WTF is that shit?)

Response by HN Richard Duncan made Nov 4 at 2018 1:10 AM

HN Richard Duncan — Sun, 04 Nov 2018 01:10:25 -0400

First and foremost I am a non combat Veteran. I served from 86 to 91 in the USN as a Dental Tech which I loved the Med and Dental field. My ship the USS Austin LPD 4 went to the Gulf at the end of January 91. I was Honorably discharged on 7/1/91. However, in the USN we wore the docker boots and Dungarees. And at that time it was considered the new Navy. So yes, I do consider myself old school military.

Response by 1SG Leon Espe made Nov 4 at 2018 7:19 PM

1SG Leon Espe — Sun, 04 Nov 2018 19:19:22 -0500

I enlisted as a Recruit E-1 in Nov 1948 and took Basic Training with the 10th Mountain Division at Fort Riley, Kansas. We were issued one pair of "white" leggings to keep washed, brown high top shoes to go with the leggings, 1 pair of brown combat boots, (buckle top) and brown low quarter shoes to keep spit shined, 3 pairs of Fatigue tops and bottoms, 2 OD Class "A:" Winter Uniforms, 2 OG Shirts, 2 Khaki ties and OD wife beater type T-shirts and boxer shorts. We were issued an M-1 Garand that was stored in a locked rifle rack in the center of the open bay barracks with 25 bunks on each side for a total of 50 men in the bay. I fought in Korea with the 3rd Infantry Division 1950-51 and survived the Battle of Chosin 1950. I fought in Vietnam 1967-68 and survived TET 68. I retired as a First Sergeant E-8 in June 1971. I would not change a thing even if I could.

Response by LT Ed Skiba made Nov 4 at 2018 9:56 PM

LT Ed Skiba — Sun, 04 Nov 2018 21:56:58 -0500

Navy Deepsea diver "old school."

Response by LT Ed Skiba made Nov 4 at 2018 10:03 PM

LT Ed Skiba — Sun, 04 Nov 2018 22:03:49 -0500

US Navy Deep sea diver "old school." 190 lbs of gear.

Response by SFC William Sutherland III made Nov 7 at 2018 3:55 PM

SFC William Sutherland III — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 15:55:34 -0500

Two things, set me apart as an old school Sgt... (added to all that the major said with the exception of the Gamma Goat) as it was really an Marine thing? Not too many overseas in Germany... But most of us who were in the Army were Draftees, ( noted in our 2-1 as US not RA) during the Vietnam Era, had an M14 to Qualify with in Basic, we wore kakis in summer, and green in winter.... we had the old solid Green Class A’s loved that C -cap..../ and our Duty Uniforms were also solid OD green, - or like I said loved Kacki’s brown ( for summer). We even had pockets in pants (like real pants). And then in September 1973, things changed, most of us in the Army prior only knew an all male Army... all that changed as the Army became one and we always made jokes about the “WAC’s,!”
But soon changed as well.

Response by SGT William Boyd made Nov 13 at 2018 7:44 PM

SGT William Boyd — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 19:44:03 -0500

well i know many are more old school then me, but basic was in ft Jackson sc, old ww2 barracks, ait ft Polk la,ww2 barracks, then off to FT Campbell KY, newer buildings, c rations packed in 1940s, ran pt full uniforms and boots. was 11c use to do calculations on a board, now a days they have GPS and lazors to pinpoint targets, lol not a bad thing..used m16 basic rifle, used m14 sniper rifle,also air assault school..just saying in time things get better, once a soldier always a soldier

Response by SSgt Jerry DeLaney made Nov 22 at 2018 9:52 PM

SSgt Jerry DeLaney — Thu, 22 Nov 2018 21:52:29 -0500

If you wore heavily starched sateens, ate C-rations, and fired a .45 for qualification, you're "old school".

Response by SFC David Bentley made Nov 24 at 2018 6:13 PM

SFC David Bentley — Sat, 24 Nov 2018 18:13:39 -0500

The downside of Old School:
1.Can't type/Can't spell when he tries to type. Also not aware that grammatical rules exist. Example: NCOER bullet as follows "He be a good NCO wit his hairs cuts at mourning fornication"
(everyone in this group needs Grammarly)
2. Operating a DAGR/FBCB2 is tantamount to witchcraft.
3. Has no campaign ribbons but talks about the FTX near the Fulda Gap or REFORGER/Team Spirit 86 as if he landed at Normandy. (Spent 20 years in, never deployed outside CONUS but tells you that the EIB he got in 88 is higher than your CAB from Kunar in 09 because it is a better measure of a warrior) True story.
4. Thinks that all that NBC training the 80s (CBRN) would have kept him alive. (doesn't know how radiation or VX nerve agent affects you on the cellular level)
5. Is on wife number seven but thinks that how late you stay in the company area has a correlation to productivity and quality of an NCO.
6. Thinks that sick call is for pussies, hasn't documented a single service-related injury or condition and can't figure out why the VA gave him a 0% after he got out.
7. Made SFC/E7 as an 11B got out with zero college credits and wanders around his job at Walmart calling the 19-year-olds he works with POGS and would smoke the shit out of them if he was still in.
8. Has to sound out the "big words" when reading a slide during a brief but thinks PT score is the measure of a leader.
9. Cusses out everyone for everything and can't figure out why retention is at 0%. (future Walmart employee)
10. Spends the 80s & 90s telling everyone how he is a hard charger- life taker and combat leader- drops retirement packet the week after 9-11 because "wanted to fight the Russians and isn't getting smallpox/anthrax shot" (true story)

Response by SGT Raul Rodriguez made Nov 26 at 2018 10:03 PM

SGT Raul Rodriguez — Mon, 26 Nov 2018 22:03:16 -0500

Driving a Jeep
Wearing OD green
Eating C rations
Cursing as part of cadence
No polically correct cadences

Response by SSgt William (Bill) Pangrass made Nov 30 at 2018 12:16 AM

SSgt William (Bill) Pangrass — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 00:16:00 -0500

Old School is anyone that’s been in longer than you.

Response by Maj Marcus Aurélius made Dec 2 at 2018 4:00 PM

Maj Marcus Aurélius — Sun, 02 Dec 2018 16:00:47 -0500

old, new all important.

Response by SGT Charles Sullivan made Dec 5 at 2018 8:01 PM

SGT Charles Sullivan — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 20:01:14 -0500

I rode in a gamma goat it was my rig in Korea, I was retrans rode up a many mountain top, we had jeep wiley's and prc 77's, I did basic at Ft. Jackson lived in world war 2 barracks, duck walked up drag ass hill ;), Drove 2 1/2 and 5 tons, had cotton fatigues that we used spray starch on to keep a crease in them, I ate sea rats, mre's I never heard of and you had to have a p38 to open your food

Response by SPC Chris Ison made Dec 9 at 2018 8:06 PM

SPC Chris Ison — Sun, 09 Dec 2018 20:06:04 -0500

"old school"? I think that is an opinion, but generally anyone who has come before a specif shift in military training doctrine.

Or anyone who is working past 20 years, could be considered "old school".

The problem with "old school" is that people remember the nostalgic part of it fondly, and forget that there is a reason the change was made, and it usually has to do with soldier welfare.

There was a chem when "might made right" in the Army, and an NCO, did not need leadership skills, he would just get a bunch of NCO's and wall to wall council your ass. Was that an effective way of training as soldier? Depends on who you ask. But, it sure does remove a lot of resentment in junior enlisted soldiers.

There was a time when all of basic was done in boots, and then they shifted to using running shoes, did that make soldiers weaker? Again depends on who you ask; But, it did cut down on stress injuries like shin splints, which cut down on expenses in training.

Response by SPC Gary Hunt made Dec 11 at 2018 8:46 PM

SPC Gary Hunt — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 20:46:46 -0500

"Old School is living and dying in green fatigues; M-14 rifles; Block on white name tags.

Response by MSG Louis Morrison made Dec 12 at 2018 10:21 PM

MSG Louis Morrison — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 22:21:37 -0500

I am so old school I have worn out more foot lockers than you kids have socks, real old school is before the changes late 1957 and early 1958. when your MOS determined the amount of rank you could earn, a truck driver could not retire in a rank of E4 many retired as E3 you do not know old Army unless your class a uniform was OD "Ike Jacket"

Response by MSG Louis Morrison made Dec 12 at 2018 10:26 PM

MSG Louis Morrison — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 22:26:11 -0500

you must be over 80 years to understand what old school Army is all about, wipe that snot off your nose sunny and learn to like WWII 1945 powdered eggs.

Response by MSG Louis Morrison made Dec 12 at 2018 10:37 PM

MSG Louis Morrison — Wed, 12 Dec 2018 22:37:18 -0500

old school? did I hear some one say old school? before Social Security took money from your pay? You mean real old school? When your NCOIC just might stick a boot up your ass!

Response by CWO2 Shelby DuBois made Dec 14 at 2018 8:54 AM

CWO2 Shelby DuBois — Fri, 14 Dec 2018 08:54:13 -0500

Any time you are in a conversation with anyone who went in the military AFTER you.

Response by SGT John Turner made Dec 15 at 2018 7:01 PM

SGT John Turner — Sat, 15 Dec 2018 19:01:43 -0500

Ate C rations
Wore a pickle suit (green fatigues).
Called a fighting position a foxhole and nobody cared.
Banana suit for pt
Ran in boots
Had to pass pt
Had to qualify with M16

Response by SGT Tony Muro made Jan 4 at 2019 3:51 PM

SGT Tony Muro — Fri, 04 Jan 2019 15:51:21 -0500

Why can't I find Brasso any where?

Response by SSG Raymond Minze made Jan 8 at 2019 11:52 AM

SSG Raymond Minze — Tue, 08 Jan 2019 11:52:45 -0500

Male soldiers were issued Cackies for warm weather wear and Enlisted soldiers were also issued the Service Cap. If you were in the Army, you can remember seeing a Specialist Seven. Have driven a Jeep, M151A1 older version and know what a Willie was.

Response by SSG Jack Lewis made Jan 12 at 2019 5:31 PM

SSG Jack Lewis — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 17:31:09 -0500

C-rations, banana suits, hooched up with whores, murderous cadences, inflating five-ton tires without a cage, licensed to drive stick-shift deuces and Gama Goats and 151s and five-ton expando vans and 113s, MLRS rocket tracks that required hand-jamming every fire mission, MARS phone calls instead of internet, shelter halves, hand-cranked field phones, iron sights only, crackly rubber rain suits, SPIT-SHINED Corcorans, "no, Sergeant, it's not starch -- it's just Magic Sizing," shredding tons of Tac-Fire paper, the very first computers in a TOC (used only for very. slow. messaging), no "buffet style" chow choices in the mess hall that wasn't ever called a DFAC, regular and overnight passes (try not to get too drunk and "step on your pass"), nuclear artillery shells at the EAP facility, cleaning M16A1s without powder solvent, "FIVE MINUTES! SMOKE 'EM IF YA GOT 'EM!," no name tapes on Marines, no Gore-Tex on anybody, woolly-pullies, "Steam'n'Cream" bath houses, Quonset huts, a rifle stamped out by GM Hydramatic Div., Buddy Holly BCGs, downrange fist fights, rubbers at the gate in a box marked "PLEASE TAKE ONE," piss tubes, pile caps, berets actually meant something, guard mount armed with a mattock handle...

Response by MAJ Charles Cozzens made Jan 14 at 2019 8:57 PM

MAJ Charles Cozzens — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 20:57:58 -0500

standing in line while on patrol on payday

Response by SPC Mara Manzer (Spurgin) made Jan 16 at 2019 2:27 PM

SPC Mara Manzer (Spurgin) — Wed, 16 Jan 2019 14:27:40 -0500

One example I can think of right off the bat is when some of the older NCO's would call the NVGs (Night Vision Goggles) NODs (Night Optical Devices).

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2019 4:39 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 16:39:05 -0500

Going through at least 2 major uniform changes.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Jan 20 at 2019 11:31 AM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Sun, 20 Jan 2019 11:31:02 -0500

If you know what a shark attack is.
If you ever witnessed a SFC chew out a CPT (or a MAJ!), and the CPT back down because the SFC wass right.
If you ever saw a CO tell a 1SG to handle an NCO and the 1SG backed the NCO.
If you have ever taken a trip to the wood line for some developmental counseling
If you have ever thought to yourself that your NCO putting it on paper MAY have been more preferable....

Response by CPT Lawrence Cichelli made Jan 24 at 2019 8:19 AM

CPT Lawrence Cichelli — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 08:19:55 -0500

Did all that and still remember the 5 Event PT test, not to mention taking it! Just retired last year.

Response by CSM Dan Swanson made Jan 24 at 2019 9:13 AM

CSM Dan Swanson — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 09:13:51 -0500

Had to stoke coal in the furnace in the barracks.

Response by SSG Jeff Goldsberry made Jan 24 at 2019 11:22 AM

SSG Jeff Goldsberry — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 11:22:20 -0500

The list of required actions for "Old School" pretty much covers my time at Harmony Church at Fort Benning, GA.. We even watched them sink a Bradley in Victory pond demonstrating how they can cross water. Lucky they had that cable attached to it.

Response by SFC Kevin Turner made Jan 24 at 2019 12:58 PM

SFC Kevin Turner — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 12:58:56 -0500

Response by SFC Thomas Howes made Jan 24 at 2019 3:49 PM

SFC Thomas Howes — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 15:49:20 -0500

If you did pt in you fatigues and boots and went to work right after that and your sgt was still able to lay hand on you when you screwed up like they did back in the 70's when I came in then you maybe old school military

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 24 at 2019 5:22 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 24 Jan 2019 17:22:06 -0500

Male and female are the ONLY 2 options to put as sex/gender choice.

Response by Cpl D L Parker made Jan 25 at 2019 1:24 AM

Cpl D L Parker — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 01:24:39 -0500

When I was on my third year of my enlistment I was 25. In my platoon we'd play basketball--young Marines vs the Old salts. Depending who showed up that day would determine what team I was on.

Response by SGT William Hardy made Jan 25 at 2019 2:16 AM

SGT William Hardy — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 02:16:28 -0500

If your first uniforms were OD if your boots had a crappy zig zag tread if you had the black and gold reversible tee shirt if there no women in men's basic training if your M16 was fully automatic if every cadence was about sex or drinking if they showed you a MRE and gave you a c-ration because they didnt have enough MRE's for trainees if you know how to take the carburetor from a potbelly stove and clean it I could go on but you old guys get me

Response by CPO John Krawczyk made Jan 25 at 2019 11:30 AM

CPO John Krawczyk — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 11:30:42 -0500

I bet that you are doing your job as a leading NCO and it offends the junior enlisted. Ran into this when I was a CPO. A SN complained to my MCPO. The answer he received was there a Navy Regs that remain the same and to do as he is told to do, the is no old school or new school. Keep doing what you are doing. Some of these kids have no idea and I blame that on what they learn in boot camp. There is no ever moving line, just be a good leader the way you were taught.

Response by CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 25 at 2019 11:36 AM

CH (CPT) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 11:36:39 -0500

You might be Old School if you lived these experiences. I have placed 8 pictures concerning my career. Ft. Ord, CA 1981, C-Ration (Pound Cake) 1978, Ft. Ord, CA Front Gate 1981, Parris Island 0151 Administration School 1978, Camp Lejeune, N.C. Motor Pool 1979, British Army Kaserne at Munster, Germany 1983, Parris Island, S.C. 1978, The last two pics at Ft. Hood, TX 1985.

Wearing Green Fatigues. Running P.T. in your green fatigues and army boots. Eating C-Rations, with some having cigarettes still in them. Garnishing your sections camoflauge nets. Driving an M520 Goer Ammunition Truck. Serving in an Army Division or Unit that no longer exist. Taking a Drivers Mobility Test, placing the correct pegs into the holes. Fired and served on an M110A2 8inch 204mm SP Howitzer Crew. Fired an M107, 175mm Self Propelled Gun. Drove an M-151 Jeep. Fired an M114,155mm Split Trails Towed Howitzer, Gunners M2400 Series Site. Spit shining your boots. Calling a Specialist a SPEC 4, 5, 6 and 7. Each Army Post had an Officers Club, NCO Club and Enlisted Club. Using the MARS Army Network to make a Phone Call from overseas. Army Truck Drivers were 64C’s. Army Administration Specialist were 71L’s. Army NBC Specialist were 54E’s. Army Medics were 91B’s. There was no CW5 Rank. The Army implanted the School of Soldier for those who got in trouble on Weekends. How about CCF? Lubricated your M16A1 Rifle with LSA. Stationed on an Army Post that no longer exist. Lived in an open bay WWII Style Barracks outside of Basic Training. Issued a Green Field Rain Suit, Top and Bottom. Issued a Green Poncho. Using the TA-312 Field Phone. Using the AN/PRC-77 Field Radio. We used to listed to T.V. Shows on them that the frequency would pick up. Driving a Gama Goat. Driving an M548 Track Vehicle. Using an M2 Magnetic Artillery Compass.

Awarded the Army Occupation Medal (Berlin). Wearing the Army Dress Blues was only for Ceremony use and Dining-Ins. Own an Army Tropical Dress White Dress Uniform, never utilized. Lived in an Army Shelter-Half that you shared with your battle buddy in the field. Wearing an Army Steel Pot. Shaved and Washed yourself out of the Steel Pot in the Field. Flew and transported on an Army UH-1 Huey Helicopter. Utilized M-Nu to paint your web gear and rank. Army Officers used to wear Green Tabs for their rank. Used Kiwi Boot Polish. Issued an Army Green Saucer Cap rarely worn. Cleaned your Boots with Kiwi Saddle Soap. Issued the Yellow Banana Suit for P.T. After the first wash, the Banana Suit shrunk up, except for the shorts. Combat Arms Soldiers attended PNCOC and BNCOC. Issued a blow-up air mattress for Field Duty. Used more at the beach than in the field. Non-Combat Arms Soldiers attended PLC and BLC. Issued a Buck-Pack. Wearing the WWII and Korean War era Green Pyle Cap, Cold Weather Mittens, Green Parka with Hood, Green Wool Scarf, Brown Sweater, Green Field Pants, Green Suspenders, Green Field Shirts and Black Mickey-Mouse Boots in the Field. Issued along Johns by Supply. Wearing the Black Wet Weather Boots with the Buckles. Wearing Tankers Boots. Wearing Jungle Boots. Wearing Aviators Sun Glasses. Issued Army watches by Supply. Using Mess-Kits in the Field. Using Supply to turn in your uniforms to be cleaned at the Post Quartermaster. Melted Johnson Car Paste Wax to apply on your Floor in the Barracks and buffed it in, creating a highly shined floor for inspection. Wearing the Dress Green Army Uniform with the Boy Scout Cap. The cap had another name which I won’t mention on here. Issued 1 Summer and 1 Winter Dress Green Uniform. Soldiers were allowed to play tackle football during P.T. Went to the pool for P.T. Boxed during P.T.

The Army was still flying the OV-1 Mohawk Fixed-Wing Aircraft. Being able to buy alcohol at the Class-6 Store at 17. Firing and qualifying with an M-16A1 Rifle 5.56mm and M1911 45cal pistol. Firing a Grease Gun 45cal. Firing an M-60 Machine Gun 7.62mm. Spit shined your dress shoes and brass. Firing an M14 Rifle 7.62mm. Served in a Field Artillery Btry that still fired (WWII Era) M101A1, 105mm Split Trail Towed Howitzers with the Gunner M-2800 Series Site. You were issued a Green Army Trench Coat. Fired off a Collimeter. Wearing an M9, M17 and M40 Tankers Gas Mask. Running P.T. In MOPP Suits. FDC used Charts and Sticks to Coordinate Field Artillery Fire. Firing off an Aiming Post, Near, Far, Line, (NFL). You served in the Army when they still flew the CH-54 Tarhe Crane Helicopters. You served when your latrine was open without stalls. Took the 1969 U.S. Army P.T. (PCTP) Style Test. The Run, Jump, Dodge, Climb and Traverse, Crawl, Throw, Volt, Carry, Balancing, Falling, and Swimming. Hair Cut and Moustache Standards were laxed. The Army began the APFT in 1980. This was due to the closing down of the U.S. Army WAC’s in 1978 and combining a new physical training test for both male and female Soldiers. The APFT standard was, push-ups, sit-ups and 2 mile run in 1980. Some units kept implementing the (1969 PCTP Test) for training until 1982. Wearing Army Khakis. You could drink up to two beers at the NCO Club during lunch. Usually, this turned into a drinking exercise. Unauthorized of course. Instead of two beers, it sometimes changed to (two pitchers) per person. Usually on a Friday. Wearing the Chocalate Chip BDU’s. Hooah!

As a former U.S. Marine 1978 - 1981, starching your Green Stove Pipe Fatigue Cap. Wearing the Vietnam Era Marine Corps Camaflouge Fatigues. The Marine Corps had special duties, such as Sea Duty and I&I Duty. Memories.

Response by 1SG Brian Emmert made Jan 25 at 2019 2:42 PM

1SG Brian Emmert — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 14:42:13 -0500

Old school means different things to the different generations in the military, but basically it refers to the time prior to whatever the current time is, and before all the "IMPROVEMENTS" and "PROGRESS" that the current time has to offer. Remember, everything that is called new and improved or progress, isn't.

Response by LTJG Michael Leslie made Jan 25 at 2019 4:40 PM

LTJG Michael Leslie — Fri, 25 Jan 2019 16:40:13 -0500

M16 HA
How bout the M1 they gave me ...

Response by PV2 Henry Citti made Jan 26 at 2019 2:59 PM

PV2 Henry Citti — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 14:59:02 -0500

We lived in a single wooden walled barracks in Germany in 1954. The construction is know as bat and board. We had 3 coal stoves to keep us somewhat warm. The latrine and showers were in a separate building about 50 yard from our barracks. The temperature was minus 25. When you took a shower your hair was frozen by the time you got back to your barracks. In the summer time , we were near the Rhine river , the mosquito's were thick and very hungry. In 1956 the Army built new barracks with steam heat and showers just down the hall. We thought we had died and gone to heaven. We did not have the M-16 but the Garand Rifle , 8 round stripper clip. We had not winter clothing.Our transportation was a deuce and half 15 or 20 of us stuffed in the back The same uniform I was issued in California. Yet we survived with the help of lots of Cognac LOL and pretty German girls

Response by GySgt Gregory White made Jan 26 at 2019 4:48 PM

GySgt Gregory White — Sat, 26 Jan 2019 16:48:27 -0500

Ever had a John wayne, ate C-Rats , Vietnam era utilities, steel canteen, iron on emblem

Response by SP5 Alain Delon made Jan 27 at 2019 9:54 AM

SP5 Alain Delon — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 09:54:55 -0500

When you got into fights and nobody got an article 15

Response by SSG Armand Caron made Jan 27 at 2019 11:23 AM

SSG Armand Caron — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 11:23:13 -0500

Every generation hears about old school. The Army is so easy these day the old timers will tell you, back when I first came in....... Todays private who stays in 20-30 years will be telling a young private about how easy they have it. You need to do it old school they would tell them. A never ending cycle.

Response by MSG Charley F. Speir made Jan 27 at 2019 3:53 PM

MSG Charley F. Speir — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 15:53:09 -0500

MSG Charley Speir, Ret, Jan 71, over 24 yrs, tail end of WW2, no yellow nylon PT, HTB, and canvas leggins, Ike jacket . and a few other goodies

Response by Cpl Vic Eizenga made Jan 27 at 2019 5:49 PM

Cpl Vic Eizenga — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 17:49:03 -0500

If old school is being issued sateen utilities, M14, living in the Quonset hut next to the grinder. After you graduate and go to ITR in a cattle car and being issued an M1. have a real serial number and not my Social Security number I guess I could qualify.

Response by 1stSgt Jeff Blovat made Jan 27 at 2019 7:54 PM

1stSgt Jeff Blovat — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 19:54:51 -0500

Old school to me is this...... Do your job. Do it well and don’t embarrass the uniform.

Response by SGT Ralph Howard made Jan 28 at 2019 12:53 AM

SGT Ralph Howard — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 00:53:38 -0500

Yeah been there, done that, but ee did our PT in fatagues. I was never issued shorts in the Army, execpt for underpants. LOL

Response by Cpl Benjamin Long made Jan 28 at 2019 1:14 AM

Cpl Benjamin Long — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 01:14:05 -0500

It's idiot logic for old people to tell you how much of a dinosaur they are.

Response by LtCol Paul Bowen made Jan 28 at 2019 11:05 PM

LtCol Paul Bowen — Mon, 28 Jan 2019 23:05:02 -0500

C-Rations

ALIICE Pack

THE Shelter Half

The FORM 782 issued “Tent Line”

105mm Recoiless Rifle w/ .50 caliber spotting round

M-202A1 FLASH (FLame Assault SHoulder) Weapon

M-72 LAW

M-34 Willie Pete Grenade

“The John Wayne”

Star Light Scope

Breaking in Combat Boots with hot running water on an outdoor wash stand (running shoes disallowed)

Doing laundry with a stiff brush and liquid WISK

M-Nu

Brasso

Boot Camp Brass

Sateen Utilities

M-47 DRAGON

M561 GAMMA GOAT

M-151 1/4 Ton General Purpose (GP) Vehicle

AN/PRC-77 UHF FM Transceiver

APN-18 “Naval Gunfire” Beacon

APN-19 “Naval Gunfire” Beacon

PRC-64B HF USB Transceiver

AN/PRC-75 UHF AM Transceiver

AN/PRC-105 HF USB

OV-10 Bronco
A-6E Intruder
F-4 Phantom II
ASRT
EA-6B Prowler
OA-4M Skyhawk FAC(A) TAC(A)

Response by LTC Charles Patchin made Jan 29 at 2019 12:51 PM

LTC Charles Patchin — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 12:51:58 -0500

Being gigged for carbon on my Gas Cylinder Lock Screw on my M-1.

Response by SSG Michael Keohane made Jan 29 at 2019 2:35 PM

SSG Michael Keohane — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 14:35:54 -0500

You are "young school" to me! I entered the Army in 1956 and do not recognize most of your comments/1

Response by SFC Jerry Goings made Jan 30 at 2019 3:45 PM

SFC Jerry Goings — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 15:45:40 -0500

Smoke where you want and never worry about saying ,WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT DICK FACE, LOL

Response by SGT Derek Wynne made Feb 3 at 2019 2:41 AM

SGT Derek Wynne — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 02:41:46 -0500

Trying to operate a tac-fax and getting the phones hung up at the same time to do it

Response by SSG Grant Hansen made Feb 3 at 2019 4:38 PM

SSG Grant Hansen — Sun, 03 Feb 2019 16:38:36 -0500

Old school is more of an attitude than a time period.

I was considered "old school" by most of the younger soldiers in my unit, but not because I once wore a steel pot, old style LBE or could shine the hell out of a pair of boots with nothing but a rag, kiwi and some water.

It was because I took my job seriously, but considered most of the rules to be mere guidelines rather than something concrete. It was because I would pass up on a hot shower in order to complete the maintenance on my gear first. It was because I wanted to know about everything my unit had in its inventory rather than just the bare minimum for my job. It was because I was willing to both cuss out or praise a soldier as the situation required, sometimes in the same breath. It was because I was willing to set the example and was willing to teach them without a powerpoint presentation, but by getting my hands and theirs dirty.

That's how I was taught by the Vietnam veterans that were my drill sgts and instructors and that was how I tried to teach my soldiers up until I retired in 2007.

If that made me "old school", then I can't say that was a bad thing.

Response by SFC Mark Klaers made Feb 6 at 2019 4:21 PM

SFC Mark Klaers — Wed, 06 Feb 2019 16:21:49 -0500

If you ever wore a "Pickle Suit" with OD Jungle Boots while carrying an A-1.

Response by CPL Phil M made Feb 18 at 2019 7:01 AM

CPL Phil M — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 07:01:45 -0500

Ever done motor pool pt. Wore the grey cotton pt uniform.

Response by LT Ed Skiba made Feb 24 at 2019 9:33 PM

LT Ed Skiba — Sun, 24 Feb 2019 21:33:30 -0500

US Navy old school. I did this for 22 years.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 25 at 2019 9:32 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 09:32:26 -0500

Nowadays, "Old School" IMHO is anyone who went through basic without an orange or pink card in their pocket. You know, back when we killed the enemy instead of speaking harshly to them.

Response by SSG Brian Kresge made Feb 25 at 2019 8:11 PM

SSG Brian Kresge — Mon, 25 Feb 2019 20:11:10 -0500

I came in the early 1990s, but I'm never eager to claim to be "old school." I never jumped a T-11. I had the gray terry cloth PTs when I came in, I've been through a number of different uniform transitions, I didn't qual in basic on an M4 and when I was a machine gunner it was still the M60.

And my eyes would glaze over when the oldheads said "steel pots" and "olive drab" and "I went to basic at Fort Polk" same as the kids would if I talked about "old school."

The only thing that ever makes me feel "old school" is that privates coming in the service now are the same age as my kids. But even then, I don't want to be "old school," I just want to be "retired."

Response by PO1 Kevin Dougherty made Mar 4 at 2019 11:13 AM

PO1 Kevin Dougherty — Mon, 04 Mar 2019 11:13:16 -0500

Depends on the service, Old School in the CG was riding 44'MLBs with no exposure suits, wearing Cracker Jacks, flat hats and dixie cups, seafarers and chambray shirts. Spit shines, even on your boon dockers, brasso, fancy work, fan room counseling, arms black and blue for a week after you made rate from everyone over you "tacking on" your crow. ....These are a few of my favorite things!

Response by SSG Herman Bauman made Mar 6 at 2019 3:36 PM

SSG Herman Bauman — Wed, 06 Mar 2019 15:36:00 -0500

I'm going to Louisville. Ky in May. I plan on checking out the changes at Ft. Knox over the past 56 years. I hope it don't ruin any of my memories.

Response by 1SG Lynell Sellers made Mar 10 at 2019 10:42 PM

1SG Lynell Sellers — Sun, 10 Mar 2019 22:42:18 -0400

That's not old school. C rations.pt in fatigues.Steel pot for helmet, M14 that's old school. That's a rifle.

Response by PO1 Robert George made Mar 11 at 2019 1:10 AM

PO1 Robert George — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 01:10:36 -0400

you answered your own question! all depends on your point of reference!

Response by LTC James McElreath made Mar 11 at 2019 4:35 AM

LTC James McElreath — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 04:35:04 -0400

There are very few left. They would be pretty collar soldiers from Vietnam era . The army had much more loyality, honor, commitment and Aspire De Core. Very Honorable soldiers especially the draftees.

Response by SGT Jim Ramge, MBA made Mar 11 at 2019 11:40 AM

SGT Jim Ramge, MBA — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 11:40:33 -0400

Blood rank, wings etc..., pennying doors, keeping P38 on your key ring, having the MPs follow your drunk ass drive home, 1/8” drill bit to high-speed shine brass, edge dressing. Only one I didn’t do was the driving home drunk from the NCO club, that was my fathers Sr. NCO era - LOL! Just to name a few that I recall...

Response by LTC Gary Earls made Mar 11 at 2019 12:52 PM

LTC Gary Earls — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 12:52:15 -0400

And if you "double-timed" in a pair of combat boots. If your PT uniform was a t-shirt, fatigue pants, and combat boots. If you ate C-rations from the Korean War in the 1960s. If your fatigues were starched and you wore "greens " with a tan shirt and wore TWs during the summer. :-)

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Mar 11 at 2019 4:35 PM

Capt Daniel Goodman — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 16:35:43 -0400

I was gonna say "me", but I figured that'd be rather vain, obviously....

Response by SFC Ssg Sabin made Mar 11 at 2019 9:31 PM

SFC Ssg Sabin — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 21:31:13 -0400

As a Medic in-country July '66, our duty uniform required us to wear the white armband with Red Cross. It was the first thing I happened to loose somewhere (at the kind suggestion of an NCO) and for some reason, could never get a replacement through supply! Imagine that! That was Old School!

Response by SGT Gene Boswell made Mar 11 at 2019 10:42 PM

SGT Gene Boswell — Mon, 11 Mar 2019 22:42:20 -0400

Everything listed from above except we had C-rations in a can with a 2 pack of gum, crackers & eggs were the best. Every now and again a pack from the older days would show-up with a 4 pack of cigarettes which was always nice....Bones....

Response by Sgt Barry D. made Mar 12 at 2019 3:46 PM

Sgt Barry D. — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 15:46:08 -0400

old school predates gps and cellphones. the last to wear green the last to shine boots. the last to smoke a cigarette on a refueling jet with jp4 leaking from the jet powered apu nearby. A whole flight/platoon exceeds rules of valor and has no records to gain awards. Old school is not found for decades. Old school is the casual words that get added to the dictionary, just by saying the word. Old school knows anything you go through has already happened in the past. Old school does not mention touching the face of God.

Response by CW3 Jere Hodges made Mar 13 at 2019 8:14 PM

CW3 Jere Hodges — Wed, 13 Mar 2019 20:14:29 -0400

Don't know about old school, but I was definitely "Old Corps", I went thru Parris Island before the Ribbon Creek incident. When I enlisted, Old Corps was generally anyone on their second or later enlistment. The real Old Salts were the ones with as many hash marks as stripes, and in the 50's that wasn't at all unusual.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2019 1:33 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 13:33:50 -0400

Realizing core pieces of the culture you "grew up in" are gone, and there isn't room for your "old ways" anymore in the new environment, so it's time to retire. Yeah, buzzkill I know.

Response by CWO2 Shelby DuBois made Mar 14 at 2019 3:45 PM

CWO2 Shelby DuBois — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 15:45:00 -0400

If you are in the military ...moving lines are a way of life. "Old school" is usually associated with a tale about how things were better, harder, meaner or just a simpler, righter way, of doing something....10 years or 10 minutes ago, depending on the age of the ears receiving the message.

Response by SPC John Smith made Mar 14 at 2019 6:06 PM

SPC John Smith — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 18:06:11 -0400

PRC-77

Response by SPC John Smith made Mar 14 at 2019 6:17 PM

SPC John Smith — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 18:17:37 -0400

“H” style LBE.

Response by SFC John Mikelson made Mar 14 at 2019 7:06 PM

SFC John Mikelson — Thu, 14 Mar 2019 19:06:39 -0400

Spec 5 on starched Khakis

Kiwi & cotton balls for low quarter shoes

Annual Written MOSQ test

PNCOC or BNCOC depending on MOS

Response by SSG Ronald White made Mar 15 at 2019 2:06 AM

SSG Ronald White — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 02:06:57 -0400

Blousing rubbers and LBE

Response by CPT Ian Stewart made Mar 15 at 2019 11:37 AM

CPT Ian Stewart — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 11:37:20 -0400

I admit I haven't read all the comments, but of the many I have read, I saw no mention of it, so I'd like to add the following to the old school list:
NO CONTRACTORS !!!
PS: As I experienced all of the items on the posted list, I certainly qualify as "old school" ;-)

Response by Sgt Peter Schlesiona made Mar 16 at 2019 8:35 AM

Sgt Peter Schlesiona — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 08:35:51 -0400

Every Marine who graduated Boot Camp before you (even if that was yesterday) is “Old Corps”. To them, you’ll never rise above “boot” or maybe “shower shoe”.

Response by MSG Reid Zohfeld made Mar 16 at 2019 2:49 PM

MSG Reid Zohfeld — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 14:49:59 -0400

I just laugh at the Banana Suit In my day it was fold your top in front of you Right Face and double time oh in Boots to just like in the PT test
I was in from 76 and finally retired in 2013 and my last wall to wall counseling’s I gave was Jan 2012 and guess what that soldier didn’t run off to tell on me because they knew once done and over and I would still have their back

Response by SSG Carlos Garcia made Mar 16 at 2019 5:51 PM

SSG Carlos Garcia — Sat, 16 Mar 2019 17:51:43 -0400

Shoot I wore for PT my OD Pants, boots, and white T-shirt now that is what I wore prior to the Banana Suit. Then, what about those WWII that you had to be on the roster to place coal in it to keep the place warm!

Response by SPC Vonnie Jones made Mar 17 at 2019 12:55 PM

SPC Vonnie Jones — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 12:55:51 -0400

Old school, pt in a pickle suit with boots on. C reations and a p38 ever 10 cans, cadince talking about two old women lying in bed, wearing the old wac uniform even though you were new army, shinning boots with neutral kwi polish, a bennie black hat for dress hat, using fingernail polish remover on your brass, maxing a pt test, 1st sgt telling yu horse s-it when you say I can't. Paying 35 dollars for the bdu to replace your pickle suil, oh blousers or blousing rubbers and sizing instead of starch so your bud dont glow in the dark, shelter halvee and riding in a gamma goat top speed 35 mph, and flunking the float test for the gamma goat, looking at mre like what!, using moe gas to stay warm, pling out of a duce 1/2 being excited about hum v, knowing what reforger is..riding and strapping a pt in a cracker box, smokum if you gotem, ration card for 10lbs of free beef ration cards for cigarettes people passing out while standing up lol first tent to go up in the feild being the beer hall. Spit shine jump boots (oh the memories) with it all we were all family

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 17 at 2019 5:09 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 17 Mar 2019 17:09:55 -0400

Read “The Civil War; A Narrative” by Shelby Foote.

Everything will make sense.

Response by SPC Chris Ison made Mar 18 at 2019 3:29 AM

SPC Chris Ison — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 03:29:23 -0400

Anyone who thinks that there service was harder than the current service is "old school". It is a point of view, nothing else.

Response by PO2 Steven Michaeli made Mar 18 at 2019 4:16 PM

PO2 Steven Michaeli — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 16:16:57 -0400

I did basic in a green pickle suit. One of my earliest missions was to assist in getting rid of C-rats through digestion and only Rangers, Airborne, and SF wore berets

Response by SSgt Daniel d'Errico made Mar 21 at 2019 6:46 PM

SSgt Daniel d'Errico — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 18:46:14 -0400

Being "Old school". Getting a flat top hair cut
Wearing white gloves to a friend's house to inspect it
Saluting every jeep that drives by (MARINES ONLY)
Calling you kids trooper, airman or seaman
Having morning roll call at work (civilian job)

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2019 10:16 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Mar 2019 22:16:36 -0400

Being old enough to remember when DIs and CCs that could lay the hands on you in boot camp; Navy ships and subs strictly adhered to old maritime traditions of every kind, and you could get hurt participating in them; the Navy work uniform was Seven Seas bellbottom dungarees, Seafarers denim shirts, Boondockers, and Dixie cup; when Navy men were at sea and Navy women were on shore, and there were no known funny folks; and Chiefs were revered by all and saluted by admirals!!!

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 26 at 2019 1:41 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 13:41:15 -0400

If your battle gear was claymore/broadsword, shield and helmet, you were "Old School".

Response by SGT Jeff Steele (Ret.) made Mar 26 at 2019 11:38 PM

SGT Jeff Steele (Ret.) — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 23:38:09 -0400

Old School was back when the last NCO to show up at the mandatory Friday night NCO meeting at the NCO club had to buy the first round!! Old school was back when you were encouraged to smoke, drink and harass the female soldiers. Old school was when wall to wall counseling took place out behind the Quansent-hut and who ever came out did the counseling. Old school was when you were told to suck it up cupcake...your a soldier! So I noticed old school fading from the ranks in the mid to late 80s, some say it was the late 70s, but once the majority of Vietnam era vets retired or left the Army...the new and "improved" Army took over which brought us up to this social experiment of a gender neutral Army with safe zones and stress cards. I prefer old school soldiers, they are a dying breed of men.

Response by SGT Mitchell Peterson made Mar 27 at 2019 8:45 AM

SGT Mitchell Peterson — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 08:45:25 -0400

It seems the general consensus is those who Joined the Army/Military before 2005. I do believe when the majority of the aforementioned had changed to a "Kinder, gentler military".

Response by SSG Jeffery Payne made Apr 2 at 2019 12:35 AM

SSG Jeffery Payne — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 00:35:53 -0400

Don't forget C-Rations and Blood Stripes and those crazy helicopter pilots that just in from Vietnam

Response by PO1 Fred McCall made Apr 6 at 2019 10:30 PM

PO1 Fred McCall — Sat, 06 Apr 2019 22:30:59 -0400

From the definitions given, I apparently predate "old school"...

Response by SPC Christopher Perrien made Apr 10 at 2019 9:12 AM

SPC Christopher Perrien — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 09:12:34 -0400

Having one of these ;) or even seeing one.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 10 at 2019 9:16 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 09:16:50 -0400

Have you ever shined boots?

Response by GySgt Thomas Lieb made Apr 15 at 2019 10:14 AM

GySgt Thomas Lieb — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 10:14:34 -0400

No I disagree with the comment about mre’s in the same context as steel pots. In “old school” we ate C rats

Response by SSgt Michael Bowen made Apr 19 at 2019 9:53 PM

SSgt Michael Bowen — Fri, 19 Apr 2019 21:53:31 -0400

Old school to me is Washing your uniforms called Utilities at a stone sink wash area with cold water a scrub brush and a bottle of Wisk Semper-Fi .LOL Oh and C-rats with a small pack of smokes .

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2019 5:56 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 20 Apr 2019 17:56:23 -0400

Ever took the AF PT bike test. If you remember when MREs came in dark brown bag without the chemical kit to warm it up

Response by SPC Lorrita Morgan made Apr 21 at 2019 11:49 AM

SPC Lorrita Morgan — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 11:49:52 -0400

For females:
-You lived with all of the females on post sometimes over a mile from your unit. (that meant getting up before your male counterparts to make formation.)
-You wore these lovely poplin things instead of fatigues.

Response by SFC Thomas Kepler made Apr 21 at 2019 12:26 PM

SFC Thomas Kepler — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 12:26:22 -0400

When you served before the privates were born, that makes you old school as well as everything else that has been written.

Response by PVT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2019 12:16 AM

PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 00:16:33 -0400

only old school military I know are the ones that crossed the Delaware.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2019 11:17 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 11:17:32 -0400

At this point, if you were in the military before Iraq/ Afghanistan, you’re old school. If you were part of single digit OEF or OIF missions (e.g. OEF 4), you’re old school. Bonus points if you were a single digit Kosovo mission like me (KFOR 1B)

Response by SSG Kirk Grose made Apr 22 at 2019 12:10 PM

SSG Kirk Grose — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 12:10:32 -0400

PT in green fatigues and boots... M16a1, being known as part of "The Green Machine..."

Response by SGT Allen Potter made Apr 22 at 2019 5:16 PM

SGT Allen Potter — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 17:16:39 -0400

If you never ran in fatigues and boots you ain’t old school

Response by CSM Bob Stanek made Apr 22 at 2019 8:45 PM

CSM Bob Stanek — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 20:45:12 -0400

SSG Bodley,

This is an "OLD" CSM's opinion only.... (retired in September, 2016 after 42 years of service).

All these things as noted by everybody are true to the "material" side of the house. We all grew up in a different era and so certain things often associated with our basic training and advance individual training pop in mind. For new soldiers these days, 9MM pistols and M16A2 are considered old school (vs the M4 or new Sig coming out). Can you imagine soldiers who come in when they have the new body armor and body skins that help increase lift and body protection skills, what they will consider "old school"?

In any case, from the "time wise" side of the house, I would say that anybody over 20 years in service is "old school", especially given the rate of change these days. Having watched soldiers for 40 plus years, it was my time as a SFC and higher rank (usually around the 15-20 year mark for most career soldiers) when the "old school" phrase starts appearing in their vocabulary.

I kept thinking that as I grew older and higher in rank and position responsibility, watching all the new elements of military training and wishing I was an eighteen old kid again to play with this new "fun" stuff. I look at GPS tools now and think back how to try and explain map reading and compass use to even new soldiers. Plus, when you move to these higher positions, you don't spend the time working the "foot soldier" level anymore. I remember being a Military Police 1SG and having my CO CDR and BN CDR tell me I couldn't work the streets anymore or gate duty with my soldiers (afraid to scare off officers and other senior personnel when I 1SG stops them - Ha Ha).

So in my opinion, you're on the cusp of getting to that point in your career where you soon will be using that "old school" terminology as a daily speech pattern.

Good Luck with the you transition to being a part of the "old school" battalion.

Respectfully
Bob S
CSM (R)

Response by CW4 Eric Clayton made Apr 22 at 2019 9:26 PM

CW4 Eric Clayton — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 21:26:02 -0400

If you ever used a buffer to polish the company, battalion or brigade floors.

If you ever got cussed out and headbutted by a drill sergeant

Put your patrol cap on the pt mat after using stayflo in the washer

Ever got or given out wall to wall punishment

Got drunk at the NCO Club

Remember when the PX was better than Walmart

Actually called cadence with Jody calls

Used EMNU to keep your rank subdued

Had “field” uniforms and garrison uniforms (BDUs of course)

Response by SSG John Hanlon made Apr 23 at 2019 7:46 PM

SSG John Hanlon — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 19:46:33 -0400

Old school is a presence of mind that understands that the current military style is substandard to their entry style. It‘s a culture thing, just like our dad‘s and grandfathers life compared to ours.

Response by SSG Charlie Davis made Apr 23 at 2019 10:33 PM

SSG Charlie Davis — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 22:33:18 -0400

9-12-1966 t0 11-14-1966, we PT'd in T-shirts and bloused fatigues. Spit-shined boot toes only to be worn off the next hour or so. Even rubbed shoe polish on the soles to make them look clean and new for footlocker inspection. No Corfam shoes for class "A's" - had to shine them puppies up from scratch! Basic at Ft. Ord (B-3-3- Short Round) was in the new concrete barracks. Steel pot helmets and liners always when under arms - the M-14 was the rifle at the time and as far as I could tell, everyone was issued rifles made by T.R.W. with ugly Birch stocks. We ate C-Rations in the field when away from the convenience of the mess hall. Had one free day from training and we were treated to a jeep trailer full of iced down 3.2. beer. Only training corporals were in attendance which was a good thing too. Advanced MOS training was at Ft. Gordon, GA beginning in November through December part partly into January of 1967. It felt like Antarctica. We were housed in squad tents (6-8 guys) around the sides with a fuel oil stove in the center for heat. One wall locker with broken handles and locks. During that time, being on fire watch really meant you-were-on-fire-watch. A hand-crank air raid siren was pole mounted in your area of patrol and it was well oiled. About every three or four days, guys would be down at supply drawing out new clothing and equipment and moving into new tents. Several weeks later, our living conditions were greatly enhanced when we were moved into old two story WWII wooden barracks with sheets of plywood haphazardly placed around on the floors because of the large holes in the floor. The entire outside area looked like the set of a WWII basic training movie. Only 3.2 beer served at the recreation hall - trainee's could not get the hard stuff - that white tag above your name tag was a dead giveaway. At the end of the training cycle, all of us, or course, would be heading over seas, which meant - shots. A hundred or so of us lined up at the orderly room with our shot records in hand and walked a gauntlet of corpsmen (well they said they were corpsmen) armed with needles and pneumatic shot dispensers looking much like a paint gun. The scene at the Oakland Army Terminal looked and felt like what it would have been like in WWII. Groups were assigned specific numbered bunks situated in giant warehouses associated with your name and a number. Formations every day where you stood in your zone and on your number for an hour or so three times a day waiting for shipment orders to come through. The daily humor was everyone mooing like a cow while waiting for the announcements to be made over loud speaker. Getting to your first duty station is another experience - especially when you are flatly told in timeless fashion ever since the Crusades: "Forget everything you learned back in the world - you gotta do it this way now." Getting paid with MPC which could only be spent on post. You could convert some to Piaster, Baht, Won or Yen - wherever you were, but you could only convert so much for a night out on the back skids. Well, I've learned over the years, that the Old School becomes the New School and on and on and on. The school curriculum is memorialized in remembrances like posted here in these forums. The guys in my time never heard of BDU's, MRE's, Camel Back, load vest, QCB's on the M-2, Raufoss Rounds, ACOG's, SAW's, MK-19's, M-4's, MRAPS, Humvee's, Squad Drones, AT-4's and wearing ear plugs and special sunglasses as part of the uniform. An M-16 had crappy rear sights and triangular shaped forward hand guards an unlined barrel with a three prong muzzle break that was used as a bush catcher. An angle head flashlight could be attached to the bottom of the forward hand guard with 100 MPH tape and the body used as a forward handgrip. Only aviation types had 9mm guns (mostly Swedish K's) or Browning Hi-Powers picked up or passed on by those rotating out. You got your ammo from the Aussies. Beretta was a shotgun and the designation M-9 was as clerical error . If you had a .45 pistol, you guarded it with your life. We wore boxer shorts and washed our socks out as often as we could. Five years from now everything today will be Old School and referred to as, "How we used to do it back in the day," or "What we used to use or carry." It's an ongoing process and will be for ever. I think it would be fun to lay a P-38 on a training table and tell the platoon, "Figure it out!" That's my story and I'm stickin' to it. . .

Response by SFC Rob Heyl made Apr 24 at 2019 7:08 PM

SFC Rob Heyl — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 19:08:03 -0400

Used a latrine without stalls; kneeling at one end making sure the seats were aligned and rested at the same height
Watching new troops doing jobs that their mother did like pouring the entire box of detergent into a washing machine flooding the barracks.
Having salesmen selling enclopedias using the line that they were needed to be promoted. All 23 volumes.

Response by SFC Quinn Chastant made Apr 25 at 2019 1:12 PM

SFC Quinn Chastant — Thu, 25 Apr 2019 13:12:48 -0400

You mean they actually issued Banana suits? I thought those were a military urban legend.
Old school for me is post Vietnam Era starting when I enlisted in December of 1975. Cotton fatigues, raised peak tropical fatigue cap, and boondockers. Spaghetti straps for the mountain bag and canvas web gear.

Response by SFC Aubrey Campbell made Apr 26 at 2019 12:07 AM

SFC Aubrey Campbell — Fri, 26 Apr 2019 00:07:09 -0400

Add C-ration with lucky stripe cigarettes to the list! 1976-1996!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2019 6:56 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Apr 2019 18:56:49 -0400

If you wore fatigues O.D. Green, slept in WWII barracks and wore a steel pot, you're old school.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2019 7:00 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Apr 2019 19:00:58 -0400

Doing PT in OD green fatigues with the white name tape, stripes on shoulders and U S Army in Gold letters.

Response by LtCol Palmer Brown made Apr 29 at 2019 12:25 AM

LtCol Palmer Brown — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 00:25:57 -0400

In the Marine Corps we talk about being "Old Corps". I always defined "Old Corps" as ending the day before you enlisted or were commissioned.

Response by SPC Franklin McKown made Apr 29 at 2019 4:21 PM

SPC Franklin McKown — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 16:21:10 -0400

Anything before Desert Storm,when they army got cut back and new rules came into play .

Response by CPO Bob Hayes made May 9 at 2019 8:59 PM

CPO Bob Hayes — Thu, 09 May 2019 20:59:52 -0400

It’s probably been said already in the thousands of comments, but you had to sleep with another guy in that shelter HALF.

Response by CPT Don Kemp made May 12 at 2019 10:42 PM

CPT Don Kemp — Sun, 12 May 2019 22:42:51 -0400

My Dad was in WW II and left the military in 1945. I enlisted in the Army in 1972, 27 years later. I thought my Dad was ancient - all the weapons, communications, and many vehicles had changed. I’ve now been out for 36 years - since 1983.
I had the M-16A1, M-113, M-901 ITV, and M-60 Machine Gun. The only thing stil on active duty is Ma Deuce, the M-2 50 cal machine gun. Starched fatigues, spit shined boots and a 5 event PT Test. I think I qualify for Old School.

Response by CPL James Morrow made May 15 at 2019 7:45 PM

CPL James Morrow — Wed, 15 May 2019 19:45:04 -0400

Well that's true, you can't even base it on uniforms anymore

Response by PO2 Rob Waldrop made May 15 at 2019 8:12 PM

PO2 Rob Waldrop — Wed, 15 May 2019 20:12:49 -0400

If you sailed on a 205' "fast attack tug" while in the Coast Guard... Or you "jumped" a buoy from a 180' WLB...

Response by SGT Fay Harris Price made May 15 at 2019 8:19 PM

SGT Fay Harris Price — Wed, 15 May 2019 20:19:24 -0400

Spit shined boots. Starched and blouses green fatigues. GI parties. PT in combat boots.

Response by LTC Philip Marlowe made May 15 at 2019 8:21 PM

LTC Philip Marlowe — Wed, 15 May 2019 20:21:30 -0400

If you ever: Shared a 'pup tent' (shelter halves); ate a John Wayne bar or and a "C" Rat, rode in a Quarter ton Jeep with trailer; wore a 'steel pot', patrolled the 'Fulda Gap', wore a White Hat with MP Brassard in either Class As or Bs, ran PT in Combat Boots, green T and fatigue pants, WORE Fatigues with soft cap, wore a **** cap, wore 1505s (USAF) or the Army 'Tan' Uniforms, burned Kiwi and actually spit shined your boots (three pairs - one for inspection, two to wear) and the list goes on!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2019 8:25 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 15 May 2019 20:25:23 -0400

When you could actually dig a fox hole or a latrine

Having to actually polish your Lee quarters.

Using the blue kiwi to make your spit looking shinier

Using baby oil to make your vehicle shine for dog and pony show.

Response by CPL Frederick Michel made May 15 at 2019 8:26 PM

CPL Frederick Michel — Wed, 15 May 2019 20:26:23 -0400

issued Brown Boots and after a couple of weeks in basic, have to die them black but still have olive brown socks.

Response by CPL Kevin Corbin made May 15 at 2019 8:27 PM

CPL Kevin Corbin — Wed, 15 May 2019 20:27:25 -0400

Well I must be Real Old School! Korea C-Rats(WW2 issued, Beans and motherfuckers) real Jeeps (no heat) sniper rifle-M-14, PT in under wear! M60 machine gunner carried a 45 and women carried 38s!

Response by PFC Harold L Spencer made May 15 at 2019 8:34 PM

PFC Harold L Spencer — Wed, 15 May 2019 20:34:45 -0400

Maj Bob below identifies quite a few clues - but add: issued wool OD WW2 dress uniform, Korean area field jacket, No MREs - just WW2 meals in a box along with shaving in a steel pot, driving a genuine Deuce and a half (GMC with hydromatic transmission), and a long-body litter jeep with 4 patient litters aboard. Barracks were WW 1- era buildings with coal-fired hot water heaters and furnaces. Active duty 1956-57-58, NY Army National Guard 1954-55-56

Response by SP5 Joe Patoux made May 15 at 2019 8:34 PM

SP5 Joe Patoux — Wed, 15 May 2019 20:34:53 -0400

Drove a WWII leftover Cracker box.

Response by Sgt H W "Skip" Tool made May 15 at 2019 8:39 PM

Sgt H W "Skip" Tool — Wed, 15 May 2019 20:39:44 -0400

Yellow footprints, trained with M-1, M14 and M16 in Nam. Also trained with BAR, 45, Bazooka, flame thrower and the PRC10. Drove the M38 and the M151. Damn I feel old.

Response by SSG Brian Carpenter made May 15 at 2019 8:42 PM

SSG Brian Carpenter — Wed, 15 May 2019 20:42:42 -0400

I wore a "banana suit " for PT and drove a jeeps and gamma goats

Response by SP5 Catherine Ewing made May 15 at 2019 9:12 PM

SP5 Catherine Ewing — Wed, 15 May 2019 21:12:29 -0400

Old school if you were black boots. OD green fatigues and were a WAC!

Response by SSG Forrest Willis made May 15 at 2019 9:18 PM

SSG Forrest Willis — Wed, 15 May 2019 21:18:56 -0400

I did my pt test in green fatigues and combat boots!

Response by Capt David Nixon made May 15 at 2019 9:21 PM

Capt David Nixon — Wed, 15 May 2019 21:21:56 -0400

Leather boots and starched sateen (non-camoflage) utilities.

Response by SSG Jack Jurgensen made May 15 at 2019 9:25 PM

SSG Jack Jurgensen — Wed, 15 May 2019 21:25:32 -0400

Wow, Old School... I would have to say "respect" starts it all. When you were told to do something by someone that out-ranked you, you did it even if you didn't like it. You were called by many names and didn't cry about it or report that higher ranking individual. You were a soldier, not a victim! You held your head high and were proud of your uniform. You were in a band of brother's whether you liked each other or not. No obstacle to big, or task to small. That was "OLD SCHOOL".

Response by Maj Jeff Thompson made May 15 at 2019 9:31 PM

Maj Jeff Thompson — Wed, 15 May 2019 21:31:37 -0400

Old School..... before the M-16, we carried n qual’d with M-14’s, 45’s and carried a “John Wayne “ to get our food out of a little green can

Response by LCDR William Perkins made May 15 at 2019 9:33 PM

LCDR William Perkins — Wed, 15 May 2019 21:33:01 -0400

Old school is wearing a white T-shirt green Camo pants and black leather boots while doing PT.

Response by 1SG Walter Bennett made May 15 at 2019 9:36 PM

1SG Walter Bennett — Wed, 15 May 2019 21:36:56 -0400

My uniform was OD,I did PT in combat boots and qualified with the M14 rifle,one of my PT events was the run dodge and fall, and the 72 horizontal ladder with rusty bars to boot.I wore a steel pot on field training exercises and the buddie pack.Back then it was chow in the mess hall.I think you got the idea about ole school now if not I can think of plenty more. Active duty (1966-1986) Viet Nam Vet.

Response by PV2 Jean Cotton made May 15 at 2019 9:39 PM

PV2 Jean Cotton — Wed, 15 May 2019 21:39:29 -0400

Wore baggy pants that buttoned on the side and had huge pockets on the legs, ran UP tank hill, know what mogas is, and drove gamma goats

Response by SGT Matt Passingham made May 15 at 2019 9:56 PM

SGT Matt Passingham — Wed, 15 May 2019 21:56:50 -0400

Old school is

Driving a CUCV

Crew chief on a OH-58A or. a CH-47C

Had to Use Brasso on your Branch and US insignia.

Worked on M-60 gpmg or 8 inch howitzers.

Drove a Kaiser Deuce and a half.

Response by SPC Joyce Dukes made May 15 at 2019 10:03 PM

SPC Joyce Dukes — Wed, 15 May 2019 22:03:45 -0400

Mint Green Class A uniforms for females

Response by BG Bob Felderman made May 15 at 2019 10:04 PM

BG Bob Felderman — Wed, 15 May 2019 22:04:25 -0400

Flying Huey's, Cobra's, and Kiowa's.
P38 can opener.
Black Army Combat Boots
Ugly green Class A's
Tan Class B's
C Rations with cigarettes (got these as a boy scout in 1969 in Italy)

Response by SPC Christopher Thacher made May 15 at 2019 10:06 PM

SPC Christopher Thacher — Wed, 15 May 2019 22:06:51 -0400

I'm so old I wore jungle cammo to a desert war

Response by Cpl Ronald Hart made May 15 at 2019 10:09 PM

Cpl Ronald Hart — Wed, 15 May 2019 22:09:15 -0400

PT Shorts ?? We had combat boots and rifles (Garand) helmets and running in the sand road beside the San Diego airport runways

Response by COL Kasey Warner made May 15 at 2019 10:15 PM

COL Kasey Warner — Wed, 15 May 2019 22:15:58 -0400

I "broke starch" with an M-14 bayonet on my cotton khaki uniform trousers before switching to TWs. The shirt with my greens was brown.

Response by TSgt Will Guidry made May 15 at 2019 10:30 PM

TSgt Will Guidry — Wed, 15 May 2019 22:30:54 -0400

If you know what a P-38 is and how to use it

Response by SGT Charles Butler made May 15 at 2019 10:35 PM

SGT Charles Butler — Wed, 15 May 2019 22:35:03 -0400

Our PT uniform shirts in DLI had the caption "We're learning Russian, so you won't have to." Graphic of a ghost wearing a Russian winter hat with the title "Sovbusters" above the graphic.

Response by CPL Jeannine Creamer made May 15 at 2019 10:53 PM

CPL Jeannine Creamer — Wed, 15 May 2019 22:53:35 -0400

Know What a steel pot is! Lol

Response by LCDR Brian Cook made May 15 at 2019 11:15 PM

LCDR Brian Cook — Wed, 15 May 2019 23:15:52 -0400

Chasing submarines in a H-2 with the doors open, wind in your face using a primitive lit screen and a grease pencil to indicate the sonobouys and guess where the sub is, hoping for a Madman (magnetic annomolly detector) hit. The good old cold war, 15 miles of the Soviet coastline. Then landing on the tiny deck of a fast frigate: those were the old school good old days!

Response by PO2 Steven Cain made May 15 at 2019 11:18 PM

PO2 Steven Cain — Wed, 15 May 2019 23:18:11 -0400

Bell Botton denim dungarees, enough said.

Response by Maj Walt Stachowicz made May 15 at 2019 11:32 PM

Maj Walt Stachowicz — Wed, 15 May 2019 23:32:20 -0400

USMC style. M-14, C-Rats made in 1945, canvas 782 gear. Khaki uniforms, sateen utilities, starched covers, running the PFT in boots and utes. The old PRT, mess kits, Brasso, M-Nu, Kiwi shoe polish. Calling the First Sergeant "Top", calling female Marines "WMs". Fellow Marines were Splibs, Pork Chops and Chucks, no offense ever intended. Liberty Cards, no POVs for below Corporal. Cigarette issue at boot camp, and in every c-rat. Smoking indoors. Seeing your buddy's name listed in the Navy Times. 106 Recoilless Rifle, Flamethrower, 3.5" rocket launcher. But a lot of my current buddies think I'm a boot.

Response by SPC John Veenstra made May 15 at 2019 11:55 PM

SPC John Veenstra — Wed, 15 May 2019 23:55:12 -0400

Okay, trained with the M-14, said Gee it's swell made by Mattel when you saw your first M-16. Lived in WWI barracks during basic, rode and drove a deuce in half. Ate rubber eggs and ham from C-rats. Took all PT in fatigues and boots. Took a train to the boat to go to South East Asia. Took basic and Ait with the officers, NCO's and enlisted who were assigned to your division and shipped out as a division. Had to dye your white issue t-shirt and handkerchief's green before shipping out. On returning to the states being issued a Khaki overcoat with Army blanket lining. Training your division in the same Fort used by Custer to train the seventh. Cleaned you belt buckle with brasso. Wiping your butt with leaves or an envelope from a letter from home. Burning human defecation in a 50 gallon drum half. Had the back of your fatigue blouse caked white with salt from your sweat. Being issued 4 different types of headgear.

Response by SPC John Pettinari made May 15 at 2019 11:55 PM

SPC John Pettinari — Wed, 15 May 2019 23:55:16 -0400

WTH are "PT shorts"? LOL! We did everything in fatigues and boots. You probably wore running shoes too.

Response by SSG James Johnson made May 16 at 2019 12:03 AM

SSG James Johnson — Thu, 16 May 2019 00:03:07 -0400

I am old school. Jump school at Ft Benning in 1966, jumping out of a moving deuce and a half truck to learn parachute landing fall technique.

Response by SGT James Keen made May 16 at 2019 12:24 AM

SGT James Keen — Thu, 16 May 2019 00:24:44 -0400

I joined in 67. We had m-1’s to practice with. I was issued French toe boots, not like jump boots that I earned later. The 101st ABN was an all volunteer unit when I arrived in 68, but just be for I left in 69 they were taking draftees, they were all legs. How sad was that.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 16 at 2019 12:34 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 May 2019 00:34:09 -0400

Drivers training was in an M113, with the fuel tank mounted in the crew compartment.
Qualification was with an M16
You wore a helmet liner during basic training.
Black, non speed lace, boots with chevron soles.

Response by CPT George Walruff made May 16 at 2019 1:03 AM

CPT George Walruff — Thu, 16 May 2019 01:03:56 -0400

Wore green fatigues and did PT in them. No PT uniforms when I went to BCT. Ran a "test" PT run of 2 miles in T-shirt, fatigue bottoms, and combat boots. Did fastest in company @ 12:05, but feet were numb because the issued me boots a size too small. That was in 1975. In 2004, had to wait until I got to Kuwait to get desert boots that fit from civilian contractors there before going into Iraq. Ft Bragg issued me boots that tore holes, not blisters, in my heels. Some things never change.

Response by CPL Kenneth Lockridge made May 16 at 2019 2:24 AM

CPL Kenneth Lockridge — Thu, 16 May 2019 02:24:04 -0400

Before cell phones or computers, stood in the long impatient line in the middle of the night on cold Korean winters to get my 10 minutes at the pay phone (only phone for a battalion if you didn't work in communications to use the AUTOVON), and when your time did come, you better have a whole coffee can full of quarters.

Response by CPL Kenneth Lockridge made May 16 at 2019 2:51 AM

CPL Kenneth Lockridge — Thu, 16 May 2019 02:51:28 -0400

Got the anthrax vaccine three times through the whole series because 1.) they kept losing my records, 2.) which were physical and hand-carried or sent from unit to unit via physical means, 3.) which always arrived later than I did, and 4.) kept getting levies changed pseudo-randomly so I'd go on for something Pacific, get the shots, then go off levy for there and never go in the end--so nobody believed you. When they finally did get computerized records and they all got reconciled so they could see how many times I really did get that stuff, I actually had a woman in a lab coat at (formerly) Bethesda Naval Hospital come running down the hall looking for me at my neurologist appointment to get a sample of my blood for the anthrax vaccine study!

Response by SPC Byron Skinner made May 16 at 2019 3:04 AM

SPC Byron Skinner — Thu, 16 May 2019 03:04:14 -0400

Sp4..Byron Skinner, PT Shots?, don't you mean fatigues, Boots, M-1 Helmet and M-14, aren't all trucks bigger the an M-37 a duce and a half, Gamma goat(Jar-heads and equally intelligent bird shit from the 82nd. and 101st. Airborne Divisions…Cattle CaE in Basic to the range no sitting…M-1 Steel pot, also heat water for GI instant coffee (the best in the world in lagger)…M-16, what are you a FNG it's called M-14…WW dice barracks one or two floors,,, latrines open toilets and shower area, got on end pot taking a dump gets wet for some dipstick using the shower closest to the cans…we still have those damn commie bastards who want to suck the essence of out of the American blood. "Kill Commies"…whats the bayonet for, to stick a commie and Jodie…And used wooden tent stakes that you had to pound into the ground with an M-1 helmet and had to share with a guy who farts all night in a down sleeping bag, in summer…. press uniform, I'm a Soldier not Hazel…spit shine. every night while hanging out in the barracked in a white T Shirt and BVD's Two pairs of boots, you bet,,what the F—K are MRE,s, The are called C-rats bot and you had better have a P- F—King 38 on your Dog Tag Chain… the above was the Army in the days where Draftees were made into men in eight weeks of BCT at Ft. Puke (North Fort) Louisiana and then eight weeks of AIT at FT. Dix , The rally bad ass ones were those who did AIT in December and January at Ft. Dix,… you can read the Book "M" by John Sack. Then went to 11th. Armor Cavalry Regiment as a 11B Dismount and an 11C because they had nobody that could read and do simple Sophomore High School trigonometry and could put a four duce on target with air burst…The above was the best life an 18 year old could. After a winter you welcomed going to NAM and ending up in C Company 1/16 Infantry the bad asses in the Army or to the 2/27 Infantry of the 25 Infantry Division "The Hatchet Battalion" up ay Chu Lai or the 11th. Cav. +Find the Bastards and Pile on, Kill Commies for Christ"…"The only good Commie was the one I pitched in the trench with all of his Commie loving buddies that we killed."…"Kill a Commie. or two what ever, a Day, the best Vitamin you can take"… The mark of a guy you don't want to f—K with… a rifleman with blood all over his fatigue shirt and the front of his torn up trousers. Your new pants will be those of one of the guys you put in a body bag earlier that day…if you did the above you are old school, but you never graduated.

Response by SPC Alton Baker made May 16 at 2019 4:52 AM

SPC Alton Baker — Thu, 16 May 2019 04:52:46 -0400

I took basic in ww1 barracks ! Repaired , driven, rode in deuce and a halves! Used vietnam weapons rode in vietnam era helicopters with bullet holes still in them! Drove and learned to fix M60 tanks and Apc's ! Drove gamma goats and mules ! Was a wrecker operator on an 818 wrecker trained on an M88 tank recovery vehicle! My MOS was 63 c but got to Germany i became a 63B because of a shortage of 63Bravos!

Response by SrA Daniel Frazier made May 16 at 2019 4:58 AM

SrA Daniel Frazier — Thu, 16 May 2019 04:58:43 -0400

Two words: Olive Drab

Response by SPC Martin Dodge made May 16 at 2019 5:15 AM

SPC Martin Dodge — Thu, 16 May 2019 05:15:09 -0400

In Korea in 1960, having to purchase and wear those stupid pillbox caps (no way to fold them up and put them in your fatigues pockets) and purchase and wear those damned silly dickies.

Response by 1LT Richard Giandana made May 16 at 2019 6:23 AM

1LT Richard Giandana — Thu, 16 May 2019 06:23:19 -0400

It ended with the end of the steel pot

Response by MSG Dwain Pannell made May 16 at 2019 7:33 AM

MSG Dwain Pannell — Thu, 16 May 2019 07:33:08 -0400

Ran in combat boots
Issued green fatigues
Used C rat cans to make a early warning
Ate John Wayne bar
Had quanson hut for barracks
...with grey metal bunks, wall locker, desk and chairs
Ate from a mess kit
Drank and shaved from a water blivet

Response by MSG Herb Laansoo made May 16 at 2019 7:34 AM

MSG Herb Laansoo — Thu, 16 May 2019 07:34:29 -0400

You're Old School if you have a hard time navigating this web-site.

Response by Cpl Gene McCumber made May 16 at 2019 7:35 AM

Cpl Gene McCumber — Thu, 16 May 2019 07:35:49 -0400

Old school is any time one day after you joined. Anybody who was in before that is old school. Anybody one day after that is a newbie and has it easier than you do.

Response by MSgt John Runfola made May 16 at 2019 7:38 AM

MSgt John Runfola — Thu, 16 May 2019 07:38:17 -0400

Knowing the term"BC glasses" at BMT.

Response by MSgt John Runfola made May 16 at 2019 7:47 AM

MSgt John Runfola — Thu, 16 May 2019 07:47:25 -0400

Knowing what a P38 is and what the purpose of it exactly is. 1. Handy-dandy middle of the night screwdriver. 2. Open any tin can. 3. Great nostalgic conversation starter. 4. C-rats can opener. 5. All of the above.

Response by PO3 Chooee Lee made May 16 at 2019 8:05 AM

PO3 Chooee Lee — Thu, 16 May 2019 08:05:25 -0400

I wore no PT belt and never rode in a truck. I drilled with an 03A3 that the bolt had been welded shut. But I went through GLNTC in 1960 and that makes me "Old School".

Response by SMSgt Bill Koch made May 16 at 2019 8:08 AM

SMSgt Bill Koch — Thu, 16 May 2019 08:08:03 -0400

Wearing 1505's and carrying a .38 in a leather holster

Response by SFC Gregory King made May 16 at 2019 8:18 AM

SFC Gregory King — Thu, 16 May 2019 08:18:38 -0400

OD Green Hat and Fatigues "Strike" Hard Starched...Buffing the Barracks Floor with a OD Green Army Blanket and Melted Wax.....Wall Locker Inspections...

Response by PO1 James Kittrell made May 16 at 2019 8:21 AM

PO1 James Kittrell — Thu, 16 May 2019 08:21:31 -0400

PT'd and got mashed in boot camp (not basic training) in dungarees
Went thru gas chamber at GTMO 4 times
Wore a white hat and boon dockers in boot camp
Got marching party at night on the grinder in San Diego in July 1989 holding a rifle above my head the entire time
Got paid by a paper check that I had to cash at the money truck
Was an RM (rated), BM(working party), ET(antenna maintenance) and MS(mess cranking) all at the same time
Lagged bulkheads and stripped and waxed p-ways with a sponge
Smoked in my workspace and on the mess decks after meals
Leggings were to determine how long you'd been in boot camp, not just for women.
Lastly, had no damn stress card ever.

Response by SGT James Angus Booth made May 16 at 2019 8:43 AM

SGT James Angus Booth — Thu, 16 May 2019 08:43:50 -0400

Driving a m151 with a doghouse trailer.

Response by SPC James Morrell made May 16 at 2019 9:04 AM

SPC James Morrell — Thu, 16 May 2019 09:04:35 -0400

black PT boots Army green pants and t shirt... "around the horn"....

Response by SPC Don Rymer made May 16 at 2019 9:27 AM

SPC Don Rymer — Thu, 16 May 2019 09:27:06 -0400

Reforger 86 - "Certain Sentinel"

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made May 16 at 2019 9:34 AM

CW4 Craig Urban — Thu, 16 May 2019 09:34:17 -0400

I am old school. 70 and still kicking.bi polar. Never did I kill one person. Saved at least 20 people from death. Should have been a doctor.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made May 16 at 2019 9:41 AM

CW4 Craig Urban — Thu, 16 May 2019 09:41:14 -0400

Response by SSG Steve Jones made May 16 at 2019 9:41 AM

SSG Steve Jones — Thu, 16 May 2019 09:41:43 -0400

Joined in 1982 retired now I remember how the army used to be and how it is now two-way different animals

Response by SGT Wayne Snyder made May 16 at 2019 12:28 PM

SGT Wayne Snyder — Thu, 16 May 2019 12:28:56 -0400

Never had the yellow for PT but remember a pack of 4 cigarettes in each C-ration meal that were probably left over from Korea. Almost sunk a gamma goat while swimming because there were no drain plugs installed, Brasso was your friend, WW11 barracks at Fort Ord, singing non-politically correct cadence (by today's standards), taught drivers and mechanics in real deuce and a halfs, M60 tanks, Sheridans, M88s, etc. at Ft. Sill. M16 was not the most reliable, trusted the 1911 Colt more.

Response by CPL Thomas Many made May 16 at 2019 12:53 PM

CPL Thomas Many — Thu, 16 May 2019 12:53:34 -0400

Pt in combat boots(black) candid fatigues, drove a gala goat front line ambulance

Response by MSG Jerry Mangum made May 16 at 2019 2:12 PM

MSG Jerry Mangum — Thu, 16 May 2019 14:12:57 -0400

Night maneuver in blackout drive at 30-40 miles per hour.

Response by CPT George Wilkins made May 16 at 2019 2:48 PM

CPT George Wilkins — Thu, 16 May 2019 14:48:30 -0400

No one's mentioned the "Westmoreland" olive-drab Ball Cap!

Response by PO2 Christina "Jian" Phillips made May 16 at 2019 3:42 PM

PO2 Christina "Jian" Phillips — Thu, 16 May 2019 15:42:32 -0400

I joined when the old school was with the new school and man the whining. Old school the words 'suck it up comes to mind'. If you got swore at or told to get down and do 50 there was no such thing as time outs. If you couldn't handle getting your feelings hurt, taking a 5 minute shower with 90 other people, sleeping on a board, staying up 60 hours for battle stations, getting beat for 3 hours because of something one person did, or drilling til your feet hurt you weren't cut out for service. At least that's what I was told.

Response by SFC Dean Buttman made May 16 at 2019 5:07 PM

SFC Dean Buttman — Thu, 16 May 2019 17:07:38 -0400

Being politically correct wasn't an issue. Saturday mourning inspections. Highly polished boots. Military crease on fatigues. Black beret for Calvary. Gig pit in Airassault and Airborne School.
Skill Proficiency Test. M14 Rifle throughout Basic Training. Fort Polk was known as Little Vietnam. Escape and Evasion Course. The dying cockroach. Hooah was an Infantry term.
"C" Dats, grunts, gunbunnies, remfs, WAC,Doc,wrenchmonkies and a few more that are pretty nasty.

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made May 16 at 2019 6:24 PM

CPL Gary Pifer — Thu, 16 May 2019 18:24:27 -0400

I actually served with WWII service members in the National Guard during the early 1980"s....Korean War ones....were a dime a dozen...

Response by CPL Tunna Montunnas made May 16 at 2019 6:40 PM

CPL Tunna Montunnas — Thu, 16 May 2019 18:40:12 -0400

BDU
Had to administer IV in combat life saver course.

Response by SSG William Bruno made May 16 at 2019 6:46 PM

SSG William Bruno — Thu, 16 May 2019 18:46:34 -0400

I drove an actual Jeep - truck, General Purpose (GP). And don’t complain to me about the heat not working in your vehicle. My deuce didn’t have a heater!

Response by LTC Ken Connolly made May 16 at 2019 9:00 PM

LTC Ken Connolly — Thu, 16 May 2019 21:00:21 -0400

Being SSGT automatically admits you to the the "Old School" college...congratulations. :)

Response by SSG Steven McReynolds made May 16 at 2019 9:04 PM

SSG Steven McReynolds — Thu, 16 May 2019 21:04:35 -0400

Eating C-rations out of a can after heating them up on the manifold of your vehicle

Response by SPC Carolann Smith made May 16 at 2019 10:29 PM

SPC Carolann Smith — Thu, 16 May 2019 22:29:42 -0400

Yes starched bdu's
South Shined jump boots
Ate MRE's and T rations
Rode in a cattle truck and deuce n half a d drove one
Weekly Barack inspections
Sung cadence

Response by PO1 Edward Speary made May 17 at 2019 6:59 AM

PO1 Edward Speary — Fri, 17 May 2019 06:59:04 -0400

helped your sr.chief up gangway after party.div oficer more interested in your work than how you looked.women wore jackets and piss-cutter hats,and only seals and marines wore camo

Response by SGT Paul Leiner made May 17 at 2019 7:52 AM

SGT Paul Leiner — Fri, 17 May 2019 07:52:36 -0400

Steel pot
Canvas LBE
M16A1
Gamma goat
Deuce with manual tranny
Brims Barracks

Response by SSG Lauro Jimenez made May 17 at 2019 10:31 AM

SSG Lauro Jimenez — Fri, 17 May 2019 10:31:40 -0400

I entered service on 1985. Was trained by Vietnam veterans, do me Korean war veterans and the old Senior NCO and Officers that served since WW2. This is when their was cussing in our cadences and our every Day language. I retired in 2014 and the military got so fucking soft.

Response by SFC Chuck Lobdell made May 17 at 2019 7:19 PM

SFC Chuck Lobdell — Fri, 17 May 2019 19:19:59 -0400

Finding tuna then insuring a round can of crackers and hot sauce was in the C rats.
Make sure you keep your last P38.
Find a GI to trade your 3 pack of Lucky Stricks for a can of Ham slices & can of crackers.

Response by SP5 Bob Adams made May 17 at 2019 8:11 PM

SP5 Bob Adams — Fri, 17 May 2019 20:11:42 -0400

1968 basic in coal heated barracks from ww 2 at Ft Lewis, Washington, assigned 2 Squadron 3 Armored Calvary. Working on everything from M151 utility vehicles to M60A1 tanks. A few months before ETS promoted to SP5 and was TC for an M88 crew, Carried Colt 45 side arm and M14 rifle as well as qualified on M2 50 caliber and of coarse the good old grease gun for those of you who know what that is. Bob Adams Wichita Kansas

Response by SrA April Manttari-See made May 17 at 2019 11:34 PM

SrA April Manttari-See — Fri, 17 May 2019 23:34:52 -0400

Wearing Olive Drabs & using Microfiche to do part of my job, and printouts were from a gigantic printer, on paper with perforated sides with holes in them.
Yeah, buddy! Oh! And we got to see Low Rawls in concert forvthe 4th of July, during Basic!

Response by SFC Melissa Springs made May 18 at 2019 5:28 AM

SFC Melissa Springs — Sat, 18 May 2019 05:28:39 -0400

Running PT in boots and duty uniform, eating out of a metal mess kit using metal spoon, knife and fork, sleeping in a pup with a shelter half and driving the old 2 1/2 ton trucks!

Response by MSgt Tom Morrison made May 18 at 2019 8:26 AM

MSgt Tom Morrison — Sat, 18 May 2019 08:26:18 -0400

The definition of "Old Corps" is the day before the junior person in the conversation began boot camp.

Response by PO2 Peter Selvig made May 18 at 2019 9:30 AM

PO2 Peter Selvig — Sat, 18 May 2019 09:30:49 -0400

I wore a dungarees working uniform with bell bottom denim pants and a dungarees shirt with a t-shirt underneath it.

Response by 1SG Mark Acker made May 19 at 2019 7:42 AM

1SG Mark Acker — Sun, 19 May 2019 07:42:56 -0400

Driving a Jeep, a Goer, and a deuce and a half.

Response by LTC Joan Scott Williams made May 19 at 2019 2:08 PM

LTC Joan Scott Williams — Sun, 19 May 2019 14:08:53 -0400

When I arrived to WAC basic training in 1962, our sergeants were still wearing taupe uniforms and some girls had to dye their "brown" boots black. Our PT uniforms were a taupe shirt, pleated shorts, and an A-line skirt that buttoned down the front. The entire uniform had to be starched and ironed. That's was "old, old school" military.

Response by SFC R Arroyo made May 20 at 2019 4:01 PM

SFC R Arroyo — Mon, 20 May 2019 16:01:44 -0400

I came in when the Uncle Sam póster said “I want you” and on every paid day you have to reported to the finance Officer for Pay purposes. Well if course let’s don’t Forget about the company or Bn Formation lucky got me my last name begins with A, ooooops

Response by SFC R Arroyo made May 20 at 2019 4:04 PM

SFC R Arroyo — Mon, 20 May 2019 16:04:16 -0400

Heyyy how about those C Rations mmmmm

Response by SFC R Arroyo made May 20 at 2019 4:07 PM

SFC R Arroyo — Mon, 20 May 2019 16:07:38 -0400

I ate C rations till 1983 and wore kakis till that year as well, Ja. I also wore fatigues And for field purpose wore camis. Year laters they were called and officially wore them till 2003 BDU’s Helloooooooo

Response by LTC Dale Cremisio made May 21 at 2019 7:53 AM

LTC Dale Cremisio — Tue, 21 May 2019 07:53:04 -0400

The line fades w each generation- Ran PT IN BLACK BOOTS still drunk.Took the old PT test (run,dodge jump, crawl etc.....wore the banana PT briefly. Wore “Pickle suit” fatigues, wore jungle fatigues. TWs, Had beer machines in the day room. Custer’s Terrace dancing girls Ft Benning. Jumped out of “Huey’s”, 124s, C7s, Drove jeeps (M151A2). Jungle School in Panama. Duty in Italy and “West” Germany. Tec tapes (useless) BTMS, C rations, P-38 on my dog tags.
Highly Shined Black jump boots, breaking starch. No women in Divisions. Navigation by map n compass. Stood guard mount/duty. Area J (LTA) gas chamber. Pabst Blue ribbon. Smoking. Saturday inspections. Spec 4s, 5,6... . Shining boots n brass Every day/Week. Steel pot. No AWOL jumps. ARTEPS , REFORGER, LTA, FTX. Commissary made you place like items on the belt at check out registers. Ate in a Mess Hall NOT called a DFAC. WWII barracks. ZERO NEED FOR SENSITIVITY, diversity or trans gender training, we were all soldiers and most understood race creed n color don’t matter, we were ALL OD GREEN. No one had to tell us to look after soldiers and their families. Maximum effective range of an excuse; ZERO METERS. GI Parties.
Wall to wall counseling for those who didn’t get it or didn’t want to get it.

Response by SGT Bill Braniff made May 21 at 2019 8:49 AM

SGT Bill Braniff — Tue, 21 May 2019 08:49:28 -0400

I trained on the M 14. Just days before leaving for Vietnam, I was trained at teh firing range on the Colt M 16.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2019 5:10 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 May 2019 17:10:04 -0400

You're old school if you're on your 3rd PT uniform, 2nd dress uniform, 4th battle uniform, 4th armor vest, and you actually had a chance at the extended scale for the APFT (hint, it went away like 15 years ago)

Response by PO1 Timothy Beam made May 21 at 2019 10:54 PM

PO1 Timothy Beam — Tue, 21 May 2019 22:54:24 -0400

I was US Navy from the time I joined in 63 while in my junior year in high school as a reserviist to evade the draft and I retired in 91. 4 years active and 24 yrs in the reserves. First active duty cruise after A and C schools was an around the world cruise on an old tincan that had been built in 44 to keep up with then fast aircraft carriers and heavy seas. Earned my sea legs during a typhhon in the pacific and a hurricane in the atlanic during that cruise.

Response by PO3 Raney Wright made May 23 at 2019 10:49 AM

PO3 Raney Wright — Thu, 23 May 2019 10:49:31 -0400

Standing watch in the engine rooom
Dungarees & chambray shirt as you work uniform.
Watching 35mm movies on the mess deck.
Having a service number.

Response by PO2 Ed Taylor made May 23 at 2019 10:59 AM

PO2 Ed Taylor — Thu, 23 May 2019 10:59:06 -0400

IN THE NAVY OLD SCHOOL WAS CONSIDERED AND CALLED ( ROCKS AND SHOALS ) THIS WAS WHEN DIFFERENCES OF OPINIONS WERE SETTLED OUT BEHIND THE AFTER STACK ON A SHIP, WHO EVER WALKED BACK WAS RIGHT.. THIS WAS FROWNED ON AND WAS DONE AWAY WITH LONG BEFORE I WAS IN THE NAVY. NOW IT IS THE SAME IN ALL BRANCHES NJP OR CAPTAINS MAST IS HELD FOR FIGHTING AND HORSE PLAY. ET

Response by MSG William Hesser made May 25 at 2019 1:40 PM

MSG William Hesser — Sat, 25 May 2019 13:40:41 -0400

In my case. I came into the Army at the end of the 'Brown Boot' Army. Several of our troops were issued 'Brown Boots' that had to be re-died- black.
We didn't have 'jogging shoes' or PT gear to do our PT in. We took off our 'blouse' and did our PT in our Tee Shirt and pants with combat boots on. We did the 'daily dozen' exercises, including the horizontal ladder, pull ups and the 25 meter low crawl and don't forget the 'run dodge and jump' exercise along with the hand grenade throw to the 'bulls eye' ring.
Our Back pack was the LBE with butt pack and our shelter half and bed roll rolled up and wrapped around the butt pack.
M-14 basic issue, M-16 was still being tested and starting to be issued.
No Night Vision goggles, just the star light.
Everything in canvas not light weight poly material.
The DI could get in your face to get you to straighten out. No such think as pull you 'snibble card' when you felt 'pressured'
If you remember this, then you were 'old school'.

Response by SPC Steven Depuy made May 28 at 2019 1:22 PM

SPC Steven Depuy — Tue, 28 May 2019 13:22:00 -0400

Did you use M60A1's in your unit, instead of them being lawn ornaments at the local VFW, you might be "Old School". If you opened a box of C rations in the field, and they had Lucky Stripes in them, you might be "Old School". That's two from my career I can think of.

Response by CPO Anthony Martin made May 30 at 2019 3:27 PM

CPO Anthony Martin — Thu, 30 May 2019 15:27:55 -0400

Well, when I went to boot camp (Great Lakes, Co 312, 1959), I was issued a flat hat (never wore but required for seabag inspections) and a white seabag. I'm sure someone can top that, but not many!

Response by PO1 Tharin Young made May 31 at 2019 5:31 AM

PO1 Tharin Young — Fri, 31 May 2019 05:31:22 -0400

If you remember what deployments were like before Tailhook

Response by SFC Richard Bensen made Jun 3 at 2019 6:05 AM

SFC Richard Bensen — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 06:05:39 -0400

Never wore pt shorts...always in fatigue pants,boots,and t shirt...ate c rations in the field..all the other items listed been there done that....

Response by PFC Robert Chambers made Jun 5 at 2019 12:21 PM

PFC Robert Chambers — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 12:21:19 -0400

Woodland camp and m16a2

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2019 2:12 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 14:12:32 -0400

Fatigues, Kaki’s, C-RATS, No power point or spreadsheets and no phones so you had to stick to the training schedule are a few of my favorite things

Response by SGT Juan Robledo made Jun 5 at 2019 7:30 PM

SGT Juan Robledo — Wed, 05 Jun 2019 19:30:03 -0400

So out of curiosity, being old school, my definition of that is wearing olive drank fatigues, wore jump boots even though I never jumped out of a good flying aircraft, eat c-rations, spit shine boots, drove a real duece and a half, drove a Jeep for commo officer, slept in quantsa huts, wore short yellow shorts for PT, ate at the mess hall, stood at attention for the raising of the flag, drank beer from the vending machine at break room next door to the 1st SGT office, and if the ARMY wanted me to have a wife, one would be issued to me, freezing my n$ts in Korea, but what find memories, definitely washed and shaved using a steel pot of course using hot water, pretty much I can remember while my time in the military

Response by Sgt John Gray made Jun 6 at 2019 3:07 PM

Sgt John Gray — Thu, 06 Jun 2019 15:07:49 -0400

Try eating “C” rations from 1950. Chesterfield cigarettes, toilet paper that crumbled in your hands, chocolate bars that tasted like cooking chocolate and chickolets that would crack your teeth, and black label beer, you were in the Marine Corps in Vietnam during 1968

Response by 2LT Paul Denhup made Jun 7 at 2019 12:33 PM

2LT Paul Denhup — Fri, 07 Jun 2019 12:33:30 -0400

Perfect.

Response by Sgt Chris Hunt made Jun 7 at 2019 1:07 PM

Sgt Chris Hunt — Fri, 07 Jun 2019 13:07:37 -0400

Y'all talking about Kiwi . . . Lincoln Stain Wax was much better - still use it, IMHO

Response by CPT Celia (Chris) Gillette made Jun 7 at 2019 5:38 PM

CPT Celia (Chris) Gillette — Fri, 07 Jun 2019 17:38:34 -0400

If you ever:
Wore starched green fatigues.
Spit shined the toes of Corcoran jump boots.
Wore a Class B uniform in the summer.
Ate "C" rations in the field. Extra points if they contained cigarettes.
Went from green fatigues to BDU'S.
All FTX's were NATO vs Warsaw Pact.

Response by MSG Eddie N. made Jun 8 at 2019 7:13 AM

MSG Eddie N. — Sat, 08 Jun 2019 07:13:22 -0400

Pee'd out of a 5 ton dump truck using a camouflage pole on the Autobahn headed to Wildflicken.

Response by Cpl Geoff Smith made Jun 9 at 2019 2:32 PM

Cpl Geoff Smith — Sun, 09 Jun 2019 14:32:00 -0400

Marines remember the ONTOS?

Response by Cpl Geoff Smith made Jun 9 at 2019 2:34 PM

Cpl Geoff Smith — Sun, 09 Jun 2019 14:34:29 -0400

Response by LTC Nathan Hines made Jun 10 at 2019 12:17 PM

LTC Nathan Hines — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 12:17:04 -0400

To be honest I think it means being close to retirement and "oh how things have changed" since you started your career. I experienced the Army as a 1980's Armor Private to 2009 Armor LTC...the changes were very noticeable mostly in a good way but I did feel "old skool" around the 17-18 year mark as retirement approached and definitely when those behind me share their current experiences. It does feel good to be old skool though! Haha

Response by SFC Charles Woods made Jun 10 at 2019 1:37 PM

SFC Charles Woods — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 13:37:14 -0400

Well I think maybe if you were issued brown combat boots .Took basic training with a M1 Garand rifle.Ate Korean war surplus C rations.If you wore the IKE jacket and olive green pants as a Class A uniform.If you thought MCE rations tasted pretty good compared to C rats.I hope this makes me qualified as old school I enlisted in Jan 1957.

Response by SGT Warren Crutcher made Jun 10 at 2019 1:44 PM

SGT Warren Crutcher — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 13:44:31 -0400

We did PT in our duty uniform becauae they didnt have PT uniforms and if you pressed your duty uniform plan on getting smoked because crisp lines break the illusion of the camoflage . As for the MRE, the first time i was in we had C rations and heated our food on the motor of the duece and a half. Believe it or not that was back in the mid 80's

Response by SSgt George Ryan made Jun 10 at 2019 6:22 PM

SSgt George Ryan — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 18:22:50 -0400

Brown shoe Army- carry M1 and BAR

Response by SPC James Butler made Jun 11 at 2019 11:55 AM

SPC James Butler — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 11:55:40 -0400

Wait, shelter halves aren't being used anymore?

Response by 1SG Richard Vanwhy made Jun 11 at 2019 1:41 PM

1SG Richard Vanwhy — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 13:41:02 -0400

If you have to ask stupid queations like this , I would worry about being a soldier now and stop worrying about old schoolcauae your not

Response by 1stSgt Jeff Blovat made Jun 13 at 2019 7:14 AM

1stSgt Jeff Blovat — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 07:14:24 -0400

Old school?? Standing in line at the PX/BX to use the phone. “Check Floating”, “Greens” that was not a meal. Letter writing. I did a lot of that!

Response by SMSgt John Ridlehoover made Jun 13 at 2019 12:33 PM

SMSgt John Ridlehoover — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 12:33:31 -0400

Old School is abiding by the rules (regulations), showing respect to your superiors and peers, maintaining proper discipline, practicing integrity (that means doing the right thing even though no one is watching), not challenging authority, not being a constant complainer and I could go on but I think you get the drift. And by the way, it is NOT an ever-moving line. It is just a time when military service meant being dedicated to serving and not just some other job.

Response by LTC James Washington made Jun 13 at 2019 7:00 PM

LTC James Washington — Thu, 13 Jun 2019 19:00:48 -0400

I don’t go back that far but for the first quarter of my career lots a senior folks would refer to “brown shoe” army. My own definition is did you have any HBT (herringbone twill) fatigues. They were the best and I was never able to get any.

Response by SGT Jon Goldsberry made Jun 16 at 2019 8:18 PM

SGT Jon Goldsberry — Sun, 16 Jun 2019 20:18:51 -0400

Wore and washed in a steel pot AND cooked in it!
Red nylon PT uniform. (Field Artillery)
Deuce and a half with a ma-deuce mounted!
GAMMA GOAT!!!! 3 cylinders of loud death trap!!! Lol
OH yes, those wonderful cattle cars!
M16 with iron sights and 10 round mags
WII barracks...50 man bays. Bathrooms with stalls and NO DOORS!
Take it to the commies: taking pictures of them taking pictures of you. FULDA GAP!
The pup tent, need I say more?
Use enough startch so the pants stand up by themselves
Spit shine with a white cotton tshirt. Light the kiwi on fire to hot shine.
GAMMA GOAT!!!!! HAHAHAHA. Most people, even old school, have only seen these in the movie stripes with Bill Murray and think it is a Chechoslovakian vehicle!!!
MRE?? C-rats had much better trade value on the economy!!!
Drink at a NCO club on post? Get arrested with your 1SG in the NCO club for fighting another unit and having the battery commander bail us out!

Response by CPT Tom Monahan made Jun 22 at 2019 6:24 PM

CPT Tom Monahan — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 18:24:48 -0400

Okay my turn:

Buck slips, every senior staff officer in BN HQs had their own colored felt pen, charts and darts gunnery, OD Green fatigues, real paper property books, 4 card stock record keeping system, 2406, shotgun envelopes, typewriters in the field, microfiche, TA1s, “This line is insecure...”

Response by SSG Will Phillips made Jun 22 at 2019 6:34 PM

SSG Will Phillips — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 18:34:09 -0400

Heh. A picture is worth a thousand words.

Response by SCPO William Akin made Jun 22 at 2019 6:45 PM

SCPO William Akin — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 18:45:42 -0400

MANILA mooring lines
White lead and tallow
Red lead
The "Smoking Lamp"
Sea Store Cigarettes were a $1.00 a carton (Camels)
Canvas bunk bottoms with cotton bunk lashings
Air bedding
Rope yarn Sunday
Camp Elliott Rifle Range using the Garand M-1(Navy)
Marines on the 32nd Street gate
The days when drinking a beer wasn't a friggin sin against humanity

Response by SFC Francisco Rosario made Jun 23 at 2019 3:32 PM

SFC Francisco Rosario — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 15:32:21 -0400

I would say if you had C-Rations for dinner or any other meal, then you ARE old-school. I never did eat them, but i saw them. But i did everything MAJ Roberts (Bob) Petrarca mentioned.

Response by LCpl Terry W Rollins made Jun 23 at 2019 6:55 PM

LCpl Terry W Rollins — Sun, 23 Jun 2019 18:55:56 -0400

I'm just an "OLD MARINE"!!!
Semper Fi

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 24 at 2019 7:52 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 07:52:23 -0400

Beer machines in the barracks! The good old days!

Response by LTC John Griscom made Jun 24 at 2019 11:58 AM

LTC John Griscom — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 11:58:03 -0400

Barracks, KP, separate club system, pay call, M151.

Response by SGT Robert Anthony made Jul 5 at 2019 4:14 PM

SGT Robert Anthony — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 16:14:25 -0400

Been there done that now thats old school

Response by SSG Herman Bauman made Jul 8 at 2019 12:25 AM

SSG Herman Bauman — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 00:25:30 -0400

I think all of you are a bunch of young kids.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2019 5:18 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Jul 2019 17:18:21 -0400

If you believe accomplishing the mission is the most important duty, and that all other tasks such as performance reports and ancillary (classroom/CBT/etc.) training siphon far too much valuable training time.

Response by LCpl Jason Keiser made Jul 11 at 2019 4:25 AM

LCpl Jason Keiser — Thu, 11 Jul 2019 04:25:17 -0400

rank

Response by 1SG James Kelly made Jul 13 at 2019 8:51 AM

1SG James Kelly — Sat, 13 Jul 2019 08:51:55 -0400

What constitutes being "old school" in the military?

Me.

Response by SGT Debra Jahnel made Jul 16 at 2019 9:34 AM

SGT Debra Jahnel — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 09:34:21 -0400

Might "old school" also involve having used mimeograph correction fluid to remove ticks?

Response by CSM David Brock made Jul 18 at 2019 2:47 PM

CSM David Brock — Thu, 18 Jul 2019 14:47:33 -0400

Doing things the right was the first time always.

Response by 1SG Ken Rossi made Jul 20 at 2019 1:14 PM

1SG Ken Rossi — Sat, 20 Jul 2019 13:14:36 -0400

I guess since those from the Korea and WWII era are probably not paying attention to this, those of us from the Viet Nam era are probably old school and that can be defined as standing morning formation, as soon as top is done grounding your fatigue jacket, marching off to the PT field, doing the daily dozen, going for a run (varying distances), marching back to the formation area, securing your fatigue jacket, squaring it away and moving out to the mess hall for breakfast!!!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2019 1:20 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 13:20:34 -0400

When I went in, in 1963 (California National Guard (7 years)) who rode in Duce and a halfs, drove M-48 A3s, had water buffaloes and Lister bags, M-1s, etc.. I guess we were old school. :-)

Response by SSG Rick Robbins made Jul 23 at 2019 9:20 AM

SSG Rick Robbins — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 09:20:17 -0400

Old school is not being coddled, it is still having integrity. It is doing your mission with out amenities or a stress card. Standing up to what you do wrong and not whining when you don’t get recognition when you do good. It is setting an example for those who come after you, not talking about someone’s fuckups behind their back, but helping them to make it through, yes, that’s does include some Officers. Being appreciative of what you have and proud because you stand on the line that grants those things, not just for you, but for everyone in American no matter race, creed, or religion.
It is being there for you buddies, even after you are a civilian soldier, remembering no one is to be left behind. When you are proud to be a Soldier until the day you die, not ever letting it slip into the back part of your memory. This is just “A FEW” of the things that make you old school. Doc

Response by SPC Keith King made Jul 23 at 2019 1:43 PM

SPC Keith King — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:43:11 -0400

If you ever used C-4 to heat up your c-rations.....you're old school....

Response by MSgt Marvin Kinderknecht made Jul 23 at 2019 4:58 PM

MSgt Marvin Kinderknecht — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 16:58:45 -0400

How about flying B-29's.

Response by SP5 Peter Chisholm made Jul 26 at 2019 4:33 PM

SP5 Peter Chisholm — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 16:33:29 -0400

What's an M16, I had an M14.
1SG regularly inspected the barracks. He always let me know when he was leaving to do since I was company clerk. At the end of the day I would go into my room and of course my bed would be tipped over. When bounced a nickel on my bed, it disappeared. Every Monday SOS for breakfast.

Response by LTC James Boland made Jul 27 at 2019 2:32 PM

LTC James Boland — Sat, 27 Jul 2019 14:32:59 -0400

E 6 SFC's, E-5 SSGT's, MI Garands in BCT, AIT and the remainder of the TOD. WWII and Korean War Cadre.

Response by PO2 Ed Leidy made Jul 27 at 2019 3:48 PM

PO2 Ed Leidy — Sat, 27 Jul 2019 15:48:34 -0400

1969 - Boot Camp @ Great Lakes NTC = Wooden "temporary" barracks, dungarees, Marching & drill w/Springfield rifles, kakahi leggings, familiarized w/M-1 Garand. ++ Field Medical Service School Camp Lejeune = Starched cotton utilities (and your cover) - Small canvas WWII Field pack (w/"field transport" option - Spit shine leather boots - brasso - dura-glit - em-nu - "close order knuckle drills" - "If your pack is over 45 pounds you're carrying too much!" - 3-pouch "Unit One" (Corpsman Bag) - Steel canteens in "butt-beater" covers - Quals with M-14 - iron-on USMC insignia - Horseshoe rolls -
C-Rations - "Heat Tabs" - Glass I.V. bottles - Glass syringes w/re-usable needles - Camo Shelter-half tents. Plus much more, 'Kay? "Doc"

Response by Sgt Lyle Summerfield made Jul 27 at 2019 8:45 PM

Sgt Lyle Summerfield — Sat, 27 Jul 2019 20:45:43 -0400

Yes,...Old school...all of the above PLUS C-Rats,John Wayne can openers, Junk On The Bunk, AC & Htg not working all the time, No Cable T.V., Field day Thursday, very Low Pay, Don't finger F*%K my Brass, Starch your work cover with liquid starch, with cover block and clothes pins!!! AAHH, those were the days!!! And I wore my UNIFORM, Class-A and-C with PRIDE!!!

Response by SGT Charles Bartell made Jul 28 at 2019 3:54 PM

SGT Charles Bartell — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 15:54:03 -0400

It is simple to me, And it cost me dearly.
You do whatever you need to do to take care of you guys.
1. They always eat first
2. They always sleep First.
3. They are always in front of you at C.I.F. for deployment.
4. you always try to get them into as many schools as they can handle so they can get promoted.
5. If they are married try to give Time before deployments.
6. when they have C.Q. duty stop by to make sure things are going good. Most of us has had the N.C.O. That goes on there rounds and comes back ten minutes before the next C.Q. starts.
7. I think the most important one of all remember you where a nobody at one time too ,Do not be a dick unless you have to.

Response by CPO Lou Oliver made Jul 28 at 2019 4:11 PM

CPO Lou Oliver — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 16:11:50 -0400

Part of that line is speaking badly about your president, especially around civilians, or in the worst case doing so overseas.

Response by SFC Denver Druesedow made Jul 28 at 2019 5:54 PM

SFC Denver Druesedow — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 17:54:13 -0400

rode in GMC duce and 1/2, had white name tapes with black and gold us army tapes wore the same cheverions on duty and dress uniforms

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2019 6:31 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 18:31:21 -0400

Steel pot, C rats, cattle car, swoop circle, Vietnam Vets for NCOs.

Response by SSgt Kurt Behnke made Jul 28 at 2019 11:05 PM

SSgt Kurt Behnke — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 23:05:12 -0400

..perhaps it would be easier to define a "new Schooler" ?
LBGT is ok, EO office is ok, its not my job is ok, you cant ask me to do that is ok, my supervisor treated me harshly, i am here for the education benefits then i am out, Iam here for my kids, im a single parent, I am here for the family benefits, i am here for the benefits i can get because the US taxpayers owe it to me, etc. etc. or ITS MY RIGHT, you cant deny it to me.."
OLD School, 'Mine is not to wonder why, mine is to do or die.." Nuf said.

Response by SSgt Kurt Behnke made Jul 28 at 2019 11:19 PM

SSgt Kurt Behnke — Sun, 28 Jul 2019 23:19:55 -0400

Smuggling Coors to the East coast then to Frankfurt for those that couldnt get it...Ya, 141's support the mission!! if you remember the 70's you werent there..LOL..

Response by SFC Nate Robertson made Jul 29 at 2019 2:04 AM

SFC Nate Robertson — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 02:04:12 -0400

Never "Ratted" on anyone !! Ever

Response by SSG Ken Gilder made Jul 29 at 2019 4:34 AM

SSG Ken Gilder — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 04:34:03 -0400

What was "old school" to me as a 19 year old basic trainee, would be"ancient history" to today's recruits. I guess it all depends on when you served.

Response by SSG Ken Gilder made Jul 29 at 2019 4:36 AM

SSG Ken Gilder — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 04:36:42 -0400

What was "old school" to me, as a 19 year old basic trainee, would probably be "ancient history" to today's recruits. I guess it all depends on when you served.

Response by SFC Michael Krogmann made Jul 29 at 2019 10:05 AM

SFC Michael Krogmann — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 10:05:53 -0400

Drinking coffee from a canteen cup that you heated up with a trioxane bar!

Response by SFC Dennis Pettitt made Jul 29 at 2019 12:42 PM

SFC Dennis Pettitt — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 12:42:54 -0400

Clearly the term "old school" has multiple definitions. Literally it could refer to actual arcane institutes of education. Some one who attended PLDC, BNCOC,or ANCOC, instead of whatever the current course title may be, may be considered old school. More relevant however, the colloquialism "old school" usually refers to someone utilizing an archaic tactic, technique, or procedure (TTP) that has been supplanted with newer methods. This can be viewed both positively and negatively. An "old school" smoking session for example, if directed to instill discipline and correct performance is positive, but it is often little more than a higher rank flexing his/her authority in a sadistic demonstration of cruelty. This is why old school smoking sessions are mostly frowned upon and their effectiveness is often questioned. Another fine example is the use of old knowledge where technology has replaced older methods. Using intersections or resection to determine ones location now that GPS is in the hands of every Tom, Dick or Harry might be "old school" yet still something that may be necessary as a secondary TTP in some contingencies.

Response by PO3 George Evans made Jul 29 at 2019 8:56 PM

PO3 George Evans — Mon, 29 Jul 2019 20:56:40 -0400

The time before lots of women and open LGBT

Response by 1SG Jason Almond made Jul 30 at 2019 1:31 AM

1SG Jason Almond — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 01:31:40 -0400

Lots of good comments about ‘the good ol’days’ and most apply to me (Retired ‘17) but let’s not glamourize those days like there wasn’t anything wrong. Granted- today’s social landscape has made things different.
I guess the bottom line is, ‘back then’ was the Army (technology notwithstanding) a tougher and more disciplined fighting force? Begrudgingly I have to say yes.

I say begrudgingly because it was mostly my generation of leaders that let it slip.
That said- I think the Army top to bottom is healthier socially.....which I hope turns into a more focused and professional body in the future. Time will tell.

But yea......as soft as basic has become, and it moved the needle less and less on entitled kids who grew up in front of an Xbox....I think it is a weaker force.

And no- not all newer Soldiers are entitled, bed wetting mama’s boys with over developed video game thumbs and under developed pecs.

But you see it.

Response by SSG Richard Brue made Jul 30 at 2019 5:52 AM

SSG Richard Brue — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 05:52:43 -0400

You remember the SP5s And SP6s.
you had TA-50 layouts about every 3 months.
You had a wall locker display.
You had wool brackets for your bunk.
You had up to 4 soldiers per room.
You were in formation with soldiers who still had the green uniform.(before BDUs)
you could get smoked and didn't have to have a reason.

Response by PFC John Roscoe made Jul 30 at 2019 7:43 AM

PFC John Roscoe — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 07:43:37 -0400

Referred to Top as the First-Soldier; have a lot of thick, canvas gear, having females in AIT trading their bodies to get-over on cadre and instructors, cursing your prick-77 for not working AGAIN, hearing war-stories about Vietnam from 30-somethings, wearing pickle-suits, having different haircuts then every civilian male, having civilians think you joined only because you couldn't get a another job, wondering which of your friends was CID even as he was rolling a joint, seeing and knowing some grunts who couldn't read, guys in family-quarters getting away with punching-out their wives the first and maybe second time, having some rag-bag fess-up to being gay to GET-OUT of the military, guys going to the recruiter instead of the other option: jail, no money. entire REMF units getting high and wondering if the stoner driving the deuce and a half was going to drive off a cliff, going through basic and seeing how hard-up recruiters were, having sent guys that were definitely folks the rode the mini-bus to school, meeting old-guys that had fought in Korea and bad-asses that had fruit salad from three wars on their uniform, and other guys that got their pensions only because up-and-out hadn't been implemented, and bitter Warrant officers who had flown cobras in heavy combat and then got rifted from Major, and other Warrant officers that were PAs in Troop Med Clinic treating rashes who had done field surgery in Vietnam.

Response by SFC Michael Wilkins made Jul 30 at 2019 8:38 AM

SFC Michael Wilkins — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 08:38:38 -0400

Taking your physical with draftees in the same line at MEPS. This also constitutes old school.

Response by SGT Louis Smith made Aug 4 at 2019 4:06 PM

SGT Louis Smith — Sun, 04 Aug 2019 16:06:32 -0400

I didn't have no banana suit I did PT in OD GREEN and boots

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2019 1:15 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 01:15:35 -0400

It depends on when you served I guess. Prior Gulf War.maybe? My guess is that no matter when and where you served you will always be Old School once you leave the service. My professional opinion only. Semper Fi Old Shipmates!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2019 4:56 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 07 Aug 2019 16:56:03 -0400

Hmmm? So many things could make up what "old school" old heads have mentioned lighting SC Johnson's wax, Brasso, shelter halves, hand written counselings, the duce and a half...Its about the mentality and traditions. Kicking ass and taking names. Training your troops to take your place. We had discipline based on the fear of reprisal. But most importantly there was DISCIPLINE. Not this pansies ass Soldier mentality that is standard today. It isnt just the young PFC either. The Officer Corps is the same way and the grey beards no longer have the power to change it because it's been stripped away by the PC culture. That is Old School

Response by Cpl John Cogswell made Aug 10 at 2019 4:41 AM

Cpl John Cogswell — Sat, 10 Aug 2019 04:41:01 -0400

Loving the comments here, but not loving how old that makes me realize I am in comparison to (many of) these young bucks.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 17 at 2019 3:53 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 Aug 2019 15:53:58 -0400

You have to be an ethnocentric asshole and be in the Army longer than the people you are berating. Affirmation is found when other Ethnocentric assholes chime in with the hardships that made them amazing ethnocentric assholes with a right of passage the newer soldiers "will never know".

Some key obvious facotrs:
Walking up hill both ways on a roadmarch,
insurmountable odds of survival during peacetime,
being hit by NCOS
being smoked for clerical errors

Response by 1SG Robert Shaver made Aug 22 at 2019 5:49 PM

1SG Robert Shaver — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 17:49:29 -0400

I started in July 1972 and ended in Aug 1996. I think I was in the old Army, New Army and the damn thing we was in the 90's. I used to love to drive a jeep (a real one), a gamma goat, a deuce and a half and eat C rations (with cigarettes included)! I really loved the Army, but could not be in today's army. To much PC and trying to be accepted by all and not just winning wars. I am sorry to say today's American Army may be in danger today. We used to say the American Army should be able to fight two wars and a low intense conflict all at the sametime! Today we can not fight one war and win by itself. This is due not to the American Soldier, but because congress and the American people are not behind our military. I think when the enemy finally shows themself here in American it will be to late. They will make 9/11 look small. I know this is pretty deep but the truth.

Response by SSG Paul Passineau made Aug 23 at 2019 10:20 AM

SSG Paul Passineau — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 10:20:38 -0400

You go into the military museum of the installation and on display is equipment and vehicle(s) that you were trained on in basic training and A.I.T. and you're still in uniform to report for your duty assignment.

Response by Sgt Mike Snyder made Aug 23 at 2019 1:48 PM

Sgt Mike Snyder — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 13:48:55 -0400

Painted the rocks lining the walkway to the CO’s office white.

Burned shit in a barrel.

Messed with the White Mice in Saigon.

Were FIGMO

polished your barracks floor during GI parties by dragging someone around on an old wool blanket.

Got into Disneyland free if you wore your uniform.

PT in shorts and boots.

Spent hours putting a fifty mission crush in your cap.

Response by SGT Duane Wilson made Aug 23 at 2019 10:02 PM

SGT Duane Wilson — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 22:02:08 -0400

Harmony Church, Black spit shined jump boots or jungle boots, iron sights, Warsaw Pact, no GPS, cadences laced with profanity.

Response by SGT Duane Wilson made Aug 23 at 2019 10:03 PM

SGT Duane Wilson — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 22:03:21 -0400

Oh and authorized 2 beers at lunch, lol.

Response by SSG Earl Corp made Aug 23 at 2019 11:14 PM

SSG Earl Corp — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 23:14:45 -0400

Old School:
Used a P-38 to open C rations
Been paid money to pull someone’s CQ
Pulled CQ
Drank out of 2 qt canteen
Used a gas mask as a pillow
When everyone above the rank of E-5 has a CIB
Earned an EIB without being allowed any no god and were allowed to retest
Used a map and a compass
Drank from a lister bag
Wore Birth Control glasses
Attended JOTC at Ft. Sherman Panama
Used Heat tabs to cook chow in the field.
You knew how many trucks were on a post
You had to run PT in boots
You rode in a Huey
There were specialists ranks up to spec-the word Fuck was used as punctuation

Response by SSG Jeffrey Leake made Aug 25 at 2019 8:34 PM

SSG Jeffrey Leake — Sun, 25 Aug 2019 20:34:55 -0400

Knowing the true definition of "Wall to wall"counseling, spit shinning boots, pinning on rank, getting smoked, grey PT gear.

Response by PO2 Ed Taylor made Aug 26 at 2019 10:51 AM

PO2 Ed Taylor — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 10:51:54 -0400

Old school was extremely verbal and almost always physical. I can give you a couple of samples. In Old School not much constraint was used in barking orders and you would have t jump run talk or it could become very physical very quickly. Example in the navy the cut off time was called rocks and shoals. Meaning that differences were physically discussed behind the after stack and whoever walked out was the one who was right, irregardless of rank or stature. The Navy ended that. Navy boot camp of which at this time I was attending we were required to wear leggings or spats. A politicians son developed blisters and the practice of leggings was done away with. In my opinion it was politics that did away with Old School. Now no harsh words or treatment only talk, discuss, convince a person to do something other than a direct order / or else. EVEN SO WE ARE STILL THE BEST MILITARY FORCE ON EARTH. ET- PO2 / SGT / TRAINING NCO /PATHFINDER /CB /BOSN. /COXSWAIN /HVY EQUIP OPER / PLOTTER /HELMSMAN / MACHINERY REPAIRMAN / INFANTRY.

Response by MSG Gregg Clement made Aug 26 at 2019 5:58 PM

MSG Gregg Clement — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 17:58:42 -0400

Black boots & BDUs in the closet.

Response by SPC Tim LaFountain made Aug 26 at 2019 8:28 PM

SPC Tim LaFountain — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 20:28:14 -0400

When I first went in 1977 we ate C-Rats, and had OD uniforms. We also did PT in our uniform.

Response by COL Andrew Cohen made Aug 26 at 2019 8:35 PM

COL Andrew Cohen — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 20:35:48 -0400

Don't forget the P-38 can opener on your dog tag chain that would open and stab you!

Response by Kathlean Keesler made Aug 27 at 2019 10:32 AM

Kathlean Keesler — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 10:32:52 -0400

As a patriotic civilian, this topic, "old school" has to the best companion to this 1st cup of black coffee on this fine day in our LAND. Thanks 4 the entertainment. Woodstock generation granny.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2019 8:47 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 28 Aug 2019 08:47:37 -0400

Old school is a scape goat for "I don't like this change" and/or "I refuse to evolve."
Anyone that tries to hold onto "Old school" is irrelevant in there current mind set and should seek grow as a leader and as a human. Change is inevitable, if you think complaining about it is going to do anything to fix it than step aside. If you don't agree with the change, first try and learn the "why" behind it. Second, if you still don't agree with it run it up the chain.
Remarks complete

Response by PV2 Bob Ondown made Aug 28 at 2019 10:10 PM

PV2 Bob Ondown — Wed, 28 Aug 2019 22:10:04 -0400

I remember the beer machine in the dyroom.

Response by PV2 Bob Ondown made Aug 28 at 2019 10:12 PM

PV2 Bob Ondown — Wed, 28 Aug 2019 22:12:47 -0400

I remember beer machines in the dayroom.

Response by SP6 Jeffrey Miller made Aug 29 at 2019 2:00 AM

SP6 Jeffrey Miller — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 02:00:39 -0400

Under the Constitution, the civilian President is the Commander in Chief. That turned out to be a disastrous relationship in Vietnam when LBJ chose Westmoreland for political reasons, when none of the other generals agreed with his "War of Attrition" strategy that assumed the Communist leaders at the top gave a rat's ass about how many of their people were killed.

Response by SP6 Jeffrey Miller made Aug 29 at 2019 2:08 AM

SP6 Jeffrey Miller — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 02:08:48 -0400

"Old school": Top priority,, protect your buddies at all costs, Geneva Accords be damned.

Response by CPO Mike Castro made Aug 29 at 2019 5:18 AM

CPO Mike Castro — Thu, 29 Aug 2019 05:18:40 -0400

When you consider “old school” new slang you don’t care about

Response by SSgt Rick Scharnberg made Aug 30 at 2019 4:01 PM

SSgt Rick Scharnberg — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 16:01:42 -0400

For PT we wore fatigues, combat boots, and white t shirts. Slept in the old WW2 barracks when the wind blew the blanket blew onto the floor.

Response by PO1 Robert Wikert made Aug 31 at 2019 11:37 PM

PO1 Robert Wikert — Sat, 31 Aug 2019 23:37:35 -0400

Not even sure how old you have to be to be old school. But, I think that old school probably is indicated by anyone who is having that discussion. If that makes any sense... For me that would be probably anytime after 1967, and before 1988??

Response by SGM Carl Allen made Sep 2 at 2019 4:35 PM

SGM Carl Allen — Mon, 02 Sep 2019 16:35:05 -0400

Response by SMSgt Keith Stephens made Sep 3 at 2019 12:20 PM

SMSgt Keith Stephens — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 12:20:46 -0400

I will just add,
Tree to Tree counseling since I was Infantry and also eating and heating CRats with C4. Now that’s some old school stuff. Proud to say that’s me for life.

Response by SMSgt Keith Stephens made Sep 3 at 2019 12:22 PM

SMSgt Keith Stephens — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 12:22:27 -0400

Oh yeah and one of my favorites you wore Jungles........Got that one covered......lol

Response by SFC Tom Jones made Sep 5 at 2019 8:16 PM

SFC Tom Jones — Thu, 05 Sep 2019 20:16:54 -0400

Well Major Petrarca I agree with everything that you stated except for a couple of things, when I joined in 76 we were still eating C-Rats, didn't get MRE's till later on I think around 83 or so. Also don't forget the M113, or the very best one M151A2 jeep. awesome little jeep. Also we didn't have no PT uniform ours was black boots pants, and T-shirt in warm weather, and shirt top in cold weather with black gloves for doing the monkey bars. Everything else is as you stated Oh and last one is the good old five ton truck it would go any where. The gamma goat was rough riding but could go almost any where scary time was when we had to swim the 113 and the goats in Berlin.

Response by SPC Donn Sinclair made Sep 7 at 2019 9:34 AM

SPC Donn Sinclair — Sat, 07 Sep 2019 09:34:11 -0400

Solid green fatigues, stateside and jungle issue, spit-shined black boots. PT shorts? We ran in fatigues and boots. Real deuce and a half's were all we had. Humped an M-14, wore a steel pot. There's more, but you get the "old school" idea. Army, '69-'71.

Response by AN Dave Heckman made Sep 8 at 2019 5:53 PM

AN Dave Heckman — Sun, 08 Sep 2019 17:53:30 -0400

No co-Ed marching, no women in traditional male roles ( for most part ) especially when unit cohesion is of the utmost importance... e.g., women taken captive... let us say by Taliban, need I go any further? In that case, the unit’s mission just changed ! The young lady’s safety becomes priority #1.!

As for the Navy... WHY is it important for women to be aboard combat ships ??? Give this old salt ONE REASON. Social engineering doesn’t count ! I served from 1971-1975 as an Aviation Boatswains Mate. Having to ANNOUNCE your presence in “ female country” is NONSENSE !!! This is all about emasculating the AMERICAN military !!!! I watch on YouTube the Line handling party's and women are INCREASING THE WORK EFFORTS OF YHE MALE SAILORS ! Do I have to break that down ????!!!!

Response by SSgt Dee O'Connor made Sep 27 at 2019 2:28 AM

SSgt Dee O'Connor — Fri, 27 Sep 2019 02:28:47 -0400

Brown shoe days?

Response by PVT Rocky Susshine made Oct 8 at 2019 6:19 AM

PVT Rocky Susshine — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 06:19:12 -0400

Charging a machine gun nest as was told by Drill Sargents. Obviously they never did.
My reply was. I don't think so.

Response by SPC Robert Bobo made Oct 14 at 2019 8:47 PM

SPC Robert Bobo — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 20:47:49 -0400

Having some much starch on your fatigues and Khakis the they would almost stand up

Keeping a pair of spit shined jump boots that were never ever used except for guard mount and full field inspections

Response by SFC William Ewing made Oct 17 at 2019 4:59 PM

SFC William Ewing — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 16:59:11 -0400

I remember taking the pt test in fatigues and boots.
The banana or suit arrived, no wicking and shrank after a couple washings, zipper on legs would run raw.

Response by SP5 Gary Smith made Oct 17 at 2019 7:50 PM

SP5 Gary Smith — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 19:50:20 -0400

You nugs don’t know old school unless you have driven a real Jeep and deuce and a half, fired a 1911 and m-14 and at C rats.

Response by SFC Frank Giger made Oct 18 at 2019 5:09 PM

SFC Frank Giger — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 17:09:27 -0400

Hand wrote a response on a DF form...to something that was typed up on another. Or, rather, the carbon copy of it.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2019 10:57 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 22:57:28 -0400

Lighting the floor wax and riding the buffer.

Response by CPT Mike Waszak made Oct 19 at 2019 8:06 AM

CPT Mike Waszak — Sat, 19 Oct 2019 08:06:39 -0400

C-rats...
Grenze ...
PT in boots, fatigue pants and white T-shirt...
Giving up an M60A3 for a brand new M1...
Giving up an M1911 and a steel pot for an M9 and a Kevlar...

Response by SPC Greg Campbell made Oct 19 at 2019 8:50 AM

SPC Greg Campbell — Sat, 19 Oct 2019 08:50:46 -0400

old school was when we didnt have smoke breaks, we just lit a smoke and kept on working

Response by MSG Bruce Bjorklund made Oct 31 at 2019 3:59 PM

MSG Bruce Bjorklund — Thu, 31 Oct 2019 15:59:55 -0400

What PT shorts? Combat Boots and uniform.

Response by TSgt George Austin made Nov 1 at 2019 5:03 PM

TSgt George Austin — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 17:03:43 -0400

When you can answer what does REMF, Pogi Bait, FIGMO, FTA, pillow biter and ghetto blaster mean, you are "old school".

Response by TSgt George Austin made Nov 1 at 2019 5:10 PM

TSgt George Austin — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 17:10:22 -0400

I forgot. Topless lunch at the NCO club at Ft Knox, test driving a Gamma Goat there and having to move EVERY piece of arty and tank so the barrel pointed away from the area POS jimi carter was gonna be in because he so hated the military. Getting paid in cash and no taxes til carter screwed us all by forcing us into social security and fed taxation. Thank God for Ronnie.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2019 7:50 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 19:50:43 -0400

I don't mean this to sound Politically Incorrect, but "old school" was when combat arms like my MOS didn't have female slots. Except officer positions of course. And that was only back in the 90's when I was still in. ( for the record I'm stating a fact I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with previous Army policies).. Yes my unit had a couple of deuce and a halfs also still, but we were getting those brand new 5 tons which are ancient as well now.

Response by SFC Freddie Porter made Nov 2 at 2019 5:42 PM

SFC Freddie Porter — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 17:42:46 -0400

Anyone here remember starlight scoops

Response by Maj Dale Smith made Nov 2 at 2019 5:48 PM

Maj Dale Smith — Sat, 02 Nov 2019 17:48:07 -0400

If you can recognize girls from boys, not whine about losing cell reception, live without a computer for more than a week, take showers with others of the same sex, and know what salt peter was for.

Response by Cpl Ray Fernandez made Nov 3 at 2019 1:17 AM

Cpl Ray Fernandez — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 01:17:30 -0500

It's all arbitrary, it's just something that you did that was different from the guys that are boot to you. Like having to qualify on the range with iron sights at the range. Just don't be the old guy that complains because the new guys get to do something you didn't. If change makes a service member more effective great, and part of our job is to teach the younger guys some of the stuff they don't learn so that if the new method is impaired they can still navigate without GPS and have the basic skills to still be able to complete the mission.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Nov 3 at 2019 1:20 AM

CW4 Craig Urban — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 01:20:33 -0500

Me. I joined the army in 1966. Had to get out of California. Plus I had to beat the Draft. I was the starting freshman QB and the Point Guard for the JV's as a freshman and sophomore. Only classes I liked were Typing, History and Shop. And of course PE.

Response by SgtMaj Mark Davis made Nov 3 at 2019 8:21 AM

SgtMaj Mark Davis — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 08:21:10 -0500

- You know that exercise bikes and "jazzercise" aren't PT.
- You know there isn't such thing as a "field Marine" or a "garrison Marine"; they both matter.
- That making Sgt in four years isn't good for the Corps.
- That changing the PFT or adding the CFT doesn't make Marines more "fit".
- That having a family is choice and that you shouldn't get paid more because you have one.
- That women don't belong on a howitzer section, tank crew, AAV/LAV crew or an infantry squad; they are a liability.
- That lowering the bar on any task to make that task more easy or inclusive has repercussions in combat.
- More Semper Fi, less Semper I.

Response by SPC Ronald Sconza made Nov 3 at 2019 9:17 AM

SPC Ronald Sconza — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 09:17:45 -0500

Used a P38

Response by SPC Salvatore LaMarca made Nov 3 at 2019 3:27 PM

SPC Salvatore LaMarca — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 15:27:09 -0500

Did PT in combat boots and BDU’s
Wore a helmet liner and steel pot
Class A’s and B’s were still Kakis
Ate C rations
Was issues a mess kit
Lived in WWII barracks
Carried a shelter half
Your weapon was an M16A1
Top rode around in a Jeep
You feared your NCO’s because you knew that would smack the frack out of you
Should I go on?

Response by TSgt George Rodriguez made Nov 3 at 2019 10:18 PM

TSgt George Rodriguez — Sun, 03 Nov 2019 22:18:32 -0500

Depends on how far back you want to look. 1962 Cuban Crisis. Straight green fatigues not camouflaged, saucer cap 50 mission crush, qualifying with M1 carbine in basic and then going to M14. Back then we talked about old school with the brown shoe days.

Response by CSM Thomas Ray made Nov 4 at 2019 7:12 AM

CSM Thomas Ray — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 07:12:40 -0500

Went through basic with a M14

Response by CPT Steven Sutton Sr. made Nov 4 at 2019 10:11 AM

CPT Steven Sutton Sr. — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 10:11:56 -0500

If you wore OD Green Fatigues aka "Pickle Suits" and ran in combat boots at Airborne School

Wore Black Tanker Boots with Strapes

Participating in Reforgers in Europe
Remember GDP terrain walks & border missions
Went on full alert for several days after the Berlin Wall went down

Response by 2LT Charles L Harris Jr made Nov 4 at 2019 11:50 AM

2LT Charles L Harris Jr — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 11:50:29 -0500

If you have ever had an M1-thumb. you are Old School.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2019 1:37 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 13:37:07 -0500

Worn TW's
Listened to Chickenman on AFN
Called Rester Center or Carlisle Radio to enter the ADIZ
Knowing were the space in the road wheels is on a T-55...and the bore evacuator
Getting cigarettes in your C Rats

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2019 1:39 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 13:39:38 -0500

Wearing TW's and garrison cap
Calling Rester Center or Carlisle Radio to enter the ADIZ
Knowing where the space in the road wheels and the bore evacuator are on a T-55
Listening to Chickenman on AFN
carrying a .38 revolver or 1911
getting cigarettes in your C Rats

Response by SSG Clint C made Nov 4 at 2019 6:19 PM

SSG Clint C — Mon, 04 Nov 2019 18:19:53 -0500

When I hear old school about the military. I think about basic training where for a PT uniform as the olive drab pants, black combat boots and a white t-shirt instead of having a completely different PT uniform like the army has know is a good example of old school topic

Response by Lawrence Kreger made Nov 5 at 2019 3:52 AM

Lawrence Kreger — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 03:52:34 -0500

In the FDNY, it really has to do most with 1) attitudes /actions prejudicial to firemen who want to get counseling but are afraid of the stigma attached to this -- and, unrelated but also relevant- 2) Court imposed quotas ( racial and sexual) that lower the bar for minority and women applicants in terms of both physical and technical abilities to do the job, and also any open discussion about this. Firemen are not allowed to make public statements about anything the Department does, or ( security concerns in this also) let fire buffs take photos inside Firehouses.

Response by Lawrence Kreger made Nov 5 at 2019 4:06 AM

Lawrence Kreger — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 04:06:20 -0500

It has several meanings, which are not all based on the same ideas, but which seem to reflect the general split in opinions in the society as a whole. in the FDNY, old school includes discouraging members from seeking counseling for any problems they have ( I guess everything is supposed to be solved at the kitchen table) and punishment or ostracism for doing so) 2) really unrelated but also involved : gag order on all firemen against publicly opposing the quotas ( racial and sexual) imposed on hiring by court orders, doing away with the idea of fire dept applicants being based solely on merit. Of course the Department has security concerns now because of theft and terrorism and is for instance forbidding firemen from talking about anything ,or worse, being video recorded either in uniform or photos within the firehouse. Rules on fire buffs taking pictures etc. are more stringent. Number of fire buffs is rapidly on the decline anyway , in NYC there is just I think the Fire Bell Club left.( attacks on firemen, EMS workers and other first responders on the increase as well as general hostility by certain segments of the population).

Response by PFC David Gettman made Nov 5 at 2019 9:24 AM

PFC David Gettman — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 09:24:04 -0500

Dad was old school. WANG 1930-38. RA 1942-71.

Response by SPC James McMahon made Nov 5 at 2019 4:02 PM

SPC James McMahon — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 16:02:28 -0500

PT shorts
rode in a REAL deuce and a half
know what a gamma goat used to be
were transported in a cattle car
wore and washed in a steel pot
realized your M16 was built by the lowest bidding contactor
lived in WWII era barracks
thought the only definition of, "offensive" was "taking it to the commies"
actually put 2 shelter halves together to make and sleep in a tent
pressed your duty uniform
spit shined your boots
c rats new thing was MRE
cj5 manual transmission
used a typewriter no computers
used a paper map and compass for navigation
TA-50 gear

Response by PO2 Rick Egli made Nov 6 at 2019 3:12 AM

PO2 Rick Egli — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 03:12:50 -0500

All of it except yellow nylon PT shorts

Response by PO2 Rick Egli made Nov 6 at 2019 3:14 AM

PO2 Rick Egli — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 03:14:27 -0500

And I frequently saw goats motoring around with 3 wheels

Response by Sgt Jmeans M made Nov 6 at 2019 8:52 AM

Sgt Jmeans M — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 08:52:24 -0500

I've found Old School is what every E4 thinks they are, and what newbies are not.

Response by SFC Kurt Brunken made Nov 6 at 2019 9:11 AM

SFC Kurt Brunken — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 09:11:41 -0500

Old school is any time period prior to the new guy showing up. It entails a perceived more difficult time with higher standards and more discipline.

Response by PO2 Michael Martin made Nov 6 at 2019 1:10 PM

PO2 Michael Martin — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 13:10:14 -0500

I'd like to try to explain my thinking. I don't think there's a moving line, I think it's a mater of when and where you served. When I was in most if not all the electronics didn't exist or was not available. We didn't have the luxury of looking though walls or putting a drone into play, we needed boots on the situation as a caller. Now, I think that the returning sailors and soldiers take for granted all the technology they have access to. Electronics to keep them stealthed, to fight from miles away just to name a few. Not to take away anything from those brave warriors of today, it was just a different time. I think the young bucks dont want to admit that we even exist and that's ok because they will get to where we are now. I just hope they have enough sense to not make the mistake and shut out their predecessors. Believe me, people will shut you out at a drop of a hat, you dont need to make it easier for them. Be strong, shake the hand of a Sr. vet, tell em how happy you are for him protecting your family and life. Now, watch the smile come over his face, the gratefulness. It's a great feeling.

Response by PO1 Edward Speary made Nov 6 at 2019 2:38 PM

PO1 Edward Speary — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 14:38:00 -0500

If you showed up for muster and saw a line of weaving red eyes and your CPO was only worried about you doing your job(or helping him onboard when he's drunk)!

Response by Sgt Jmeans M made Nov 6 at 2019 11:09 PM

Sgt Jmeans M — Wed, 06 Nov 2019 23:09:26 -0500

I had a Gamma Goat license.

Response by LCpl Cody Collins made Nov 7 at 2019 9:31 AM

LCpl Cody Collins — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 09:31:01 -0500

Your old school Marine when you
1. Painted liquid starch on your cover, then used a hot iron to make it stiff.
2. Ate C- Rations in the field ( MRE'S didnt exsist)
3. Had to wear solid green utilities like Gomer Pyle, cammie were not authorized yet.
4. When the only means of communication was a paper, pen, envelopes and a postage stamp or if your lucky a pocket full of quarters and a pay phone.
5. M-16 basic rifle, flack jacket bayonet, a.l.i.c.e. pack, Korean war era jeep for transportation.
6. Sent to fight with a compass and map. No GPS, no satellite or landsat communications. No infrared googles or glasses, no electronics whatsoever only prc-77 and old school jeep mounted radio gear.
Sleep in actually tent that you only had 1/2 of until you found another marine to bunk with.
7. No one was gay or confused about their sexuality or change of life. If they were, it was discovered real quickly. We had standing orders on what to do if we found any Marine in the wrong position with another marine.
8. What's a Drone ?
9. P.T. was Red shorts with gold trim with the Eagle Globe and Anchor stamped on the lower left front side, white T- shirt and sneakers ( No Nike ) .
10. Everyone cursed and yelled at you, from boot camp until you made E-4 . Unless you were a total idiot, then you got yelled at until you got it.
11. Hand to hand training was just that ! Not wrapped in bubble wrap and helmet

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2019 11:08 AM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 11:08:48 -0500

I believe it is anyone with more than 131,257.5 hours of service, at least 2 uniform changes, and still talk about programs and policies that are long since replaced (like FormFlow and effective unit PT)

Response by SGT Martha Cain made Nov 7 at 2019 11:58 AM

SGT Martha Cain — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 11:58:14 -0500

Survival training, Ft. Bragg, N.C.

Response by SGT Martha Cain made Nov 7 at 2019 1:01 PM

SGT Martha Cain — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 13:01:33 -0500

Ran up Longstreet in your jump boots, yellow, nylon Army swim/pt trunks & og tee shirt, waited at Green Ramp, Pope AFB like a tipped over turtle, for a lift off, pulled headcount at the mess hall & then had the best free-.75 cent breakfast in the world, maintained your individual assigned weapon with pride( while secretly wishing for an AK-47), wore your P-38 on your dog tag chain, stopped reacting to your first name, pulled duty (& other as assigned), went daily to the motor pool & did your best, went on field problems that became wars ...obeyed your order & if questionable in your mind, addressed it, Afterward, not before or during, & most of all kept a sunny disposition...nobody needs a "sad sack"~!

Response by SPC Ron Salsbury made Nov 7 at 2019 9:40 PM

SPC Ron Salsbury — Thu, 07 Nov 2019 21:40:44 -0500

The old "Disney" Barracks at Ft. Knox we stayed in were drier than a popcorn fart, and had more wax on the floors than a candle factory; the Cadre were afraid the damn things would go up faster than a Bottle Rocket, definitely "NO SMOKING ALLOWED!!!!!!!"

Response by MSgt J D McKee made Nov 9 at 2019 12:05 PM

MSgt J D McKee — Sat, 09 Nov 2019 12:05:33 -0500

Sounds like the new military is a lot more "woke" just from this. I remember in basic at Lackland AFB singing cadence, part of which was "If I had a low IQ, I could be from Iran too"....as we marched past the Iranian officers barracks. They were training in pilot shit or something in the days of the Shah...

And of course, everyone smoked everywhere except in formation, and even then, "light 'em if you got 'em" was a thing.

Fuck I'm so glad I was born when I was.

Response by WO1 Mike Dwyer made Nov 21 at 2019 5:21 PM

WO1 Mike Dwyer — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 17:21:18 -0500

MRE's! I didn't eat any of those until later in my Army time.....I ate C rations. Never saw a Gamma Goat except in photos. Rode in plenty of cattle cars and remember deuce and a halfs very well. Only wore a steel pot. The only tactical vehicle I ever drove was a Jeep.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2019 8:34 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 08:34:00 -0500

Filling out forms in triplicate using carbon paper....

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2019 8:41 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 08:41:13 -0500

If you ever got called to the 1SG's office and he was smoking a cigarette and had 2 burning in the ashtray....

Response by Col John Madison made Nov 22 at 2019 2:46 PM

Col John Madison — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 14:46:55 -0500

Around 1987, Allan Bloom wrote a book entitled, "The Closing of the American Mind", which really heralded the time when PC (political correctness) really began to take shape. We still had a great many troops, grunts, aviators from the Vietnam War in the services, but they were leaving year by year. When that changed, along with the end of the '70s draftees, society had to coax people into the services with all manner of changes. Anybody who has served within the time periods from Vietnam and into the 80's and 90's knows precisely how different the training and the climate of operations works. It's not all bad, but it sure has taken a lot of bite from the fight. We need, and always will need warriors, more of a Bushido code of ethics, and a helluva lot less Dr. Spock, Hollyweird, and all this leftist feel-good drivel.

Response by MAJ Mark Dillon made Nov 22 at 2019 2:50 PM

MAJ Mark Dillon — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 14:50:05 -0500

If your father was a member of the "brown shoe Army" and dyed his combat boots black, and you wore them during your active duty (hiding the brown eyelets), and still have them in your basement. Also, you wore khaki's during official summer, brown shirt with your "Greens" and a garrison cap. When "beanies" only belonged to Special Forces (and don't ever call them that around real snake-eaters). You qualified Expert on M-14 and understand what an M1905e1 is and where it goes. It was when KP wasn't done by contractors, and Unit Police patrolled your Kaserne, not hired security "rent-a-cops." (Oh, yeah, we had 4 maneuver divisions in WEST Germany). AND, when you couldn't trade them, ate Ham and Lima Beans C-rats out of a can, cold, because you were in black out conditions. And you keep your 1965 issue P38 on your key ring now, because you only a few months back stopped wearing your dog tags every day, where you kept them before. Then there's breakfast direct from the "Mermite Can" into your "mess kit" to accompany coffee boiled in your steel pot - can't do that with Kevlar.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 22 at 2019 3:51 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 15:51:16 -0500

I think MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca hit the nail on the head - can't say it any better (except: see bottom of post):

If you ever:
wore yellow, nylon PT shorts
rode in a REAL deuce and a half
know what a gamma goat used to be
were transported in a cattle car
wore and washed in a steel pot
realized your M16 was built by the lowest bidding contactor
lived in WWII era barracks
thought the only definition of, "offensive" was "taking it to the commies"
actually put 2 shelter halves together to make and sleep in a tent
pressed your duty uniform
spit shined your boots
ate MREs...

I guess I would add only two:
If you ever:
* Did PT in your spit-shined boots, your (unbloused for PT) OD-green trousers, white T-Shirt and (silenced) dog tags (and NO "running shoes"; if you wanted to wear "basketball" or "tennis" shoes [remember those?] you had to have a profile).
* Ate C-Rations (...& know what a P-38 is [hint: NOT an aircraft]...PS: we would have "killed" for MRE's we didn't get until later!) Hey, who remembers those yummy old C-Rations?

Warriors Forever!
-Ed Boles

Response by CPL David Rasch made Nov 24 at 2019 5:16 AM

CPL David Rasch — Sun, 24 Nov 2019 05:16:06 -0500

Don't forget 'butt cans', painted red, properly spaced in the middle of the deck, filled EXACTLY half way with water.

Response by SSgt Tim Self made Nov 28 at 2019 7:43 PM

SSgt Tim Self — Thu, 28 Nov 2019 19:43:35 -0500

Had Vietnam Era Drill Instructors.

Wore combat boots for PT in Boot Camp.

Spit shined your shoes and boots.

Jewelers Rouge on your issue brass to remove the pits then Brasso.

Wore Sateens.

White or no Tee shirts.

Had secret meetings in the gear locker with the Drill Instructors.

Response by PO1 Orlando Miller made Dec 6 at 2019 7:41 AM

PO1 Orlando Miller — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 07:41:29 -0500

Smoking in your bed.....in the barracks. Ole school son.

Response by SGT Duane Wilson made Dec 6 at 2019 10:03 PM

SGT Duane Wilson — Fri, 06 Dec 2019 22:03:04 -0500

Can't forget to add; There was a time where it was authorized to have 2 beers at lunchtime in club, on post.

Response by SGT Mark Moen made Dec 7 at 2019 10:14 AM

SGT Mark Moen — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 10:14:21 -0500

After seeing my son graduate infantry at Fort Benning and then visiting his friend who joined the Navy and seeing my old station for basic at Fort Jackson where the Navy friend is stationed, drill sergeants with balls. Shoot these boys are pampered, do not want them to be deer in the headlights in combat.

Response by SGT Mark Moen made Dec 7 at 2019 10:14 AM

SGT Mark Moen — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 10:14:34 -0500

Response by CPT Alfred Smiley made Dec 7 at 2019 2:19 PM

CPT Alfred Smiley — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 14:19:52 -0500

If your PT uniform was a white T-shirt, fatigue trousers (OG-107), and combat boots (black). Also, all your LBE (TA-50) was cotton canvas and you wore a steel pot.

Response by PO3 Mike Hayden made Dec 7 at 2019 2:32 PM

PO3 Mike Hayden — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 14:32:47 -0500

Do you know what a blooddocker is and why they suck? If so then you too may be old school.

Response by PO3 Mike Hayden made Dec 7 at 2019 2:34 PM

PO3 Mike Hayden — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 14:34:50 -0500

Conex box adjustment

Response by SSG Harry Herres made Dec 7 at 2019 4:28 PM

SSG Harry Herres — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 16:28:01 -0500

Old school, white t-shirt, black spit shine boots. 1958 h- suspenders and mag pouches for M-14. Field strip, blind folded, an M-14. Breaking starch twice a day as an instructor, then having an E-7 or 8 tell you that in the old days it was harder.

Response by CPT Robert Boshears made Dec 7 at 2019 7:12 PM

CPT Robert Boshears — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 19:12:42 -0500

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made Dec 7 at 2019 8:20 PM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 20:20:50 -0500

Following set traditions when doing duties..

Response by SPC Stewart Smith made Dec 7 at 2019 11:46 PM

SPC Stewart Smith — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 23:46:09 -0500

My 1SG used to sound off in morning formation with 1 of the following:
1SG: What the fuuuuuuuuck! Company: WHAT THE FUUUUUUUUCK!
1SG: Get it up Company: GET IT IN!
1SG: First in Company: LAST OUT!
1SG: The SGM told me some of the military spouses were complaining about our sexual cadence so this morning for PT where gonna run around his house and do it there.

These were fantastic moral boosters and I can't imagine they would 'fly' in "today's" army.

Response by MAJ Raymond Haynes made Dec 8 at 2019 10:56 AM

MAJ Raymond Haynes — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 10:56:24 -0500

When you turn around in the enlistment line and tell the guy behind you how tougher it was when you joined

Response by SFC Terri Valentine made Dec 8 at 2019 11:18 AM

SFC Terri Valentine — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 11:18:03 -0500

HOOAH!

Basic Training: Ft.Dix - E 5 3- November 1984

Nuff said.

Response by SGT Louis Smith made Dec 8 at 2019 3:29 PM

SGT Louis Smith — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 15:29:44 -0500

For pt I wore a white t shirt od green pants and combat boots

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 8 at 2019 7:16 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 19:16:54 -0500

Anyone who was born before 1960’s?

Response by SFC John Coffindaffer made Dec 8 at 2019 8:25 PM

SFC John Coffindaffer — Sun, 08 Dec 2019 20:25:23 -0500

Those "old school" army guys are a hell of a lot tougher than the people serving today. I served twelve years in the old-school army, and am damn proud of it. The one clear victory was achieved by "the old school" that being Desert Storm and Desert Shield, and maintained the peace that followed the war.

Response by SFC Bill Snyder made Dec 9 at 2019 6:14 AM

SFC Bill Snyder — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 06:14:37 -0500

To me, Old School is Brown Boots/Shoes and the M-1 Rifle.

Response by SFC Richard Williamson made Dec 9 at 2019 8:04 AM

SFC Richard Williamson — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 08:04:05 -0500

I retired from the Army 27 years ago: You ask what "Old School" is? Well, if your drill instructors gave you consequences for screwing up, such extra duty or extra push=ups, rather than a "Time Out". That's Old School. If you wore OD Green fatigues, not BDU's, that's Old School. If you can relate to everything Maj Petrarca mentioned, that's "Old School". If you had to shave everyday, that's Old School.

Response by LTC Charles Patchin made Dec 9 at 2019 10:45 AM

LTC Charles Patchin — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 10:45:40 -0500

AT EASE was a command to shut up.
All cotton uniforms were heavily starched.
PT was done in boots, fatigue trousers and white T shirts. In cold weather add a long john top and leather gloves.
1 May-30Sep was khaki uniform.
Fatigues were green, nametapes were white w/black letters, US Army tape was gold & black. All badges and rank were sewn on.
Shoes, boots and garrison cap peak/chin strap were spit shined.
M-1 rifle, BAR, Grease Gun, M-1 or M-2 Carbine. M-1919 series machine guns.
M-38A1 Jeep. M-37B 3/4.
Stand up Ridgeway cap.
Tent pegs and poles treated w/linseed oil.
NO 3 stripe Sergeant! (SSG E5)
Brown boots and a bottle of black dye.
You screwed up, someone took you behind the barracks and beat you up. Seldom an Art 15
40 man squad bays

Response by SPC Andrew Murray made Dec 9 at 2019 1:52 PM

SPC Andrew Murray — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 13:52:27 -0500

It means you hate comfort and always try to make things as terrible as possible for people.

Response by CPL Modesto Macia-Perez made Dec 9 at 2019 4:13 PM

CPL Modesto Macia-Perez — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 16:13:56 -0500

Yep, done all of the above Major, I’m old school.

Response by SFC John Coffindaffer made Dec 9 at 2019 4:24 PM

SFC John Coffindaffer — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 16:24:51 -0500

Bonus-Anyone remember what a P-38 was? Hint-It was not an Air Force fighter. LOL

Response by Sgt John Good made Dec 9 at 2019 11:00 PM

Sgt John Good — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 23:00:13 -0500

Wore cotton fatigues

Held the rank of e-4 sergeant in the airforce before senior airman was a non-commissioned officer rank

Response by SGT Richard Iloff made Dec 10 at 2019 7:06 AM

SGT Richard Iloff — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 07:06:32 -0500

I'm old school, ran in fatigues and boots. Wore the steel pot and if you messed up you got your butt kicked by the Drill Sgt. They didn't point a finger at you they literally kicked your butt

Response by LTC Lee Bouchard made Dec 10 at 2019 4:11 PM

LTC Lee Bouchard — Tue, 10 Dec 2019 16:11:40 -0500

There will always be an "Old School" generation. Someone who served maybe 20 years ago could be Old School today.
Real old school for me was the following. Being issued brown leather boots, die them black and then add one full can of kiwi black polish. Spit shine with cotton balls until they truly shine. Old School was before Drill Sgts. They were TACK NCO's and physical contact with a trainee was customary. Wooden floors in WW ll troop barracks were highly polished and you did not walk on the floors unless you were wearing only socks. At night you had a fire guard insuring the coal fired furnace kept the barracks warm at night. Your issued M-1 Grand was kept in weapons racks located in the center of the floor. Often unlocked. You rode in WW ll duce and half's and jeeps. If you rode in a vehicle you were lucky. Otherwise, you ran or forced marched everywhere. Buddied up with shelter half's and slept with another guy in a single tent. Ate C and K rations....cold. Cooked, shaved and washed from your steel pot. If you were a Sgt. E-5 you were God. If you failed to salute an officer or within 50 feet of the U.S. flag, you might well begin looking for a shovel and begin digging a deep hole and crawl in.
Old school included a "Drumming Out" when someone disobeyed a direct order or equivalent breach
under the UCMJ. Anyone who has witnessed a Drumming Out will remember it for life. An old school custom still appropriate today.

Response by SFC Carlos Galeazzi made Dec 11 at 2019 1:13 PM

SFC Carlos Galeazzi — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 13:13:44 -0500

MRE's? Try C-Rations and PT in your pickle suit. No PT shorts or sweats...

Response by SGT Rick Himel made Dec 11 at 2019 10:50 PM

SGT Rick Himel — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 22:50:35 -0500

Watched Rambo at the theater at Ft. Bragg when it was new
Ran PT in boots
Ate C Rations that were nearly as old as you were
Smoked in the mess hall, motor pool, barracks in aircraft, etc....
Drove a M151
Learn to use the F bomb as an indicator of severity - as in - “you better fix this f$%king Jeep right f&%king now or I’ll have your a$$.....
Remember when lithium batteries used to blow up if submerged in water
Pulled shit burning duty in a 3rd World Country
Never heard of the term hazing and thought that’s what the FNG deserved
Fired an actual military issued 1911

Response by PO1 Michael Bruner made Dec 12 at 2019 7:42 AM

PO1 Michael Bruner — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 07:42:50 -0500

One word: dungarees

Response by PO3 Paul Barger made Dec 12 at 2019 10:24 AM

PO3 Paul Barger — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 10:24:40 -0500

Hmm lets see I am old school plus an "Old Salt as well" 4 years Navy, 3 years army and 3 years Air Force reserves, and 3 years Navy reserves. I see alot of mention of the Army, fatigues, yellow pt shorts, shelter halves, cattle cars ,goats, M-16 being shipped on cardboard with cellophane wrapped around it like a mattel toy, Ill take the M14 and my old .45 thank you. and gotta love the old wood Barracks and ice cold showers But there is also fire fighting, learning to patch holes before you drowned, smoke house, gas house coughing up your guts. "General Quarters, this is not a drill"out with the fleet, riding out 40ft waves tied in your canvas bunk. I could go on and on. I have been approached before because I have different ranks on my cap but I quickly let them know I served in different services which many did. It is becoming bad people impersonating military with medals all over the place and in a way I cannot blame those confronting others but if you are a vet be tactful and polite about it until you learn if they ARE a Vet or not. You will find out pretty quick.
God Bless all and Merry Christmas, remember all of our brothers and sisters serving right now.

Response by PO3 Paul Barger made Dec 12 at 2019 10:31 AM

PO3 Paul Barger — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 10:31:27 -0500

I think if you raised your hand and took that oath then to me you are a vet. Some dont agree just like combat and non-combat. cooks in the rear, supply in the rear, front line or never seeing action are you "wartime", those that are Cold War Vets everyone has their own ideas and opinions. If you took the oath to serve this country and honor that flag then my opinion is your a vet but thats just me. It takes more than front line to make it work, without food, supplies ect noone is soldering.

Response by Sgt Phil Quintana made Dec 12 at 2019 6:37 PM

Sgt Phil Quintana — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 18:37:47 -0500

Your "Old Corps" if you;
Stayed in "splinter village" (Korean War barracks) during receiving week,

Had DIs that made it "rain",

For "IT" DIs would make you do "mountain climbers" 'til you cramped up or puked,

The best three months, in hind sight of course!

Response by Cpl Gerald Hill made Dec 12 at 2019 7:28 PM

Cpl Gerald Hill — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 19:28:55 -0500

March 1964 at MCRD San Diego CA. I got the pleasure of sleeping with my M-14 rifle, not because I dropped it but because I couldn't remember the serial number when the D.I. asked me and now 55 years later I can still remember its serial number!

Response by PO1 Robert Adams made Dec 13 at 2019 1:29 AM

PO1 Robert Adams — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 01:29:34 -0500

If you did JFK's, you're old school.

Response by PO1 Robert Adams made Dec 13 at 2019 1:31 AM

PO1 Robert Adams — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 01:31:58 -0500

MRE's would be a former meal. How about C&K rats.

Response by PO1 Robert Adams made Dec 13 at 2019 1:32 AM

PO1 Robert Adams — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 01:32:56 -0500

Supposed to be a gormet meal not former. Sorry.

Response by LCpl Kenneth Heath made Dec 14 at 2019 2:01 AM

LCpl Kenneth Heath — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 02:01:29 -0500

"Old Corps" is anyone who joined the day before you! ;)

Response by SFC Richard Bensen made Dec 14 at 2019 7:47 AM

SFC Richard Bensen — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 07:47:10 -0500

Gotta agree with the Major with the exception of never eating MRE's..we had c-rations and ran our PT in our fatigue pants ,t-shirt,and our "boots".....

Response by SGT Jd Cannon made Dec 14 at 2019 4:10 PM

SGT Jd Cannon — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 16:10:37 -0500

I remember when you had to strip your brass using Brasso and a tent pole, when you couldn’t survive inspection without edge dressing. If you got captured during Bivouac, the drills treated you like a POW... they would take you behind the barracks and put hands on you if needed it and you never told... because that was better than an Article 15. That’s old school.

Response by SFC Randall Atchison made Dec 14 at 2019 10:04 PM

SFC Randall Atchison — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 22:04:09 -0500

Never heard the term old school when I was in; looking forward to Project Transition; going ROD; $1.90 per carton cigarettes; QM laundry; and your paycheck being so small after taxes and the 1SG’s cut for the flavor of the month charity!

Response by PO1 Don Tucker made Dec 23 at 2019 1:17 PM

PO1 Don Tucker — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 13:17:11 -0500

Old school? Well my first CSM had the MOH from WW2, we wore full color 101st patch, broke starch everyday with spit shined jump boots. You ran PT in your fatigues and God was the 1st Sgt !! Just a different army, so yeah being old 11B is old school.

Response by PFC David Gettman made Dec 26 at 2019 3:40 PM

PFC David Gettman — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 15:40:51 -0500

Here is an abbreviated list of some of the Christmas' my dad spent in the military during his 37 year career. Old school?
Dad spent Christmas 1944 in Belgium with the 99th Infantry Division. His pass to see Marlene Dietrich in Liege having been cancelled on the 16th, he was fighting for his life against the Germans in a desperate attempt to stop the spearhead of the 6th Panzer Army thrust into the Ardennes at what would become the northern shoulder of the Battle of the Bulge.
Christmas 1945 was in Austria with 83d Infantry Division, working the displaced persons camps where the dregs of war torn Europe huddled by the hundreds of thousands.
Christmas 1946 found him still in Austria working the displaced persons camps, now with 4th Constabulary Regiment (4th Cavalry).
Finally home for Christmas 1947-49.
He spent Christmas 1950 in Korea with what was left of the shattered 2d Infantry Division, fighting for his life against the Chinese and North Koreans.
Christmas 1951-52 were at Ft. Hood, Texas; 1953-55 in Germany with 2d Cav and 507th Ord; 1956 at Ft. Banks, Mass with 15th AAA Grp; 1957 at Ft. Ord, CA; 1958 at Ft. Riley, KS; 1960-61 in Korea; 1962 Ft. Ord, CA; 1963-64 with 7th Army, Germany; 1965, HOME; 1966 in Vietnam with 4th Infantry.....
What I'm trying to say is, don't forget our military this Christmas or ever. They are the reason we can celebrate.

Response by MSG Robert Reiser made Dec 26 at 2019 10:06 PM

MSG Robert Reiser — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 22:06:59 -0500

Coal heat in WWII buildings (and water). (1965 at fort lost in the woods).

Response by PO1 Jerome Newland made Jan 11 at 2020 9:23 PM

PO1 Jerome Newland — Sat, 11 Jan 2020 21:23:00 -0500

I loved the Gamma Goat.

Response by 1SG James Kelly made Jan 12 at 2020 11:07 PM

1SG James Kelly — Sun, 12 Jan 2020 23:07:13 -0500

Kelly, James T.
1SG US Army retired my ass
19Z5MHC5D8
!965 - 1988 that old school enough for ya

Response by SFC Gerald Halbur made Jan 15 at 2020 9:57 AM

SFC Gerald Halbur — Wed, 15 Jan 2020 09:57:25 -0500

Old school is when they had SPEC 5, 6 & 7

Response by TSgt David Olson made Jan 17 at 2020 11:48 PM

TSgt David Olson — Fri, 17 Jan 2020 23:48:52 -0500

Living in WW ll barracks, on KP in basic training cleaning the grease trap and scrubbing the coal fired stove, on a detail in the post meat processing facility, base laundry, qualifying with the M-1, post beer bars, PT in fatigues and boots, payday once a month in cash, $76.00 a month as an E-1.

Response by SFC Jim Hall made Jan 18 at 2020 5:59 PM

SFC Jim Hall — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 17:59:28 -0500

Everyone is talking about banana suit and MREs and brown t-shirts. Try PT in green fatigues, white t-shirt and combat boots. C-Rats and heating them on the manifold of a Jeep. Mickey Mouse boots and field pants and wool field shirt.

Response by CPT William Jones made Jan 18 at 2020 9:54 PM

CPT William Jones — Sat, 18 Jan 2020 21:54:29 -0500

I took basic training at Ft polk La before it had a VC village to train in.Commissioned in 1964 commissioned in 1965 RVN in late 1966 Old army was WW11 vets a few late in ones still around. Saw things like Tet 68 from @ field force area then a little time in Germany waiting for Ivan to breach the Fulda gap I had a float bridge company that was supposed to be placed to rescue the units on east side of the big river. Back to RVN in time for the excursion into Cambodia and Laos. My son told me when in High School I told him that wasn't history it was current events. Now he has over 15 years Active duty and reserves still serving jus made Major, so maybe Im old army.

Response by SSG Gerald King made Jan 19 at 2020 10:39 AM

SSG Gerald King — Sun, 19 Jan 2020 10:39:31 -0500

If you were issued and qualified with an M-14. Did your Pt in a white T-shirt, fatigue pants and black combat boots. Pulled KP at the local mess hall. Your fatigues were starched so heavy that they could you had to force your legs and arms in the opening to separate them enough to put them on.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2020 4:50 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Jan 2020 16:50:39 -0500

Not sure exactly what constitutes it however I do believe it was a time before safe spaces, troops allowed to bash the President on social media and the military paying for sex changes.

Response by Cpl William Surrette made Jan 20 at 2020 1:15 PM

Cpl William Surrette — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 13:15:49 -0500

before the M16, we trained with the M14....(best rifle ever made in my opinion)….the M16 was shown to us, but we never had it in our possession.....

Response by Cpl William Surrette made Jan 20 at 2020 1:16 PM

Cpl William Surrette — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 13:16:41 -0500

before the M16 we trained with the M14....the best rifle ever made in my opinion....we only looked at the M16....never trained with it....

Response by SPC Byron Skinner made Jan 20 at 2020 11:28 PM

SPC Byron Skinner — Mon, 20 Jan 2020 23:28:30 -0500

Byron Skinner. Old school .qualifying in BCT with the M-14, qualifying in AIT with the M-14E2, humping an M-60 in Nam before Tet 1968, PT in fatigues, Combat Boots M-14 rifle at port arms and in Combat Boots. Drill Instructors kicking to slow recruits in the ass, blanket party’s, coming back from a day of training and finding all the bunks turned over and foot lockers dumped, aluminum canteens, deploying in a troop ship, M-38 1/4 ton vehicles, M-26A1 Grenades, CS Gas Grenades, ANPRC-25, M-113 Gas Burners in Combat, Boom de Boom 36, white name tags on fatigues, C-rats before the hand Meat Load and Spaghetti and Meatballs, ….etc.

Response by SGT Daniel Durkovich made Jan 21 at 2020 12:33 PM

SGT Daniel Durkovich — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 12:33:32 -0500

“Old School” is when the younger generation looks at something they’ve heard about and never learned. Looking at a few of the comments like “ wall to wall counseling”, Old school can be good and bad. Just depends on the perspective. It can also save your life.

Response by PV2 Joseph Prudhomme made Jan 22 at 2020 10:27 PM

PV2 Joseph Prudhomme — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 22:27:34 -0500

I wrote what I wrote. I ain't gonna change it....yellow nylon p.t.'s. I am sorry....

Response by SSG Harry Outcalt made Jan 22 at 2020 10:29 PM

SSG Harry Outcalt — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 22:29:20 -0500

Lol. If you did PT in combat boots, ate c rats and saved the cans for combat recycling used starch to get that strac look in your uniform , had the mosquito swarming around you from using the issue insect liquid and you know what K and L rations were , cuss better than a drunk sailor. Cadence calls were worse than cat calls. Smiled at the fact you could order shots of tequila at 17 in the e club...You might be old school

Response by LCpl John Bright made Jan 23 at 2020 8:30 AM

LCpl John Bright — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 08:30:51 -0500

I'm a M-14 baby, with fish fins on my starch Utilities trousers.

Response by SFC Charles Woods made Jan 23 at 2020 1:32 PM

SFC Charles Woods — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 13:32:06 -0500

In my case,basic with an M1 Garand,PT in fatigue pants and Brown combat boots.Trained to drive an M211 two and one half ton truck.Drove the gasoline engine M35 truck.Yes I know what a Gamma Goat is but I thought that was another boondoggle like the M151 Mutt series,AKA the mankiller.First enlistment 9 Jan 1957,Amarillo,Teaxs.Basic Battery A 10th Training Bn.

Response by SPC Donald Reece made Jan 24 at 2020 8:27 AM

SPC Donald Reece — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 08:27:57 -0500

don't forget rations from ww2

Response by MSgt Linda Tarach made Jan 24 at 2020 1:30 PM

MSgt Linda Tarach — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 13:30:21 -0500

Basically means living in and reminiscing about the past and out of touch with what it means to serve in today's military.

Response by MAJ David Atkinson made Jan 24 at 2020 6:51 PM

MAJ David Atkinson — Fri, 24 Jan 2020 18:51:34 -0500

When PT uniform consisted of removing your cover and shirt and unblousing your combat boots. Cleaning your M16 with your t-shirt because the manufacturer didn’t provide cleaning kits because it wasn’t supposed to ever need cleaning.

Response by SGT Robert Andrews made Jan 25 at 2020 9:14 PM

SGT Robert Andrews — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 21:14:56 -0500

All my cadences are banned...pressed my bdus razor sharp with starch.."kill a commie for mommie" was acceptable not offensive that was mild. Have alot of other statements that are banned. Used to be acceptable.

Response by SGT Robert Andrews made Jan 25 at 2020 9:17 PM

SGT Robert Andrews — Sat, 25 Jan 2020 21:17:27 -0500

Dehydrated pork or beef patty and pears

Response by SFC Nancy Hawk made Jan 26 at 2020 1:40 PM

SFC Nancy Hawk — Sun, 26 Jan 2020 13:40:38 -0500

Not whining over every order. Not being distracted on the range. Getting "it done" then bitching. Otherwise...

Response by SSG Tom Montgomery made Jan 26 at 2020 8:26 PM

SSG Tom Montgomery — Sun, 26 Jan 2020 20:26:51 -0500

"Old School" is in the mind of the beholder. Its different for everybody. When I got to basic training, we were transported in cattle cars. Were never allowed to walk in the company area. Run or stand at attention. We were required to do two round trips on the overhead ladder before entering the mess hall. We started out in barracks made during WWI. The post hospital was started during the Civil War. We did PT and runs in fatigue pants, combat boots and t-shirts. I was assigned a 5/4, M151A1, Gamma Goat, Deuce and a half, and ooooold 3/4 ton. We slept in GP large, Medium and Small tents. Heated by a mogas heater. To me that's old school. The older guys said it was Brown Boots, Ike Jackets and and "K" rations. It just depends on what you experience. Old school/ New school, it's a state of mind.

Response by SFC Tracy Donahoo made Jan 27 at 2020 8:56 AM

SFC Tracy Donahoo — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 08:56:15 -0500

C-rats
Spit Shine
Breaking Starch
Mess halls
5 event PT test
.45 cal pistols
M-1 Grease Guns
M-151 A1&A2
Gamma Goats
Real moustaches!
Reporting for Pay
Payday activities in Kahkis

Response by CPL Steve Freeman made Jan 27 at 2020 1:05 PM

CPL Steve Freeman — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 13:05:00 -0500

What constitutes "old school" is relatively subjective. What constitutes horrendous grammar is not. Punctuation is our friend. Use it.

Response by CPL Henry Miller made Jan 27 at 2020 6:11 PM

CPL Henry Miller — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 18:11:42 -0500

Ever hand dyed issued brown boots to black.

Response by PFC James Breitenbucher made Jan 28 at 2020 11:38 AM

PFC James Breitenbucher — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 11:38:03 -0500

Bumblebee PT uniforms.. reversible.

Response by LTC Frank Tierney made Jan 31 at 2020 9:32 PM

LTC Frank Tierney — Fri, 31 Jan 2020 21:32:01 -0500

Know what a p-38 is for, wore fatigues, issued white undies, wore a pile hat in the winter,took a pro pay test.

Response by SGT Eliyahu Rooff made Feb 3 at 2020 12:47 AM

SGT Eliyahu Rooff — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 00:47:29 -0500

It's gonna depend a lot on your generation. For us (BASD 22AUG66) old school was someone who originally qualified on an M1 Garand, had worn lace-up leggings, brown boots, HBT fatigues, and drove an M-38 quarter-ton. They also wore a World War Two Victory Medal ribbon on their class-A uniform.

Response by SSgt Daniel d'Errico made Feb 3 at 2020 2:19 PM

SSgt Daniel d'Errico — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 14:19:00 -0500

I have done nearly 90% of what Major Petrarca listed above. Plus, I've eaten C rations, wore OD fatigues with white lettering on blue name tapes with full color command patches. Carried LBE back packs (both medium and large). Drove 1/4 ton M-151s, duece and a halfs, AT fork lifts, and the staff car for my CO. Shaved, bathed, but never cooked out of my M-1 helmet! Cooked and ate from a mess kit (he forgot that one). Slept in shelter halfs put together, on the ground, those hard as rocks cots and wore the USAF all purpose white PT snorts. Life before MREs was really interesting.

Response by AA Michae j Bergquist sr made Feb 5 at 2020 9:41 PM

AA Michae j Bergquist sr — Wed, 05 Feb 2020 21:41:24 -0500

NO REGRETS

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2020 2:56 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 02:56:22 -0500

When you don't complain about doing things that make absolutely no sense because that's just how the Army is

Response by SGT Erven Priest made Feb 6 at 2020 6:46 PM

SGT Erven Priest — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 18:46:09 -0500

If you had c-rations with a 4 pack of cigarettes that when you light them they lasted about 20 seconds
you are old school.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 7 at 2020 9:04 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Feb 2020 09:04:19 -0500

Not only know what a gamma goat was, but actually had to ride in the damned things (was bounced out once going down a FU trail!)

Your uniform was just one color (OD Green), goes with "Breaking Starch" (Class B Kacki's as well)

Actually hated giving up C-Rations for MRE's (Brown 1st gen)

In a Steel Pot of warm water, you could shave, brush your teeth, bathe, and if you were good (read experience) have enough water left for a cup of coffee

You found a set of M16 hand guards that had Mattel stamped on the inside (me, only once)

As a patrol leader, you actually also carried a radio

You know what Tigerstrip is

You also know what a LLRP is

Response by CMSgt George Barrett made Feb 9 at 2020 11:38 AM

CMSgt George Barrett — Sun, 09 Feb 2020 11:38:00 -0500

Having enlisted in 1954, retired in 1985, then taught aerospace science for AFJROTC the next 24 years, I think I qualify for "old school".

Response by SSG Luke Kirkwood made Feb 10 at 2020 12:27 PM

SSG Luke Kirkwood — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 12:27:46 -0500

No it would be the warfieghters. The ones that deployed every other year. Before that it was the cold war soldiers that trained for old school combat. Before then it was the Vietnam vets. 15 years is a rough generation in the military.

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Feb 11 at 2020 1:06 AM

MAJ Matthew Arnold — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 01:06:24 -0500

I road around in a ¼ ton in my OD green fatigues.

Response by SFC Mark Klaers made Feb 21 at 2020 8:40 AM

SFC Mark Klaers — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 08:40:31 -0500

Real easy...it's not about what old ass vehicle you rode in(in my case M880)or what model M-16 you used. It's about your mindset. You are dedicated to the service, without it you are NOTHING! Without you it is NOTHING! Your weapon IS your priority! When you are wet, cold and filthy...it is dry, warm and clean! When you have ANY down time, the first thing is it's care...before you eat, sleep or shit. Hard training makes you harder, therefor it is not only welcome, it is pursued. Always strive to be better than you leadership, therefor your leadership has no choice but to be the best. Nothing is more important than your squad, which is more important than your platoon, which is more important than your company, which is more important than your battalion, which is more important than your regiment. AND YOUR REGIMENT IS EVERYTHING! That, ladies and gentlemen, is what being "Old School" is.

Response by SSG Craig Newton made Feb 21 at 2020 6:15 PM

SSG Craig Newton — Fri, 21 Feb 2020 18:15:04 -0500

If you lived in “temporary” World War II barracks and did PT in fatigues and combat boots.

Response by MSG Lonnie Averkamp made Feb 22 at 2020 2:25 AM

MSG Lonnie Averkamp — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 02:25:56 -0500

I still have a pair of Khakis in my closet - Waiting for the Army to come to Its Senses and bring them back (best damned uniform a Paratrooper ever wore).

Response by MSG Lonnie Averkamp made Feb 22 at 2020 2:42 AM

MSG Lonnie Averkamp — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 02:42:41 -0500

MONTHLY CASH PAY-DAY. Wearing Class-B Khakis and waiting for the Company X-O, sporting a .45 pistol, to come back with Cash Money to pay every man in the Company. Then the Afternoon was Off for Payday Activities.

Response by SGT Reinaldo Rios made Feb 22 at 2020 8:41 PM

SGT Reinaldo Rios — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 20:41:45 -0500

Open can rations with p38

Response by SGT Reinaldo Rios made Feb 22 at 2020 8:42 PM

SGT Reinaldo Rios — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 20:42:31 -0500

Use m90 recoil rifle

Response by SGT Reinaldo Rios made Feb 22 at 2020 8:44 PM

SGT Reinaldo Rios — Sat, 22 Feb 2020 20:44:03 -0500

Be rto w backpack radio the ones that batteries get burn if you get in deep water

Response by SSG Lauro Jimenez made Feb 23 at 2020 12:31 AM

SSG Lauro Jimenez — Sun, 23 Feb 2020 00:31:18 -0500

Okay all you snowflakes. I was born in the military 1967. Father career man V iij Vietnam veteran. My family fought in every major combat action since WW2. I joined in 1985 retired 2014. Sorry I was trained by Vietnam veterans and some Korean war veterans. You fuck sticks cry about everything fucking thing li kg e its owed to you. A combat patch iui s earned not given . I hate this fucking cry baby site. You fucks are worse than this Traitor Russian Cock sucking President. Its owed to me. I sorry I joined this fucking site and if you heroes want to talk shot about me. I will be willing to see any of you tickets one on one. I'm 52. Retired SSG Infantry and Combat Engineer. I'm 100% service connected and I will stomp your ficking whining snowflakes ass on person. Been in combat been locked up . I'm a small Dide that will get in your face and will give it my best to fuck you up. I can't stand this military now. Well it reflects your great leader. Stop whining and crying on th his site. I live in Victorville California. So fuck nuts. That's it.

Response by SSG Lauro Jimenez made Feb 23 at 2020 12:38 AM

SSG Lauro Jimenez — Sun, 23 Feb 2020 00:38:02 -0500

This is MY COUNTRY. Why you say, I'm native American and Mexican American we were born here. This is MY COUNTRY!!!! So heroes Let's talk face to face. Fuck this internet shit. A bunch of brave people talk tough but have no balls to talk shit in person. So E1 to 010 mN up soldier on and have a cup of shit th he fuck up.My Country you Pilgrim anchor babies.

Response by PO1 Dana Pierson made Feb 24 at 2020 1:35 AM

PO1 Dana Pierson — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 01:35:18 -0500

LoL I may be mid life school... but I remember when the Navy didnt change uniform every two years. We had dungarees... if you got offended by something you went away from the shop until you weren't offended anymore... and you didnt die.
I remember when an E3 was trusted to to walk town in a foreign country by himself with out a liberty buddy and he was capable of getting back to the ship on time for his duty day! I also remember when a 1st class wasn't trusted as much.

Response by PO1 Michael Garrett made Feb 24 at 2020 6:52 AM

PO1 Michael Garrett — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 06:52:25 -0500

Before the existence of political correctness within the ranks.

Response by 1SG Brewer Leggett made Feb 24 at 2020 3:12 PM

1SG Brewer Leggett — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 15:12:40 -0500

Your weapon was an M-14.

PT was combat boots, fatigue pants and white T-Shirt.

Meals were C-Rats

The only thing holding those WW2 barracks up was paste wax.

Response by SFC Kevin L Johnson Sr made Feb 24 at 2020 5:15 PM

SFC Kevin L Johnson Sr — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 17:15:37 -0500

LOL I'm done them all..

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2020 10:06 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 22:06:04 -0500

I’m old school.

I signed up originally in 1991.

As a Private I feared my Team Leader, Squad Leader, and Platoon Sergeant. And I thought that my Platoon Leader, who was an SFC (E-7) because there were never enough Lieutenants, was a god.

My 1SG was a mean sonofabitch who we all loved.

My Company Commander was a complete dickhead, who we all hated mainly because he was an Officer.

The only person we didn’t trust was the Supply Sergeant, because that motherfucker was the biggest thief in the Army.

We trusted everyone else, whether they were a shithead or not, with our lives. But not with our girlfriends or wives.

We knew that the Chaplain’s Assistant had the best porn collection anywhere.

We ate whatever the chow hall made. And if you asked later what we had for breakfast or lunch, we’d say “chow hall,” because that was code for whatever the fuck we ate while talking shit to each other.

If you were ate up, you got chewed up. That meant extra PT if you were a fat body, extra duty if you were a fuckup, and if you didn’t straighten up your shit after that you were DX’d.

Our Company was better than any other Company in the Battalion and we often got into fistfights between Companies in the barracks when one Company would try to steal our “Cherries” to haze them or we tried to steal theirs.

We hated every other Battalion because we were the best fucking Battalion in the Division and would (and DID) get into fights, usually at local bars, when ANYONE would talk shit about their Battalion or even mention that theirs was the best.

And NOONE talked shit about our Division. That was some death penalty shit right there.

We knew how to drive a stick, civilian and military. Because deuces were stick. We wore some funky cotton PTs that sagged like a 90 year old man’s balls when they got rained on. We wore white socks to PT and green socks the rest of the time, and if we got caught wearing anything else we got smoked.

When you put on a new uniform it cracked from the starch, and if you did it right you could wear that bitch for three days.

Your boots were spot shined for first formation after PT at 0900. Then you went and changed them to brush shined ones to work on weapons or vehicles.

No matter what the CSM said, you knew DAMN WELL that there WERE two different kinds of BDUs - your clean, starched ones for garrison and the ones that sometimes had more sewing that fabric for the field.

If you wanted to advance in rank, you did those stupid correspondence courses that your Squad Leader had the answers to, you worked your ass off to get a better PT score, and you prayed to God that the Army dropped your MOS’s promotion score.

You smoked, or dipped, or sometimes both, and when you weren’t on duty you were always near alcohol.

The barracks was the best place to drink if you were under 21, and the worst place to bring your date. And the latrines in the barracks were horrifying but you didn’t notice until after you got out and looked back.

If you were a Cherry, your ass was getting hazed. Like beaten, thrown in the showers, covered in every liquid that came in an MRE, and possibly duct-taped to a telephone pole. I know. I was.

The worst part of life was all of the other assholes in my Unit.

The best part of life was all the other assholes in my Unit.

Response by SP5 Kimberly Poag made Feb 25 at 2020 9:34 PM

SP5 Kimberly Poag — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 21:34:02 -0500

PT in fatigues and boots

Response by PO1 Mike Wallace made Feb 26 at 2020 11:11 AM

PO1 Mike Wallace — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 11:11:36 -0500

Navy version:
Were ever on a ship without a/c
Smelled like NSFO regardless of where you worked
Took the salt pills next to the scuttlebutt
Bought cartons of cigs for a buck at sea
Wore a Seiko watch and when it quit just threw it over the side
Viewed women on ships as something that would never happen
You only had 3 uniforms: whites, blues, and dungarees along with boondockers
Lots more that can't be written here!

Response by SSG Sophie Blake made Feb 26 at 2020 1:31 PM

SSG Sophie Blake — Wed, 26 Feb 2020 13:31:59 -0500

Spit-shining the "Autobahn" at 7th Army NCO Academy in Bad Tölz.

Response by SGT Richard Gocio made Feb 27 at 2020 10:43 AM

SGT Richard Gocio — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 10:43:58 -0500

Old school, how about eating C rations that were manufactured during the Korean war? Scrambled eggs in a can, Which brings up the P38, if you know what a P38 looks like, and can remember trying to use one with frozen fingers, you're old school.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 27 at 2020 1:13 PM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Feb 2020 13:13:35 -0500

PT uniform was on blouse OD green fatigues combat boots black. White T-shirts OD green baseball cap. Stood in line until it was your turn.Entered the room saluted the officer and stated your name And rank reporting for pay.Order to drop and do push-ups without a Maximum number that you could do. Understood the meaning of teamwork come Ratterree in America. Understood unit cohesiveness and served because you love this country not because he wanted to go to school for free.

Response by MSG Allan Davis made Feb 28 at 2020 6:36 AM

MSG Allan Davis — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 06:36:22 -0500

If you attended Ranger before the Ranger standard that “will never change”, changed.
If you know what a Goat is.
If you don’t understand the word “offensive”.
If you are aware that the “first” female ALREADY attended the “Q” along time ago.
If your 1SG was more in shape at 40 than the boot straight out of basic.
If you were not a “soldier in training” but were a basic trainee.
If you have ever used “offensive language” in a cadence and were pissed off you no longer could.
If you never needed to ask permission to kill the enemy.
If you have never seen a stress card.
If you watched a Drill tell a washout that all he needed to do was say he was a fag and he’d be on a flight home.
If you remember when civilians didn’t run every damn office on post.
If you are dumbfounded that co-Ed basic training even exists.
If you earned that funny little black hat and understand everyone wears one now because some officer couldn’t earn it.
If you completely believe not everyone earns a trophy, because not everyone can rise to the occasion.

Response by SPC Robert Bobo made Feb 28 at 2020 1:20 PM

SPC Robert Bobo — Fri, 28 Feb 2020 13:20:08 -0500

Doing PT in fatigues and combat boots, there was no shorts and tennis shoes

Response by 1LT Peter Duston made Mar 7 at 2020 8:25 AM

1LT Peter Duston — Sat, 07 Mar 2020 08:25:30 -0500

Met SP5 Elvis Presley across a Jeep hood in Germany while on alert. His Company TOC was adjacent to ours.

Response by CW4 Robert Mixon made Mar 11 at 2020 11:04 AM

CW4 Robert Mixon — Wed, 11 Mar 2020 11:04:56 -0400

OG"s and brown boots

Response by MAJ Lee Goehl made Mar 13 at 2020 5:40 PM

MAJ Lee Goehl — Fri, 13 Mar 2020 17:40:59 -0400

Someone is old school when they actually have tee shirts older than you are.

Response by CPO Kurt Baschab made Mar 17 at 2020 10:43 PM

CPO Kurt Baschab — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 22:43:13 -0400

Old school, is anything that you did or just so happen yesterday, it really is that simple .

Response by SFC David Salas made Mar 18 at 2020 10:39 PM

SFC David Salas — Wed, 18 Mar 2020 22:39:03 -0400

You got it and don't forget eating on your mess kit....

Response by 1SG Miguel Villasana made Mar 21 at 2020 2:41 PM

1SG Miguel Villasana — Sat, 21 Mar 2020 14:41:43 -0400

Yep! 1971-1993, 13 BOOGALOO! RedLeg Artillery, Love the smell of "WolfPussy" in the morning

Response by SPC W. Neil Cantor made Mar 21 at 2020 2:42 PM

SPC W. Neil Cantor — Sat, 21 Mar 2020 14:42:25 -0400

Lived in those old barracks at Ft. Jackson S.C for BCT and first AIT at Ft. Ord CA.

Response by SPC W. Neil Cantor made Mar 21 at 2020 2:47 PM

SPC W. Neil Cantor — Sat, 21 Mar 2020 14:47:32 -0400

Didn't ever wear yellow t-shirt or shorts. Took PT in Olive drab uniform or utility's. Not only drove deuce and a half but worked on anything including tanks and wheeled vehicles. Had to pass PT test!

Response by SP5 Dennis Dorsey made Mar 22 at 2020 5:05 PM

SP5 Dennis Dorsey — Sun, 22 Mar 2020 17:05:30 -0400

WWII barracks @ Fort Polk, Rode troop transport ship to Germany, Operated personnel carrier track vehicles, C-rations (came with 4 smokes), carried an M-14 (Until I went to Nam', M-16 then, was a piece of Sheet)
Getting too old to remember all the other good times.

Response by SP6 Guy Slater made Mar 22 at 2020 8:18 PM

SP6 Guy Slater — Sun, 22 Mar 2020 20:18:56 -0400

The 10 General Orders (and the 11th thrown in for good measure,)

Response by SFC William Allen made Mar 22 at 2020 9:25 PM

SFC William Allen — Sun, 22 Mar 2020 21:25:53 -0400

When your date of enlistment was BEFORE the date of birth of a young soldier just joining the unit, Then you're Old School. Also, I drove an M35A2. An M880 series, Gamma Goats, Goers, Short tube M109A1's. A gas powered M113 (not diesel)-That is old School. Does working on M1008 and M1009's qualify?

Response by Cpl Gerald Hill made Mar 23 at 2020 1:08 AM

Cpl Gerald Hill — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 01:08:49 -0400

How about coming ashore in landing craft on red beach 2 on 10/Apr/65. but wait ....thats not what makes you old school its wearing a flak jacket complete with what we called in the Corps as a diaper which was protection for your lower half held up by shoulder straps its the first thing we were able to lose with out having to pay for!

Response by CPO Eugene Gillam made Mar 23 at 2020 8:29 AM

CPO Eugene Gillam — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 08:29:50 -0400

Had a 7 digit identifier instead of your SSN.

Response by MAJ Michael Poplawski made Mar 23 at 2020 9:31 AM

MAJ Michael Poplawski — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 09:31:35 -0400

I remember this quote from my Sgts when I was just a young LT. "We had the brown shoe army, the black shoe army, now we have this army."

Response by PO3 Michael MacKay made Mar 23 at 2020 6:32 PM

PO3 Michael MacKay — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 18:32:35 -0400

For sailors, remembering when you were in style with your bell bottom blues, and remember how comfortable dungarees were, were encouraged to sing cadence about killing commies for your mommy, remember who the sweet ones were when they were not allowed to ask or tell but still did their jobs well (Warrior Princess, never met him glad he served), know and have stood in the package store on base on a Friday with a Saturday pay day they decided not to pay early and had to gather two buddies and pool resources for $5.47 and decided, "Yup. That seals it, three fifths of Grape Mad Dog have more alcohol in them than Orange Mad Dog." <---True story, not going to ever talk about the shenanigans we got into because of that. Old School.

Response by LTC Al Kittredge made Mar 24 at 2020 5:35 PM

LTC Al Kittredge — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 17:35:29 -0400

The term "old school" is whatever your relative time frame is - for me it goes back further than old school. We used to refer to ourselves as being products of the "brown boot army". Yep, back in the 50's that is what we wore. Later on they issued us bottles of black dye - first it was for our low quarters and about a year later our boots. Ike jackets back they too. A set of Corcoran jump boots and tailored OD's and you were pretty sharp - or at least we thought we were. Hated those greens when they first came out. Almost forgot, we also had about a 3 year period where we wore Bermuda shorts and pith hats during the summer (that was late 50's) Loved the TW's after I went to OCS in mid 60's during the Vietnam build up.

Response by SPC Kevin Parker made Mar 25 at 2020 9:35 PM

SPC Kevin Parker — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 21:35:02 -0400

JUMP BOOTS! ACTUAL LEATHER BOOTS.....KIWI FOREVER! LOL

Response by PO2 Louis Fattrusso made Mar 25 at 2020 10:14 PM

PO2 Louis Fattrusso — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 22:14:28 -0400

If you we’re awakened on the first day of boot camp with a trash can bouncing off the floor. If you were relentlessly humiliated for absolutely no reason in an inspection, so many other “unusual” practices in boot camp.

Response by CPL Heike Pike made Mar 26 at 2020 7:07 AM

CPL Heike Pike — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 07:07:39 -0400

When your boot's had to be spit shined from top to bottom and tip to tow. Your uniforms had to be ironed and pressed at all times and a drill Sargent making up new F word's
for you . When you'r flag vest weight more than you rifle. lol

Response by SGM George Alger made Mar 26 at 2020 4:53 PM

SGM George Alger — Thu, 26 Mar 2020 16:53:22 -0400

Please do not forget having to run thru the over-head bars before eating chow, and the PT test with the Crab-walk, run dodge and jump, and the ever popular confidence tower.

Response by CPL Arthur White made Mar 27 at 2020 5:20 PM

CPL Arthur White — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 17:20:37 -0400

were in the WWII barracks at harmony church for basic-you're old school

Response by SGT George Reimuth made Mar 27 at 2020 8:24 PM

SGT George Reimuth — Fri, 27 Mar 2020 20:24:27 -0400

oh, those were the memories , back in 1979-to 1982 there were gamma goats , there still maybe old barracks I think they are on tank hill Ft Jackson, South Carolina , I never wore PT shorts during boot camp training at Ft. Dix , New Jersey , and the old M-16 RIFLE , I think the M-16 may have been upgraded back in 2002 the year I retired from the Military.

Response by CW4 Abdulaziz Bulling made Mar 28 at 2020 8:09 PM

CW4 Abdulaziz Bulling — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 20:09:52 -0400

Running PT in fatigues and boots. Being told when summer was and we had to roll up the sleeves, and when winter came and the sleeves came down.

Response by SPC Fred Scholl made Mar 28 at 2020 10:12 PM

SPC Fred Scholl — Sat, 28 Mar 2020 22:12:40 -0400

Please...if you have to ask, you ain't old school.

Response by SFC James Long made Mar 29 at 2020 12:35 AM

SFC James Long — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 00:35:35 -0400

Well seems most of you are NEW School., I trained with an M1, , Drove a Jeep manufactured by Ford or Willies, Even drove those duece and halves powered by a Reo Gold Comet gas engine and Drove an M62 Wrecker powered by a contenental gas powered engine. Oh yes, 40 men barracks, built for WWII at Fort Ord. And I did fly in a C119 Box car from Okinawa to Indo china before there was an north and south Vietnam. Remember when the 1st Sgt was a 5 striper with a diamond YES, old school.

Response by Sgt Michael Clifford made Mar 29 at 2020 12:38 PM

Sgt Michael Clifford — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 12:38:15 -0400

Joined the Marine Corps when they were still issuing brown shoes and leather gear along with a bottle of black shoe dye. The DI said make em black and we did. Leather boots with the rough side out which we wore in the field and spit shined in garrison. We kept our M-14's in rifle racks in the middle of the squad bay, secured with chains an a lock which we had a key. We could unlock our weapon at any time for cleaning or just personal drill practice. None went missing and no one was injured.

Response by Cpl Tyler Therrien made Mar 29 at 2020 5:22 PM

Cpl Tyler Therrien — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 17:22:05 -0400

As a young Marine I recall becoming "fed up" with the constant use of the term "Old Corps" I had been a member of SCA and had some photos of a battle in full armor I posted them on a message board in my squadron that unless your 782 gear looked like this don't be talking about "old corps" - Master guns was not amused

Response by MAJ Jeffrey Johnson made Mar 29 at 2020 9:36 PM

MAJ Jeffrey Johnson — Sun, 29 Mar 2020 21:36:47 -0400

Holding to old expectations. I refused to attend the wedding of a classmate that my wife and I were very close with while students. I was a former E-6 now O-2. She, an O-1 married her platoon sergeant.

Response by SFC Craig Vaughn made Mar 30 at 2020 2:32 AM

SFC Craig Vaughn — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 02:32:42 -0400

If you know what "By The Book" means, and you know that crap doesn't work most of the time.

Response by LTC Lee Bouchard made Mar 30 at 2020 3:01 AM

LTC Lee Bouchard — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 03:01:13 -0400

Riding up the hill with Teddy. A colt .45 auto in one hand and a sword in the other.
Shouting Yeepie, Kiy Yea, as your ride. But that would be Bruce Willis and not Joe Biden.

So that ever-moving line you asked about is somewhere between the examples above.

Response by CW4 Craig Urban made Mar 31 at 2020 10:41 AM

CW4 Craig Urban — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 10:41:54 -0400

Me. I am old school

Response by MAJ Patrick Hairston CISSP, AWS Certified Cloud Architect made Mar 31 at 2020 2:34 PM

MAJ Patrick Hairston CISSP, AWS Certified Cloud Architect — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 14:34:25 -0400

If, when you were promoted to E-5, the 1SG or CSM invited you into his office for a drink of conac and a cigar he kept in his office.

Response by 1SG James Kelly made Apr 12 at 2020 8:37 PM

1SG James Kelly — Sun, 12 Apr 2020 20:37:24 -0400

The line is where I say it is.
Now shut up and get back in ranks.

Response by 1SG Carlos E Bonet made Apr 16 at 2020 11:27 AM

1SG Carlos E Bonet — Thu, 16 Apr 2020 11:27:34 -0400

Weekly rooms inspections
In rank inspiration
TA-50 inspection
Back to the green bdu and black boots
Training, Task condition and standard rehearsal
Rooms inspections (with and without warning)
Monthly counseling
Monthly NCODP
SQT for a 1000 promotion system

Response by SFC Donald Lockwood made Apr 19 at 2020 9:25 AM

SFC Donald Lockwood — Sun, 19 Apr 2020 09:25:38 -0400

How about running all day in green fatigues! That also includes BLACK boots! M-16 by AC SPARK PLUG CORP.

Response by Cpl Jeff Ruffing made Apr 23 at 2020 10:46 AM

Cpl Jeff Ruffing — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 10:46:46 -0400

Ok. To best answer your question, in my humble opinion, is usually within a 20 year gap. I retired in 2000. At that time, we still had “boots and brass” in other words, we still had to shine our boots, with boot polish, a rag, a hand buffer, a little bit of water and a whole lot of alcohol. My son went in around 2011/2012, and they no longer had polishable boots. The uniform had changed, the weaponry gear had changed. Bear in mind, when I was in, I remember humping the pig and carrying a 45. They replaced the pig with the SAW. I friggin hated that thing. You couldn’t walk your rounds into your target, couldn’t see your rounds impacting. Don’t get me started on the 9 mil. I’ve seen guys shot with a 45, down they go. I’ve seen guys shot multiple times with a 9 mil and the are still standing. I guess I had the same feelings when my old school Vietnam educators had when they traded the M14 for the Mattel M16.

Response by CSM Thomas Ray made Apr 30 at 2020 12:14 PM

CSM Thomas Ray — Thu, 30 Apr 2020 12:14:07 -0400

In my case, when I saw a picture of my unit in the Infantry museum at Ft. Benning

Response by SPC William Ward made May 5 at 2020 3:05 AM

SPC William Ward — Tue, 05 May 2020 03:05:42 -0400

I was transitional. I enlisted in the old school Army in 1988. Then Communism went belly up. Trust me, I was there. F#@king great time to be in Germany. Then the Army began retooling. When I got out in 1992 it was the beginning on the new school Army.

Response by SGT Bill Braniff made May 19 at 2020 10:06 AM

SGT Bill Braniff — Tue, 19 May 2020 10:06:34 -0400

hihi Been there done that.

Response by LTC Rick Crosson made May 20 at 2020 9:05 AM

LTC Rick Crosson — Wed, 20 May 2020 09:05:22 -0400

You are old school army if you:
Sang filthy Jodies on a battalion run
Did PT exclusively in combat boots
Smoked and spit tobacco in the TOC and during office meetings
Saw exotic dancers during Happy Hour at the I-Bar at Fort Benning's O'Club
Actually had an O'Club and an NCO Club on post
Remember the first day you had to wear BDU's to formation to prove you owned a set
Mess Sergeants who actually cooked in the field
Couldn't ask and you couldn't tell
Your primary helicopters were a UH-1H, OH-58C, and the AH-1S
NVGs covered your whole face and you only had a grainy 40 degree field of view
Remember the AN-PRC-77 you had on your back hitting you in the back of your head as you fell over a log during a patrol in the woods (TMI?)

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 20 at 2020 2:18 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 May 2020 14:18:01 -0400

If you think all the younger people are weak, lazy, undisciplined, and have it too easy... There will always be a group of lazier or less motivated junior enlisted, but that's partly our job as leaders to mold as many as we can into our image of what a military professional ought to be. When we call ourselves old school I think what that really means is that we are inadvertently acknowledging that we are becoming over the hill.

Response by 1SG Rob Sheehan made May 21 at 2020 3:16 AM

1SG Rob Sheehan — Thu, 21 May 2020 03:16:29 -0400

I got my license on an M151A1 jeep and was assigned a willy's 3/4ton with a Rat-Rig on the back with a VRC46 & 47 and a Vincent aboard.

Response by SSG Gregg Mourizen made May 22 at 2020 2:47 PM

SSG Gregg Mourizen — Fri, 22 May 2020 14:47:13 -0400

Any comment of "I'm old school" should be followed with the question of how many years have you been in. Claiming to be old school and being old school are two different things. I would never claim to be old school, but it someone were to say I was old school, I might take that as a complement. Context is everything.
No, I would not mind having that reputation, for most things.

Response by CW3 Chuck Huddleston made May 30 at 2020 10:07 AM

CW3 Chuck Huddleston — Sat, 30 May 2020 10:07:25 -0400

Being issued an M1 Garand rifle, being issued a .M1 30 Carbine rifle, being issued an M14 rifle and qualifying with all three!

Response by TSgt David Olson made May 30 at 2020 12:03 PM

TSgt David Olson — Sat, 30 May 2020 12:03:36 -0400

Wore white tee’s, barrack’s chore in winter, keeping the WWII barrack’s furnace stoked at night, on K- P scraping down the company’s coal fired range, cleaning the kitchen’s grease pit, post beer bars, pass bus.

Response by SSG Robert Renfro made May 30 at 2020 5:00 PM

SSG Robert Renfro — Sat, 30 May 2020 17:00:39 -0400

Everything from Vietnam to Desert Storm and all the games in between steel pots to kevlar you name it and I was somewhere near it.

Response by Capt Gilbert Arguello made May 31 at 2020 1:49 PM

Capt Gilbert Arguello — Sun, 31 May 2020 13:49:53 -0400

My DI defined "Old school" as anyone that entered the service a day before you entered..

Response by SP5 Derick Johnsohne made Jun 7 at 2020 7:09 PM

SP5 Derick Johnsohne — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 19:09:18 -0400

back again : all except mres . but i dont consider myself old school, i am just old, it has been 40 yrs since ets . thanks all for the memories .

Response by PO1 Kevin Dougherty made Jun 7 at 2020 11:48 PM

PO1 Kevin Dougherty — Sun, 07 Jun 2020 23:48:03 -0400

Old school would be whenever you served as compared to today. As such the definitition is somewhat malleable.

Response by SGT William Hardy made Jun 10 at 2020 4:30 AM

SGT William Hardy — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 04:30:34 -0400

My first uniform was OD Green

Response by MSG Felipe De Leon Brown made Jun 10 at 2020 7:48 PM

MSG Felipe De Leon Brown — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 19:48:11 -0400

"Old School"?
Basic Training PT in combat boots, BDUs, black web belt with a polished brass buckle. Also, Black and Yellow "U.S.ARMY" over left breast pocket and white T-shirt. Khakis (both long sleeve and short sleeve), brown overcoat and raincoat, full-color patches on all uniforms, one-piece "US" and branch insignia, qualifying with M-14. Drill Sergeant calling you a "shit-eating scumbag" just for being there in His BCT company. C-rations (Ham n' Lima Beans, pound cake, spaghetti w/meatballs, etc with 4 cigarettes). Qualify with M-14E2 and M-60 in 11B (Infantry) AIT. Five jumps out of a C-119 to earn blood wings. In Viet Nam, M151 1/4 Ton, 3/4 Ton, 2-1/2 Ton, M16A1, CAR-15, BAR, .30 Cal A6 MG. Jungle fatigues with epaulettes and exposed buttons on straight pockets and again, full-color insignia. Back in the World, Airborne Ops with C7A, C-119, C-123 and C-130. Only personnel authorized to wear a beret (green) were soldiers assigned to Special Forces.

Response by SP5 Edwin Overstreet made Jun 10 at 2020 7:56 PM

SP5 Edwin Overstreet — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 19:56:51 -0400

Induction center San Antonio, Texas to Fort Polk La in a DC3. WW2 T barracks, PT in fatigues and combat boots, Transport to RVN on a troop ship and unloaded down cargo net with full issue and M14 into landing craft . Put up GP medium canvas squad tents, . Drove multi fuel deuce and half and 5 ton gas. Ate C rats and smoked the included cigarettes . And that was all the fun stuff

Response by CW5 Robert Arms made Jun 10 at 2020 10:14 PM

CW5 Robert Arms — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 22:14:16 -0400

Those aren’t Old School. Old School was starching your cotton fatigues, spit-shining your boots with melted polish, and eating C-Rats. Beat that!

Response by SPC Robin Price-Dirks made Jun 12 at 2020 9:37 AM

SPC Robin Price-Dirks — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 09:37:35 -0400

Last experimental cycle of males and females together in basic training and really old od green fatigues that were used in Vietnam and had every uniform replaced before we finished AIT school

Response by SFC Quinn Chastant made Jun 12 at 2020 10:38 AM

SFC Quinn Chastant — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 10:38:22 -0400

Cotton Duck LBE in Basic Training; M1 Steel Helmet with dual sided Grape Vine and Brown Camo and OD Cotton Fatigues; Issued Khaki Summer Uniform with Serice Cap (OD Green billed cap); Taupe Shirt and wool blend Green Class A Uniform; M16A1 with three prong open flash supressor and round forward assist, you might be Vietnam or Post Vietnam Old School.

Response by Sgt Erick Wolle made Jun 12 at 2020 6:10 PM

Sgt Erick Wolle — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 18:10:37 -0400

SSGT USAF 1981-1990 Wolle Erick Here is Old School Terminology that shows I am Old School Remember the old AFEES facility wgere you enlisred a Armed Forces Entrance & Examining Station now its called MEPS Military Entrance Processing Station

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 13 at 2020 2:16 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 14:16:47 -0400

Joined 1981 first uniform OD green

Response by SFC Louis Willhauck, MSM, JSCM, and ARCOM made Jun 13 at 2020 6:25 PM

SFC Louis Willhauck, MSM, JSCM, and ARCOM — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 18:25:43 -0400

I guess "old school", "new school" ... in my case just plain "old"...hahaha

Response by PO1 Aaron Baltosser made Jun 13 at 2020 8:07 PM

PO1 Aaron Baltosser — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 20:07:57 -0400

If you have slept in a WWII vintage shelter half to deploy with and were issued the original Green Jungle boots instead of black I would call that old school. I am well familiar with both pieces of gear having been issued both.

Response by HN Richard Duncan made Jun 13 at 2020 10:33 PM

HN Richard Duncan — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 22:33:33 -0400

86 to 91 Navy before the New Navy. Would I do it again, HELL YES

Response by SPC Donn Sinclair made Jun 14 at 2020 7:24 AM

SPC Donn Sinclair — Sun, 14 Jun 2020 07:24:07 -0400

When I was in, Old school meant the "Brown Shoe Army." The Army had transitioned to black boots and low quarters, but there were still some WWII vets in at that time and they were authorized to wear the old issue.

Response by SFC Daniel Eliseuson made Jun 15 at 2020 12:49 AM

SFC Daniel Eliseuson — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 00:49:03 -0400

The first marine recruited at tuns tavern Reported on board the uss constitution and when queried by Od his purpose and mission replied “I am a marine” he was directed to the fantail and wait....

A few minutes later,The second (ever) marine reported to the uss constitution and received the same instructions with the comment what is a marine and what do they do?????

Upon arrival the 2cd marine started to shake hands with the first (ever) Marine which brassed him with the admonition SON, you should have see the “OLD CORPS !!!

Now let’s forget stupid phrases like “the real army” ad nauseum

Semper Fi !
Cheers
Rangoon

Response by SN Marc Ramos made Jun 15 at 2020 4:54 PM

SN Marc Ramos — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 16:54:24 -0400

According to my brother, Old school is being in the Marines when the drill sergeants were still able to "beat their a**" without repercussions. Of course he came back just a bit more "psychotic" than when he went in.

Response by CPL Raul Perez Jr made Jun 16 at 2020 10:01 AM

CPL Raul Perez Jr — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 10:01:53 -0400

Run company PT with fatigue pants a Platoon tee shirt and boots.
Two sets of boots. One spit shined for inspection and work boots.
In the field eating C rations.
Having to strip your room floor and wax and use the buffing machine.
Having CQ.

Response by Cpl Eric Morales made Jun 16 at 2020 8:28 PM

Cpl Eric Morales — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 20:28:27 -0400

When getting an adjustment meant being hit in the head by your DI. When getting an adjustment meant having the shit kicked outta ya in the whiskey locker by a DI

Response by SGT Ronald Audas made Jun 17 at 2020 11:42 AM

SGT Ronald Audas — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 11:42:27 -0400

I'm really feeling old school. Left the Army in '68. Never heard about most of this stuff.

Response by Capt Terry Fillmore made Jun 17 at 2020 2:50 PM

Capt Terry Fillmore — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 14:50:12 -0400

Chrome domes
C-rats
Sateen Utilities
Field Transport Pack

Response by SFC Joseph Marcotte made Jun 17 at 2020 6:41 PM

SFC Joseph Marcotte — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 18:41:52 -0400

Wearing the old pickle suit with so much starch they stood on their own, being paid in cash and signing for it. PT you had to run 4 miles not 2. How about when MREs first came out and everything was dehydrated. Instead of pop machines you had beer machines. There is so much that I could go on for a long time.

Response by SGT John Lawrence made Jun 18 at 2020 10:49 AM

SGT John Lawrence — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 10:49:26 -0400

Like Maj Petrarch: Everything he says but we did PT in our fatigues and combat boots that were starched and your underwear were starched, sometimes they would let us take off our shirts but you had better have a white T-shirt on otherwise you did a lot more PT than the rest, having to do KP which was faxed out in 1971 and 1972, fire guard duty because the WWII barracks were a fire hazard that could burn down completely in about 6 minutes and there two floors of 30 men per floor, it was all done by screaming and shaking the bunks to get everyone’s attention, hopefully.

Response by SSG Paul Forel made Jun 18 at 2020 2:05 PM

SSG Paul Forel — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 14:05:23 -0400

'Old School' = Brown Boot

Response by SSgt Ricardo Lugo made Jun 19 at 2020 12:03 AM

SSgt Ricardo Lugo — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 00:03:15 -0400

In my entire military life training I was instructed that the old school is the base of the core of values, vision, mission of the total force concept. That future generations of military leaders will build base on these fundament left by those great heroes from the pass warriors. As a veteran I thank God for those warriors of the pass that left a stable Arm Forces for future generations to come. God bless those that are still alive and those that pass away their legacy leaves in the United States Military Force. So God Help Us.

Response by PFC Donald De Paola made Jun 19 at 2020 1:21 PM

PFC Donald De Paola — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 13:21:37 -0400

Nov. '61 - '63
Ft. Dix, N.J. - Basic
Ft. Sill. OK. - A.I.T. - Artillery
Ft. Benning, GA - Airborne Training Jump School
Ft. Campbell, KY - 101st. Abn. Div., 501st. Sig. Corp.
No yellow PT training shorties!!
M79 grenade launcher; M-1911 .45 Automatic Pistol; Grenade launcher and M-16 (Trained on M-1's and M-1 Carbines as a cadet in La Salle Military Academy, LI, NY. '56 - '60)

No gamma goat but the old mechanical mule > U.S. Military M274 Truck, Platform, Utility, 1/2 Ton, 4X4 or "Carrier, Light Weapons, Infantry, 1/2 ton, 4x4" aka "Mule," "Military Mule," or "Mechanical Mule" is a 4-wheel drive, gasoline-powered truck/tractor type vehicle that can carry up to a 1/2 ton off-road. It was introduced in 1956 and used until the 1980s.

You know, just "old school" stuff.

Response by PFC Donald De Paola made Jun 19 at 2020 1:29 PM

PFC Donald De Paola — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 13:29:52 -0400

Donald J. De Paola
Nov. '61 - '63
Ft. Dix, N.J. - Basic
Ft. Sill. OK. - A.I.T. - Artillery
Ft. Benning, GA - Airborne Training Jump School
Ft. Campbell, KY - 101st. Abn. Div., 501st. Sig. Corp.
No yellow PT training shorties (!!) but all the rest including:

M79 grenade launcher; M-1911 .45 Automatic Pistol; Grenade launcher and M-16 (Trained on M-1's and M-1 Carbines as a cadet in La Salle Military Academy, LI, NY. '56 - '60)

No gamma goat but the old mechanical mule > U.S. Military M274 Truck, Platform, Utility, 1/2 Ton, 4X4 or "Carrier, Light Weapons, Infantry, 1/2 ton, 4x4" aka "Mule," "Military Mule," or "Mechanical Mule" is a 4-wheel drive, gasoline-powered truck/tractor type vehicle that can carry up to a 1/2 ton off-road. It was introduced in 1956 and used until the 1980s.

You know, just "old school" stuff.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 19 at 2020 6:16 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 19 Jun 2020 18:16:29 -0400

Filling out a paper travel claim

Response by PO3 Scooter Joe made Jun 20 at 2020 6:35 PM

PO3 Scooter Joe — Sat, 20 Jun 2020 18:35:35 -0400

I did most of that and also made the grass grow lol

Response by SSG Walter R Cooke JR made Jun 28 at 2020 7:04 PM

SSG Walter R Cooke JR — Sun, 28 Jun 2020 19:04:24 -0400

If, you know what a John Wayne bar or a sliver killer is you are old school!
If, your rations had 4 cigarettes in them you are old school!
If, you used a diaper and know what's it's for you are old school!
If, you know how to spin brass and know what brasso is you are old school!
And finally if, a crew cut was the only option you had at the Barber shop you are old school.

Response by Capt Joe Paolilli made Jul 9 at 2020 5:43 PM

Capt Joe Paolilli — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 17:43:00 -0400

For me, if khakis were still an authorized uniform (my first 6 months of active duty).

Response by SPC Clayton Ellzey made Jul 16 at 2020 10:56 AM

SPC Clayton Ellzey — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 10:56:40 -0400

Banana suit for pt
Green eggs out of marmite container
Full auto M16
CQ banging on door at 0300 yelling alert
CQ doing same but company piss test
Pt hungover
We said F@#k alot

Response by SP5 Paul Renard made Jul 16 at 2020 2:13 PM

SP5 Paul Renard — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 14:13:09 -0400

Yellow PT uniform? How about OD fatigues and black boot as a PT uniform.

Response by CWO3 Warren Gaudreau made Jul 16 at 2020 5:27 PM

CWO3 Warren Gaudreau — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 17:27:03 -0400

Old school is focus on the mission, not superfluous crap, especially when the SHTF!

Response by SPC Paul Aguayo made Jul 16 at 2020 11:54 PM

SPC Paul Aguayo — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 23:54:06 -0400

I'd guess it might be a clue it you stood for a good deal of time with one hand holding up a 9 & 1/2 lb
M-1 Garand the other on your crotch loudly chanting "This is my rifle and this is my gun, one is for shooting the other for fun!"

Response by SPC Mike Olivera made Jul 17 at 2020 2:50 PM

SPC Mike Olivera — Fri, 17 Jul 2020 14:50:30 -0400

What constitutes being "old school" in the military?
At least in the "old" Army means not being a sissy that requires to fill out a card because he is too stressed while in basic training. Sure, the enemy is shooting at you and there will be a "stress card" for you. Old school is to suck it up like a real American soldier.

Response by SMSgt Billy Cesarano made Jul 18 at 2020 6:24 PM

SMSgt Billy Cesarano — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 18:24:20 -0400

Being old helps.

Response by MSgt Mason Manner made Jul 18 at 2020 7:28 PM

MSgt Mason Manner — Sat, 18 Jul 2020 19:28:04 -0400

I'm AF(retired)so being old timer means no matter what the JOB came first sharing a room w/3 or 2 other overseas was not uncommon latrines and gang showers were the rule BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY a junior grade enlisted did NOT BACK TALK OR BE INSUBORDINATION INSUBORDINATE to an NCO or OFFICER

Response by MAJ Steve Daugherty made Jul 19 at 2020 12:18 AM

MAJ Steve Daugherty — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 00:18:13 -0400

Several good comments. I would add eating C rations leftover from the Korean War. No easy out discharges , if they had trouble with you in training, they had recycle training platoons where the DI’s got really tough on you, you had to work pretty hard to earn a dishonorable discharge. Some good soldiers came out of those special training platoons. We had PT and ran in our combat boots. The army wasn’t issuing athletic shoes. Did you ever wear a summer khaki uniform and a garrison cap and you might be ‘old school”. But the truth is the old school always belonged to to the seniors in our ranks who had it harder than we did. When I was first in we even had some WWII vets still in the senior NCO and Officer RAnks and they kind of thought us Vietnam guys were panty wastes. So guess it is all in your perspective. I have a lot of respect for the guys today with their repeated combat deployments. The ultimate “Old School “ is the adherence of discipline in the ranks self and respect for authority. The stuff that makes a military unit a cohesive force to be reckoned with

Response by SGM Gerald Fife made Jul 19 at 2020 1:53 AM

SGM Gerald Fife — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 01:53:39 -0400

My school was built in 1927 that was my "Old School" just kidding. I don't think there is a real definition for the term. Reading some of the responses before i respond brings back memories. How many of you young troopers did KP? I was in the "Brown Boot Army." It was 1955 when we had to dye our brown boots to black, about a year later we received our black boots. We had M-1's until 1962. Then came the M-16. We had the old wooden barracks. At Camp Chaffee, later Fort, the WWII builds had no insulated wall. The floors were wood and you better pray you got the second floor bay. That was because you learned about the Friday night parties the Army liked to give. Do they still have them today?
Back to the original question. I think "old school" meant things you learned a while back never changed. No one liked to change the way things were done even if the new way was better and easier. Keep the old ways.
See, I had hit Respond and then looked to see when this was posted, 6, Ah say 6 years ago.

Response by SSG Dennis R. made Jul 19 at 2020 9:34 AM

SSG Dennis R. — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 09:34:57 -0400

My 17th birthday was on the 7th and 15 days later, on 22 July 1968 in Buffalo, NY, I enlisted, leaving the next morning for Ft. Jackson, SC. The following morning was the first time I ever saw grits, honestly thought it was Cream of Wheat, and treated it as such. I've never eaten grits again. 20 years, 9 days later, I took the uniform off - one must retire at the end of the month.
What's old-school? Hard to define. The military is constantly evolving, refining, adjusting to the times. Consider the way we speak to one another. What was acceptable in "this man's Army" barely applies today.
I think back to the number of soldiers I encountered who'd done a successful enlistment and ETS'd. Within a relatively short time, they decide civilian life wasn't all it was cracked up to be and reenlisted. A great many - I don't have any numbers - just couldn't adjust to the "new" Army and wrecked that new career, often leaving with a less than honorable discharge.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2020 9:46 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 09:46:03 -0400

depends on who you ask.

Response by CDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 19 at 2020 10:36 AM

CDR Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 10:36:29 -0400

It’s all a matter of opinion. Having joined the Army in 1983 then transitioning to the Navy in 1996, there have been many changes in the military since I joined. As I still serve, I’ve made many changes during my career. Perhaps it’s a phrase that you say or sometimes the way you act is considered “old school” in the eyes of others.

In reading Major Petrarca’s response, I’ve also done all of the things he listed. Does that make me “old school.”

Response by SFC Sfc Darwin Maring, USA Ret made Jul 19 at 2020 8:07 PM

SFC Sfc Darwin Maring, USA Ret — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 20:07:57 -0400

We walked everywhere, M1 was our rifle then when they got that GM Duse and ahalf with the automatic transmission, we got to watch it go by while we were still walking. PT uniform, you cupcakes had it made, we did it in fatigues.

Response by 1SG Alan Boggs made Jul 19 at 2020 8:49 PM

1SG Alan Boggs — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 20:49:57 -0400

If you remember a time when if you chose to smart mouth someone you better be able to back it up. Cause the 1SG wasnt going to care about your fat lip.

If you were issued a shelter half but no posts or stakes. At some point during the night you just rolled up in the canvas and collapsed. Sleeping bag? Ha! Don't make me laugh.

Your poncho smelled like sour milk and most of the time was your only shelter from the rain.

If you remember a time when there were light green marines and dark green marines, but we were all green.

If your first EO brief was from a 1SG with a cigar clamped in his teeth whi admonished the company that... There a female joining the unit, you watch your damn mouths and keep your dick skinners to yourself.

Response by SGT James Littlejohn made Jul 19 at 2020 9:18 PM

SGT James Littlejohn — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 21:18:31 -0400

He’ll, I walked point for the 3 Wise Men

Response by CAPT Steve E. made Jul 19 at 2020 9:24 PM

CAPT Steve E. — Sun, 19 Jul 2020 21:24:55 -0400

‘Bout a generation and a half...

Response by COL Rich McKinney made Jul 20 at 2020 6:43 AM

COL Rich McKinney — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 06:43:24 -0400

A rifle marked XM16E1

Response by SSG Brian k Printers Sr made Jul 20 at 2020 7:58 AM

SSG Brian k Printers Sr — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 07:58:13 -0400

Any who ate c-rations the one's with cigarettes in them to me is old school

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 20 at 2020 10:29 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 10:29:05 -0400

PT uniform was unbloused boots and the jacket tail pulled out in winter, Summer T-shirt with unbloused boots, Ate C-rations, Drove and road in deuce and a half, drove and rode in a Gamma Goat, Carried and shot M16A1, wore OD fatigues as my first Uniform. Loved my Khaki Uniform. BDU's were nice but liked Fatigues better, Found ACUs to be comfortable but did not see how they hide us at all, Multicams like them as well as my old Fatigues. Multicams were the Last uniform I wore. Also received EER's as SP5 and SSG not NCOERs.

Response by CMSgt Donald ONeill made Jul 20 at 2020 1:28 PM

CMSgt Donald ONeill — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 13:28:18 -0400

Old school to me was when those underneath you needed disciplined you didn't ruin their career . You kept it in house took care of it yourself and hoped you saved someone's career from a petty offence .

Response by SFC Donald Lockwood made Jul 20 at 2020 4:06 PM

SFC Donald Lockwood — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 16:06:18 -0400

I'd sat your St. wore brown boots, does it for me'

Response by SGT Charles Mitchell made Jul 20 at 2020 6:20 PM

SGT Charles Mitchell — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 18:20:17 -0400

We did"t have Yellow PT shorts we did PT in our fatigues and combat boots that's old school.

Response by SSG Patrick Williams made Jul 20 at 2020 8:50 PM

SSG Patrick Williams — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 20:50:35 -0400

C-rats. I miss them.

Response by Col Daniel Janik made Jul 21 at 2020 10:23 AM

Col Daniel Janik — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 10:23:34 -0400

I've eaten C-rations, K-rations (survival), LRRPs, and finally MREs. (C-rations were the best - especially if you got a can of peaches) Did PT in combat boots, fatigue pants (bloused), and t-shirt. Had no idea of the term "kinder and gentler". Yes - rode/drove in a real deuce and a half, rode M-113 APC, and drove the old Willys jeep (called a M-151 back then). Did land navigation without GPS. I recall when the B-52G was "new", and flew in a C-123 Provider. Used an M-16 without forward assist (as well as the GAU5/5A folding stock version). Carried a .38cal revolver instead of a semi-auto sidearm. I even remember Air Force khakis though those went out as soon as I signed up.

Response by SSG Konrad Weiss made Jul 21 at 2020 7:03 PM

SSG Konrad Weiss — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 19:03:44 -0400

Old school was marching in the rain to the range. GI Parties to get it ready for the IG inspection.

Response by MSG Kevin Elliott made Jul 22 at 2020 8:12 PM

MSG Kevin Elliott — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 20:12:01 -0400

Old School = If you ever ate "C" Rats, drove a Gamma-Goat or M-151 Gun Jeep, been to the woodline or seen someone go to the woodline with the Drill Sergeant, were issued khakis, cotton or polyester fatigues, issued white t-shirst for every day wear. That Georgia clay didn't come out of the t-shirts, ever!

Response by SSgt Daniel d'Errico made Jul 22 at 2020 11:25 PM

SSgt Daniel d'Errico — Wed, 22 Jul 2020 23:25:47 -0400

In basic training , we lived in WW2 barracks. Two story wooden structures, opened bayed, hard wooden floors, large fans on each floor at both ends of the building. TI's office on first floor in center of building. The fire escape was a ladder at both ends of building. Laundry room in basement. Four latrines, two on first floor and like wise on second. Damned hot in the summer and damned cold in winter. Mail call usually held outside on drill pad or inside if it rained. Single beds were the main items with four sets of bunk beds nearest to the end of building. No standing lockers, just a wall rack for each bed and foot lockers at the foot/head of bed on the center aisle. Marched to training areas, chow hall and every where else. Technical school was pretty much the same but there were three man rooms. Some squadrons had thousand man dorms, others had three story dorms. Marched to training classes with a stop for raising of the colors, all year round. Classes were six hours long with lunch afterwards. Rest of day were squadron details. Inspections were every Friday and you best have pasted. Once you graduated from tech school you were given your first duty assignment in mass formation. Usually in base theater. Overseas asignments were passed out first. People going to Vietnam or the rest of Souteast Asia were given out first. All others had to wait. Orders, tickets and pay were also given out. After a period of leave, you reported to your departure base on either coast. Usually a one day lay over at that base, in open bay barracks, set up like basic training. Your flight out was at zero bright thirty in the morning. Before that you either slept or went loca sight-seeing, on base, in uniform. (Continued later)

Response by SGT Thomas LaRochelle made Jul 24 at 2020 2:35 AM

SGT Thomas LaRochelle — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 02:35:54 -0400

Used Brasso to polish the bathroom drains.

Lit paste wax on fire to make it liquid to drip on the floor.

Used a folded t-shirt as a polishing pad for the floor buffer.

Response by CPO Heidi Cermak made Jul 24 at 2020 7:35 AM

CPO Heidi Cermak — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 07:35:56 -0400

I had liberty cards in the navy before i was promoted to a petty officer. thats old. nothing wrong with a cattle car,

Response by SSgt Tom Canning made Jul 24 at 2020 4:09 PM

SSgt Tom Canning — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 16:09:47 -0400

No such thing as Velcro rank insignia

Response by MAJ Tom Harper made Jul 25 at 2020 1:13 PM

MAJ Tom Harper — Sat, 25 Jul 2020 13:13:00 -0400

We're in before BDUs or banana suits.

Response by SGT Gary Honeycutt made Jul 26 at 2020 12:03 AM

SGT Gary Honeycutt — Sun, 26 Jul 2020 00:03:19 -0400

Ate c-rats with a 4 pack of cigarettes in the box with them.
Did PT in your pickle suit
Spit shined your barracks floor
Went to Graff
Shined your brass with Brasso
Wore TA-50 in the field
Rode in the back of cattle car
Rode in the back of or drove a duce and a half
Drove a Gamma Goat
Carried a Prick 77 on your back
Carried a blooper with ammo and a .45

Response by SSgt Daniel d'Errico made Jul 26 at 2020 11:52 AM

SSgt Daniel d'Errico — Sun, 26 Jul 2020 11:52:47 -0400

Keeping this short. A high and tight hair cut. No mustasche. Spit shined boots/low quarters. Pants,shirts pressed so hard, you can cut steel with the crease! All metals on the uniform shined daily, worn or not. Foot and wall lockers arranged in proper military order according to the basic training manual of your service. Ate C-rations, cold! Had PT shorts that were also swimming trunks! Had a weekend, base or town pass, 3 days long!

Response by SPC Matt Ovaska made Jul 27 at 2020 8:15 AM

SPC Matt Ovaska — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 08:15:32 -0400

Before BDU's, jungle fatigues were green. Then John Wayne appeared in BDU's so the Military decided to issue BDU's and let GI's ware them to Walmart...before shipping out in Seattle I was issued 6 pairs of XXL boxers instead of medium because that's what they had. Then 6 more pairs of XXL boxers instead of T shirts, towels, wash cloths. I asked " What am I supposed to do with 24 pairs of XXL green boxer shorts in my duffle bag." They said "Trade them when you get to base camp." I never found a GI that was big enough to were them. Oh well.

Response by SFC Joe Walsh made Jul 28 at 2020 11:06 AM

SFC Joe Walsh — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 11:06:05 -0400

Burning coal in cannon heaters to heat the WWII era barracks.

Response by Capt Wayne Burden made Jul 30 at 2020 5:37 PM

Capt Wayne Burden — Thu, 30 Jul 2020 17:37:01 -0400

When you’ve been in a few years longer than the age of new recruits coming in, then you may qualify as “Old School” (it’s also time to start thinking about retirement).

Response by SP5 Roy Sonye made Jul 31 at 2020 8:47 AM

SP5 Roy Sonye — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 08:47:02 -0400

when they did things in basic that they would go to jail for now

Response by SSG Watis Ekthuvapranee made Jul 31 at 2020 10:33 AM

SSG Watis Ekthuvapranee — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 10:33:08 -0400

We don't call ourselves "old school". We got called that when we show you, Maggot, how it's done without winding for every little shit; even though, we were once a maggot that winding for every little shit before you were born.

Response by 1LT Peter Duston made Jul 31 at 2020 3:24 PM

1LT Peter Duston — Fri, 31 Jul 2020 15:24:18 -0400

My issue uniform was a brown "Ike" Jacket and brown boots and still have my Sterling Silver M-1 Rifle Expert Badge...

Response by SP5 Bill Kelley made Aug 19 at 2020 12:08 PM

SP5 Bill Kelley — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 12:08:56 -0400

To me, it would be WWII barracks, an M16a1 made by GM Hyda-Matic Division and PT in fatigue pants, boot and t-shirt.

Oh ya, and a Daily Bulletin on paper rather than electronic.

Response by SGT Paul Willig made Aug 19 at 2020 9:52 PM

SGT Paul Willig — Wed, 19 Aug 2020 21:52:00 -0400

If you ate C Rats, thought driving a 5 ton was wussy because it had power steering, not like a real truck- a deuce and a half, spit shined your boots before you put on your button fly cotton fatigues and your drill sergeants used fuck as a noun, verb, adjective, adverb and exclamation!

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2020 12:15 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 00:15:05 -0400

Company runs wearing fatigues and your boots.

You ate C-rations.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2020 12:17 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 00:17:40 -0400

Yellow pt shorts and white t-shirts

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2020 12:38 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 00:38:10 -0400

Riding in a CUC-V.

Strippers at the Officers Club.

Starched uniforms and spit shined boots

Cleaning latrines with Ajax and brown paper towels.

Sexually charged and foul language jody calls.

Always carry a P38 with your dog tags.

Boots without "speed lace".
Waited on line to get paid.

Your LES was green.

Your enlistment paperwork had carbon copies.

Response by SFC Michael Smith made Aug 20 at 2020 4:51 PM

SFC Michael Smith — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 16:51:54 -0400

Wearing kakis, no women in basic training.

Response by PO2 Louis Fattrusso made Aug 20 at 2020 9:40 PM

PO2 Louis Fattrusso — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 21:40:01 -0400

For the Navy, it’s having done several cruises

Response by SSG Jeff Furgerson made Aug 21 at 2020 10:58 AM

SSG Jeff Furgerson — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 10:58:26 -0400

Ever eaten C rats

Response by SGM Ronald Cheatom made Aug 22 at 2020 6:14 AM

SGM Ronald Cheatom — Sat, 22 Aug 2020 06:14:37 -0400

Issued OD green fatigues, and ran ALL PT, in boots. I didnt see a PT uniform until I went to Korea. And didn't start running in running shoes, until 83. Class A uniform was with a sort of tan colored shirt, until, and wasn't issued BDUs until 83. Some SF guys were privates,( myself included) and we earned the beret flash, the tab came later. Ranger wore black berets, and we didn't have to wear helmets when in the field, unless the mission commander required it. Beer and cigarette machines in the barracks, and yes we lived in barracks, not dorms. Most importantly, you respected EVERYONE, above your rank, and did as you were told.

Response by SSG Anthony Pugh made Aug 23 at 2020 2:40 AM

SSG Anthony Pugh — Sun, 23 Aug 2020 02:40:07 -0400

If you look at my picture, You will see my uniform, Berlin wall still up. lol

Response by SSgt Michael Karr made Aug 23 at 2020 10:51 AM

SSgt Michael Karr — Sun, 23 Aug 2020 10:51:07 -0400

You know what 1505’s were....

Response by SPC Ray Blaylock made Aug 23 at 2020 12:24 PM

SPC Ray Blaylock — Sun, 23 Aug 2020 12:24:11 -0400

Drove the jeeps that had a push strat button on the floor board. Did advance party in a game goat. Run wire for the old telephone communication system. Road in a cattle car in basic training. Did basic and ait all at the same place in the WW11 barracks in the summer with no ac . Know what a bivwack is carried a tent half and sleeping matt. Wrote a steel pot. Used the Vietnam M16s

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2020 2:04 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 14:04:09 -0400

Old school is a line defined by what is new, whenever anything changes then the old way is old school. As an example: I am Not Old School with shining my boots (not possible with desert boots), but I am Old School with starching my ACU's like they are BDU's. (Lets not debate the should or shouldn't starch, I just meant it as an example.)

Response by PFC Earl Hargrove made Aug 24 at 2020 9:32 PM

PFC Earl Hargrove — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 21:32:28 -0400

You wore starched Satines to formation and made Gunny feel so good he gave out the "96"

Response by SGT Eric Knutson made Aug 24 at 2020 11:35 PM

SGT Eric Knutson — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 23:35:44 -0400

lol, while I will admit that it is subjective based on when YOU served, I would say that this pretty well sums it up, (I am a Gruntpa myself)

Response by CWO3 Mike Needel made Sep 3 at 2020 9:34 AM

CWO3 Mike Needel — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 09:34:14 -0400

If your Deuce gear wasn't a sword and a shield, you are not old school.

Response by SFC James Himes made Sep 16 at 2020 11:29 PM

SFC James Himes — Wed, 16 Sep 2020 23:29:59 -0400

Hmmm..... old school .... like solid green fatigues or BDUs in front of a M113 command track that I led a 120MM mech mortor section from.... like that kind of old school?

Response by LTC Ted Blasche made Oct 16 at 2020 9:42 PM

LTC Ted Blasche — Fri, 16 Oct 2020 21:42:01 -0400

It's always one generation back (Stories told when the oldest among your group were recruits.)

Response by SFC Santiago Baez made Oct 17 at 2020 12:28 AM

SFC Santiago Baez — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 00:28:11 -0400

Did that and more.

Response by SFC Clifton Brown made Oct 17 at 2020 2:28 PM

SFC Clifton Brown — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 14:28:58 -0400

You know you're old school if:
1. you still have a P-38 in your dog tag chain,
2. if most of your old Army photos show you wearing Khakis or TA's,
3. if Johnson or Nixon signed your first discharge,
4. If being called 'Sir' after retiring as an NCO still feels a little creepy.
5. if the terms 'spit-charlie' and buku are still a part of your vocabulary.
6. if your favorite knock-around shorts are cut-off fatigues.
Finally,
7. If the term 'the draft' only relates to professional sports or a bar request.

Response by MSgt Hamish Barrett made Oct 17 at 2020 7:44 PM

MSgt Hamish Barrett — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 19:44:21 -0400

Anytime before you got there.

Response by SSG Conrad Sylvestrelamb made Oct 17 at 2020 7:56 PM

SSG Conrad Sylvestrelamb — Sat, 17 Oct 2020 19:56:17 -0400

Duce with or without scram engine, without continental multi fuel engine and turbo . Being all ypu can be

Response by SMSgt Billy Cesarano made Oct 18 at 2020 1:11 PM

SMSgt Billy Cesarano — Sun, 18 Oct 2020 13:11:14 -0400

Sure, the details of what it looked like are well documented here, but there's more.
In a nutshell, "Old School" is what won WWII. The kind of soldier that is rare if not extinct today in western society. The word 'Sacrifice' is derived from 'Sacred," and in those 'Old School' soldiers the freedom and liberty of the world was 'sacred' and they were willing to 'sacrifice' whatever was necessary to preserve it. Today, we describe only the "elite" soldier as having these qualities. Nothing in today's general training environment remotely resembles the men of that era. Training is 'gentile, soft and tender', taking the soldiers' "feelings and comfort" into account. Technology has replaced the blood and guts reality of war. In many ways it is fortunate western society can distance itself from those horrors and madness, but it comes at a high price. Our enemies are just as ruthless and vicious as ever. While the current attacks on freedom and liberty come from or enemies exploitation of a free society creating internal turmoil, they still resort to the age old methods of infiltrating society to sow seeds of division, conflict, violence, corruption, disinformation and tyranny taught in Marxist ideology which the 'Old School' easily recognizes as such.

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Oct 18 at 2020 7:32 PM

Cpl Vic Burk — Sun, 18 Oct 2020 19:32:46 -0400

Generally it seemed to me that anyone that was in at least five years or more before you joined were called "old school." I remember having drill instructors that were already in five to six years or more when I was in boot camp and they were said to be, "Old Corps - Hard Corps." Many years after I had completed my four years of active duty I was talking to a guy who went in five years after me had also completed his enlistment. When I told him my enlistment dates he said, "Oh, you are from the Old Corps - Hard Corps!" I never thought about it until he said that.

Slightly off the subject but my students sometimes ask other teachers (teachers much younger than me) why Mr. Burk is so strict in his classroom? Their response is always, Mr. Burk is old school.

Response by CAPT Phillip B. made Oct 18 at 2020 8:44 PM

CAPT Phillip B. — Sun, 18 Oct 2020 20:44:09 -0400

The line does move, and there is "good" Old School stuff, and "bad" Old School stuff. I'd agree with some of what has been said. We change uniform items out over the years, so it's a good signal if someone talks about something like OD's (olive drabs...my first utility uniform in 1988). In about five years, it'll be "old school" to talk about wearing "blueberries" (please, noobs). :-)

For the "bad", you can know what Old School currently is by sitting in any GMT/safety standdown that discusses what is not permitted (just got someone sent home/to jail). Look at anyone E-7 and above (enlisted side) or O-5 and above (officer side)...if they are grinning or shifting uneasily in their seat...that thing, that is currently being discussed, is old school, and if there was a camera or there were witnesses...those older folks are just hoping the pics were trashed, or the witnesses are dead or struck mute by a bolt of lightning - or their career is in jeopardy.

For the "good" Old School stuff, that's a little easier to spot but harder to explain, you know it when you see it. I'll just speak about what I know, as an officer. An O-6 with a black Eisenhower jacket...is old school. A CO who invites his/her officers to their house for social calls by way of building rapport, would be considered "old school" these days. An O4 who actually takes the time to write an actual letter to their next CO before they PCS in, would be old school. An officer who invites all their officer peers, regardless of whether they like all of them, to a wetting down and picks up the tab without whining or complaining...is old school.

My $0.02.

Response by SFC Aubrey Campbell made Oct 18 at 2020 8:58 PM

SFC Aubrey Campbell — Sun, 18 Oct 2020 20:58:00 -0400

Starched OD Green Khaki Uniform with Cap! Spit shined boots w/leg inserts to form a straight leg appearance. Singing, “C-130 rolling down the strip....” during PT and singing, “Old soldier, combat soldier, pick up a weapon and follow me, while marching. I retired from the Army in 1996, and soldiers called me “Old School” then. No sure what “old school’ means today, but carry the tradition, because as others paved the way, you too must become “Old School!”

Response by PO3 Kevin DeLong made Oct 19 at 2020 12:32 AM

PO3 Kevin DeLong — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 00:32:15 -0400

Old school is when you hit the 10 year mark in the military. At that point you were 50% on your way to a pension. Also known as a lifer who will get 20 or more years of service

Response by SFC Mamerto Perez made Oct 19 at 2020 7:32 AM

SFC Mamerto Perez — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 07:32:49 -0400

To me wearing Fatigues with medal bottoms and issue an M-1 rifle and doing PT in full uniform.

Response by PO3 Steven Taylor made Oct 20 at 2020 8:00 PM

PO3 Steven Taylor — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 20:00:34 -0400

Wore Seafarers, chambre shirt and crackerjacks, killed your feet in boondockers, drank $0.05 schooners of Schlitz on nickel night at the Jarheads bar at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, had a cigarette ration card for $2.00 cartons at sea, drank warm Pepsi and ate peanut butter and jelly sandwiches that tasted like fuel oil in front of the boilers on 12 on 12 off...

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2020 8:50 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 20:50:40 -0400

Stripped a floor using a buffer, set a yellow can of Johnson floor wax on fire and dripped the hot melted wax on the floor and then buffed the floor to a shine using you t-shirt.

Response by Jerry Rivas made Oct 20 at 2020 9:14 PM

Jerry Rivas — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 21:14:57 -0400

Ate WWII C rations
Served as a crew member on M48, & M60 tanks.
Carried and qualified with the M-3 sub machinegun
Carried an M1911A1 in a shoulder holster.......Need I say more?

Response by CPT Thomas Monahan made Oct 21 at 2020 2:31 AM

CPT Thomas Monahan — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 02:31:26 -0400

It’s a generational thing. WW2 is old to Korea. Korea is old to Vietnam. Mid 70s through 1991 is the winning of the Cold War and Desert Storm is old to the War on Terror. It also ties to inform configurations. Pink and Greens and fatigues;to Greens, Khakis, and Jungle Fatigues; to BDUs, and Green class Bs, to ASU and ACU and back to Pink and Greens and what look a lot to the next generation BDU. General rule is anyone still serving over 40 may consider themself old Army

Response by PO1 Mike Wallace made Oct 21 at 2020 2:55 PM

PO1 Mike Wallace — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 14:55:43 -0400

A sailor would say being on a ship that burned NSFO. Old school was having the drunk watch to help shipmates who had way to many to their bunk not a breathalyzer. Back when leadership was #1 not socially acceptable management style. Back when the smoking lamp was lit through out the ship (except where stuff could blow up)

Response by LTC John Wilson made Oct 21 at 2020 4:54 PM

LTC John Wilson — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 16:54:07 -0400

When your favorite Poncho Liner is a few years older than the First Lieutenant that just reported for duty under your supervision, you are indeed "Old School."

If you remember conducting Pistol Qualification with and carrying an M1911A1, you are probably Old School. If you had an M3 Grease Gun in the vault when you were the Company Arms Room Officer, you can count yourself on the "Old School" rolls.

When you still have a Dehydrated Pork Patty you salvaged from the DARK Brown Bag MREs you recently pulled out of storage, you must be "Old School."

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2020 9:28 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Oct 2020 21:28:38 -0400

Operating a retrans site from inside a M-151 MUTT on the side of a road in Korea

Response by PO2 Lawrence Janiec made Oct 23 at 2020 11:08 AM

PO2 Lawrence Janiec — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 11:08:25 -0400

Only if Luke Wilson (the Godfather) declares you as such. However, if Will Ferrell puts in a good word, Vince won't tell you to "earmuff" it.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2020 1:19 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 13:19:18 -0400

To me being labeled as Old School should be taken as a compliment. It means you are upholding standards where the lines are blurred and you are cutting through red tape and getting the job done!

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2020 5:56 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 17:56:32 -0400

Old school should be retired or getting ready to retire. The old school guard has changed.

Response by PO2 Drew Dan made Oct 23 at 2020 6:56 PM

PO2 Drew Dan — Fri, 23 Oct 2020 18:56:39 -0400

If you ever ran out of musket balls at the most inconvenient moment, dropped your packing rod in a puddle in the middle of a fire fight, spilt your musket balls during a storm at sea, ate moldy hardtack and washed it down with rum, bayonetted a wild English pig dog jumping onto the deck, caught 100 questionable diseases every time you pulled into port, got tired of citrus even though you thought it was ok once upon a time, saw a man flayed to death with a cat-o-nine tails, then you might be old school.

I'm not old school, but yeah, there you go.

Response by SPC Logan Steele made Oct 25 at 2020 8:46 AM

SPC Logan Steele — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 08:46:00 -0400

It would have been nice for nylon shorts or a banana suit. But we still did pt in bdu pants and combat boots back in my day

Response by 1SG Arthur Detmers made Oct 25 at 2020 9:56 AM

1SG Arthur Detmers — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 09:56:06 -0400

I went to basic in Oct 1968, we wore OD green fatigues with the blouse tucked in, broke starch every day and spit-shined our boots. For PT you took off your blouse folded it neatly and placed it on the ground in front of you. The run was done in your combat boots. (Train as you Fight). Even then, senior NCO's talked about "old school". I would therefore submit to you that old school is whatever came before or what your senior NCO experienced as a young enlisted soldier.

Response by SSG Gerald King made Oct 25 at 2020 10:28 AM

SSG Gerald King — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 10:28:07 -0400

If you know what it means to "break starch", qualified with the M-14, know what a "fire can" is. Wore khakis,
ran Pt in combat boots and fatigue trousers and t-shirt.

Response by SFC Oddie Brown made Oct 25 at 2020 12:10 PM

SFC Oddie Brown — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 12:10:56 -0400

I believe Old School is a term that takes all branches of the military back in time to the last era. I am sure soldiers in WW1 heard tales of how Old School soldiers in the Spanish American war with Teddy Roosevelts Rough Riders fought battles. I joined in 1984 and every Sergeant I had always told me how they were old school in the Vietnam War and I respected the hell out of them. I served for over 20 years and saw my army go from the M151 Jeep to the Hummer, the field jacket to the Gore Tex jacket, the old steel pot to the kevlar, C-rats to MRE's, and on and on. I saw many changes and in the late 90's and early 2000's my solders were calling me old school because I had been in thru all the changes and the Gulf War. So it keeps going and will never end and I am glad of that. Not every soldier can or will stay in long enough to be old school but they can reflect back as a civilian and know they were serving at that time. If you live long enough or serve long enough you will be old school some day.

Response by PO2 Steven Russell made Oct 25 at 2020 1:11 PM

PO2 Steven Russell — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 13:11:44 -0400

I bought my first gaberdine dress blues from an old-school-er (China sailor?) back in '69 that had very cool dragons embroidered on the inside of the back and cuffs. Made me feel like an old salt!

Response by PO1 George White made Oct 25 at 2020 8:19 PM

PO1 George White — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 20:19:12 -0400

I joined the USN in January 1959. All my boot camp instructors were WWII CPO vets. Then I went to A School and all my instructors were WWII CPO vets. In that A school, I once was given 2 hours extra duty for being 8 seconds late for duty muster after having pitched my class to the finals of the "Field day fastpitch softball tournament" and having to run 3/4 mile to my barracks, shower, don Dress Whites and run the 3/4 miles back to the compound for muster. I got no slack. Okay, lesson learned.

My early career was one of learning to do my duty completely to the best of my ability, take my responsibilities and don't expect anyone to pick up my slack.

To me old schools is summed up best by Gen George Patton when he stated his "one principle":
"There is only one tactical principle
which is not subject to change.
It is to use the means at hand
to inflict the maximum amount
of wounds, death, and destruction
on the enemy in the minimum
amount of time."
General George S. Patton

The nation is best served by men and women who read and understand Gen Patton, and enlist anyway, fully committed to do what he said; and, a leadership that would refuse to lead men and women into combat without knowing that is their standing and over-riding orders. One does not risk men and women in combat by shackling them with "Rules of Engagement".

There is no other reason for a military. The military is not and should not be a freaking place where social experiments are carried out to see what might work with the civilian population.

That is my old school military.
GW

Response by LTC Philip Marlowe made Oct 25 at 2020 8:39 PM

LTC Philip Marlowe — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 20:39:40 -0400

Every generation of Military thinks they're the 'OLD School' when comparing themselves to the 'new generation'. My Grandfather was 'old school' 1912-1942, no, it was my father 1949-1972, no it was me 1970-2012. Compared to today's Army, I'm old school (fatigues, run PT in Combat Boots and Fatigues, C and K Rats, quarter ton Jeeps instead of Hummers, et al). Every generation prides itself on doing things 'differently and (in their opinion) better' than the 'new gen'. The one consistency I've found throughout - the willingness of EVERY Gen to 'step up' and do what needs to be done. That, patriotism and espirit de corp are the SHARED traits of every generation - Old School or NEW!

Response by SPC Ted Maltzie made Oct 25 at 2020 9:29 PM

SPC Ted Maltzie — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 21:29:05 -0400

C-Rats and green eggs if you were lucky.

Response by SGT Gregory Reilly made Oct 29 at 2020 1:28 AM

SGT Gregory Reilly — Thu, 29 Oct 2020 01:28:38 -0400

I believe that's a loaded question. It could be living in a fox hole for 90 days, eating out of a can instead of a bag or soldiering with the lack of todays tecnology. We used to run tons of commo wire and that's not needed today. I hope you see where I'm going. Old school is always going to relate to your generation because things are always evolving. Don't sweat it. When you hit 15 or 20 years, guess what you're going to be old school believe it or not. They're good stories and lessons can always be learned. Sometimes there're actually really interesting. In time you'll tell your stories. It's part of our life and hopefully it always will be. The worst case is that your thankful for things of your generation and you didn't have to deal with ours.

Response by MSgt Mason Manner made Nov 4 at 2020 4:02 PM

MSgt Mason Manner — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 16:02:37 -0500

Ran PT in combat boots or chucca boots worked 20 hours a day for a week at a time w/1day off earning$440 a month as an E4 making E5 in 4yrs was a big deal qualifying w/ 38 wearing fatigues ect

Response by SPC Kenneth James made Nov 4 at 2020 7:48 PM

SPC Kenneth James — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 19:48:11 -0500

Old school going to the club drinking and dancing all night get back to the barracks and taking your dust cover off your bunk to get 1 hr sleep and then PT and go all day working forget lunch you take a nap and back at it again or going to the parade grounds and standing at parade rest for change of command for 4 hrs ohh what fun to be old school lmao

Response by SSG Harry Herres made Nov 7 at 2020 9:12 AM

SSG Harry Herres — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 09:12:54 -0500

Old school when I was in meant the brown shoe army of ww2. I am considered one now! Spit shine black boots, starched and pressed fatigues, c-rats, cattle trucks and open bay ww1 & 2 barracks!

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 7 at 2020 8:14 PM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 20:14:00 -0500

A late response, but unless your 782 gear looks like this, lose the Ole Corps line.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2020 1:13 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 11 Nov 2020 13:13:08 -0500

Army Reservist, basic training at Ft. Benning, Ga Harmony Church barracks. We marched every where! The only day we rode was to our final task to.pass basic training. We all did. Then I had a week off at home before I left to go to AIT at Ft Sill, OK to train in Field Artillery. It was totally different, Ava we had nice time 2 men per room, a little PT but mostly just classes. And then we were passed and were but not Trainess anymore but real Field Artillery soldiers ready to step up and handle those fire missions.❤️

Response by SGT Jay Costanzo Sr made Nov 12 at 2020 4:57 AM

SGT Jay Costanzo Sr — Thu, 12 Nov 2020 04:57:26 -0500

Didn’t have mres, C rations are what we got. And if I remember correctly, we weren’t issued yellow pt shorts.

Response by SGT Dennis Rose made Nov 17 at 2020 7:47 AM

SGT Dennis Rose — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 07:47:15 -0500

How about forget the yellow shorts, we did our PT in fatigues and combat boots. Starched fatigues.

Response by SGT Dennis Rose made Nov 17 at 2020 7:48 AM

SGT Dennis Rose — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 07:48:49 -0500

How about skip the yellow shorts, we did our PT in fatigues and combat boots. STARCHED fatigues.

Response by Sgt Robert L McClain made Nov 17 at 2020 1:23 PM

Sgt Robert L McClain — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 13:23:40 -0500

OdD greens, no BDUs or camo of any kind! MREs(Meals Rejected by Ethiopians!) and some C-rats. Manual transmissions!

Response by MAJ Van Chase made Nov 18 at 2020 12:01 AM

MAJ Van Chase — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 00:01:35 -0500

Just add C rations instead of MRE’s. Did all that and some. Flew in UH1H Hellos. C130. C141, C5A, Nightingale Medivacs to name a few.

Response by MAJ Stephen Zglinicki made Nov 18 at 2020 4:36 AM

MAJ Stephen Zglinicki — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 04:36:32 -0500

The grand use of a P38.

Response by PVT William Murphy made Nov 18 at 2020 1:04 PM

PVT William Murphy — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 13:04:01 -0500

-Using rotary dial pay phones to call home.
-Standing around open fire burn pits or barrels to keep warm in the snow.
-Willys MB style Jeeps were still the norm.
-Cattle car transports.
-Huey helicopters were still the norm.
-Wearing M1 steel-pot helmets.
-Becoming a whiz at unjamming M60 GPMG.
-"OG" green fatigues were still official uniform wear.
-Camouflage BDUs when they were issued for the very first time.
-Army green Class "A" uniform.
-Starched uniforms were still a thing.
-All-Purpose Lightweight Individual Carrying Equipment (ALICE) and large field pack with frame.
-M17A2 protective mask.
-M16A1 standard issue rifle.
-No computers or cell phones.
-$0.15 postage stamps.
-Shelter halves.

Response by LCDR Mike Morrissey made Nov 18 at 2020 10:29 PM

LCDR Mike Morrissey — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 22:29:57 -0500

Fletcher class destroyers, manual loading 5” ship’s guns, seeking Charlie Noble, mail bouy watch, sea bats, Navy special (a fuel), days of water hours saving for fresh water wash down before pulling in...waiting for showers for Liberty call, stopped up heads with seasick sailors (& Marines) and heavy seas, youngsters learning not to vomit into the wind, no air conditioning in South China seas and berthing’s overhead was the main deck (full exposure to sun). Guys in line outside sickbay 3 days after liberty in Subic Bay and medically restricted to ship at next port. Underway replenishment at night in the rain. VIP visitations to cheer the troops on holidays (Vietnam) —-really?? The only time to relax yet need to prep.

Response by SGT Juanita Coover made Nov 19 at 2020 3:17 AM

SGT Juanita Coover — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 03:17:16 -0500

We ran every morning in combat boots and fatigues.

Response by SPC Kyle Olson made Nov 19 at 2020 12:29 PM

SPC Kyle Olson — Thu, 19 Nov 2020 12:29:20 -0500

Probably not getting on the Internet and asking what constitutes old school.

Response by SPC Kenneth Koerperich made Nov 30 at 2020 11:07 PM

SPC Kenneth Koerperich — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 23:07:09 -0500

NCO's were all Vietnam Era...
"Shark" Attacks as they call it now in BCT
Spit Shined EVERYTHING
Pressed Uniforms
Crappy Grey PT's
Vietnam Era LBE
Woodland Pattern Heavy for field, Light for Garrison....
M16A1's then FINALLY M16A2's
.45 ACP then FINALLY M9's
Crappy "Brown" MRE's
Humping every piece of gear you owned, EVERY F'n FTX/TX known to man
Qualifying once a month
Zero'ing every week
More Field Time than Garrison Time
F**K was used as noun, verb, adjective, and every other spot appropriate
No Privacy, 50 bunk squad bays, finally got 2/3 man rooms eventually
Did I say, SPIT SHINED EVERYTHING!
Trained like we were Rangers/SF, yet we were only Light Infantry
4 year contract, spent 34 months out of 48 in the field....
Stick shifts on everything
No Females in the f'n way EVER...
Red Card? WTF is that...
Yelled @ constantly...
Treated like sh*t if you were a dumbass
No Coddling Given
No F'ks Given

Tons more....but yeah, old school was, sink or swim, do or die....No one was going to save your ass. Learn your J-O-B or be drummed out!!

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Dec 2 at 2020 10:28 AM

1SG Michael Blount — Wed, 02 Dec 2020 10:28:26 -0500

My definition would be if you have ever survived a change in uniform. Say, for example, going from the bdus to the digital pattern or from the class A's to the asu's.

Response by SPC Thomas Kosakowski made Dec 22 at 2020 10:42 AM

SPC Thomas Kosakowski — Tue, 22 Dec 2020 10:42:01 -0500

if you ate c rats, spit shined boots, ran pt in combat boots, rode in jeep, your jungle fatigues were od green, wore a steel pot, I think you would qualify as old school

Response by PVT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2020 1:37 PM

PVT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 13:37:34 -0500

I’ve finally figured out what old school in general means. Old school is anything that is before your time, or anything you’ve done that is before the person’s time you’re talking to.

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2020 9:26 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Dec 2020 21:26:09 -0500

That line is generational and ever changing.

Response by TSgt Ken Vandevoort made Dec 24 at 2020 12:51 AM

TSgt Ken Vandevoort — Thu, 24 Dec 2020 00:51:37 -0500

Your fatigues had buttons and not zippers. They also were not permanent press.

Response by Cpl James R. " Jim" Gossett Jr made Dec 26 at 2020 2:38 AM

Cpl James R. " Jim" Gossett Jr — Sat, 26 Dec 2020 02:38:27 -0500

Long before STRESS CARDS!!!

Response by SSG Craig Thompson made Dec 26 at 2020 1:01 PM

SSG Craig Thompson — Sat, 26 Dec 2020 13:01:59 -0500

Well if your Class A’s included a powdered wig, you are Old School!

Response by SPC Michael Patterson made Jan 2 at 2021 10:16 PM

SPC Michael Patterson — Sat, 02 Jan 2021 22:16:38 -0500

You mean they don’t do this stuff anymore lol

Response by SP5 George Smith made Jan 4 at 2021 5:08 AM

SP5 George Smith — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 05:08:07 -0500

Sp5 G Smith

Dropping your fatigue shirt for morning PT before breakfast.
Half day Saturdays for barracks inspection or BN inspection by the BN CO.
Boots spit polished.
Steel pots and helmet liners.
C-Rats while in the field. Cold C-Rats when there’s no hot water or light discipline at night.
Shelter-halves.
Metal canteens.
Metal mess kit.
Wooden handle entrenching tool.
Mess Hall.
KP. (Pots and Pans)
Pistol belt with the old hook clasp.
PRC-25s

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jan 7 at 2021 2:55 PM

Capt Seid Waddell — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 14:55:14 -0500

When I was in, "Old School" referred to the brown shoe days.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 8 at 2021 9:58 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 Jan 2021 21:58:50 -0500

You might be old school if you ...
*Had jungle boots that started out green and black and then were issued new ones that were black on black (1987, 1991)
* know tricks to fix your uniform like - sharpie to fix shiny metal into subdued.
* carried iodine tablets and know how many to use for your self or a lyster bag
* know what a lyster bag is
* know that a lensatic compass and map was not the 'back-up' to GPS
* cheap frequency hopping was switching between A and B bands on a PRC-77
* you know the difference between an OE-254 and RC-292
* you still ate green eggs and ham in a can with P-51 or P-38
* you ate green eggs served out of a silver bullet
* you know the three meanings of 'Silver Bullet' (Rectal Thermometer, shot in the buttocks, the metal containers in a mermite box.
* know that TACJAM is not something you put on toast and will stop future generations

Response by CSM James Barzee made Jan 9 at 2021 9:30 AM

CSM James Barzee — Sat, 09 Jan 2021 09:30:56 -0500

Old School. Not a great time - When Recruiters were forced to fill quotas, When Drill Sergeant could man handle "trainee's" and mass punish large groups for fun, when NCO's could shut you down for being "squared away", before NCOES, before promotion boards, before DFAC, when every step was guarded.
Kids are smarter now, people are kinder. Maybe Old School is not your school. Get R done Your way within the New Military.
FREE YOUR MIND !

Response by PO3 Dale Olson made Jan 10 at 2021 1:16 PM

PO3 Dale Olson — Sun, 10 Jan 2021 13:16:27 -0500

Yes to all of that... and no stress card. Suck it up buttercup.

Response by SGT George Smith made Jan 22 at 2021 5:39 PM

SGT George Smith — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 17:39:45 -0500

Olive drab uniforms, hard toe boots, bkack spit-shined, M-1 rifles, double full platoon bay. double bunk. WW two barracks you could see between the boards on the sunny side of the building. Coal heated barracks. The black crap you blew our of your nose every morning was coal dust. Jeeps (could not be sold now as too dangerous. M-113s, the old version. Smoke em if you got um. Kp..
Fire duty keeping the buildings warm (not) but the water was hot if your were early....maybe more later....have to rest my OLD OLD mond. Army 61-66. Army security Agency. done away with after Vietnam.

Response by SGT George Smith made Jan 22 at 2021 6:04 PM

SGT George Smith — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 18:04:05 -0500

Duece and a half. 3*4 ton trucks with radio or teletype gear, metal canteens, PT in combat boots and t shirt, fatique pants. Cleaning grease trap outside mess hall. C Rations, not too bad toeat. P38. Dress greens that were wool, and looked sharp. Tent halfs.Steel pot, wash in, do laundry in the field, take a weird shower with, protected ur head, give u headaches from weight. Maybe more later.

Response by CWO3 Robert Fong made Jan 31 at 2021 10:18 AM

CWO3 Robert Fong — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 10:18:27 -0500

Before joining the Coast Guard I was in the Army and took Basic and AIT at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii in 1960 when RA was the only way and US they had to drag you here. Thank God I was RA. That was 16 weeks of "in your face" jungle. The DIs did not care what your personal problems may be only that you could successful close with and kill the enemy and they were going to show you how to do it. Running the "Hill" was a twice a week episode where you carried a BAR, ammo pouches, web gear and weighted down packs going from Quad I to the top of Kolekole Pass non-stop and back and you had better not fall out. I was familiarized with a 11-1/2 boot. Language from the DIs were very colorful and effective. After Basic/AIT you went to the Division and slept in a Platoon Bay that consisted of a cot, wall, and footlocker. You were in the jungle running FTXs, Escape & Evasion, Survival, Battalion Problems or Armor/Infantry FTXs. The Army in those days were not about creature comforts, it was about being a lean, mean, killing machine. The notion then was, if you think I'm (DIs) mean and bad, you ought to see what Charlie can do. You pass an officer you rendered a smart salute. When you went to the Orderly Room you didn't diddy bop and a weekend pass was earned. Unless you were E-4 over 4 you needed the "Old Man's" permission to get married. The idea was if the Army wanted you to have a wife, they'd have put on in your initial issue. OCS was designed to drive you out. NCO Academy was designed to smarten you up and make you hard core. I could go on, but you get the idea. It was not the kinder, gentler, woke Army it is today where "feelings" matter. We were tight and a team and it was because that is what our training and unit's commands expected of us. Now you know why we lived in Platoon and Squad Bays. In short, "Old School" was suck it up and get over it.

Response by SGT Frank Phillips made Jan 31 at 2021 11:57 AM

SGT Frank Phillips — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 11:57:21 -0500

Yup, did all those things except the yellow shorts. We did our run's in boots and had both a green dress uniform and a brown one. Had brown boots too that we had to sandpaper off and stain black.

Response by CPO Charles Helms made Jan 31 at 2021 6:34 PM

CPO Charles Helms — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 18:34:20 -0500

In the Navy if you wore 100% wool cracker jacks and dungarees and Chambray shirts you qualify as old school! Also if you could party all night and make to muster on time at 0800!!LOL

Response by Maj A. Clark made Jan 31 at 2021 8:46 PM

Maj A. Clark — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 20:46:10 -0500

My dad went from E-1 in Feb 1945 to a W-3 by the early 60s. He thought he was old school and all the New Vietnam guys were newbies.
When I went active duty in 1977, him and all the Vietnam guys ( my instructors) said they were old school and that my generation of active duty folks were a bunch of pussies.
Fast forward 25 years later,,,, I am yelling at some young troop to get their head out of their ass and they file a harassment complaint...

Response by PVT Brian Desormeaux made Jan 31 at 2021 8:55 PM

PVT Brian Desormeaux — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 20:55:06 -0500

If you know what those three buildings are...Old Skool.

Response by PFC Jesse Stinton made Feb 1 at 2021 12:10 AM

PFC Jesse Stinton — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 00:10:20 -0500

I was telling a story from when I was MCT about a PFC getting smoked by a pizza delivery guy who was a moon lighting PMI. Someone said video or it didn't happen I said I had the very first iPhone back then that took pictures but not video.. that was the first time someone called me old breed

Response by SFC James Himes made Feb 1 at 2021 6:11 PM

SFC James Himes — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 18:11:03 -0500

OD Greens old school enough?

Response by CMSgt Milton Newtom made Feb 8 at 2021 5:10 PM

CMSgt Milton Newtom — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 17:10:43 -0500

Did PT in fatigues and combat boots, pull Guard duty with M-1, had c and k Rats. Put paste wax on floor by hand before buffing. Powder eggs and milk and bacon out of a can.

Response by MAJ David Atkinson made Feb 8 at 2021 8:07 PM

MAJ David Atkinson — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 20:07:31 -0500

Wore the starched fatigues.
Wore fatigues without blouse and cap for PT.
Drove a GammaGoat for Sgt of the Guard.
Changed sleeve rank to collar rank.

Response by CMDCM Kermit Cain made Feb 8 at 2021 8:31 PM

CMDCM Kermit Cain — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 20:31:55 -0500

Lived in WWII barracks up in Adak, Alaska in the 60's and WWII barracks in Atsugi, Japan in the mid-1970's. Had to have a liberty card to get off/on base/ship until early 1970's - PO1 (E-6, USN) pretty much had control over your life unless he was to the wall power mad crazy. Yes to the cattle car towed around base with a semi-truck, Roach-Coach during watches for lunch/dinner. Lots of changes from my 1969-1999 career.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 9 at 2021 12:33 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 12:33:56 -0500

If you have to ask, you're too young

Response by CPT Earl George made Feb 9 at 2021 7:46 PM

CPT Earl George — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 19:46:46 -0500

Sept 67: I'm a freshman ROTC cadet in college. The SGM at the ROTC detachment was #9 to be promoted to the rank of E-9. He has enlisted in 1943 as a cannon-cocker or his CIB would have had 2 stars.

Response by CW2 Donald Loughrey made Feb 9 at 2021 8:47 PM

CW2 Donald Loughrey — Tue, 09 Feb 2021 20:47:52 -0500

I can add....Jungle Boots or just the old, black issue Combat Boot. The "Gig Pit" in Jump School. Infantry School at Ft. Polk, La. Mule Barn Barracks. I could go on. Oh....Humping the 90MM Recoilless Rifle on monthly road marches that happened every week. Just some memories.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Feb 10 at 2021 11:05 AM

CW3 Kevin Storm — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 11:05:24 -0500

Old School for me: Manual type writer, M16A1's, 20 round mags, working with a tactical missile computer that had dials on it (Lance) that was obsolete as my high school calculator had more useable functions than that did. Elevating said missile manually (lance had no hydraulics). Going to the range and being able to zero and qualify a unit in a couple of hours. Going to range where everyone one could zero on set. Getting issued wool pants for field gear, and never use them in the field. Micky mouse boots, old school NBC boots you had to lace up, M13 Decon kit. Blood Agent Antidote kit, the tube for an M17 mask to perform buddy resuscitation on. Wondering why you get issued BDU's but every time you go to the field it is in MOPP Level 2. Making Pop corn in a steel pot, shaving in said steel pot, boiling water for instant coffee in the same steel pot. Learning to not roll over a Jeep. Wishing that the Army had the common sense to put fracking heaters in Jeeps. Trying to figure out how the guy with the Multifuel truck runs out of fuel. You could put almost anything in it, and it would run, how do you run out?

Response by PFC David Gettman made Feb 10 at 2021 11:35 AM

PFC David Gettman — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 11:35:31 -0500

Dad (holding trophy) was old school. This is the foundation of his 37 year military career, his high school ROTC rifle team. Photo taken in 1929 when they won the Hearst Shield in national competition.

Response by CPO Hugh Hubble made Feb 10 at 2021 10:27 PM

CPO Hugh Hubble — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 22:27:02 -0500

lifer

Response by SP5 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2021 11:44 PM

SP5 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 10 Feb 2021 23:44:48 -0500

I had a Colt 1911A1 as my side arm, a Colt M16A1 for my rifle

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Feb 12 at 2021 6:09 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 06:09:57 -0500

Old school to me, like CSM F

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Feb 12 at 2021 6:16 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Fri, 12 Feb 2021 06:16:50 -0500

Somehow my post jumped before I finished. Old school to me is much the same as CSM Feick. I will add that the leadership of the Vietnam era NCO and Officer, was passed on for a few decades, into the 80’s and 90’s. Passed on by those trained and led by those great leaders.

Having said that, old school is now something else to a group of men and women who have face their own hell, their own demons. Combat tested (again), utilizing a structure of development and education that enhances the skill sets learned in the heat of battle.

The challenge for today’s old school are the many structural changes in the military. We now have political leaders that believe all rule should apply equally in and out of the military. These are challenges face throughout the history of the military. I get it, however the most senior leadership needs to look back on what made them the leaders they are today. All of the education and training in the world does not help if there is no discipline in the ranks.

Response by CPT Larry Hudson made Feb 15 at 2021 4:20 PM

CPT Larry Hudson — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 16:20:06 -0500

Cant offer much about "old school" other than duty; honor; country. We had no identity problems; no men wanting to be women; whippy it hurts or uniforms for drill and exercise. If you wore fatigues; had a tee shirt on then that was good enough for exercise.
We were proud; self confidence was built by hard as brass drill instructors; and if you questioned anyone with why or no your answer from them was "what part of no do you not understand."
No personal time; if you used drugs; most likely you were places in psychological floor in hospital for 48 hours and that is where LSD and all the harsh things that destroy souls and minds were placed. Usually, after experiencing brain dead; eye gouged out; fingers bitten off; ears missing from use of drugs, cured those experimenting. But alas, in todays military, all things that comfort and cuddle insecure troopers must be considered before the task of becoming the worlds best military, and getting ones head screwed on straight must be undertaken.
That's all I got to say about that.

Response by SSG Russell Busicchia made Feb 16 at 2021 3:46 PM

SSG Russell Busicchia — Tue, 16 Feb 2021 15:46:41 -0500

Old School is a subjective statement. My uncle was a WWII and Korea veteran (1940s - 1980s) His version of old School was different from my father (1950s - 1980). I served from 1974- 1994 my definition was mostly similar my father's but different. I thought it odd when I heard that trainee got time out cards in BCT and imagine today's troops will have their own idea of what Old School is differently that those that preceded them.
To me now anyone who was prepared to lay their life on the line, whether they did of not, is Old School.

Response by SFC Cheryl McElroy US ARMY (RET) made Mar 4 at 2021 12:51 PM

SFC Cheryl McElroy US ARMY (RET) — Thu, 04 Mar 2021 12:51:21 -0500

The silhouettes on the rifle range bore a Red Star to represent the Soviet enemy
Your Drill Sergeants were Vietnam Veterans.
Your Drill Sergeant told you that the M16 was designed by Mattel
You sang dirty cadence while you marched, and liked it.
You wore O.D. fatigues and black boots
Drill Sergeants could still scream and smack a Private when necessary without the threat of an ACLU lawsuit
You got the “suicide speech” about not trying to hang yourself with the buffer cord because if you put the cord around your neck and threw the buffer out the 3rd story window, the buffer would hit the ground before the cord ran out.
You used lister bags in the field
You had a mess kit
You had a fanny pack on the back of your web gear
You wore a steel pot
You ate C-Rats
You had a P38
You used a 'donkey dick'
You had a 'dream sheet'
You know what a "short-timer's tree" is.
You rode in a 'cattle car'.
Payday involved reporting for pay in Dress Greens, going through uniform, TA-50, wall locker, and common area inspections before you could stand in line at the post bank to cash your check.
There were 4 clubs on Post: Enlisted, NCO, Top 3, and Officer. You had to purchase a monthly club card for admittance and the club system was run by military personnel.

Response by SGT Daniel Merriman made Mar 20 at 2021 8:30 AM

SGT Daniel Merriman — Sat, 20 Mar 2021 08:30:42 -0400

C rats t10s and -1s,hit it, cherry blast, plfs leaning rest. Old school is not mre s and tennis shoes.!!!

Response by CW4 ;Lee Andersen made Mar 25 at 2021 10:14 PM

CW4 ;Lee Andersen — Thu, 25 Mar 2021 22:14:43 -0400

Had coffee can hung on the 4 x 4 posts in the 2 story barracks to be used as butt cans, had the water in those cans freeze over during the night, and wake up with a dusting of snow on your GI blanket. Walked fire guard to insure everyone was alerted if the coal fired furnace caught the building on fire. Jumped off the short roof between the first and second story into the snow drifts between the buildings. Wore khaki burmuda shorts with long gray or tan knee high stockings as a summer time class B uniform. Was issued brown boots and low quarters, and later dye kits to change their color to black. Wore "Overseas hats" with Khakis, ODs and later Greens. Had replaceable Khaki tops for the "truck driver caps" so you could clean and iron the one you took off. Went to the service club for a dance on Friday nights, with women from a girls club in town. Walked Guard Duty for 2 hours when your name came up on the roster.

Response by CPO Ed Hoover made Mar 28 at 2021 11:03 AM

CPO Ed Hoover — Sun, 28 Mar 2021 11:03:08 -0400

Navy, "fan room counseling"!

Response by SPC Mike Schredl made Apr 10 at 2021 2:28 PM

SPC Mike Schredl — Sat, 10 Apr 2021 14:28:24 -0400

You drank from one of these, while eating C-rats.

Response by SMSgt Bob W. made Apr 12 at 2021 1:14 AM

SMSgt Bob W. — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 01:14:54 -0400

Brown shoes, tan pants, [oh, I sorry, that is today's uniform] Ike jackets, OD fatigues. Air Force--1505s, 505s, the horse blanket, winter dress blues, ball caps. Navy--the "Cracker Jack" uniform.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 20 at 2021 8:35 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 08:35:52 -0400

If you know term. Be On Time, Be In The Right Uniform and Do As Your Told!

Response by SGM Bill Schroeter made Apr 21 at 2021 4:27 PM

SGM Bill Schroeter — Wed, 21 Apr 2021 16:27:54 -0400

- When Combat Engineers still laid minefields and conducted mine training with actual M16 "Bouncing Betty" Mines
- When Mountain Climbers were a regular part of the PT regime
- When wall locker inspections, TA-50 full boat layouts were mandatory
- When everyone had two sets of TA-50, one issued, one that had been "acquired"
- When the PSG informed you that "finding" missing fuel cans or water jugs from other units was not only acceptable but encouraged
- When there was 2 Army Corps in Europe and waiting for the "Balloon" to go up
- When you can remember your battle positions in the Fulda Gap
- So many things, however I agree with some of those on here, it's a moving target.

Response by MAJ John Williams made May 1 at 2021 2:54 PM

MAJ John Williams — Sat, 01 May 2021 14:54:09 -0400

Mt PT shorts were grey & Gamma Goats SUCKED, everything else is 100% spot on. Basic Ft. Polk, 1967, AIT Ft. Sam, 67-68, never called to go to RVN but I supposed I would've since I hate cold weather.

Response by SSgt Christopher Hetkey made May 3 at 2021 9:20 AM

SSgt Christopher Hetkey — Mon, 03 May 2021 09:20:16 -0400

Lyster bags

Going being the barracks to resolve an argument with your fists

Being told by your platoon sergeant that he can’t “legally tell you to break the cast off your broken fingers” because it keeps you from getting a good grip on your weapon while you get out of the helicopter

Breaking the cast off your broken fingers because it keeps you from getting a good grip on your weapon while you get out of the helicopter.

Everything everyone else said

Response by 1SG Rick Seekman made May 10 at 2021 9:45 AM

1SG Rick Seekman — Mon, 10 May 2021 09:45:16 -0400

PT uniform consisted of boots, fatigue pants and a white tee shirt.
All to go along with the 5 event pt test.

Response by CPT Jerry Lucas made May 14 at 2021 12:49 AM

CPT Jerry Lucas — Fri, 14 May 2021 00:49:20 -0400

If you ever:
were transported in a cattle car
wore, washed, cooked in and ate from a steel pot
realized your M16 was built by the lowest bidding contactor
lived in WWII era barracks
actually put 2 shelter halves together to make and sleep in a tent
heavily starched your duty uniform or sent your uniform & civvie clothing to Quartermaster Laundry and everything came back with heavy starch
spit shined your boots
ran PT in combat boots, white t-shirt and heavily starched cotton fatigues
ate C-rations that had the 4-pack of cigarettes in the accessory pouch
and entered the military at least one day before me.

Response by 1SG Richard Cummins made May 16 at 2021 12:13 AM

1SG Richard Cummins — Sun, 16 May 2021 00:13:50 -0400

Not seeing Maternity BDU at Clothing Sales, wore black boots for PT and anyone in Tennis shoes was considered “broke dick”!! I used the same black boots for PT for all 21 yrs. had them resoled 5 times!! Most comfortable shoes I ever jad!

Response by SPC Donn Sinclair made May 17 at 2021 7:08 AM

SPC Donn Sinclair — Mon, 17 May 2021 07:08:20 -0400

PT uniform was fatigues and boots. Issue weapon was an M-14. No optics, iron sights EM were quartered in a squad bay, E-5 and above had rooms. Butt cans on the uprights in WWII barracks. Up-armor on our Jeeps were sandbags on the floorboards. Flak jackets. No ear or eye pro.

Response by PVT Barry Thomas made May 21 at 2021 1:17 AM

PVT Barry Thomas — Fri, 21 May 2021 01:17:41 -0400

Never ever saw a yellow suit we wore black combat boots, OD green fatigues,white t-shirts

Response by PVT Barry Thomas made May 21 at 2021 1:20 AM

PVT Barry Thomas — Fri, 21 May 2021 01:20:23 -0400

I was in from 04/30 76 11/B10 TowPlt

Response by MSgt Roger Lalik made May 22 at 2021 2:39 PM

MSgt Roger Lalik — Sat, 22 May 2021 14:39:42 -0400

Well my PT shorts were red cotton. Yellow USMC shirt though. C-Rats with the cigarettes as someone as mentioned. After boot camp on to Camp Pendleton for "ITR" (Infantry Training Regiment) where I was issued and used an M1 during the training.

I was a L/CPL when the PRT changed to the PFT. Away with boots, utilities, cartridge belt w/canteen, steel pots and sometimes even a rifle doing the 3 mile run in formation. Away with the jump and reach, mountain-climbers, pushups, stair-steps.... to PT shorts, Yellow T-Shirt, tennis shoes!!. 3 mile run, sit-ups, pull-ups. Run time from 36 minutes to 28 minutes.

We were always told that the 3 mile run was to make sure we could run 3 miles in combat and be able to fight when we got to where we were headed. Even us "Snuffies" at the time realized that we're not going to run in combat in read shorts and tennis shoes. Of course testing our overall cardio capability just didn't figure for us.

I remember washing up out of my steel pot and laying my M1 and later M14 in the dirt next to me. Never gave malfunctions a thought.

Remember on Okinawa watching a handful of old WWII veterans attending a morning colors event in 1986. They were about 41 years away from their war in the Pacific on Okinawa. They were truly "Old-Corps". I respected them and their ways.

Now, along with friends I'm 50+ years out of my war in Vietnam. I wonder how we're looked at my the current Marines.

and yes... I'd do it all over again.

Response by CW3 John Himes made May 23 at 2021 7:00 AM

CW3 John Himes — Sun, 23 May 2021 07:00:29 -0400

Simple, brown boots.

Response by WO1 Ricardo Eva made May 26 at 2021 8:14 AM

WO1 Ricardo Eva — Wed, 26 May 2021 08:14:32 -0400

OMG! This is when we realize that we REALLY ARE OLD!!! JAJAJAJA!!!

Response by MSgt Mason Manner made May 29 at 2021 4:31 PM

MSgt Mason Manner — Sat, 29 May 2021 16:31:31 -0400

When you DEALT W/A E5 SSgt and thought he was the real SHIT

Response by TSgt David Olson made Jun 2 at 2021 1:11 PM

TSgt David Olson — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 13:11:09 -0400

Fatigues for calisthenics in combat boots, M-1 rifle in basic training, WW II barracks, grease pit, yardbird, KP, smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em, beer bars, pass bus. That’s enough.

Response by Cpl Brian Ruby made Jun 2 at 2021 5:53 PM

Cpl Brian Ruby — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 17:53:07 -0400

If you carried and ate C-Rats you opened with a John Wayne you carried on your dog tags.

Response by PO1 Mike Pulju made Jun 2 at 2021 9:42 PM

PO1 Mike Pulju — Wed, 02 Jun 2021 21:42:41 -0400

When your command had safety stand down day and there was a keg of beer in the back of the room.
Beer machines in the barracks.

Response by SSG Michael Langley made Jun 3 at 2021 1:49 AM

SSG Michael Langley — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 01:49:30 -0400

My last six months of service was in Honduras and we had a pallet of C-rats for chow, as the cooks in the distant HQ unit would never serve anything out of their hours. We drank from a water buffalo that we liberated, shaved from our steel pots, built our own shower and two holer. The first MRE I saw was handed to me on the C130 leaving for home, and I wondered "What the hell is this, and why are they giving us Styrofoam to eat?"

Response by PO3 Jason Beleto made Jun 3 at 2021 10:44 AM

PO3 Jason Beleto — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 10:44:20 -0400

One word - dungarees

Response by SPC Brian Stephens made Jun 3 at 2021 1:05 PM

SPC Brian Stephens — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 13:05:29 -0400

Anybody who has been in longer than you.

Response by SPC Brian Stephens made Jun 3 at 2021 1:05 PM

SPC Brian Stephens — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 13:05:55 -0400

Anybody who has been in longer than you.

Response by SFC Cheryl McElroy US ARMY (RET) made Jun 3 at 2021 1:52 PM

SFC Cheryl McElroy US ARMY (RET) — Thu, 03 Jun 2021 13:52:26 -0400

The silhouettes on the rifle range bore a Red Star to represent the Soviet enemy

Your Drill Sergeants were Vietnam Veterans.

Your Drill Sergeant told you that the M16 was designed by Mattel

You sang dirty cadence while you marched, and liked it.

You wore O.D. fatigues and black boots

Drill Sergeants could still scream and smack a Private when necessary without the threat of an ACLU lawsuit

You got the “suicide speech” about not trying to hang yourself with the buffer cord because if you put the cord around your neck and threw the buffer out the 3rd story window, the buffer would hit the ground before the cord ran out.

You used lister bags in the field

You had a mess kit

You had a fanny pack on the back of your web gear

You wore a steel pot

You ate C-Rats, with issued cigarettes.

You had a P38

You used a 'donkey dick'

You had a 'dream sheet'

You know what a "short-timer's tree" is.

You rode in a 'cattle car'.

Payday involved reporting for pay in Dress Greens, going through uniform, TA-50, wall locker, and common area inspections before you could stand in line at the post bank to cash your check.

There were 4 clubs on Post: Enlisted, NCO, Top 3, and Officer. You had to purchase a monthly club card for admittance and the club system was run by military personnel.

Response by SSG Gregg Mourizen made Jun 4 at 2021 10:41 AM

SSG Gregg Mourizen — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 10:41:33 -0400

I knew a guy...
Thought he was old school, after being in for 6 months. I laughed him out of the building.
You're old-school, when everyone around you starts calling you " old school".
Until then, who cares?

Response by SPC Bill Ratajczak made Jun 4 at 2021 11:41 PM

SPC Bill Ratajczak — Fri, 04 Jun 2021 23:41:20 -0400

Use a toilet seat cover for a floor buffet pad
Had a drill Sgt yell toe to heel, make your buddy smile
Kept hard liquor and beer in your quarters
Had a beer vending machine in the barracks
Seeing a sweaty, dirty, female Trainee was highlight of your week
Going to the nco club drinking and playing the slots
Learning xrated cadence songs from your platoon Sgt
Having a phone call or letter be your only link home.
NOT wearing a silly beret

Response by SFC John Gilmore made Jun 5 at 2021 7:09 PM

SFC John Gilmore — Sat, 05 Jun 2021 19:09:04 -0400

Along with the other great comments:
C Rats...burning the box to heat up the main course.
1st issued rifle said

Response by SFC John Gilmore made Jun 5 at 2021 7:16 PM

SFC John Gilmore — Sat, 05 Jun 2021 19:16:19 -0400

Duplicate here..Old school if you accidentally hit the post button on the new fangled phone lol
C rats per previous
First rifle said XM 16 E1 made by GM Hydromatic division
You know what a "pickle suit" is..
First jump in Division included a pink steel pot and a CEWI bag
You know what a steel pot is
You know that a CEWI bag is pronounced "weecee bag"
You remember what STRAC means
5 event PT test
Pulling CQ

Response by Capt Phil Williams made Jun 6 at 2021 6:46 PM

Capt Phil Williams — Sun, 06 Jun 2021 18:46:55 -0400

That depends .... When I went through Parris Island in 1965, I lived in the old wooden WWII barracks. Those barracks have been replaced by brick barracks. At ITR we rode in "Cattle Cars" and lived in Quonset Huts. Plus, I qualified with an M-14 not its replacement. In Vietnam we ate C-Rats or a Field Mess, and I have never had an MRE. Therefore, I say I am "Old School".
Semper Fi - Oooorah

Response by LTC Dave Leppanen made Jun 9 at 2021 12:45 PM

LTC Dave Leppanen — Wed, 09 Jun 2021 12:45:26 -0400

Typing a Disposition Form on a manual or electric typewriter.

Giving a briefing using an overhead projector and transparencies.

Beer was included the pop machines.

Response by SPC Tamara Trammell made Jun 13 at 2021 5:53 AM

SPC Tamara Trammell — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 05:53:14 -0400

It's subjective and fuzzy.
I had a real shitty sergeant claim to be 'old school' as an excuse to haze soldiers and I knew a darn good major PA who claimed to be old school because he had the darnedest time trying to file patient records on computers and just wanted to be with the soldiers.
I think 'Old School' is really just the feeling that doing something the old way is the better way, even if it's the harder way. I still prefer iron sights to laser assist and backing up digital information on a physical memory device. My dad still keeps three copies of every important document. My grandfather carried a buddy's dog tags in his wallet 'til the day he died -turns out it wasn't a dead buddy, just a good one. Old School.

Of course, there are people who either misunderstand how things went on before (assholes aren't old school, they're just assholes) or they don't understand how things have or have not changed. (No, sir, Slagal Dining Facility has not improved, the rats are still complaining.)

Response by SPC James Nokes made Jun 13 at 2021 6:04 PM

SPC James Nokes — Sun, 13 Jun 2021 18:04:17 -0400

Anyone who served in West Germany would qualify as "Old School", Sergeant.

Response by CMSgt Milton Newtom made Jun 22 at 2021 2:53 PM

CMSgt Milton Newtom — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 14:53:34 -0400

Had no PT uniforms, ran in combat boots wore white T shirts and boxer shorts. Wooden ww2 barracks, Double bunks thin mattress. No Drill Sgts had platoon Sgts and a Field First for Senior Sgt. No MRE's had C rats. Pup Tents and M14's. OG fatigues.

Response by SMSgt Cary Baker made Jun 30 at 2021 7:50 PM

SMSgt Cary Baker — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 19:50:53 -0400

I think old school refers to how the individual interacts with the troops - he/she still believes in manual labor as punishment for example.

Response by CW4 Andrew Carson made Jul 2 at 2021 10:19 PM

CW4 Andrew Carson — Fri, 02 Jul 2021 22:19:42 -0400

Learned to drive a Jeep; had drill SGTs and platoon SGTs who were Vietnam veterans; spit shined leftover Vietnam boots with the W tread…ate C Rats, kept the can opener on your key chain…yes, yellow and green “banana suits” for PT.

Response by COL Michael Wright made Jul 3 at 2021 11:21 PM

COL Michael Wright — Sat, 03 Jul 2021 23:21:25 -0400

Harmony Church vs Sand Hill
Marching in formation in A's to Benning 40s area theater for Payday activities paid in cash after the privilege of standing in line at parade rest
Dehydrated pork and beef patties.
M113A1 Laterals
Law rocket
PRC 77
M151 Mutt
Goer and Gama goat
CUCCVs
Knees that touched on 3 x3 facing open toilets that were level with the clear open window.
Low crawling under the barracks
Actually pealing potatoes on KP
Fire guard and arms room guard
Steel pot smashing your nose when you dove into the prone
Fulda Gap
Reforger
Officer, NCO and enlisted clubs
Real dining ins and outs
Unit pride and traditions
Command Performance
Demotions
Night court
ARTEPs
TAMs
SAMs SARRS
MOSQ green books
25-101 Battle Focused Training
METL to IT cross walk with 1SG
Saturday morn dress inspections after Fri night officers call or right arm night.
Pershing middle guard
SOVIET Horde
Killer Tank on 1st UCOF
Beehive round M60A3
.45 Grease Gun
Canvas H strap LBE
React to Nuclear Blast Battle Drill wave goes over and back while you make love to your M16.

Vietnam Vet CSM Simmons yanking me off the cattle car and throwing to the ground asking why I was not pushing Georgia yet. That I'd better get to it or I would be liking the shit off his boot that he was going to kick up my ass until I could taste it.

5 mi runs in combat boots and uniforms signing I knew a girl who lives on her back ....Jodies

Yes remember the light post just outside the Fort Benning gas chamber and all the drooling Soldiers piled up at the bottom with NCOs in hysterics.

Good ole days; it was a different Army.

Response by SSG Mark Tsunokai made Jul 4 at 2021 2:41 PM

SSG Mark Tsunokai — Sun, 04 Jul 2021 14:41:29 -0400

Wearing the banana suit for PT.

Response by SGT Tim Tobin made Jul 4 at 2021 6:58 PM

SGT Tim Tobin — Sun, 04 Jul 2021 18:58:01 -0400

Yellow nylon pt shorts?? How about black combat boots and fatigues for PT??

Response by 1SG James Kelly made Jul 4 at 2021 8:15 PM

1SG James Kelly — Sun, 04 Jul 2021 20:15:00 -0400

Fuck with me and I'll kill you.

That old enough for you.

Response by Sgt Tr Whitford made Jul 5 at 2021 12:43 AM

Sgt Tr Whitford — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 00:43:33 -0400

This

Response by Sgt Tr Whitford made Jul 5 at 2021 12:44 AM

Sgt Tr Whitford — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 00:44:59 -0400

This

Response by 1LT Ernest Miller made Jul 5 at 2021 12:36 PM

1LT Ernest Miller — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 12:36:59 -0400

I witnessed the transition from steel pots to kevlar, M60 tanks to M1's, M16A1 to M16A2, Cobra's to Apaches, C-rats to MRE's, Fatigues to BDU's, and replacing my beloved M1911A1 with the M9.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Jul 5 at 2021 2:02 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 14:02:59 -0400

Response by SPC Raymond Holcomb made Jul 5 at 2021 2:19 PM

SPC Raymond Holcomb — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 14:19:08 -0400

According to that definition I don't know if I'm old school or just old. When I was in there were no pt shorts or banana suits, whatever that us, we fell out for pt and classes in fatigues (not even called bdus in my day), and in the field we ate know rations instead of mres.

Response by TSgt George Austin made Jul 5 at 2021 3:47 PM

TSgt George Austin — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 15:47:08 -0400

Old school ended when they banned topless waitresses, liquid lunches and slot machines at Ft Knox.

Response by SPC Kevin Parker made Jul 5 at 2021 10:40 PM

SPC Kevin Parker — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 22:40:37 -0400

SPIT-SHINED BOOTS!!

Response by SPC Kevin Parker made Jul 5 at 2021 10:41 PM

SPC Kevin Parker — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 22:41:38 -0400

BLACK SPIT-SHINED BOOTS!!

Response by SSgt Ricardo Lugo made Jul 5 at 2021 11:55 PM

SSgt Ricardo Lugo — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 23:55:58 -0400

To me "old school" is recognizing are pioneer arm forces of the United States; for living us a foundation in which we can continue to build a better military force; for God, Family and Country. National Defense for future generations to come. So God help us / Humble Brave Warriors / Pursuit of Happiness in God / God Bless America.

Response by SSG William Hull made Jul 6 at 2021 8:44 PM

SSG William Hull — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 20:44:39 -0400

Funny, I think each generation has it's own 'old schoolers' In 65 when I went in it was Korean War and WWII vets that were 'old school'. When I went back in in 85 it was anyone from the 'draft era'. Today I am willing to vet those old guys from the 1st Gulf War are considered 'old school'.

Response by SSG William Hull made Jul 6 at 2021 8:51 PM

SSG William Hull — Tue, 06 Jul 2021 20:51:28 -0400

Funny, I think each generation has it's own 'old schoolers' In 65 when I went in it was Korean War and WWII vets that were 'old school'. When I went back in in 85 it was anyone from the 'draft era'. Today I bet it is those 'old timers' from the 1st Gulf War that are 'old school'.Today I am willing to vet those old guys from the 1st Gulf War are considered 'old school'.

Response by PVT Pat Morrison made Jul 7 at 2021 10:41 AM

PVT Pat Morrison — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 10:41:08 -0400

Upon entry to Army was issued BROWN boots that you had to dye black. And white skivies. 1957 No wars going on but 3 years of being treated as a recruit.

Response by SSG David Gallagher made Jul 7 at 2021 11:26 PM

SSG David Gallagher — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 23:26:56 -0400

Response by LCDR James Stossel made Jul 8 at 2021 11:08 PM

LCDR James Stossel — Thu, 08 Jul 2021 23:08:27 -0400

You know you're old school if all the bases/ships you served on are either closed or museums!

Response by SPC Joseph Kenny made Jul 12 at 2021 4:20 PM

SPC Joseph Kenny — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 16:20:50 -0400

Know what making your buddy smile meant and know the vehicle you were in when you did it.

Response by SFC James Himes made Jul 14 at 2021 10:13 AM

SFC James Himes — Wed, 14 Jul 2021 10:13:17 -0400

Well, as I remember it 50 yrs ago... PT was in white T-shirts and OG pants and Combat boots.
When I got assigned to my first duty station it was S&W Model 10 .38cal revolver and the original M16.
Old school enough?

Response by MSgt Robert Cunningham made Jul 15 at 2021 1:32 AM

MSgt Robert Cunningham — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 01:32:47 -0400

tuff stuff

Response by 1LT Peter Duston made Jul 15 at 2021 11:32 AM

1LT Peter Duston — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 11:32:17 -0400

Depends on your age and when you served. My old school is OD Ike Jackets, brown shoes and boots but I'm 82. Women were in the WACS and only did admin and supply. Now, my daughter has 3 Air Medals, one for evacuating casualties under fire in N. Iraq on the Syrian Boarder.

Response by PO1 Lyndon Thomas made Jul 15 at 2021 11:39 AM

PO1 Lyndon Thomas — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 11:39:21 -0400

You "Might be Old Skool", if you spent nay part of your military career in one of these! ;)

Response by PO1 Lyndon Thomas made Jul 15 at 2021 11:42 AM

PO1 Lyndon Thomas — Thu, 15 Jul 2021 11:42:00 -0400

If you've Lived, Slept, or spent time in either of these. You "Might Be Old Skool"

Response by SFC Clifford Neuberger made Jul 29 at 2021 1:06 PM

SFC Clifford Neuberger — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 13:06:46 -0400

Running in your boots for PT test. No name brand running shoes. Run in what you wear for duty.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 29 at 2021 2:50 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 14:50:25 -0400

It’s in the eye of the complainer. For instance, I joined in 1991 so I can say back then it was old school. Someone who joined say in 1980 would be able to say that their time was old school because so much changed between then and when I joined. Just depends on when you joined. I will say that anyone who hasn’t had to shine boots or press a BDU uniform isn’t old school. Too soon there junior flips. Lol

Response by CPL Joseph Elinger made Jul 29 at 2021 5:52 PM

CPL Joseph Elinger — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 17:52:44 -0400

13B10 OSUT 1983. My assigned vehicle was a Gamma Goat. Our Battery Commander carried "a Grease Gun," Supply issued us those ugly Yellow PT (banana

Response by SSG Harry Herres made Jul 29 at 2021 6:53 PM

SSG Harry Herres — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 18:53:59 -0400

Doing PT in fatigues and boots. White t-shirts, c-rations P-38 can openers to eat c-rats, m-14 rifle. Canvas web gear need I go on. Oh ya open bay barracks

Response by SPC Fj Sellers Jr made Jul 30 at 2021 12:38 AM

SPC Fj Sellers Jr — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 00:38:28 -0400

You’re a FNG. No such thing as shorts for P/T. Take off your shirt unblouse your boots and you’re ready to go!

Response by PO2 Mike Keyes made Jul 30 at 2021 11:47 AM

PO2 Mike Keyes — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 11:47:47 -0400

Much like anyone driving slower than you is an idiot, anyone who came much after you is not "old school". Therefore anyone in your timeframe or earlier is "old school". Unless of course it's from the point of view of the current crop- then anyone that came before you is "old school".

Response by Capt Rich Buckley made Jul 30 at 2021 1:40 PM

Capt Rich Buckley — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 13:40:02 -0400

Old School was: (1) Nearly all the personnel I served with in the mid-60's would not recognize our leadership today. (2) My concern is specie extinction as a result of their stupidity https://tinyurl.com/sxrm4p6w

RallyPoint | The Military's Professional Network

Response by MSG James South made Jul 31 at 2021 10:44 PM

MSG James South — Sat, 31 Jul 2021 22:44:02 -0400

MSG (Retired) James Bernard South
Smoke if you got them. Standing in formation waiting for mail call hoping your name would be call. Checking the outside bulleting board to see if you have CQ duty or KP.

Response by SPC Robert Hendrickson made Jul 31 at 2021 10:49 PM

SPC Robert Hendrickson — Sat, 31 Jul 2021 22:49:44 -0400

most times, the old ways are best, .. that is the gist of "old school".

Response by SPC Steven Depuy made Aug 1 at 2021 7:25 AM

SPC Steven Depuy — Sun, 01 Aug 2021 07:25:20 -0400

There is a line? We did PT in fatigue parts, combat boots, and a t shirt. What are yellow shorts, lol

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 1 at 2021 6:59 PM

CW2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 01 Aug 2021 18:59:54 -0400

Old School...
Living the term "Hurry Up and Wait".
Eating 46 year old C-Rats during Basic.
A SNCO passionately calling you a "Maggot".
Latrine duty = cleaning urinals with you personal toothbrush.
Fort Rucker TAC's making a "WOC Salad".
Knowing the difference between "Face Paint and it's more dangerous version weekend "War Paint".
The smell of "Napalm" in the morning.
Choking on the "Kimchee" fields smell while in an F-4 at 13,000 above it.
Belief in God.
Love of Country.

Response by 1SG Rene Davis made Aug 1 at 2021 9:52 PM

1SG Rene Davis — Sun, 01 Aug 2021 21:52:47 -0400

Everything! But I also ate C-Rations!!!

Response by CPO Frank Coluccio made Aug 2 at 2021 4:40 PM

CPO Frank Coluccio — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 16:40:10 -0400

Anyone one that was in the Military before BJ Clinton, the "Kinder and Gentler military" and the introduction of "Stress Cards"

Response by SPC Francis Center made Aug 3 at 2021 3:58 AM

SPC Francis Center — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 03:58:14 -0400

I was old school

Response by SSG Brian Carpenter made Aug 3 at 2021 11:26 AM

SSG Brian Carpenter — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 11:26:10 -0400

Drill Seargants who could wax that...

Banana suit pt's

Not being allowed in the barracks during the day even if you were off...because command offices were in same building

No coed barracks

Report for pay in Class As every month

Bn, Bde, Post payday formations

Mandatory meeting with chaplain to get married...getting Command approval TO get married

Corrective training before UCMJ

4 to 8 mile runs not the minimum

Road marches no matter the type unit

The list goes on and on

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 7 at 2021 10:33 AM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Aug 2021 10:33:20 -0400

If you. . .
shouted, "OOGA-BOOGA!!!" at your enemy while waving a club. . .
Jabbed your spear into another hoplite's face. . .
Cursed Varus before your death at the hands of Germanic tribesmen. . .
Walked off the 'Black Death'. . .
Were ever flogged in the brig with a cat-o'-nine tails'. . .
Had frostbite at Valley Forge. . .
Drew a dick in the Halls of Montezuma. . .
The list is endless.

Seems like every younger generation considers the ones before as 'old-school'. I was asked to "frock" one of my newly-minted Petty Officer's to Third Class, and she called me, "One of the last 'old-school' leaders." I referred to a couple of my old Lead Petty Officers as "old-school hardasses". I guess if you pass the sword, you're automatically "old-school".

Response by SSG Jesse LaFrenier made Aug 19 at 2021 5:36 PM

SSG Jesse LaFrenier — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 17:36:39 -0400

If you ever had to stand in a pay line on payday to get your money

Response by MAJ Gerald Richards made Aug 29 at 2021 1:20 AM

MAJ Gerald Richards — Sun, 29 Aug 2021 01:20:54 -0400

"Old school" is a moving target. My first service was from 1947 to 1952. Old school was pre-WWII. We were issued uniforms and equipment from the war. I was even issued a sweater that was made during the war by some civilian that was given to the RED Cross for the soldiers overseas. Our boots were untanned and fuzzy and we had to work very hard to make them smooth enough to polish. Fast forward to 1959 when I was commissioned a 2nd Lt., I found boots were black and the Class A uniforms were green. Suddenly I was old school. So, it looks like Old School is the previous generation and nothing more.

Response by SGT Lance LeBerte made Aug 29 at 2021 10:05 AM

SGT Lance LeBerte — Sun, 29 Aug 2021 10:05:04 -0400

c rats, t rats, mess kits, and shining boots, banana suits for pt

Response by Cpl John Salerno made Aug 29 at 2021 8:08 PM

Cpl John Salerno — Sun, 29 Aug 2021 20:08:35 -0400

What is old school? Is it the thousands of push-ups, being squared away, spitting on your boots to make them shine like mirrors? That was for discipline. Running and obstacle courses, even one day motivation, for endurance. Mastering you rifle and MOS was training, training you took with you into combat to defend your base whether you were Marines, Army, Air Force, or Navy. But today Old School has an entirely different meaning. In Old School our oath was to defend the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic. Our Old School leaders were also committed to that oath. They led for victory against hostile enemies, they worked, as we did, under their example to ensure that we fought, and lived as one. Today our so called leaders are more interested in destroying the unity of the ranks. They push for judging a soldier's whiteness, they push agendas to segregate the troops. But none of them could get their heads out of their political asses. If they concentrated on military planning, they never would have let bungling biden close Bagram Air Base, leaving tens of thousands stranded in taliban and isis hands. Or the $82 billion in equipment, as well as technology which the chinese or russians did not have, until now. Lives lost, pray for those left behind to be held as future hostages. I truly believe that Old School is what we need, and especially leaders with courage enough to tell, even the president, he is fuc*ing up big time.

Response by MAJ David Atkinson made Aug 29 at 2021 9:32 PM

MAJ David Atkinson — Sun, 29 Aug 2021 21:32:10 -0400

Dying your brown boots black. Starched fatigues. Needing a pass to leave post. Opened C-Rations and finding cigarettes.

Response by Cpl Samuel Pope Sr made Aug 30 at 2021 4:40 AM

Cpl Samuel Pope Sr — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 04:40:40 -0400

Being issued an M-14 rifle in boot camp, and at your permanent duty station. Going to radio school to find out that your "T.O." weapon is an "M-1911 A-1, .45 Cal, Semi-automatic, Gas-operated, Pistol. Then becoming an expert with both.

Response by MSG Albert Grounds made Aug 30 at 2021 7:36 AM

MSG Albert Grounds — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 07:36:42 -0400

I will say that defining where "Old School" began can't be decided.
Training in the military has evolved over time from making soldiers mindsets to where they could kill an enemy without batting an eye. Then, training goes to coddling soldiers because one may have died due to overexertion or an issue not found in their medical exam. My training was brutal, in your face training and by the end of my training, I have no doubt I would have no issues with killing the enemy and I hated the Commander, his exec and my platoon sergeant. That changed when the Tet Offensive started in Viet Nam and found that training prepared me for what was taking place. I was lucky to be in camp and not out in the field when they struck but I know after it was all over, they recovered 231 dead enemy in the rice paddies out in front of us and they were known for retrieving as many of their dead soldiers to deceive the actual count. Upon returning from Viet Nam and on the way to my next assignment, I went back to Fort Leonard Wood, met my platoon sergeant and thanked him for preparing me to fight under control. He smiled and said he was glad to see me again and know that what he taught me sunk in.
If "Old School" means training where a soldier can handle himself in combat, then this is a good thing because fear can overtake and cause irrational decisions. I saw enough shell shocks to prove this point.

Response by SGT James Colbert made Aug 30 at 2021 8:55 AM

SGT James Colbert — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 08:55:53 -0400

chief, cattlecars during basic training, is where I learned to sleep standing up. when I grew up on on FT Bliss...I used to drive by basic training at FT Bliss..in the early 80 watching them do PT ..in the "mac n cheese" uniform. Cattlecars i experienced in FT Dix NJ

Response by 1SG Steven Malkowski made Aug 30 at 2021 9:09 AM

1SG Steven Malkowski — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 09:09:41 -0400

It is a moving line. I guess you start from the time you first enlisted/commissioned and go back to a time when they wore different uniforms, ate different field chow and performed different PT tests among a host of other things. Unless you are in the Marines. They don't change uniforms.

Response by SFC James Corona made Aug 30 at 2021 11:44 AM

SFC James Corona — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 11:44:04 -0400

'Old School" is a subjective term.
The question is 'how old"?
WW II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq Eras?
Each era had it's unique military culture, equipment and living
conditions.

Response by SGT David Jackson made Aug 30 at 2021 3:32 PM

SGT David Jackson — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 15:32:10 -0400

What do you mean, "What constitutes being "old school" in the military?". ARE YOU QUESTIONING ME, BOY? Do I look like your Mama, boy? Your Mama ain't here, boy. Your Mama don't love you boy! You've got a new mama now, Boy! The army is your mama now, boy, and you don't ask your new mama questions, boy! You just do what your new mama tells you, and right now your new mama is telling you to drop and give me twenty, BOY!

Response by MAJ Carl Owen made Aug 30 at 2021 5:45 PM

MAJ Carl Owen — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 17:45:02 -0400

Teasing the "old" soldiers to tell you about the old Brown Boot Army. Then watching your own son wear brown Army boots and is clueless on how to spit shine a boot.

Response by Dieudonne Magloire Kamga made Sep 1 at 2021 8:00 AM

Dieudonne Magloire Kamga — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 08:00:19 -0400

Civilian often credit the military with omniscient and omnipotent powers. Such is not the case expecially after first contact with the enemy's . First , no one could fathoms what was happening on September 11th , as suicide hijacking were not the norm nor contemplated . Second, the "fog of war" was very real and present . Remember, the four hijacked planes had their transponders disabled which made tracking those aircraft difficult.

Response by SGT Peter Paden made Sep 1 at 2021 12:41 PM

SGT Peter Paden — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 12:41:19 -0400

Old school was living in WWII barracks running 15 miles a day sharing carrying those unable to finish 1 hour of PT everyday. Footlocker and locker inspections everyday. Verbal and physical hardening by DI’s that would be considered abuse in today’s pussified environment. Going into mess hall on monkey bars and not being able to enter chow line until everyone is in mess hall standing at attention at tables. Going on forced day and nite 25 mile marches with full packs hand to hand combat training with no holding back and graduating soldiers ready mentally and physically for battle to kill enemy and support their fellow soldiers in battle

Response by CPT Larry Hudson made Sep 1 at 2021 4:55 PM

CPT Larry Hudson — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 16:55:12 -0400

Any time before all combat first sergeants retired, military didnt know what woke and crt mandates were and military field grade officers could say no before military was politicized

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 1 at 2021 5:59 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 17:59:06 -0400

If you have to ask...you wouldn't relate anyway. If you've only been in boots this century...you ain't it. No, no yur not.

Response by PFC Ray Gibb made Sep 2 at 2021 10:44 AM

PFC Ray Gibb — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 10:44:56 -0400

IF you opened your MRE to find a pack of smokes.

If the trail - long 25 mile march full battle gear, having Drill Sgts shooting 12" over your ass with live fire - is named after one of the deadliest in Vietnam!

Response by COL John Handy made Sep 2 at 2021 5:53 PM

COL John Handy — Thu, 02 Sep 2021 17:53:52 -0400

I enlisted 40 years ago, now several generations of "old school". I would say the tipping point is when the "Hurt Feelings Report" became offensive

Response by PO2 Peter Sunshine made Sep 3 at 2021 5:42 AM

PO2 Peter Sunshine — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 05:42:22 -0400

For us navy guys it was actually wearing dungarees. Also the only people wearing khakis or either chiefs or officers.

Response by SPC Paul Davis made Sep 3 at 2021 3:31 PM

SPC Paul Davis — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 15:31:27 -0400

Ran in boots in basic. Spit Shined my boots &dress shoes,pressed uniforms,
Put 2 shelter halves together for a tent.
No stress cards and survived SHARK attacks from DI.

Response by SGT Morgan Dull made Sep 3 at 2021 10:50 PM

SGT Morgan Dull — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 22:50:29 -0400

Common, Un-Common Valor, Valor is Victorious For Ever. Extra Ordinary Excellence.
Be All You Can Be, An Army of One, A Soldier's Soldier.

Response by AA Loreen Silvarahawk made Sep 4 at 2021 1:34 PM

AA Loreen Silvarahawk — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 13:34:27 -0400

I was trained at N. A. S. Bainbridge, Maryland --- enough said.

Response by MSgt Neal Schultz made Sep 4 at 2021 5:36 PM

MSgt Neal Schultz — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 17:36:18 -0400

Not depending on a computer and cell phone.

Response by MSgt Neal Schultz made Sep 4 at 2021 5:39 PM

MSgt Neal Schultz — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 17:39:31 -0400

Response by MSgt Neal Schultz made Sep 4 at 2021 5:41 PM

MSgt Neal Schultz — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 17:41:41 -0400

Living in open bay barracks.

Response by MSgt Neal Schultz made Sep 4 at 2021 5:47 PM

MSgt Neal Schultz — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 17:47:42 -0400

Having to walk 3 steps behind a officer.

Response by Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis made Sep 4 at 2021 11:43 PM

Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis — Sat, 04 Sep 2021 23:43:16 -0400

Commissioned Officers were Commissioned Officers and NCO's were NCO's. Not "buddies," not "pals," not "friends," there's no reason for an NCO to be in the O'Club, etc. (Not saying that was better...but). Any Officer in the area, and EVERYBODY Snapped To! Until that officer said otherwise.

Response by CPT Bruce Shult made Sep 5 at 2021 11:19 AM

CPT Bruce Shult — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 11:19:55 -0400

Winning.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2021 11:40 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 11:40:40 -0400

Reading through these comments about this and that is interesting. I can take a majority of all the “if you…” minus a few and apply it to 2005. We spit shined boots, starched BDUs, had crappy M16s, lived in old falling apart barracks (once I stayed in some with a shattered broken window in Texas and no hot water), slept outdoors in a sleeping bag, ate MREs, didn’t have body armor but had an LBE, steel frame rucks, met PT standards to graduate, sung dirty cadences, Etc. I saw the toxicity wane off form 05-21. Leaders begun to be held accountable and combat deaths drop. Each generation of our heroes is a little different. The one before tries to say they were better. However, they are better now. Smarter… much smarter. New private come in with innovation and the development of amazing tech and ideas. The battlefield is completely different.

Response by SFC Michael Yingling made Sep 5 at 2021 11:59 AM

SFC Michael Yingling — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 11:59:53 -0400

It is funny how things change and some don’t. I used ALICE gear and was transported in a cattle cart in 2005. We spit shined boots and starched BDUs (even though 670-1 said not to do either). I think the military was at a stand still in progression for a good 20 years. It has truly gotten better. I could go in detail but there is no point. I have been both a 37F and 42A in the Army (all the way up to E7). So I have done both field and staff work. I was also an Air Force Civilian.

Response by PO2 Ed Leidy made Sep 5 at 2021 12:42 PM

PO2 Ed Leidy — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 12:42:48 -0400

HEAVILY starched cotton utilities / iron-on EGA / C-rations w/canned heat / W.W.II steel canteens /
"Deuce Gear" (= 782 Gear) / M-1 Thumb / Oriention on M-170 & M-711 Jeep Front-Line Ambulance / Glass Syringes / Fam-Fire on M-14 / Field Transport Pack / Cigarette pack in C-rat accessory pack /

Response by Sgt Ivan Boatwright made Sep 5 at 2021 3:25 PM

Sgt Ivan Boatwright — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 15:25:28 -0400

I know old school, Marine Corps Bootcamp April 1964. I used the WW2 rifle M-1 Garrand in Bootcamp and then the M-14 in Vietnam until I was given an AR -15 which was as useful as a rock. Most only worked when they felt good. That was rare. At least with a rock, they worked. Yea, I am Old School.

Response by Sgt Earl Neconie made Sep 5 at 2021 7:16 PM

Sgt Earl Neconie — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 19:16:45 -0400

C-Rats (2) X a day out in the middle of nowhere; and no one gives a f$&@! You return from the field and expect Liberty Call or some R&R and *POOF* the XO is breathing down your neck lookin for a loaded (30) round magazine! Punishment is NO ONE GOES ANYWHERE! No enemy to fight; so we fight amongst ourselves! Now that’s serious OLD SCHOOL…

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2021 8:45 PM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 20:45:43 -0400

Harmony Church A-8-2, I'll leave it right there....

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2021 11:54 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 11:54:45 -0400

Having experience that is greater the 10 years old.
Remember the average Pvt is 18-21. 10years ago they were children .

Response by Sgt Michael Betts made Sep 6 at 2021 1:22 PM

Sgt Michael Betts — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 13:22:39 -0400

I consider myself to be "old school" because I was never issued a rifle with the least bit of plastic on it. My rifles were all steel and wood, as they should be. If I couldn't shoot an enemy with it or stab him with a bayonet I could always beat him to death with it.

Response by SSG Rafael R. Rodriguez Sr. made Sep 6 at 2021 1:35 PM

SSG Rafael R. Rodriguez Sr. — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 13:35:17 -0400

Being old school is still picturing boots ironing your uniforms with the Chinese press and using starch making hospital corners on your beds or telling new recruits to go to the mess hall to get cabbage and lettuce and then go to the motor pool and feed the gamma goats sending second lieutenants to the motor pool to get squelch oil for the FM radio, referring your M16 as a musket, worrying that banana suit for PT, eating C rations and receiving an entree of green ham and eggs with a p38 can opener to open your c-rations. This is what old school means to me!

Response by MSgt Wesley Christiansen made Sep 7 at 2021 10:20 AM

MSgt Wesley Christiansen — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 10:20:42 -0400

Your training rifle was a M14. and your first M16 was made by Mattel.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 7 at 2021 6:35 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 18:35:38 -0400

Being "old school" means you don't care about this new PC,BS going on now and remember when the thing that was important was if you could and would do your job.

Response by MSgt Neal Schultz made Sep 12 at 2021 4:53 PM

MSgt Neal Schultz — Sun, 12 Sep 2021 16:53:19 -0400

Not knowing what I G means.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 16 at 2021 12:31 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 00:31:12 -0400

If you hear the consequences of an individual(s) and hearing that it not seem severe enough, such as receiving a DUI, losing a weapon, and countless others, you want to take them out back and give them a C.A.P.E. session that a drill instructor would be proud to have seen for starters.

Response by SFC Stephen Prince made Sep 16 at 2021 12:18 PM

SFC Stephen Prince — Thu, 16 Sep 2021 12:18:26 -0400

If the soldier owns boots older than you are....old school!

Response by SSgt Kevin Campbell made Sep 18 at 2021 6:32 AM

SSgt Kevin Campbell — Sat, 18 Sep 2021 06:32:54 -0400

I can only explain “Old School” from my Air Force Point of view…
Refuse to call a Chow Hall a “DFAC” and a Motor Pool “A Vehicle Operations Command Center”

Will still call Security Forces “SP”

Vividly recalling spending half a day thinking of new and unusual ways to insult your co-workers and question their romantic preferences.

Can also recall buying endless cans of “Niagara Lemon Scented Starch” and that Service Caps were worn by AF members other than the honor guard and that we used to keep the same style uniform a lot longer than 10 years.

Still Prefer the refreshing temps of the summer weight BDU’s and DCU’s over ABU’s and whatever the hell they call the new uniform.

Response by PFC Matt Ochmanski made Sep 24 at 2021 12:55 PM

PFC Matt Ochmanski — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 12:55:31 -0400

Being Respectful no matter what rank you were and were talking too, not signing up just for free college only, and thinking the military was just grown up summer camp!

Response by SP5 Chuck Walters made Nov 1 at 2021 11:42 AM

SP5 Chuck Walters — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 11:42:54 -0400

Wore green uniforms before BDU cam out.

Response by SPC Lyle Montgomery made Nov 20 at 2021 12:32 PM

SPC Lyle Montgomery — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 12:32:01 -0500

Being trained on an M14 in basic then transfering to an M16 in ait

Response by SFC William Linnell made Nov 20 at 2021 1:01 PM

SFC William Linnell — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 13:01:31 -0500

Old School. What is the cut-off date? I would say Dec 1991. That's when as an Armor M1 tanker, we started receiving cherry's that graduated OSUT but didn't pass their final APFT. As we were told that it's the gaining unit's responsibility. I started my life in the active Army Sept 84'. I retired June 2012.

I can honestly say that I have seen a ton of changes during that time period. But none were as stupid as when Branch said I needed a "break" and sent me to Knox. Now that is an eye opener.
Smoke shacks that are wrapped in green breathable screen so active duty smokers can go in there to smoke so that the trainee wouldn't see smokers. On the tank, we couldn't drink soda, gatorade, powerade in front of them as well. Couldn't eat snacks in front of them. Because....not get this. It was "hazing" against the trainee because they couldn't have it and we were "rubbing it" in their face. Fat bodies could eat whatever they wanted at chow, main line or short order. Eat cake, have soda. And they wanted DS to sit with their trainees during chow so that they weren't so intimidating and the trainee could feel more comfortable around them and easily come to them with an issue. Before if a trainee wanted out, their life was miserable until the paperwork was finished and bye bye. Then it was they signed a statement saying they wanted out and that they weren't training any longer. So they just did and went to all the train but didn't participate.

BDE came down and said that the TC/Instructors were to be graders of the APFT which basically said they didn't trust the DS to grade them "professionally" since so many were passing. We played "stump the chump" training with S-3 on how to grade properly. first APFT we had 24 that failed. Couldn't have that. DS cried that we fuked them. After a week, those retook it graded by the DS and all of them passed and graduated. Hmmm. After that BDE wanted for the trainee to have weekend passes. Be able to drink if of age, smoke etc. Not sure of the end results of that.

Now most of us that came in before 91 are the Old Timers and are out. Now, I guess those that are still in after the 2001 time frame are the old timers that are coping with even worse BS then we ever thought of. And I never owned the Banana suit and never really saw it used. We conducted PT in our BDU's.

Response by SFC William Linnell made Nov 20 at 2021 1:25 PM

SFC William Linnell — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 13:25:49 -0500

Another Old Timer activity they don't know of today. Qualification Buffer. They will never know the pains of hours on end of cleaning the floors so that there is NO residue and the ALL Clear to start waxing. The can of wax with a wire hanger handle. Start it on fire, put it out, drip it on the floor then buff, and buff until you have that semi-gloss shine and bust out with that square piece of wool blanket for that immaculate shine!!! NOTHING was more satisfying as a hallway, 1SG, CO or room that you need shades for.
Now it can't be done because someone with something for authority made the light switch go on that this shit is completely dangerous. FIRE HAZARD!!! Invisible flames. LOL

OH. Hard lesson learned. Do NOT use pledge for that even glorious shine. Hit that floor with wet boots. You're throwing a track. HARD!!! HAHAHAAAA

Response by PVT Edward Roselle made Nov 20 at 2021 4:51 PM

PVT Edward Roselle — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 16:51:52 -0500

If you know what a p-38 is, and why you put it on your dog tag chain, and and held it close... then you know what old school was, is, and always will be!

Response by TSgt George Rodriguez made Nov 20 at 2021 6:48 PM

TSgt George Rodriguez — Sat, 20 Nov 2021 18:48:20 -0500

When I was in back in the 60's what we considered old school was the brown shoe days. Old school now is the different uniforms from the past as well as weapons we qualified with.

Response by MSgt David Guenther made Nov 26 at 2021 9:50 PM

MSgt David Guenther — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 21:50:40 -0500

It could be measured in time and experience. I found it was when you stopped fighting the system and wondering why the hell they did some of the stupid stuff they did, I was 'old school.'

Response by SPC Andrew Murray made Dec 4 at 2021 9:37 PM

SPC Andrew Murray — Sat, 04 Dec 2021 21:37:55 -0500

It means you suffered and therefore everyone who comes under your command must suffer equally although they're still weak in your eyes.

Response by CW5 Mark Smith made Dec 7 at 2021 10:22 PM

CW5 Mark Smith — Tue, 07 Dec 2021 22:22:34 -0500

LBJ was president. Serial numbers. Starch. Brasso. Viet Nam. Serving with Korea and WWII vets.

Response by SGT John Cooper made Dec 8 at 2021 7:57 AM

SGT John Cooper — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 07:57:43 -0500

Didn’t have nylon PT shorts, ran in green t-shirt, green fatigue pants, black leather combat boots.
Drove and rode in a Duece and a half.
Saw a Gamma goat flip over while climbing a steep hill.
Rode in cattle cars at Ft Polk during Inf AIT.
Steel pot, wore, shaved, whores bath out of!
If it’s made by Mattel it’s Swell.
AIT in WW2 Barracks Ft. Polk.
Kill a Commie for Mommy and Blood blood blood makes the grass grow greener Drill Sergeant!
Carried my tent pole and half, spent many nights down range in a pup tent.
Pressed and broke starch daily, spit shined my Cochran daily!
C-Rats only, loved ham and eggs!
Those were the days 75-83………

Response by Capt Wayne Burden made Dec 8 at 2021 10:53 AM

Capt Wayne Burden — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 10:53:33 -0500

How about eating K-Rations that were about 20-30 years old? Yes, they were still eatable. Better than nothing when hungry and out in the field, but not recommended for prolonged human consumption!

Response by 1stSgt Ronald Sheps made Dec 9 at 2021 9:06 AM

1stSgt Ronald Sheps — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 09:06:44 -0500

Old school was the short 20 round (or 19 - let the fight begin) M16 magazines.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 9 at 2021 2:28 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 14:28:14 -0500

WE WOULD DROP OUR hat AND BLOUSES AND DO PT AND RUN IN COMBAT BOOTS

Response by CPL Charles Casper made Dec 9 at 2021 10:09 PM

CPL Charles Casper — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 22:09:00 -0500

Did all of the above with a couple of exceptions,M-1 rifle,and"when the balloon goes up,get ready"!( I was in Germany when the "wall" went up,we thought that the "balloon was going up" very shortly.

Response by MSG William Wold made Jan 1 at 2022 10:03 AM

MSG William Wold — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 10:03:17 -0500

Basic I trained with an M14, and cigarettes in the C-rats. Half way thru basic they introduced the M-16, AIT was back to the M-14, got to Vietnam it was the M-16. IN 1973 I took an early out to do a year in the National Guard. Our first weigh in, the crusty old 1st Sgt had each squad load up in a Deuce and a half, and took it to the weigh station and subtracted the weight of the personnel from the truck. We all passed. The 4 mile walk in combat boots the first 24 over the finish line got a beer. 2 years later Did 8 months schooling in Watercraft Engineering Officer course. Came back to a whole new Guard as Top and all the "old guys" were gone. A month later I was pinned WO1. 4 hours later I had a career changing event. I was awarded a full-time dual status Mil-Tech position, but the position called for being enlisted. Some obscure rank inversion regulation, you could not out rank your civilian supervisor in their military position, so they only allowed the supervisors to be officers. I chose to give up the WO. It was wound back to where it didn't exist. Then spent the next 27 years working for the Guard. Retired GS11 and MSgt.

Response by COL Rick White made Jan 4 at 2022 11:34 PM

COL Rick White — Tue, 04 Jan 2022 23:34:28 -0500

You’ve essentially answered your own question by the words “that ever-moving line”. That “line” is determined by the era(s) and branch you served in. In my Army career, that line covered several decades (1972-2001) and “old school” got older every decade. What I thought was “old school” in 1972 was probably thought to be cutting edge stuff to WWII and Korean veterans. So “old school” is however far back your memories can take you. I saw a lot of mine already mentioned in the various comments; some I had forgotten about and others made me realize I AM OLD SCHOOL

Response by Sgt Paul Houghtaling made Jan 5 at 2022 6:14 PM

Sgt Paul Houghtaling — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 18:14:33 -0500

It is in your soul.

Response by SGT Chuck Freiman made Jan 6 at 2022 2:21 PM

SGT Chuck Freiman — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 14:21:55 -0500

"Old school" is anyone who was in before you and now brags how hard they had it in their day.

Response by SSG David Gallagher made Jan 6 at 2022 5:39 PM

SSG David Gallagher — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 17:39:27 -0500

If you were issued these, you're old school!!

Response by SGT Layrd Cunningham made Jan 6 at 2022 9:56 PM

SGT Layrd Cunningham — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 21:56:26 -0500

If you ever;
Wore brown boots,
Carried an M-1,
Ate C rations,
Wore fatigues
Was in a STRAC Unit

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2022 7:33 AM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 07:33:07 -0500

Fun that this popped back up my feed. Reminds me of a recent Marine Corps commercial/video talking about how retirees are still Marines …… and then they show youngsters who just retired and are in their late 30s/early 40s.

Got me thinking about how folks can look around themselves today not realizing all those old people they see are the prior generations …. Drs, Soldiers, Marines, etc., and how quickly the “middle generations (20s - 40s” become the focus.

I’m closing in on my 7th decade and there are older guys out here as evidenced as the responses. No doubt the question came out of the middle generation.

I’ll just say to the middle generation folks …. You have vets here into their 90s, maybe older, so the line is constantly shifting based on the last/oldest Soldier/Sailor/Airman/Marine whose feet are still above ground!

Response by MSG Bob Goble made Jan 8 at 2022 8:09 AM

MSG Bob Goble — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 08:09:16 -0500

I'm so old school we never had PT or yellow shorts

Response by CPO Donald Crisp made Jan 8 at 2022 2:27 PM

CPO Donald Crisp — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 14:27:34 -0500

To me, "old school" is more than having served "way back when." It's a frame of mind when putting the job first (after God and family) meant everything.

Response by SSgt Michele Owings made Jan 8 at 2022 5:31 PM

SSgt Michele Owings — Sat, 08 Jan 2022 17:31:44 -0500

If you were in the Army Air Corps, that was old school.

Response by Cpl Jarlath Bloom made Jan 9 at 2022 3:50 AM

Cpl Jarlath Bloom — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 03:50:43 -0500

If you didn't wear woodland cammies in the USMC, you aren't old school.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2022 10:34 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 10:34:58 -0500

Any period of time at least 10 years prior to your service time.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2022 2:17 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 14:17:10 -0500

Probably already mentioned the Lister bag! Int any good unless it has miss growing on it!

Response by PO1 Todd B. made Jan 9 at 2022 3:11 PM

PO1 Todd B. — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 15:11:51 -0500

Anything prior to the current regimes 'woke' and gender bullshit changes now being forced on military members.

Response by PFC Michelle Gauthier made Jan 9 at 2022 7:08 PM

PFC Michelle Gauthier — Sun, 09 Jan 2022 19:08:25 -0500

Using an M-1 or M-14 Garand instead 9of an AK-47.

Response by 1SG James Kelly made Jan 10 at 2022 12:09 PM

1SG James Kelly — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 12:09:18 -0500

If your E-2 pay was less than $100 a month.
Lived in open bay barracks that were built for WW II.
Ate C rations
etc. etc. etc.

Response by TSgt George Rodriguez made Jan 10 at 2022 12:14 PM

TSgt George Rodriguez — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 12:14:12 -0500

The uniform worn then has sure changed from today. Back then we thought old school was the brown shoe days.

Response by SFC Robert Townsend made Jan 11 at 2022 7:54 AM

SFC Robert Townsend — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 07:54:25 -0500

How about standing guard on the boarder between east and west Germany!

Response by SGT Earl Lebold made Jan 11 at 2022 10:41 AM

SGT Earl Lebold — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 10:41:13 -0500

Heating "C Rats" over a chunk of C4...

Response by CPT Weaver Gaines made Jan 11 at 2022 3:38 PM

CPT Weaver Gaines — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 15:38:18 -0500

And more old school still
Ate C-rations (especially heated over C-4) and learned how to avoid the unwanted meals (like ham and eggs), even when the carton was opened from the bottom
Had a copy of the Tabasco Charley Ration cookbook
Called your quarters a hootch and the local maid a mama san (even if she was Vietnamese)
Shaved in cold water in your steel pot, also useful for sitting when the ground was wet or muddy
Tried to get your AN/PRC-6 (walkie talkie) to work when you needed it
Know what a "slick" is

Response by SFC Terry Bryant made Jan 13 at 2022 11:00 AM

SFC Terry Bryant — Thu, 13 Jan 2022 11:00:00 -0500

The real deuce and a half, Willis jeeps, and canvas shelter halves. The old BDU uniforms and black boots. Oh those were the good "OLD SCHOOL" days LOL.

Response by PO1 Mike Wallace made Jan 20 at 2022 4:54 PM

PO1 Mike Wallace — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 16:54:24 -0500

If you have boot prints on your butt for screwing up or have left boot prints on someone left boot prints on someone else for screwing up....you might be old school!

Response by Sgt Ron Harris made Jan 23 at 2022 2:42 PM

Sgt Ron Harris — Sun, 23 Jan 2022 14:42:21 -0500

Hmh, y'all complain about WWII barracks, our old barracks at Chanute AFB, were built in 1917.....a few years before WWII....if ya get my drift.

Response by MAJ Robert Jones made Feb 2 at 2022 4:21 PM

MAJ Robert Jones — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 16:21:33 -0500

If the Drill Sergeant could tell you do anything except to perform an illegal act, then you are old school, if you did not have a time out card when the Drill Sergeant was making you perform PT or hurt your feeling, then you are "Old School". If don't ask don't tell was in place then you were old school. If you can sing any type of cadence without worrying about hurting someone feeling or being politically correct then you are old school.

Response by MSG Charles Kaiser made Feb 5 at 2022 8:42 AM

MSG Charles Kaiser — Sat, 05 Feb 2022 08:42:06 -0500

Forgot took PT test in Combat Boots and was on Active duty under Jimmy Carter.

Response by CW2 William Melton made Feb 10 at 2022 11:08 AM

CW2 William Melton — Thu, 10 Feb 2022 11:08:47 -0500

brings back a lo of memories. did most of what was mentions. yes that is old school. troops today dont understand the real army. yes sir, no sir, yes sergent, no sargent. to day is hey bud or what ever dog. wrong army . in the 60's and 70's a lot different than today.

Response by LCpl Nicholas Bredthauer made Feb 24 at 2022 10:39 AM

LCpl Nicholas Bredthauer — Thu, 24 Feb 2022 10:39:10 -0500

Basically served prior to the time the person you are talking to did lol.

Response by PO1 Kevin Arnold made Feb 27 at 2022 10:47 AM

PO1 Kevin Arnold — Sun, 27 Feb 2022 10:47:35 -0500

Actually used a typewriter, handed out paychecks, carbon paper, double sided meant that you had to take the paper out and turn it around, having a nickname, and tacking on dolphins or crows when earned. To name a few things.

Response by SSG Joseph VanDyck made Feb 27 at 2022 8:24 PM

SSG Joseph VanDyck — Sun, 27 Feb 2022 20:24:08 -0500

If you remember OG107s, breaking starch, buffer rodeos and having an EIB before your CIB

Response by MSgt Horace Smith made Feb 28 at 2022 2:08 AM

MSgt Horace Smith — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 02:08:00 -0500

If you had an 8 digit service number...

Response by SGT Michael Dreibelbis made Mar 1 at 2022 10:02 AM

SGT Michael Dreibelbis — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 10:02:00 -0500

If you remember a time when a General officer, regardless of position, telling the opposition that he would inform them if we planned to go to war, would be grounds for courts martial and summary execution…

If your higher officers knew the Communist Manifesto was absolute BS.

If your generals pushed readiness, rounds on target and lamented that the civilian leadership wasn’t providing us sufficient ammo to train…

You’re old school.

If TRADOC recognized that there needed to be male AND female standards for PT… and not wasting a shit ton of money on a unisex PT test…

You’re old school.

If the only classes you took were threat recognition, weapon maintenance, field craft, OPORD, WARNO’s and planning for the Russians…

You’re old school.

Response by Sgt Peter Schlesiona made Mar 2 at 2022 8:36 PM

Sgt Peter Schlesiona — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 20:36:48 -0500

Graduating from boot camp yesterday!

Response by PO3 David Crew made Mar 2 at 2022 9:26 PM

PO3 David Crew — Wed, 02 Mar 2022 21:26:41 -0500

Hazing allowed versus hazing not allowed and by not allowed I mean actually punished when it happens.

Response by PO3 Bob Johnson made Mar 10 at 2022 8:23 PM

PO3 Bob Johnson — Thu, 10 Mar 2022 20:23:21 -0500

Having an ash tray on your desk at work. Almost everyone in my unit did, "back in the day".

Response by SPC Dennis Kregel made Mar 11 at 2022 7:21 AM

SPC Dennis Kregel — Fri, 11 Mar 2022 07:21:14 -0500

I would say that if you ever had to carry a code book on a rope around your neck when on a field problem show you could communicate on the radio you would definitely be considered "Old School". Especially if you had to shack and unshack grid coordinates to locate movement points, which was a science all unto itself.

Response by PO1 Ken Helmick made Mar 13 at 2022 7:19 PM

PO1 Ken Helmick — Sun, 13 Mar 2022 19:19:03 -0400

Oh, who the heck knows? When I was still affiliated with the Navy, they reinvented the service every 3 to 5 years -- each time someone above me labeled it as being "the new Navy". It didn't take too long before the next version of the "new Navy" had an awful lot of features in common with the Navy that had been declared obsolete a few iterations back. So, "old school" seems to rely on which version of the service was in effect when you first put on the uniform

Response by SFC William Linnell made Mar 14 at 2022 10:00 AM

SFC William Linnell — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 10:00:11 -0400

Don't forget about using a buffer to make the floors look like glass.
Johnson & Johnson paste wax
Lite it on fire, drop spots of melted wax on floor
continue to buff until is shiny
use a piece of wool blanket, brown t-shirt to get that highly blinding shine that makes the 1SG walk around all day with a grin and a stiffy.

Don't forget the ALERTS.
Turret counseling/back deck counseling/wood line counseling
Buy beer from the coke machine
The first set of MRE's in the dark bags
2 beer limit during lunch

Response by Cpl Bernard Bates made Mar 14 at 2022 10:13 AM

Cpl Bernard Bates — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 10:13:58 -0400

Taking an MSTS ship to the war in vietnam. In July of 65 Johnson sent thousands of Americans to Vietnam. I was on the MSTS MANN operated by the Merchant Marine. Their were 3000 troops on the ship that was supposed to hold 1500. We left from oakland Army terminal while their were riots going on in Watts a section of the city of LA. In front of the oakland Army Terminal Hippies were demonstrating on the street in front of the Army terminal. The girls were carrying signs that said"Make love not War". We sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge out to sea, A tanker passed us coming into port. A loud Speaker on the tanker said "If your going to VietNam Givem Hell" 18 days later we Were in Vietnam Making a landing At QuiNhon. We tool a Mike boat to shore the front end dropped down and we hit the beach. What bothered me was that when we landed we didn't have our weapons. I spent 4 yrs in the Marine Corp, we didn't go anywhere without our weapons. The Army saw it different. WE were the 205th Ord. PLt. (Ammo) sent to set up ASP,s for !st Air Cav on their operations into the Jungle. Semper Fi.

Response by LTC John Wilson made Mar 14 at 2022 10:14 AM

LTC John Wilson — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 10:14:22 -0400

When your poncho liner "woobie" is older than the LT that just arrived...

Yes... That has literally happened.

Response by SSG Bill McCoy made Mar 14 at 2022 2:27 PM

SSG Bill McCoy — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 14:27:16 -0400

When I was still in, any reference to the "Brown Boot Army," as in spit-shined brown boots was "old school." Since then, it's become more about MOS identifiers. For example, I'm "old school," in that my MOS was 95B; today, it's 31B and the same for officers.
I joked with a Colonel friend of mind that they made enlisted the same as officer branch designators ... because officers would have a harder time changing to the enlisted ones. :)
Similar to the MOS designators, are uniforms. Old school wore PRESSED khakis or Dress Greens; but drove (mostly) hand-me-down sedans from TMP. Today, MP's wear what I call "pajamas," but drive actual patrol cars.
Old school would also be if you had C-Rations, especially if they still had smokes in them!

Response by MSG Louis Alexander made Mar 14 at 2022 3:14 PM

MSG Louis Alexander — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 15:14:12 -0400

Old school? Having fire watch in a two-story WWII barracks during the winter months, and having latrine duty afterward. Learning to properly blouse boot trousers without help from a rubber blousing rubber. Or how to clean your tin canteen and look for pinholes. Having oversized pistol belts that never seemed to adjust and fit. Flaming the old coal boilers for heat and keeping them burning during the night so everyone stayed warm, and falling asleep atop the coal and when the Sergeant came about, lied telling him you didn't fall asleep on duty and you looking like you took a bath in coal from head to toe.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 14 at 2022 8:02 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 20:02:02 -0400

If you ever drank cool water from a lister bag, then you’re old school.

Response by SFC Clinton D. Washington made Apr 7 at 2022 4:55 PM

SFC Clinton D. Washington — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 16:55:38 -0400

If you had cold beer machines in dayroom.

Response by PO1 Patrick Shakal made Apr 7 at 2022 4:59 PM

PO1 Patrick Shakal — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 16:59:32 -0400

Before cell phones and stress cards when mail call was where most of your communications with home happened

Response by SPC(P) Clifford Deal made Apr 8 at 2022 2:28 AM

SPC(P) Clifford Deal — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 02:28:31 -0400

Tent city..

Response by SPC(P) Clifford Deal made Apr 8 at 2022 2:33 AM

SPC(P) Clifford Deal — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 02:33:01 -0400

When you find yourself still fitting OG-108's 20 areas later..

Response by MAJ Pat Beyer made Apr 8 at 2022 10:30 AM

MAJ Pat Beyer — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 10:30:07 -0400

Did PT / PT test in boots and fatigues

At WWII c-rats in Basic Training

Your drill sergeants were all Vietman Combat Vets.

Response by SSgt Mathew Cummings made Apr 8 at 2022 10:48 AM

SSgt Mathew Cummings — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 10:48:41 -0400

While the jokes and humor of "salt dog" or "old school" are something I am more than familiar with, I am particularly interested in this area. I was called "old school" by my friends and family that came ashore at Iwo and D-Day. While all the areas aforementioned by fellow commentators on this topic do hold relevance, I would say that there is now a mentality application being attached. When I joined up the priorities went as follows, God, family, country, Corps. You never did anything to jeopardize the predecessor. Mind you that I was raised by WWII, Korea, and Vietnam Vets. It was Semper Fi not "Semper I". Today's modern forces, in my personal and professional opinion, do not look at their service as it was viewed by previous generations by majority. I have no presence of mind to call that absolute. I knew that I was guaranteed nothing and owed everything to the Service Members that paid for our freedom with blood, sweat and tears. I am somewhat concerned for an "entitled" future within the military. Again, this is only my opinion and I am smart enough to know I am far from knowing everything.

Response by SPC S Meeder made Apr 8 at 2022 2:24 PM

SPC S Meeder — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 14:24:49 -0400

Old school would be before the standards were lowered to allow weaker women and low T men to "meet" the standards.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2022 4:28 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 16:28:57 -0400

There are some excellent replies here. No need to add more of the obvious... :-)

Response by SFC Darwin Maring made Apr 8 at 2022 9:58 PM

SFC Darwin Maring — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 21:58:11 -0400

What a crock of crap. Old School did not have PT uniforms or M16s. Steal pot, M1 rifle, a block hat like Castro wore, C rats with small packs of cigarets and PT in boots and fatigues. No Cammo in the old school. Scrubbed all the wax off the floor (even in the little dents) during GI party, opened drains in latrines and cleaned down to the water line. Open bays with 4 bunks in a cube and the cubes seperated by a plywood moveable partition. The springs in the bunks were so weak that when you got up your back was so hunched over it took an hour to just stand up straight.

Response by SMSgt Michael Gleason made Apr 9 at 2022 4:43 PM

SMSgt Michael Gleason — Sat, 09 Apr 2022 16:43:14 -0400

Regarding the "If you ever" description: I never wore yellow nylon PT shorts, and I am not sure what a "gamma goat" is (unless it's getting 50CCs of Gamma Globulin rammed into each butt cheek in a 30ºF hangar at 0300 immediately after arriving in Korea, and then being put onto a "school" type military bus and bounced all over the Korean countryside for over an hour, with some guys bleeding through their uniform pants), but I've done ALL the rest at Forts Knox and Polk ("If God were going to give the World an enema, Fort Polk is where he'd stick the tube"!). We didn't have MREs yet, though - we had C-Rations. Particularly dehumanizing were the latrines in the WWII barracks at Fort Polk, with five toilets in a row in the middle of the floor - NO privacy whatsoever - I vowed to myself that I'd never take a crap in "public" again, and (so far) I haven't.

Response by CW5 Mark Smith made Apr 9 at 2022 6:50 PM

CW5 Mark Smith — Sat, 09 Apr 2022 18:50:53 -0400

Serial numbers, .45s, M-14s, M-1s, SNCOs who were WWII/Korea vets, starch, spit shines, "C"-rations (ham and muthers), brasso, etc.

Response by Cpl Dennis Rymon made Apr 9 at 2022 9:38 PM

Cpl Dennis Rymon — Sat, 09 Apr 2022 21:38:51 -0400

Creating two man cubicles in open squad bays with skillful arrangement of racks and wall lockers.

Response by 2LT Scott Armstrong made Apr 9 at 2022 9:55 PM

2LT Scott Armstrong — Sat, 09 Apr 2022 21:55:58 -0400

Woodland Camo BDUs and an M65 field jacket.

Response by LTC Kevin Coughlin made Apr 10 at 2022 2:27 PM

LTC Kevin Coughlin — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 14:27:30 -0400

Gawd, this comments made feel old...how about the PT test that included the run dodge and jump. the overhead ladder. the thrill of seeing a huey or Chinook close up (didn't ride in them just looked). humping a 90mm recoiless rifle and using a ta-1 hand cranked phone

Response by SSgt David Gordon made Apr 10 at 2022 4:54 PM

SSgt David Gordon — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 16:54:03 -0400

What's "old skool" is a measurement of how old you are. Jean shorts are "old skool" white Sean jon sweats are old skool, 50/50 caps are oldskool. Not knowing what is "oldskool" is old skool.

Response by SSgt David Gordon made Apr 10 at 2022 4:55 PM

SSgt David Gordon — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 16:55:09 -0400

As of 2009 2/12 are still used

Response by TSgt Jonathan (Chris) Watson made Apr 10 at 2022 10:11 PM

TSgt Jonathan (Chris) Watson — Sun, 10 Apr 2022 22:11:22 -0400

If you could take your duty boots from a concrete job or fuel spill to inspection condition in under 30 minutes

If BDUs are the uniform you ever wore

If you knew that that your opinion as an E1-E3 wasn't worth moldy bread

If you knew how to press and iron BDUs with knife creases without starch or sizing

For the AF- if you remember 4 numeral unit designations

If you ever fired M-16A1s

If you remember a time before Don't ask, don't tell

If you've ever heard anybody asked about Hershey bars and their footwear

Response by Cpl Craig Howard made Apr 11 at 2022 11:43 AM

Cpl Craig Howard — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 11:43:43 -0400

This is how I heard it described in the Marines. Before the Revolutionary War, a group of men we gathered in Tun Tavern. They were looking for Sharp Shooters to put in the rigging of the Navy's ships. The first man they met that met the bill was told to report to the wharf and let the Officer of the Deck know he was the First Marine. Soon another man was found and sent with the same instructions, but that he was the Second Marine. When this man reached the ship, he introduced himself as the Second Marine to the First. The First Marine replied, "Oh! You must be New School." It is just a comment on time and changes made during that time.

Response by SP5 Thomas Jameson made Apr 11 at 2022 3:30 PM

SP5 Thomas Jameson — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 15:30:11 -0400

M-16??? Never saw one.
MRES??? C-rats forever!

Response by SP5 Michael Ingenito made Apr 12 at 2022 6:25 PM

SP5 Michael Ingenito — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 18:25:47 -0400

You left out having to "Spit Shine" your boots, Pealing apart your Starched Fatigues so you could wear them, Running through the field showers to cool down when you went through "Jump School" in July ! 5 minutes youl'd be bone dry

Response by SSG Ken Potts made Apr 12 at 2022 7:31 PM

SSG Ken Potts — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 19:31:41 -0400

It's about attitude as much as time. You were raised a certain way before you joined, and that carries over. People like me believe in getting the work done quickly and efficiently so there is time for soldiers to conduct other personal military business. It return, the soldiers will work harder knowing they will have that time. That is me. Some schools believe that you keep the soldiers occupied with menial details until retreat.

Response by SPC Mike Bohannon made Apr 12 at 2022 7:50 PM

SPC Mike Bohannon — Tue, 12 Apr 2022 19:50:56 -0400

We didn't do PT in anything but our fatigues I guess that's pretty old school 69-72

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 13 at 2022 10:42 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 10:42:56 -0400

Wearing all gray PT uniforms, BDU and still in the Army

Response by SP5 David Marthers made Apr 13 at 2022 4:01 PM

SP5 David Marthers — Wed, 13 Apr 2022 16:01:49 -0400

I guess I’m more than old school. Our PT uniforms were strip to t-shirts fatigues and jump boots. Of course our t shirts were white.

Response by 1SG Jerry Butts made Apr 14 at 2022 1:35 AM

1SG Jerry Butts — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 01:35:33 -0400

I agree with Major Petrarca; I did all of that and more; strived to ensure that the soldiers under my care (not out of sight out of mind); and their families were taken care of (not just when a crisis happened but I checked up on them to ensure they had decent food, shelter, clothing, etc. What some view as an intrusion, was to ensure that the problem didn't not escalate to the point where it got so out of hand that serval agencies now had to step in where one caring person could have prevented all that .... you do not need a hammer to hit you over the head when you deliver a Food basket to a home.......and in the middle of the room instead of furniture you see a $3000.00 stereo set but no furniture.

Response by SSgt J Sullivan made Apr 14 at 2022 6:15 PM

SSgt J Sullivan — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 18:15:25 -0400

Old school means, no women in ground combat roles, no homosexuals/transsexuals members, no politics, and no CRT allowed. All these things are distractions from the primary mission of protecting the country from her enemies and makes the military weaker and dis-unified.

Response by SFC Allen Murphy made Apr 15 at 2022 8:42 AM

SFC Allen Murphy — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 08:42:19 -0400

Response by SFC Allen Murphy made Apr 15 at 2022 8:46 AM

SFC Allen Murphy — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 08:46:23 -0400

Response by 1SG John Ayala made Apr 16 at 2022 6:40 PM

1SG John Ayala — Sat, 16 Apr 2022 18:40:56 -0400

Old school to me would be:
c-rats, un-bloused your pants and ran in boots, fatigues, white t-shirts, full-color patches, immersion heaters, "horse-cock" sandwiches, pay-day activities, smoking indoors at the TMC, .38 cal pistols for aviation

Response by Cpl Gunner Stout made Apr 17 at 2022 4:55 PM

Cpl Gunner Stout — Sun, 17 Apr 2022 16:55:01 -0400

The story goes that in 1775 when the first Marine battalion was authorized, the recruiting station was Tun Tavern. The incitement for enlistment was a shot of rum and flagon of beer. The first marine who signed up (to this day unknown) was sitting in the Tavern with his shot and flagon when about 10 minutes later another came in, announced he had enlisted, and requested his flagon of beer. As he sat at the bar, the first Marine asked if he was going to get his shot of rum (thinking if not, he'd take it for him). The second Marine asked "Shot of rum? What shot of rum?"
The first explained that when he enlisted he was offered both a shot and a flagon. The second Marine replied "Ah, OK, you must be "Old Corps".

Response by CPO Manny Perez made May 7 at 2022 5:19 PM

CPO Manny Perez — Sat, 07 May 2022 17:19:19 -0400

If you were issued an M16 you are NOT Old School! Now if you were in the RVN and were issued an M14 you can brag about being Old School!

Response by 1LT Richard Ellison made May 12 at 2022 3:02 PM

1LT Richard Ellison — Thu, 12 May 2022 15:02:45 -0400

I guess I might be old school. PT uniform was removing your fatigue shirt and doing PT in your duty uniform and boots. Never saw a pt belt, cute little running suit, or running shoes.

Response by PFC Timothy Mickler made May 22 at 2022 10:31 AM

PFC Timothy Mickler — Sun, 22 May 2022 10:31:39 -0400

Had to carry canned C-rations to the field with a P-48 and tried to heat them up using an old can with diesel fuel from the duece and a half.

Response by COL Bill Gross made May 22 at 2022 12:43 PM

COL Bill Gross — Sun, 22 May 2022 12:43:19 -0400

C-Rats with cigarettes in them.

Response by Capt Rich Buckley made May 22 at 2022 3:44 PM

Capt Rich Buckley — Sun, 22 May 2022 15:44:22 -0400

US Marine Col (ret) Scott Ritter, uses this term "Old School" several times as he describes choices made in Ukraine: I summarize much of Scott Ritter's work here: https://tinyurl.com/tdwpt3kr

tdwpt3kr

Response by LTC George Monsson made May 22 at 2022 9:48 PM

LTC George Monsson — Sun, 22 May 2022 21:48:00 -0400

Can field strip an M-1 Garand.

Response by CPT Stephen Feldman made May 22 at 2022 10:46 PM

CPT Stephen Feldman — Sun, 22 May 2022 22:46:44 -0400

I learned to shoot an M-1. However, never had an M-1 thumb. Guess that makes me old school.

Response by SSgt David M. made May 22 at 2022 10:52 PM

SSgt David M. — Sun, 22 May 2022 22:52:06 -0400

'Old School' was just a saying that we had for the "Lifers" when I was in my first term. Funny thing is that some of the Lifers we listened to knew what they were saying. It seemed that all the younger Officers had a lot to learn but only if they wanted to. I guess the longer I stayed in the closer I came to being an 'Old School' NCO. ;-)

Response by PFC Tim Arnett made May 24 at 2022 2:18 PM

PFC Tim Arnett — Tue, 24 May 2022 14:18:58 -0400

GOING THROUGH BASIC/AIT, AND ALLOWING YOUR MOTHER TO BE TO BE SPOKEN OF IN THE MOST HORRIBLE WAYS, INCLUDING MENTION OF DONKEY DICKS (FLASHLIGHTS WITH COLOURED CONE REFLECTORS) BEING USED AS A SEXUAL DEVICE.

BESIDES THAT, AND INTO YOUR PERMANANT STATION, HAVING LEARNED A NEW VOCABULARY OF THE UTMOST PROFANE, BLASPHEMOUS, AND DESCRIPTIVE STORY LINES, THEN SHARING WHAT YOU LEARNED PERSONALLY (DURING AND AFTER SERVICE).

NOT THAT THIS FELL AWAY WITH THE NEW ARMY (ALTHOUGH I'VE HEARD STORIES AND SEEN VIDEOS), THE CONTINUING TO PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE IN YOUR MOS (13-BRAVO) SOP, AND BECOMING PROFICIENT IN ALL WEAPONS SYSTEMS. THUS REPRESNTING YOUR COUNTRY TAX PAYER AND CHAIN OF COMMAND AS A STRIKE SOLDIER, A TRUE GUNBUNNY.

BUT WHEN EVENING FORMATION ENDED, SHOWERING AND USING WHAT PITTANCE OF YOUR MONTHLY PAY TO HEAD DOWNTOWN TO ZIRNDORF AND BEYOND TO PARTY WITH YOUR BROTHERS AND GERMAN NATIONAL FRIENDS. SEEING THE CITY AND COUNTRY, GOING TO ROCK CONCERTS, TAKING MANY PHOTOS.

WHEN DAMN NEAR PENNYLESS OR PHENINGLESS, HANGING WITH YOUR BROTHERS IN PARTICUAL SECTION ROOMS DRINKING BEERS FROM THE BATTERY POP/BEER MACHINES AND SMOKING, AND SHOOTING THE SHIT, TAKING MANY PHOTOS THAT HAD TO BE PROCESSED (NO MOBILE OR DIGITAL DEVICES THEN (OLD SCHOOL.

ALTHOUGH I SERVED DURING THE COLD WAR (APRIL 1977-JANUARY 1980) AND SAW NO COMBAT, WE HAD ONGOING PREPARATION AND SHIT TONS OF VEHICLE MAINTENANCE FOR THE EVENT OF SOVIET CZECH'S CROSSING INTO SOUTHERN GERMANY,. WE CONFIDENT OF OUR TRAINING AND READY TO ROLL AT ALL TIMES.

AS AN M-548 TRACK DRIVER, NUMBER 1 MAN (LOADER FIRER FOR THE M-109A1 155MM HOWITZER (OLD SCHOOL), I ALSO BECAME THE PROTECTOR OF MY PRIMARY WEAPON (NOT THE M-16), MY MA DEUCE. THE M-2 BROWNING 50 CALIBER HEAVY MACHINE GUN WAS WHAT I LOVED FIRING MOST NEXT TO MY HOWITZER BECAUSE THE TRACERS GAVE ME INDICATION AS TO PATH AND RANGE. ANYWHERE IT WAS FIRED, ANYTHING THAT HAD BEEN GROWING (TREES, BUSHES ETC.,) DISAPPEARED.

I WAS AWARDED A LETTER FROM OUR DIVISIONAL COMMANDER FOR MY EXCELLENCE WITH THE M-2 AS A RESULT OF OUR PINDER BARRACKS GERMAN/AMERICAN CELEBRATION WHERE THE FOLKS IN TOWN CAME ON POST TO EAT, DRINK, AND OF COURSE ADMIRE OUR HARDWARE.

AT THIS EVENT I CAME ACROSS AN M-2 MOUNTED TO THE TRI-POD (ALMOST LIKE UNTO A CARNIVAL ATTRACTION) ON THE GROUND. THEY WERE ESSENTIALLY HAVING A COMPETITION OF FULL DISASSEMBLY/REASSEMBLY, INCLUDING DETACH AND REATTACH TO TRI-POD, SPACE/TIMING OF WEAPON.

I GUESS MY MUSCLE MEMORY KICKED IN (AND SOLDIER PRIDE) AND 1 MINUTE 36 SECONDS LATER MY BARREL WAS SPACED AND TIMED. DONE!!! NOW I AM SURE THERE'S OTHERS THAT COULD BEAT THAT TIME, BUT I WAS LOVING IT START TO FINISH. I WAS READY IN THE EVENT OF A CONFLICT, AND WOULDN'T BE LEFT WANTING WHEN THAT BALL DROPPED.

LAST THING I HAVE TO SAY IS THIS, THAT OLD SCHOOL ATTITUDE THEN AMONG MY ARMY BROTHERS NEVER, EVER, INCLUDED POLITICAL JARGON OF ANY KIND, EVEN WHEN I BECAME DISHEARTED ABOUT DRAW DOWN IN SPENDING FOR DOD, WHICH MADE PARTS ORDERS LENGTHY.
IN THE END, I GOT MYSELF A BRAND SPANKING NEW M-548 TRACK VEHICLE OUT OF THE MOTHBALLS AS WE USED TO SAY LOL!

ONCE A BRIG-GENERAL GAVE US WISE COUNSEL DURING A NATO EXERCISE IN 1978 WHEN HE SAID BLUNTLY, "YOU KNOW THAT WHEN YOU SPEAK AGAINST CONGRESS AND THE POTUS, YOU ARE VERBALLY SPEAKING AGAINST YOUR CHAIN OF COMMAND, SO..." DON'T RECALL HIM SAYING, SO STFU! OR DON'T BOTHER, BUT I GOT THE POINT.

LOOKING BACK ON Y RETURN TO "THE WORLD" (ANOTHER OLD SCHOOL TERMINOLGY FOR OUR GREAT NATION) I THOUGHT I SHOULD HAVE RE-UP'D DUE TO THE POOR ASSED ECONOMY AND JOBS AVAILABLE.

I ENDED UP IN AN OFFICE JOB FOR CUYAHOGA COUNTY WELFARE DEPT, DUE TO MY MILITARY TIME AND BEING PUT TO THE FRONT OF THE LINE FOR OPEN POSITIONS. THAT HELPED ME FINALLY GET A YES FROM MY WIFE TO BE AND ALSO A JOB WITH MEDICAL BENEFITS FOR WHEN OUR TWO CHILDREN CAME A FEW YEARS LATER.

YEAH THE POST VIETNAM ARMY WAS POORLY PAYED AND IN MANY WAYS ILL SUPPLIED, BUT I KNEW THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS WHO FOUGHT PREVIOUSLY IN SOUTH ASIA WERE PAID EVEN LESS AND WERE WOUNDED AND DIED, SO I STFU!

THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE VOLUNTEERED SERVICE BEFORE AND SINCE. WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT WAS/IS TO SERVE AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AMEN!

Response by SSG Michael Needham made May 25 at 2022 2:22 PM

SSG Michael Needham — Wed, 25 May 2022 14:22:15 -0400

Spitshined jump boots , OD green fatigues , or Jungle boots and Jungle fatigues take your pick

Response by PO1 John Hudson made May 25 at 2022 8:02 PM

PO1 John Hudson — Wed, 25 May 2022 20:02:54 -0400

Old School means anything that has changed since your first unit. Everyone gets used to how thing are and any change triggers, I’m old school, that’s not how I learned or how we used to do it. It’s a compliment both ways, you learn the way it was and the other person the way it is now. Regardless we are all one, Veterans.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2022 9:29 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 26 May 2022 09:29:15 -0400

If you had a crush on a WAC or a Donut Dolly

Response by SFC Charles Diers made May 26 at 2022 8:33 PM

SFC Charles Diers — Thu, 26 May 2022 20:33:29 -0400

Line up and report to the Company Pay Master for Monthly pay. USARMY 74-95 Essayons!

Response by 1SG Patrick Sims made May 27 at 2022 5:56 PM

1SG Patrick Sims — Fri, 27 May 2022 17:56:46 -0400

Carried a muzzleloader, wore a coonskin cap, ate bear meat, and shit in the woods like a wild animal.

Saying I'm old school is bullshit. Things change every day in the military. You change with them or get left behind.

Response by SPC Edward Abney made May 27 at 2022 10:59 PM

SPC Edward Abney — Fri, 27 May 2022 22:59:34 -0400

Old School? Training with M1 Garands, "Pineapple Grenades", 30 caliber, air cooled, machine guns, antipersonnel and anti-armor rounds, launched from your M1, exercising in your fatigues and boots, running in your fatigues and boots, sleeping in your fatigues and boots and eating C-rats!

Response by PO1 Michael Garrett made May 28 at 2022 8:53 PM

PO1 Michael Garrett — Sat, 28 May 2022 20:53:33 -0400

Though I may have said this elsewhere, if you were in the military service before political correctness was instituted in the early 1990's, then you are truly, "od-school." You actually LEARNED what it meant to be part of the branch you joined. Today, our military undergoes sensitivity training.

Response by PFC Kit Corson made May 29 at 2022 12:14 PM

PFC Kit Corson — Sun, 29 May 2022 12:14:28 -0400

I am getting a kick reading about the “old school” definitions. I was in AIT at Fort Ord during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Many of my instructors were Korean War vets, and their stories and photos were eye opening. I felt that we were still involved in the aftermath of WWll. Our training was old school with garand M1, pineapple grenades, and the old “rifle knife”. The M14 was new, uniforms were AG 44 in color. And all the other things that were old school, so long ago now.

Response by Maj Ted Mc Neel Sr. made May 30 at 2022 2:49 PM

Maj Ted Mc Neel Sr. — Mon, 30 May 2022 14:49:15 -0400

I am a member of the 'Old Corps" - USMC 1960 to1980 - that's old school to me. Major USMC Retired.

Response by SFC Howard Holmes made May 31 at 2022 2:42 AM

SFC Howard Holmes — Tue, 31 May 2022 02:42:58 -0400

Many of the points below do equate to old school, spit shining boots, brass, steel pots, and all of that is some of "old school", but I feel "old school" has more to do with attitude. It is, when your NCO told you to do something, it was, "Yes Sgt.", no questions, no smart mouth back talk, no himming and hawing. It was mission accomplishment instead of bitching about how uncomfortable you are, or how there isn't the right equipment to accomplish it. Old school is, when a Sgt. dropped you for 20, you dropped and knocked them out without whining that you're being picked on. As an example, one of the final actions that pushed me to retire was while giving the pre-firing range class, I had my back to the class, writing on an erasable board. I turned around and a PFC had me beaded in, he was close enough to where I reached out and grabbed his M16A2 by the nozzle, pulled the weapon out of his hand and told him if he ever beaded on me again I was going to drag him down the stairs and beat his ass. He told me I can't talk to him like that, and I went back at him. I told him to report me, because if I get called in to the old man, I had enough to back me up to where he'll face worse than an ass-whoopin'. He never did, but after the incident was over, and I calmed down, I realized that as soft as everything is becoming, even with the defense I had, I could've gotten in trouble. Old School is, you have the balls to bead on your NCO, you have the balls to go downstairs and either get your ass whipped, or try and whip the NCO's ass. Having respect, understanding Esprit de' Corps, Work hard, play hard, take your licks, and give them back. No calling Mommy to file a Congressional, etc.

Old school is when officers truly and whole-heartedly cared about their men/women, and ALWAYS put them first rather than covering their own asses, looking only to protect their jobs. Before the Graham/Rudman Act of the late 80's, most officers cared about the well-being of their soldiers, now, they scramble, pinning blame for botched operations on any one they can get away with pinning it on, regardless of rank. I can't say I really blame them, because after the RIFS, they quickly became much more expendable. This meant that some officers had to come up with cockamamy idea or scheme to prove their worth and value to the military. They also learned to play politics and separate from their Jr. service members under their command and make certain that they are more about seeking approval from their superiors.

Response by 2LT Charles L Harris Jr made Jun 17 at 2022 12:06 PM

2LT Charles L Harris Jr — Fri, 17 Jun 2022 12:06:22 -0400

If you did the Army's daily dozen in combat boots and fitigues, you are old school!! You are "Old School" if you had to report to the Paymaster and received your monthly pay in cash!! If you couldn't wait to trade your Kaki's in for the nicer looking Tropical Woster uniform, If you got caught using Plaso Lux instead of spit shinning y6our boots.

Response by SSG Wayne Wood made Jun 25 at 2022 10:01 PM

SSG Wayne Wood — Sat, 25 Jun 2022 22:01:56 -0400

It depends on when you were in. When I first went in, "Old School" were folks who remembered brown combat boots, colored unit patches and name tags on fatigues, and white t-shirts. In addition they remembered when Top stood for "Top kicker" meaning Tops often took off their jackets (and rank) and took difficult troops behind the barracks or motor pool for some wall-to-wall counseling.

Then I became "Old School " because I remembered green fatigues (with subdued rank and patches) or OG107s, rip-stop cammies, the old "steel pot," Top's Honor Roll and Charlie's Chicken Farm - running in combat boots and fatigue trousers... and the Women's Army Corps (WACs). That was while I was still in.

Now, I guess I'm "Ancient School." Because not only do I remember the old fatigues, but I remember the black boot Army, Kevlar ("Fritz") helmet AND steel pot, BDUs, PT uniforms with individual distinctive company/battery t-shirts, transitioning from maroon beret to fatigue hat/garrison cap and back to maroon beret. I also remember the M16A1 which gave us the luxury of full "rock-n-roll" when and if we needed it among other things.

But it's more than that it's an attitude 'Old School" implies somehow we are tougher with a tougher attitude because the Army changes and adapts. Some things are done away with - maybe they're not needed anymore; new things are added that are needed. Sometimes things are done away with and brought back. Bayonet training comes to mind - it was done away with in the mid to late 70s as being unnecessary and brought back by the 80s.

I remember one afternoon during my planning period two Army recruiters stopped by to shoot the breeze, head hunting. We got to talking and they got me talking about the "old days" at Bragg and in Germany. They started cracking up, one an E-7 looked at his buddy, "Man, is HE old school..."

That was the first time I'd had the term applied to me. I didn't know how to react at first. I decided I'd take it as a compliment.

I know from my students and my son and nephew that Army Basic isn't the same as when I went through. I've heard more than one say they were disappointed. That's sad to me. But I look at the output and can't complain when I see the fine young people serving today. I joke to my son that maybe this generation doesn't need the size 11 combat boot up their fourth point of contact my generation seemed to need. Again, I can't argue with the product.

One thing I know, if you serve and live long enough, one day YOU'LL be "Old School," too.

Response by SFC Terry Bryant made Jun 27 at 2022 10:05 AM

SFC Terry Bryant — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 10:05:12 -0400

If you ever had a drill sergeant with his foot on top of your head while dragging yourself through sand and or sawdust pits you were old school. If you ever wore black boots on a 22 mile road march in 104* temps you are old school. If you ever wore those 70's and 80's style PT cloths you were certainly old school. If you drove or rode in a deuce and a half, an old style JEEP, or wore more than 3 different BDU uniforms...you were most likely old school. If you ever flew or flew in a UH-1 you were old school. There are many more examples I won't mention here due to political reasons but you get the idea I think.

Response by SN Michael Smith made Jul 2 at 2022 3:33 PM

SN Michael Smith — Sat, 02 Jul 2022 15:33:51 -0400

Here's my little list:
1) Used a horse hair shoe brush with a buffing rag wrapped in the cutoff leg of a pair of pantyhose for shine buffing.
2) Used Kiwi Edge Dressing to hide the scuff marks on your dress shoes for inspection.
3) Used a Bic lighter to heat up the paste in the tin of Kiwi Shoe Polish.
4) Used half a case of Brasso to clean ALL the bright work in the barracks (including those under the trough sinks in the head) for a Change of Command inspection.
5) Sat on the floor of the barracks to iron to get that "Perfect" crease line in your dress uniform.
6) Knew 50 different uses for dental floss.

Response by SP5 Carl Felty made Jul 3 at 2022 3:00 PM

SP5 Carl Felty — Sun, 03 Jul 2022 15:00:52 -0400

How about living in WWII prisoner containment camps in W Germany. Basic training in barracks that were used for troops to go to the Korean war, Vietnam then the cold war. Starting in the late 40's til the the beginning of the early 80's at Ft. Benning GA. What about Jump school that was 6wks long & the only soldiers to go were selected by the cadre of the airborne school. Then there was no separate PT uniform only your OD greens or BDU's and combat boots! The MRI's were the same that were used in previous 30yr's. How about ration cards depicting the amount of class 6 item you could purchase in 1mo. The list can go on and on.

Response by MSgt Earl King made Jul 4 at 2022 1:29 PM

MSgt Earl King — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 13:29:14 -0400

I've never heard that term used before! It doesn't make sense to me, is that like saying, back in the day when I used to be somebody?

Response by SSG Harry Herres made Jul 17 at 2022 4:17 PM

SSG Harry Herres — Sun, 17 Jul 2022 16:17:57 -0400

Spit shine boots with Kiwi and a white t-shirt, break starch twice a day! Wear a white band on your baseball cap to indicate instructor at Sill! And wore a white name tape / black and gold. U.S.Army. You are real old

Response by CW4 Kenneth Hill made Jul 18 at 2022 5:24 PM

CW4 Kenneth Hill — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 17:24:56 -0400

PT in uniform and boots. Raking the dirt under the barracks. Breaking starch. Just a few of a long list of memories.

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 3 at 2022 5:32 AM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 05:32:21 -0400

After adding a few comments of my own, I thought to check and noticed that this is another re-post that was originally posted 8 years ago. But it still saddens me to see what constitutes the "modern" military. Old lessons that were learned the hard way are no longer being taught. Traditions that instilled esprit de corps, and/or camaraderie' are no longer practiced because they're not PC. Even some IMPORTANT military history is no longer being taught in boot camp because it's not PC. Even the simple philosophy / lesson of: "Those who forget the lessons of the past are doomed to repeat the lessons of the past", is no longer being taught, because it supports teaching things that are not PC.

.........Sigh.........God help us..........................

Response by SGT Frederick S. Mitchell made Aug 3 at 2022 2:56 PM

SGT Frederick S. Mitchell — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 14:56:47 -0400

If you were ever issued one of these.......

Response by SGT Frederick S. Mitchell made Aug 3 at 2022 4:34 PM

SGT Frederick S. Mitchell — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 16:34:08 -0400

Or issued a tank like this........

Response by SGT Frederick S. Mitchell made Aug 3 at 2022 4:36 PM

SGT Frederick S. Mitchell — Wed, 03 Aug 2022 16:36:48 -0400

If you know what Soju is....

Response by SGM Tom Baumann made Aug 4 at 2022 10:21 AM

SGM Tom Baumann — Thu, 04 Aug 2022 10:21:13 -0400

Ft Dix 1976
Cattle cars. Steel pots, shelter halved, and so much more...

Response by SP5 Wick Humble made Aug 5 at 2022 11:42 AM

SP5 Wick Humble — Fri, 05 Aug 2022 11:42:24 -0400

From a personal perspective, mostly having entered during the time that the DRAFT was active.

Response by PVT Mark Whitcomb made Aug 6 at 2022 11:33 AM

PVT Mark Whitcomb — Sat, 06 Aug 2022 11:33:20 -0400

Well been in many deuce and a half, used gammas to mount tank killing rockets "wire guided " shoveled coal to keep the barracks warm at Ft. knox, Ft Polk and "Camp Drum" our C-rats were made in 1942, and we walked a ton. Never bothered carrying shelter halves or sleeping bags we did our work at night. We had 1 starlight scope per platoon.

Response by Capt Gilbert Arguello made Aug 6 at 2022 6:30 PM

Capt Gilbert Arguello — Sat, 06 Aug 2022 18:30:13 -0400

Anyone that has one more day in service than you do.

Response by CW3 Nicholas Culjat made Aug 7 at 2022 5:16 PM

CW3 Nicholas Culjat — Sun, 07 Aug 2022 17:16:55 -0400

Breaking starch in the pickle suits, and no PT clothes you wore your utilities and Boots.

Response by SSG Raul Alaniz made Aug 7 at 2022 6:55 PM

SSG Raul Alaniz — Sun, 07 Aug 2022 18:55:08 -0400

Wearing and running in Fatigues in white Tee-Shirts and in black boots, and C-Rations with your P-38. Khaki Uniforms, Tan shirt with Class A Uniform, Quonset Huts in Basic Training. Web or pistol belt. Wait a sec, I'll think of something.

Response by SSgt Robert Jorgensen made Aug 7 at 2022 7:27 PM

SSgt Robert Jorgensen — Sun, 07 Aug 2022 19:27:14 -0400

If you were part of the old military that did not have all of the nice touchy feel y good rules that this new woke military has now, then you would be old school, where men were men and not offended by someone saying something you didn't like!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 8 at 2022 3:47 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 15:47:50 -0400

I’m still on active duty, wore yellow nylon running shorts, shaved in a steel pot, drove my own jeep, was issued an olive drab field jacket, and wore 2 different green fatigues, at least 2 types of BDU’s, the digital shit, hospital whites, and I’ve seen an actual Sp6.

Response by MSgt R Rose made Aug 8 at 2022 6:25 PM

MSgt R Rose — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 18:25:02 -0400

Enlisted in USAF in '71, and the term "old school" hadn't been coined. We did our PT in fatigues. C-Rats were the field meal du jour... and "old school" to us were the "brown shoe days".

Response by SSG Douglas Shaffer made Aug 28 at 2022 2:27 PM

SSG Douglas Shaffer — Sun, 28 Aug 2022 14:27:49 -0400

Humping a 90mm recoilless rifle and carrying an M16A1 and opening C rations the still had cigarettes pact in them. PT was in tee shirt, fatigue pants and boots. Knowing what each C Ration is and where it is packed in the case, when cases were always presented upside down, and a P38 on your dog tags.
Is that old school enough?

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2022 3:39 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Aug 2022 15:39:38 -0400

Does it count when you are invited to a Veterans Round Table with several Congressional leaders and you find out you are the oldest one at the table? Who'd of thought that would ever happen?

Response by SSgt Bryan Sugihara made Sep 11 at 2022 7:33 PM

SSgt Bryan Sugihara — Sun, 11 Sep 2022 19:33:43 -0400

If you knew what it was like before the internet, that makes you O-L-D school and it makes you older than the internet.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2022 8:22 AM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 08:22:49 -0400

PT uniform was boots, and olive green uniform trousers, Basically you just took your blouse off.
PT test was five parts. Low crawl, 1 mile run, monkey bars, 100 yard man carry and push-ups.
Ate C rats which came with a 5 cigarette pack of smokes
Heated your c rat over small piece of c4
Pay was in sequentially number 20s some times connected like post-it

Response by A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney made Sep 12 at 2022 10:20 AM

A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 10:20:30 -0400

From What I've Heard, The Difference Between Now & Old School,
Is "The Old Schooler's Had Brains".
With The Current Educational Status;
They're Lucky If The New Recruits Can Read Their Own Name Tags.

Response by SGT Jerry Hoy made Sep 12 at 2022 10:58 AM

SGT Jerry Hoy — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 10:58:20 -0400

Anything prior to this administration. The military under the leadership or lack there of is embarrassing and shows weakness in- the face of continued and growing threats around the world. The Afghan withdrawal was just a precursor of what's to come. Just glad I'm out and retired but feel for the service members who are serving under this administration.

Response by PO2 Lawrence Moody made Sep 12 at 2022 11:17 AM

PO2 Lawrence Moody — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 11:17:59 -0400

WELL, Now a days to me being old school is not the amount of hash marks on your sleeve, but the number of hash marks you have when the Nurses Aid helps you change our undies.

Response by SPC Brian Mason made Sep 12 at 2022 10:51 PM

SPC Brian Mason — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 22:51:38 -0400

Old school:
People being barred from enlistment b/c they don't meet the requirements and few whined like babies about.
No transgenders.
No LGB+
No lowering the physical requirements to get in or changing the PT requirements. A soldier who failed had to work to meet the standards.
No identity politics.
No Burn Loot Murder.
No complaining to the 1SG b/c they were "offended" or their "fee fees" were hurt b/c they were "passed" through BCT or AIT b/c "numbers" mean more than quality soldiers.
Most of all far better leadership than 99% of our government on all levels.
Everyone kept infantry standards so you ran until you puked, got your 2nd wind and kept going. Another soldier would stay with that person b/c you never know.
You got smoked by yourself or a group and it was a fun time b/c you were in such good shape it was just another workout.
Medic Platoon PT!
Doing the same obstacle course as the Infantry for the EIB for fun and providing medical coverage. Basically, an all day playground for adults buy way cooler than anyone else had access to.

Response by CH (COL) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 13 at 2022 3:58 PM

CH (COL) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 15:58:44 -0400

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca,
You forgot “C” rations, P-38 and firing .22’s with an adapter on the M-16.
COL Quentin Collins

Response by CPO David Ransom made Oct 24 at 2022 12:25 PM

CPO David Ransom — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 12:25:35 -0400

Birthday # = 179

Response by SPC Paul Sherwood made Oct 24 at 2022 5:25 PM

SPC Paul Sherwood — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 17:25:21 -0400

If you were issued Class B khaki's, had OD green Fatigues that were starched hard for guard duty, and were issued c-rations with cigarettes you were old school!!

Response by MSG Richard Adair made Oct 25 at 2022 8:42 PM

MSG Richard Adair — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 20:42:30 -0400

Spit shined Black boots.

Response by MAJ Christopher Thompson made Oct 26 at 2022 3:38 AM

MAJ Christopher Thompson — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 03:38:07 -0400

A servicemember, veteran, or retiree whom believes that all actions have consequences, and people must be held accountable for their decisions, whether good or bad.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 26 at 2022 8:00 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 26 Oct 2022 08:00:02 -0400

Following orders, rules and regulations, being in shape, not walking around with your hands in your pockets, believing that our job is to defeat the enemy, respecting senior ranks, standing in formation proud of the uniform your wear and doing your best to look good in it (clothing allowance is not extra beer money), etc. No biggie.

Response by SPC Andy Charles made Oct 27 at 2022 11:41 AM

SPC Andy Charles — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 11:41:12 -0400

My,"Old School"was the Brown Shoe Army,having an M 1 Rifle,living in WW2 barracks and doing PT in your fatigue pants and a T shirt,in combat boots!

Response by PO2 Jimmie Shelnutt made Oct 27 at 2022 4:57 PM

PO2 Jimmie Shelnutt — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 16:57:49 -0400

As an old Corpsman I remember the medicinal value of Charlie Rats cheese (Stopped the runs). Never had seen "Wings" cigarettes before opening those rations. I remember WWII dressings in my Unit One with sulfa packets that had caked up 20 years before. I remember Kool Aid helped the flavor of "Water Buffalo" water. I remember thinking they'll never improve on the M14....still do.

Response by SSG Raymond Cope made Oct 27 at 2022 6:37 PM

SSG Raymond Cope — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 18:37:29 -0400

Ate c-ration used poncho for tent cook with c-4, old barracks gammagoat 11/2 ton, Lit Smudge pot.

Response by Pvt Francis Creamer made Oct 27 at 2022 11:27 PM

Pvt Francis Creamer — Thu, 27 Oct 2022 23:27:25 -0400

Mail call, PT, seven-mile runs, twenty-mile forced marches, pushups on your knuckles in the gravel, laundry outside with lye soap, and diving for the DI's cover to keep it from hitting the deck. Fart sacks, junk on the bunk, fire watch, wildcat reviles, friends and enemies. Liberty, 96's, 48's, and restriction to barracks, mast, article 15's for fighting, throwing the first grenade, and Maggie’s drawers. The glory days of youth when all things were possible...

Response by SGT Bruce McDonald made Oct 28 at 2022 6:39 PM

SGT Bruce McDonald — Fri, 28 Oct 2022 18:39:31 -0400

ODGreen fatigues. PT in unbloused boots, fatigue pants and T-shirt. C-rations and steel pots. M1911A1 and M51A1. Spit shined black boots.

Response by PVT John Maloney made Oct 30 at 2022 8:36 PM

PVT John Maloney — Sun, 30 Oct 2022 20:36:56 -0400

When I served, 1973-1975, we used to refer to the 'Brown Boot Army' as representing old. Nobody said Old School back then. We wore black boots. BBA had yellow lettered name tapes, they wore stripes not pins. They used entrenching tools with wooden handles. They wore Garrison Caps, in garrison. Elvis was Brown Boot. Sargeant Bilko too.

Response by MSgt Joseph Nuben made Nov 28 at 2022 7:58 PM

MSgt Joseph Nuben — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 19:58:48 -0500

When you wore one piece fatigues wore clodhoppers and carried an M-1 Garand 1955

Response by 1SG Michael Poirier made Dec 11 at 2022 7:22 AM

1SG Michael Poirier — Sun, 11 Dec 2022 07:22:41 -0500

Getting your Retired "Indef" ID Card

Response by PO1 David Ashinghurst made Jan 13 at 2023 3:42 AM

PO1 David Ashinghurst — Fri, 13 Jan 2023 03:42:53 -0500

'Old School' can be found in my reflection in the mirror.
And it doesn't matter one whit what anybody else thinks.

Response by SN Michael Smith made Jan 24 at 2023 10:16 PM

SN Michael Smith — Tue, 24 Jan 2023 22:16:31 -0500

If you ever:
used a toothbrush to clean the door sill plates going into a building
used the legs cut off pantyhose to buff your dress shoes for inspection after spit shining with Kiwi paste shoe polish
used the floor of the barracks for an ironing board to iron a razor pleat into dress and duty uniforms and used a wool blanket as an ironing pad
used Brasso on ANY metal surface that could be used as a mirror
cleaned toilets or urinals with a sponge and bare hands
used the black "Property of U.S. Government" pen
used a ticker tape machine to order supplies for your unit
looked up cross reference part numbers on a microfiche file and machine

Response by Cpl George Matousek made Feb 6 at 2023 5:42 PM

Cpl George Matousek — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 17:42:54 -0500

I agree with the Maj. Petrarca, I would ad ate C-rations from the 1940s as we Marines did in the 60s

Response by LCpl Sam Epaloose jr made Feb 16 at 2023 3:51 PM

LCpl Sam Epaloose jr — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 15:51:50 -0500

I say anyone who served before 1980! Just my thoughts....

Response by SGT(P) Jody Hall made Feb 18 at 2023 4:43 PM

SGT(P) Jody Hall — Sat, 18 Feb 2023 16:43:48 -0500

It is all about perspective. I would say the only things is 10 years.
Brown boots...
Black boots...
Sneakers at PT...
Stress cards in Basic...
Not smoking in the military...
Not cursing at your Airborne Troopers...
Not saying LEG anymore...
Gay service... (Omg it was a crime when i joined Dishonorable discharge)...
Brown boots back again...
Trans military...
Drone military...
Pilotless aviation (epically hellos and Navy)...
Spaceforce...
Trans not allowed in the military...
I honestly can't imagine what will come next...
But, all but brown boots I saw in my service (post Hondorus)...
I got out at the last 3 months of 02.
One thing that never changes...
Once you are there most become family from another and remember one another for life.
KoREa?
Hondorus?
Panama?
gUlF W@R 1?
Bosnia?
Fall of Russia?
Kosovo?
War on terror?
Ukraine?
And every war that every was. Service members always form a 2nd family.

I think the lifespan of the military values and norms migrate a bit after 8-10 years of presidents and/or congress. I think it has always been that way through human history with the exception of military technology advances.

I thought a lot about this while serving. However, I might have been wrong.

Just my $0.02 and what I learned/noticed while serving and learning about military history during and since then.
Sgt(p) medically retired.

Response by SFC Glenn Boyer made Feb 19 at 2023 8:48 AM

SFC Glenn Boyer — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 08:48:46 -0500

Cochran jump boots spit shine to a mirror finish, green fatigues starch so the could stand by themselves, LBE and green rucks, 1/4 ton jeep with no tops in the winter, aluminum canteens, a serial number that was not you SSAN, M-14 just before the M-16, steel pots and last but not least aluminum mess kits. The good old days.

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2023 12:27 PM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 12:27:18 -0500

Well I know i’am old school. My PT uniform was white t shirt unblowsed od green fatigues. And black combat boots. Our PT test consisted of horizontal ladder run dodging jump inverted crab, walk forward, N backwards, push-ups, sit ups and a 2 mile run that was a PT test. Now in my opinion old school in the military was if you were from the old way of the military. Nowadays I guess the DOD changes policy so much. I guess anything over 12-15 years in makes you a present time old school. If that makes sense

Response by SFC Louis Willhauck, MSM, JSCM, and ARCOM made Feb 19 at 2023 1:25 PM

SFC Louis Willhauck, MSM, JSCM, and ARCOM — Sun, 19 Feb 2023 13:25:59 -0500

I was before yellow shorts... Mine was fatigue pants, un-bloused black boots and ate K/C-rats for starters. 69-89. Old school enough for you?

Response by SFC Jeffrey Lane made Feb 20 at 2023 8:01 AM

SFC Jeffrey Lane — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 08:01:22 -0500

Totally right!

Response by GySgt Tim Shea made Feb 20 at 2023 8:16 AM

GySgt Tim Shea — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 08:16:42 -0500

Same as "boot." What did the 30 yr Sgt Major say to the 29 1/2 yr Sgt Major? Good Morning Boot!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 20 at 2023 10:17 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 10:17:12 -0500

Just to add to some of the other comments:

-You spent more time home than deployed.

-Biggest deployment was to Korea (with or without your family)

-You didn’t have to show your ID card to get on base; you just drive right in.

-Commissary and PX was the place to be on Saturdays.

-You hardly had civilians do our jobs.

Response by SSG Brian Pyle made Feb 20 at 2023 3:54 PM

SSG Brian Pyle — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 15:54:24 -0500

* Was told to go to your platoon daddy to get a box of grid squares.
* You have ever been pissed because you were thrown an MRE and realized it was "Chicken a la King"
* You rode in a deuce and a half or a cattle car.
* You know the term Rape prevention glasses, called them that, and nobody was offended.
* You ever put your boots in the oven.
* You have ever used a whole can of starch on one uniform, where it could litterally stand on its own.
* You could identify a dirt bag soldier from across the quad.
* You took drown proofing classes jumping through a hole in the ice.
* The only thing that followed Trans- was -portation.
* If your entire platoon lined up to smash your collar bone after a promotion.
* If you have ever repeated the cadence "a yellow bird, with a yellow bill"........
* If you have ever rolled out hundreds of yards of telephone wire.
* Slept under a shelter half off the side off an uncovered jeep in the winter.
* Ran miles in full MOP gear.

Response by SGT Nickolas Ortiz made Feb 21 at 2023 5:03 AM

SGT Nickolas Ortiz — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 05:03:20 -0500

Unfortunately… in today’s Military, you’re “old school” if you know what a woman is… if you know that “sensitivity training” won’t stop your enemy for shooting you… the only “pronouns” you use are, “sir” , “ma’am”, or Sergeant… or knowing that dressing up in WWII cosplay isn’t going to win a war.

Response by SP5 Donna Barr made Feb 21 at 2023 11:45 AM

SP5 Donna Barr — Tue, 21 Feb 2023 11:45:25 -0500

Being the ONLY person Madigan Army Hospital had to communicate with the world. The Air Force got mad at me because the Vietcong blew up the teletype tower at Xuan Loc. Because, Air Force (The man I would later meet and marry saw it blow up. He was "in a airplane, so it was silent. The dirt just blossomed up, and then it fell over. We both heard the entire run of Chicken Man while across an ocean from each othet. Life is other. Note: I wonder how many Vietcong got hooked on Chicken Man. After all, "He's everywhere!" https://archive.org/details/67052-chicken-man-gi-interviews-orient-express_202108/312522A-Chicken+Man+Promos+1-41.mp3).

American Armed Forces Radio No 149 : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

American Armed Forces Radio No 149 Chicken Man Disclaimer:By uploading these files, I make no claim to ownership or copyright. These recordings have been...

Response by COL Victor Hagan made Feb 22 at 2023 11:54 AM

COL Victor Hagan — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 11:54:59 -0500

LOL, I'm Old School. Some of you gentlemen are referring to a time before they built the school.

Response by TSgt David Olson made Feb 22 at 2023 12:04 PM

TSgt David Olson — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 12:04:50 -0500

I must admit to having experienced a whole lot of those listed. I’ll add; clean the grease trap (KP), police the area, Saturday morning barrack inspections including; foot locker, wall locker, M14, ride/drive a Dodge 3/4 ton 4x4, visit a “beer bar” on post, dance with a W.A.C. at a beer bar?

Response by SGT Layrd Cunningham made Feb 22 at 2023 12:50 PM

SGT Layrd Cunningham — Wed, 22 Feb 2023 12:50:40 -0500

If you wore brown boots, carried an M-1 rifle , ate C-Rations, did PT in fatigues, wore Khaki Bermuda Shorts, you are “old school.”

Response by SPC James Light made Feb 23 at 2023 10:32 AM

SPC James Light — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 10:32:11 -0500

Give you 3 guesses and the first 2 don't count US Army 1964 thru 1967

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 23 at 2023 8:37 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 20:37:08 -0500

If you've ever been on CQ with one of these and a couple of runners...

Response by SPC John Coleman made Mar 2 at 2023 6:21 PM

SPC John Coleman — Thu, 02 Mar 2023 18:21:16 -0500

When you got paid in cash before les’s

Response by COL David Turk made Mar 19 at 2023 5:16 PM

COL David Turk — Sun, 19 Mar 2023 17:16:34 -0400

Old school=> PT in fatigue pants, t-shirt and boots, eat c rations and K rations, wore baseball caps and had a unit pay office (in cash).

Response by SPC Andrew Toombs made Apr 23 at 2023 1:11 PM

SPC Andrew Toombs — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 13:11:10 -0400

Old school?? You mean the ORIGINAL School which built your New School.

Response by SSG Richard Linck made Apr 23 at 2023 5:24 PM

SSG Richard Linck — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 17:24:50 -0400

Starched OD fatigues with shined black boots for PT. Steel pot with liner.

Response by SFC Floyd Ancheta made Apr 23 at 2023 9:06 PM

SFC Floyd Ancheta — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 21:06:15 -0400

Ate LRP'S , used mess kit and ate turkey loaf from c rations for Thanksgiving.

Response by SFC Joseph Behmke made Apr 24 at 2023 4:20 AM

SFC Joseph Behmke — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 04:20:46 -0400

If the Crab Walk, Bars, Push Ups, Run-Dodge & Jump and a 1 Mile Run were your PT Test while wearing Green Cotton "Starchies" and Combat Boots, your Old School. If you never had to stick your arm thru the starched legs of your fatigue pants or Khaki Shirt before trying to put them on; you're not old school.

Response by SCPO Lloyd Sikes made Apr 24 at 2023 5:06 PM

SCPO Lloyd Sikes — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 17:06:28 -0400

Even tho I was Navy and not Army, I remember the P38 and c-rats. Try them for 15 days at battle stations in the summer in the Philippine Sea in after steering in a WWll tin can.
ETCS(SS) Sikes

Response by CSM Christopher St. Cyr made Apr 26 at 2023 7:47 AM

CSM Christopher St. Cyr — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 07:47:37 -0400

Even though you voted for Reagan by absentee ballot from from the barracks, you’re still in uniform in 2023.

Response by SP5 Michael Ingenito made Apr 26 at 2023 4:33 PM

SP5 Michael Ingenito — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 16:33:07 -0400

been there, Done that, (Except the yellow P.T.shorts

Response by SP5 Michael Ingenito made Apr 26 at 2023 4:38 PM

SP5 Michael Ingenito — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 16:38:04 -0400

Green O.D. Fatigues starched you had to peel apart to wear them, Spit shined Black combat boots, Canvas shelter halves ! Kaki uniforms

Response by SPC Geoffrey Jenkins made Apr 27 at 2023 7:37 AM

SPC Geoffrey Jenkins — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 07:37:25 -0400

How the real military did things the right way,when I went to boot camp in 1983 there was timeouts if the DI got in your face and insulted your whole family including the family pet.I heard they change the way they do pushups called the modify pushup,I can go on for hours about the new Army but I still love the Army because it made me a better man!

Response by PO1 Mike Meehan made Apr 27 at 2023 9:24 AM

PO1 Mike Meehan — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 09:24:33 -0400

That line is "older than you". For sailors, I think having worn Dungarees as your working uniform is sufficiently "old school".

Response by SPC Rob Smith made Apr 28 at 2023 12:40 AM

SPC Rob Smith — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 00:40:35 -0400

You ever polished jungle boot
You ever set up a tankers equipment for inspection....lol
Well i heard it when i was in

Response by MAJ Joseph Ward made Apr 28 at 2023 7:18 PM

MAJ Joseph Ward — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 19:18:34 -0400

You ate a C rat with cigarettes in the accessory pack

Response by SFC Jim Freshour made Apr 30 at 2023 10:37 AM

SFC Jim Freshour — Sun, 30 Apr 2023 10:37:53 -0400

If you ever wore Spec 5 or 6, had a P38 on your dog tag chain and used it, used heat tabs, did PT in boots, wore your unit crest on your ball cap, got an EER, used a shelter half, had field pants, had a vending machine in the barracks that sold beer, had a metal wall locker, called the new private with BDUs the BN model, been to check point charlie, all the senior NCOs were hard ass Vietnam vets.

Response by SPC John Tacetta made May 21 at 2023 4:46 PM

SPC John Tacetta — Sun, 21 May 2023 16:46:11 -0400

Cigarettes in C-rations!

Response by CPL Larry Frias Jr made May 22 at 2023 12:21 PM

CPL Larry Frias Jr — Mon, 22 May 2023 12:21:42 -0400

Ur old school if u pulled fire watch in ur old school WWII barracks that had bullet holes still embedded from the jap zeros that bombed Pearl ….

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 22 at 2023 5:26 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 May 2023 17:26:17 -0400

At this point I would say understanding rank structure and where you fall in it.

Response by LTC Dick Bulova made May 26 at 2023 5:13 PM

LTC Dick Bulova — Fri, 26 May 2023 17:13:14 -0400

Well, when I enlisted in 1956, we were issued brown low-quarter shoes and brown combat boots, both of which we had to dye black while still in basic training. Uniforms were WW II OD Ike Jackets and rifles were M-1 Garands. That should qualify me as being "old school".

Response by PO3 Rosalind Robbins made May 29 at 2023 11:39 PM

PO3 Rosalind Robbins — Mon, 29 May 2023 23:39:39 -0400

You had to have white underwear, just for them to be light blue after wearing your Navy dungarees for a couple hours in Orlando's summer.

Wearing the stiff (plank) Navy dungarees for water survival. Trying to fill them with air

Eating cough drops for candy during boot camp. No contraband allow.

Camouflage was for Army, Marines, and special forces.

It was mandatory to get you hair cut for boot camp by a boot camp barber.

Seeing rabbits around Orlando's Navy base except when they're serving fried chicken.

Cussing and no such things as personal boundaries

Walking on the grass was like walking on water. Not possible

Hell week!

Response by LTC David Keithley made May 30 at 2023 7:48 PM

LTC David Keithley — Tue, 30 May 2023 19:48:27 -0400

I was in the USMC prior to the Army, I was issued an M14 (better weapon), prior to the Mighty Mattel M16 (piece of crap). We humped everywhere, no trucks, buses for us. Wore the game “pickle uniform” and it and the cover (cap) were starched.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2023 12:20 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 May 2023 12:20:22 -0400

Whenever something changes that the person saying it perceives as significant. I initially joined in 2000 and had 3 separate periods of service during that time until I got medically retired at 15 years active. The things people said made them old school were hilarious and honestly it's all just arbitrarily made up. One person's old school is another person's "soft new Army".

Response by SSG Marshall Paul made May 31 at 2023 11:02 PM

SSG Marshall Paul — Wed, 31 May 2023 23:02:06 -0400

My old man is the company commander in front. Old school. He was a Private in WW1.

Response by SGT Charles Whited made Jun 1 at 2023 10:20 PM

SGT Charles Whited — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 22:20:15 -0400

Old school is what you lived and experienced. Hopefully you can pass some wisdom on to a knucklehead like you were.

Response by SGT Glenn Toothman made Jun 1 at 2023 11:42 PM

SGT Glenn Toothman — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 23:42:56 -0400

Old School is going to Basic with an M-1 or M-14, whatinnahell are PT Shorts? We did PT in cotton fatigues and steel pots. Yep duce and half, M-16, never got one until my SECOND tour in Viet Nam, ate C-Rats, not this MRE stuff, lived in wooden barracks, chant 'Kill A Commie for Mommie' during PT and marches, some at double time, full gear, boots and doggie straps. Half of a shelter half, sent my fatigues out for starch from hell, could stand them up in the corner before 'breaking starch' spit shined boots and low quarters.
That is what an old timer did, at least I did... hahaha

Response by Cpl Ray Fernandez made Jun 1 at 2023 11:44 PM

Cpl Ray Fernandez — Thu, 01 Jun 2023 23:44:23 -0400

It all depends on when you were in. For me it was Marines that went through bootcamp pre Crucible and predeadhang pullups. Then after me it became pre digital cammies and polishing boots, and qualifying with ironsights on the range. It's just whatever service wide change they count as a turning point.

Response by SSG Marshall Paul made Jun 2 at 2023 12:25 AM

SSG Marshall Paul — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 00:25:02 -0400

I am just glad that one of our traditions of this institution, respecting our old soldiers, because that's really what this one is about, has carried on.

Response by SSG Bruce Meshberg made Jun 2 at 2023 6:54 AM

SSG Bruce Meshberg — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 06:54:07 -0400

How about PT uniform consisted of unblousing your boot and taking off your shirt, white t-shirts, 5 event PT test, C-Rats, green uniforms, daily inranks inspection. Ect.....

Response by SFC Gene Garcia made Jun 4 at 2023 10:00 AM

SFC Gene Garcia — Sun, 04 Jun 2023 10:00:57 -0400

Old school was a different time and place on the Army. My starting pay was $562.00 a month and NCOs took care of business.
I knew it was time to retire when as a detachment sergeant, I was told by the company commander to go easy on the soldiers. What a crock of.....

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Jun 4 at 2023 3:48 PM

Cpl Dennis F. — Sun, 04 Jun 2023 15:48:17 -0400

Herring bone utilities.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2023 3:23 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 03:23:28 -0400

if you spent 90% of your 20 years in conflict and/or have 5 or more deployments, you're old school.

Response by Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis made Jun 17 at 2023 12:15 AM

Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis — Sat, 17 Jun 2023 00:15:48 -0400

If you ever:
Insisted that, as an Enlisted Member, salute and respect all officers, no matter what rank, or...
Insisted that, as a Commission Member, require that NCO's be respected for their skills, and be treated like human beings, and always return a smart salute with a smart salute,
...you might be old school.

Response by SPC Darren Coffenberry made Jul 3 at 2023 12:33 PM

SPC Darren Coffenberry — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 12:33:11 -0400

I was in late 80s-late 90s...I consider myself a VETERAN, nothing more. Old School would imply outdated, over-used...i am neither.

Response by SSG William Hommel made Jul 3 at 2023 12:41 PM

SSG William Hommel — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 12:41:29 -0400

Being a matter of perspective, not only is it moving, but at any given moment you ask this there will be varied answers depending the age of the person asked. Honestly I'm a little weirded out right now seeing all these folks talking about the 'old days' in the 2000s or 90s (I got out in 89 after 11 active.)

Response by CPT George Hupp made Jul 3 at 2023 11:21 PM

CPT George Hupp — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 23:21:15 -0400

Cotton fatigues that required starching. Otherwise your would have your butt handed to you if you showed up for formation with a duffle bag press. PT would follow after the gig pit.

PT uniform… trousers were unbloused , ditch your top. Enjoy PT with boots (highly polished) of course.

Biggest cultural shock, wearing tennis shoes for PT.

Response by CPT George Hupp made Jul 4 at 2023 9:27 PM

CPT George Hupp — Tue, 04 Jul 2023 21:27:24 -0400

CRats, P38, ham and eggs and if you lucky, you may have heat tabs, if not and the sun is hot that works as just as well only a little longer if you have the time.

Response by SSG Steve Knox made Jul 5 at 2023 12:32 PM

SSG Steve Knox — Wed, 05 Jul 2023 12:32:56 -0400

U.S. Armed Forces are constantly adapting to changes in garrison, combat, and the country itself. If you are still serving, your ability to adapt will continue. If you are retired or have ETS, your mindset is determined by the error you served. To me, that mindset denotes what is "old school" to an individual.

Response by SPC Connie Miller made Jul 7 at 2023 5:02 AM

SPC Connie Miller — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 05:02:28 -0400

Driving the old cattle cars and PRAYING that when I was stopped on a hill, I wouldn’t stall, or worse yet, slide back down the hill! Living in WWII barracks at Fort Jackson, SC, Tank Hill and having roving guard and fire patrol!

Response by SPC John Tsutsui made Jul 7 at 2023 9:59 AM

SPC John Tsutsui — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 09:59:47 -0400

C rations and combat boots, O.D. green fatigues with white tee shirt for PT. Guess I'm really old school.

Response by MSgt Earl King made Jul 8 at 2023 7:51 AM

MSgt Earl King — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 07:51:36 -0400

The only folks I've ever heard talking about being old school were punks!

Response by MSG Thomas Currie made Jul 9 at 2023 10:11 AM

MSG Thomas Currie — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 10:11:45 -0400

The way things have gone the last few years "Old School" is anyone who still has last week's uniforms in their closet.

Response by PO1 Kevin Dougherty made Jul 9 at 2023 11:35 PM

PO1 Kevin Dougherty — Sun, 09 Jul 2023 23:35:45 -0400

Basically anything you did that is done differently or no longer done now is automatically "old school."

Response by SFC Larry Jones made Jul 19 at 2023 1:48 AM

SFC Larry Jones — Wed, 19 Jul 2023 01:48:57 -0400

Say, fellas, I originally ran in t shirt, green fatigue pants and combat boots. I eventually got upgraded to gray PT shirt with matching gray shorts and running shoes. But I meet the rest of your criteria. BTW, I have been retired for 28 years, so I guess I am bordering on ancient!

Response by SPC James Light made Jul 26 at 2023 10:58 AM

SPC James Light — Wed, 26 Jul 2023 10:58:59 -0400

old school .......1964 thru 1967

Response by SGT Michael Merritt made Jul 30 at 2023 9:00 PM

SGT Michael Merritt — Sun, 30 Jul 2023 21:00:28 -0400

Ok so some of y’all are truly old school, but can we all agree if you polished boots and had to iron your uniform, you are pretty old school?

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 5 at 2023 12:44 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Aug 2023 12:44:06 -0400

"Old School" refers to whether you enlisted before someone else. . . .

Response by TSgt David Olson made Aug 12 at 2023 9:25 AM

TSgt David Olson — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 09:25:20 -0400

Pulling KP in the company mess hall, the grease trap, Saturday morning inspections, police the area, base laundry, sick call, once a month pay, PT in fatigue’s, and boots.

Response by SFC James (JD) Flemal made Aug 12 at 2023 2:49 PM

SFC James (JD) Flemal — Sat, 12 Aug 2023 14:49:56 -0400

PT in fatigues wearing Combat Boots. Breaking Starch. Guard Mount

Response by SFC Kevin Childers made Aug 13 at 2023 11:14 PM

SFC Kevin Childers — Sun, 13 Aug 2023 23:14:09 -0400

Wore TWs
Put salt on a heat tab and knew why.
We're refered to as "The Old Breed"
Knew a Candy Striper was not a volunteer at the hospital.
Had half you senior NCOs speaking with a foreign accent.
PCs To Bad Tölz and get a tour of the town by the OP Sgt who was in Hitler Youth there.
Get thrown out of the 1st Sgts office and have him recommend for Cpl at the next months promotion board.
Ever had a Libert Card.

Response by CPL Derrick Grady Sr. made Aug 15 at 2023 2:05 AM

CPL Derrick Grady Sr. — Tue, 15 Aug 2023 02:05:29 -0400

Wearing of the all green uniforms doing PT and running miles in boots, sleeping on the ground and doing PT two or sometimes three times a day. Eating MRE's the ones came in cans with that hard to use can opening that came with the meals now that's old school there. Been there done that no changing into PT uniforms or gym shoes for morning PT.

Response by SGT Loren Hammons made Aug 17 at 2023 8:53 AM

SGT Loren Hammons — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 08:53:15 -0400

Refrain from comment. Not PC answer.

Response by SGT Robert Arthurs made Aug 21 at 2023 9:27 AM

SGT Robert Arthurs — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 09:27:53 -0400

Having worn fatigues

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2023 4:48 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 16:48:05 -0400

All these old heads talking about pre GWOT army forget it's 2023. If you've ever taken an APFT your pretty much old school now.

Response by SGT Timothy Posemato made Aug 24 at 2023 3:36 PM

SGT Timothy Posemato — Thu, 24 Aug 2023 15:36:28 -0400

Well let me add to my previous post. No BDUs, just green fatigues, no singing g AC/DC song's. Before their times. White t-shirts, OD green socks, PT was in fatigues with boots, no sneakers or pt uniforms. That's old time.

Response by LCpl Jody Blaha made Aug 25 at 2023 12:15 AM

LCpl Jody Blaha — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 00:15:46 -0400

Older than my time

Response by SFC Gary Pike made Aug 25 at 2023 4:40 PM

SFC Gary Pike — Fri, 25 Aug 2023 16:40:27 -0400

I think "New School" began about 20 years ago with no starched uniforms and boots that didn't need shining. Service Members got lazy on "details" and units also became distracted with piled on briefings and less time "Soldering" as well.

Now the military is heavily focused on applying "social experiments" than mission readiness...and our adversaries are taking notes! Now, we do have some "old souls" joining the contemporary military, but they are rare. We need to get back to what made us the best just a couple decades ago.

Response by SP5 Edward Chapman made Aug 26 at 2023 11:49 AM

SP5 Edward Chapman — Sat, 26 Aug 2023 11:49:26 -0400

Definitely a moving target. Went through basic in 1960 at Ft. Leonard Wood, stayed in the same "temporary" wooden barracks that my father did 25+ years before. Trained on M-1 Garand, and later had an M1A1 carbine. My trainers were mostly "old school" WW2 vets. Called them Old School because they had BROWN shiney boots while we new guys had BLACK shineys boots. My father told me he was trained by Old School grunts, mostly from WW1. They had shoes and puttees. 30+ years after I went thru FTLW one of my jobs was prepping our DACs for deployment to Saudi. They sure complained about the "Old school 'Nam vets".... Wish I knew for sure who my Grandfather's Old School vets were, he was in the Spanish American War....

Response by PO3 Michael MacKay made Aug 27 at 2023 9:35 AM

PO3 Michael MacKay — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 09:35:26 -0400

Well, for Navy, if you recall going to basic in Great Lakes in a barracks built in 1911 and instead of reveille waking you, in the moments before the trumpet blasted over the speakers you heard the angry buzz from the feedback in the ancient speaker wires strung from command to each barracks waking us and disturbing it's resident 3" brown German cockroaches that ate bug killer for breakfast and patrolled the barracks at night.

Response by 1SG James Kelly made Aug 27 at 2023 2:29 PM

1SG James Kelly — Sun, 27 Aug 2023 14:29:01 -0400

65 -88, nuff said.

Response by SPC Lyle Montgomery made Aug 28 at 2023 8:40 AM

SPC Lyle Montgomery — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 08:40:57 -0400

Old school in the military is not having to put up with all of this woke bullshit. You didn't have to be careful which pronoun that you used. and in the infantry there were only men, no women, as it should be. The bad part is that affirmative action was practiced as it probably still is, unfair to all.

Response by LCpl Kenneth Heath made Aug 28 at 2023 10:31 AM

LCpl Kenneth Heath — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 10:31:23 -0400

"Old Corps" is anyone or anything in place the day before YOU joined, Boot!

Response by PO2 Henry Kaczmarek made Aug 28 at 2023 9:26 PM

PO2 Henry Kaczmarek — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 21:26:05 -0400

Had a pair of Jungle Boots for the Toolies, and a Spit Shined pair for in Garrison.

Response by Cpl Floyd Gilreath made Aug 29 at 2023 11:42 AM

Cpl Floyd Gilreath — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 11:42:37 -0400

Trying cleaning your M! And eating sea rations from WW!!

Response by PV2 Azizi Sefu made Aug 29 at 2023 12:12 PM

PV2 Azizi Sefu — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 12:12:57 -0400

Bring it home with you in the community.

Response by PV2 Azizi Sefu made Aug 29 at 2023 12:14 PM

PV2 Azizi Sefu — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 12:14:00 -0400

Bringing it home with you in civilian communities.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 29 at 2023 10:40 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 22:40:16 -0400

Old school. are steel pots, shelter halves, powdered eggs for breakfast, the dark brown MREs, Brasso for all of your brass, spit-shined boots and low quarters, BDUs with starch so heavy the uniform could stand on its own, Payday activities in Class-A or B uniform, the old gray PFU from the '80s, getting smoked or smoking a soldier without being reprimanded, the brass buckle web belt with the LBE, military decals on your POV which allowed you to go through the gate without stopping to show ID, Kit Carson Week at Ft. Carson and All American Week at Ft. Bragg, KP duty, Duece 1/2, 5-ton, Cutvee, cattle trucks, the lime green pickup trucks used by supply, Glider caps for the Class-A uniform, freedom of speech during cadences without fear of reprimand, running until the platoon sergeant, First Sergeant, or Battalion/Brigade Commander got tired, CSM performing and sometimes instructing PT sessions with the troops, wall-to-wall counseling, which I found to be more effective than Article 15s, standards of performance and discipline was top notch, (it wasn't uncommon for me to see PFCs and below standing at parade rest for when speaking to a Specialist), and who can forget the Lister bags filled with ice and water and hung up for troops to fill their canteens during the summer months of field training. Don't get me started on camo nets, the old army sleeping bag with straps to hold it on your ALICE pack/rucksack, old typewriters for NCOER/OER reports, white-out to correct mistakes on reports, utilizing maps for all movement driving and on foot, (GPS wasn't a thing when I was coming up the ranks), and finally using 550 cord and ponchos as tents or cover in the place of shelter halves. This list goes on and on. Remember the potbelly stoves for heat? Man, I miss those days.

Response by SSG Dennis R. made Sep 3 at 2023 9:31 PM

SSG Dennis R. — Sun, 03 Sep 2023 21:31:40 -0400

What's old school? I donno. I enlisted in July 1968 & retired in July 1988. 35 years retired.
There were WW2 vets still on active duty back then ... they were old school.

Response by SP5 Wick Humble made Sep 4 at 2023 1:59 PM

SP5 Wick Humble — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 13:59:09 -0400

ETS 1970 or before. We never wore yellow (or camo), nor encountered a 'gamma goat', and we trained on the heavy old (but reliable and accurate) M-14. Oh, and were 'handcuff volunteers', or draftees! Never got unblouse our fatigues or roll up sleeves, and 'broke starch' on 'em every Monday!

Response by SSG John C Quigley II made Sep 4 at 2023 5:39 PM

SSG John C Quigley II — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 17:39:58 -0400

My first duty station was in Druex Air Base in France, was a signal supply, worked out of the back of a supply truck. In basic I had an M-1 garand, will never forget the pain the first time I loaded that rifle, then M14, loved that rifle. 1962 - 1963. In the field we ate C Rats, also spent 7 days on guard duty when President Kennedy was assassinated, we thought we were going to get a chance to shoot some commies. Thank God, it was not WW 3, but we were scared silly not knowing what was going on. I also remember the WW2 barracks in Fort Dix NJ for basic and AIT. I fit the the "Old School" appellation pretty well, all though I never got to wear yellow, nylon PT shorts. The rest fits

Response by Cpl Len Rybicki made Sep 7 at 2023 1:24 AM

Cpl Len Rybicki — Thu, 07 Sep 2023 01:24:38 -0400

Qualified at the rifle range with an M-14 at Parris Island in 1972. Rode in a cattle car and on a gamma goat. Drill instructors did not present themselves as your friend, until graduation day.

Response by SSG Eric Eck made Oct 3 at 2023 3:43 PM

SSG Eric Eck — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 15:43:00 -0400

Each generation says it to the next.

Response by SGT Eric A. made Oct 3 at 2023 4:36 PM

SGT Eric A. — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 16:36:45 -0400

Hooah.

Response by MSG Gregg Clement made Oct 5 at 2023 11:11 AM

MSG Gregg Clement — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 11:11:51 -0400

Pretty much all but the gamma goat.
And they were World War I barracks.

Response by SP5 Alain Delon made Oct 5 at 2023 4:40 PM

SP5 Alain Delon — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 16:40:27 -0400

Imagine getting into a fist fight and indstead of paperwork they tell you that it ends now and someone goes to a different platoon.

Response by MSG Steve Jones made Oct 5 at 2023 11:23 PM

MSG Steve Jones — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 23:23:08 -0400

Awesome, exactly what they said. That's old school my friend, old school.

Response by CPL Todd Kinsey made Oct 6 at 2023 3:42 PM

CPL Todd Kinsey — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 15:42:04 -0400

I was in during the transition during the Reagan to Clinton era. The only people with deployment patches were older NCO’s & officers from Viet Nam. They had a lot of wisdom to impart with a corresponding lack of patience for ineptitude.

The Gulf War revealed a lot of strengths in the US military but it also revealed a great deal of weakness.

For the post 9/11 crowd, these would be the guys who already had deployment patches. The US has essentially been at war since 1989 when we took Noriega out of power in Panama.

Response by CPL Todd Kinsey made Oct 6 at 2023 3:51 PM

CPL Todd Kinsey — Fri, 06 Oct 2023 15:51:10 -0400

Polishing your boots!

Response by SSG John Mtz made Oct 7 at 2023 10:44 AM

SSG John Mtz — Sat, 07 Oct 2023 10:44:27 -0400

I don't know about yellow nylon PT shorts or gray cotton PT shorts, but in my Army we ran in fatigue pants, white T-shirt and boots, daily dozen and a two-mile run, singing cadence like "Up jump the Monkey from the Coconut Grove he was a mean (etc. etc)., " , well I'll have to leave it there since I was counseled by TOP back in the day that it was not appropriate cadence anymore.

Response by PO3 Corrie Morris made Oct 8 at 2023 5:51 AM

PO3 Corrie Morris — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 05:51:55 -0400

If you served before Brandon, this group of joint chiefs and secretary of state, your old school, period. And everyone knows what I'm talking about.

Response by SSG Michael Schneider made Oct 8 at 2023 5:31 PM

SSG Michael Schneider — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 17:31:29 -0400

Colored PT Shorts? Guess that makes me Old, Old School! We did PT in fatigues and combat boots! I predate the Gamma Goat but, know all about cattle cars, WWII prefab barracks and, riding in deuce and a halfs. My BCT weapon was a M-14!

Response by SFC Dr. Jesus Garcia-Arce, Psy.D made Oct 8 at 2023 7:59 PM

SFC Dr. Jesus Garcia-Arce, Psy.D — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 19:59:43 -0400

Old School 1972 / 62 nd Chemical Co. 2nd Chemical Battalion

Response by MSgt Keith Morreira made Oct 9 at 2023 8:30 AM

MSgt Keith Morreira — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 08:30:58 -0400

The culture and style of correction. In the modern military far to often "poor behavior" gets met with paperwork, reprepemands and Article 15s.

Old school: Extra PT, KP, cleaning details etc.

In the modern military also emphasizes individual expression, cultural heritage, and acknowledges "feelings" too heavily.

Old school: You were yelled at, and shamed for failing a function/test, poor performance, being overweight, uniform not in regulation...

There was also a lot of emphasis on unit conformity regardless of race and cultural heritage. Everyone was a Marine, Airman, Soldier or Sailor first.

Response by 1SG Rj Pattersin made Oct 9 at 2023 12:27 PM

1SG Rj Pattersin — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 12:27:54 -0400

Make Petraca does a good job of describing older soldiers, but not "old school". He didn't mention C Rats, M14, M1 Carbine, M3, starched Khakis and Fatigues, yellow rank on Fatigues, Specialist 6, 7 & 8, 3/4 ton trucks and more. Now that is "Old School".

Response by SPC Max Waller made Oct 9 at 2023 1:42 PM

SPC Max Waller — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 13:42:33 -0400

every generation has their "old school" experiences - it will keep going

Response by MAJ Char Nielsen made Oct 12 at 2023 12:21 PM

MAJ Char Nielsen — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 12:21:39 -0400

Spit shined boots and break starch uniforms...

Response by SP5 Robert Kennedy made Oct 12 at 2023 12:48 PM

SP5 Robert Kennedy — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 12:48:35 -0400

Hahahaha, of course I'm "old school"... I'm nearly as old as dirt!

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2023 3:52 PM

MCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 13 Oct 2023 15:52:42 -0400

If you have over 30 years of service and you are still on Active Duty!

Response by 1SG Rick Seekman made Oct 14 at 2023 11:46 PM

1SG Rick Seekman — Sat, 14 Oct 2023 23:46:46 -0400

The 5 event pt test. Reporting to pay call to get your measly 350.00, only to donate to the 1SG's coffee fund that you were not allowed to drink.

Response by CPT Ian Stewart made Oct 27 at 2023 9:48 AM

CPT Ian Stewart — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 09:48:42 -0400

The answer is in your question - "it's an ever moving line" - so you won't be able to find it. For old farts like me, old school is the VietNam/Cold War era. For others, Gulf War I is rapidly becoming old school. And so it goes. SSG Bodley, I take it you are on Active Duty or currently serving in one of the Reserve Components. If so, one day you'll find yourself as old school too. When that happens, you'll be surprised and a bit saddened.

Response by Maj Joan Marine made Oct 27 at 2023 11:31 AM

Maj Joan Marine — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 11:31:43 -0400

The old school was when "blanket parties" were done to stop... idiots' actions from affecting everyone else in the unit...

Response by CMSgt Paul Palko made Nov 1 at 2023 8:27 PM

CMSgt Paul Palko — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 20:27:28 -0400

Being able, like I am, to say "I joined the military in 1972"...or any year that is at least 50 years past. All you others are just young punks! Hahaha!!!

Response by SFC Jerald Bottcher made Nov 17 at 2023 5:08 PM

SFC Jerald Bottcher — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 17:08:02 -0500

Smoke 'em if you Got'em

Response by SSG James Knopp made Nov 17 at 2023 8:06 PM

SSG James Knopp — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 20:06:10 -0500

This is about “old school” as it get.
I’m old school.
If you ever sang cadence “they give you $100, and take back $99.
Duck walk during PT
Did PT and the morning run in combat boots with the OD green fatigue pants, white tee shirt, and baseball caps.
Moved around in “cattle cars”.
Did the”monkey bars”.
And what hits home for me is being an ”Old School Ranger”. When the rubber hits the road, a Ranger is a Ranger. But what separates “Old School” from the 21st century Ranger is the intense technological training advantage and learned combat knowledge todays Rangers have. There were no wars to fight when I went to Ranger School. The US military was “war weary”, from fighting in Vietnam.
Ranger school, although as intense, was an extra rung on the ladder to promotion. We were looked upon as “super soldiers” sent back to our perspective units to train and pass on some of the knowledge we possessed. Also, there were no computers and no GPS to guide us along.
I still embrace the Ranger “ethos” and sometime wish I was born thirty years later to fight along side of the 21st century Ranger. Regardless, Rangers process skills people spend thousands of dollars to experience. Where else can one throw hand grenades and fire machine guns and get paid. If I could, I would do it all over again.

Response by SP5 George Butts made Nov 17 at 2023 10:31 PM

SP5 George Butts — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 22:31:42 -0500

Now these are Dog Tags!

Response by SSG Steven Smith made Nov 18 at 2023 9:08 AM

SSG Steven Smith — Sat, 18 Nov 2023 09:08:53 -0500

Old school in my era,70's til 90's was running a 23 mile ,through the LTA ,PT Run in O D green uniform pants ,combat boots,white T-shirt and working on the gamma goat .in the motorpool.

Response by SMSgt Guy Garfinkel made Nov 18 at 2023 9:28 AM

SMSgt Guy Garfinkel — Sat, 18 Nov 2023 09:28:02 -0500

Old School was when Men "were" Men and Women "were" women and there was no crossing the lines and same sex marriages.

Response by PO3 Charles Hannert made Nov 18 at 2023 11:51 AM

PO3 Charles Hannert — Sat, 18 Nov 2023 11:51:03 -0500

We had 16 weeks of USCG boot camp 1963.
Why only 8 weeks now ?

Response by CMDCM Kermit Cain made Nov 18 at 2023 8:23 PM

CMDCM Kermit Cain — Sat, 18 Nov 2023 20:23:47 -0500

Stayed in WWII barracks in Adak, Alaska, in post WWII occupation barracks in Atsugi, Japan. In Adak there were officer and enlisted restrooms in the operations building, enlisted were prohibited from dating the DOD school teachers (were somehow able to "bend" the fraternization article to include teachers). In Atsugi the enlisted club made about four times more MWR funds per month than the officer's club yet 75% of the funds went for renovations of the "O" club. I could go on but this is what it was like in the late 60's and early 70's. The "racial thing" was fading out but still most African Americans wound up in engineering or supply department billets. Lots of changes and many improvements and also numerous changes that are still questionable. Most notable was there still existed "fan room" correction of junior enlisted, etc. You could get your bell rung and little to no recourse. REALLY "old school" during WWII was the fact that females with BSN's (BS in Nursing) were commissioned as ensigns whereas a male with a BSN stayed enlisted (see DOD school teachers above) and blood was labeled with race for blood transfusions (hard to believe today but that was a reality back then). As far as that "ever moving line" a retired guy is always going to be "When I was in . . . ".

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 19 at 2023 10:49 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 10:49:22 -0500

You forgot Sea Rats

Response by SP5 Richard Unice made Nov 19 at 2023 12:05 PM

SP5 Richard Unice — Sun, 19 Nov 2023 12:05:22 -0500

With respect, old school (1966-67) weapon was the M14.

Response by SFC Ronald Miller made Nov 23 at 2023 11:56 PM

SFC Ronald Miller — Thu, 23 Nov 2023 23:56:33 -0500

1967 at Fort Lost in the Woods ( Little Korea ) also known as Fort Leonard Wood We still used the M-1 and ate Sea Rations with small packs of cigarettes and a small pack of chicklets. We ran 9 miles in the morning wearing combat boots and watched the 2.5 tons drive by as we ran to the rifle ranges. we wore kakis and had fire watch duty at night in the ww2 barracks. I guess I am old school because that was the Military I loved the best. When I left active duty in 1971. Did Reserve and National Guard time until 1981 and returned in 1996 to find everything changed completely! I retired in 2007 I have seen a lot!

Response by SPC Wesley Parker made Nov 25 at 2023 12:34 AM

SPC Wesley Parker — Sat, 25 Nov 2023 00:34:06 -0500

As a Vietnam Vet 1967/1968 I consider myself to be old school and find this talk about yellow PT shorts to be ridiculous. We would tear Claymore mines apart and use the C4 to heat up our C-rations. Give me a break!!!

Response by PFC Edward Krinsky made Dec 15 at 2023 10:53 AM

PFC Edward Krinsky — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 10:53:57 -0500

Dragging your M-1 Garrand around and learning to take it apart. Seeing "Maggies draws" at the firing range, spit shine your brown boots, seeing the bombed out buildigs in Germany, living in the Kasernes in Germany...........Those are distant memories.......

Response by SPC Vonnie Jones made Dec 17 at 2023 7:41 PM

SPC Vonnie Jones — Sun, 17 Dec 2023 19:41:31 -0500

I was issued womens army core uniform lol, and it was called the New Army...first few women training with the men. Wore Beatle Baily greens, ran in boots, did pt in pea greens and a tea shirt, ate C-rats had first mre 6 years later. 269 days in one year in graph not tent city, helped tune up a gamma goat that didn't float. Use kwawi polish, wore female Bennie that nobody knew how to wear, spit shine jump boots with tape and was in div artillery lol. Wore a Parker with a sweater so nice and warm, had micky mouse boots that cause frost bite lol, oh can't forget my p38...gave away the cigarettes from my c-rats use moe gas to heat the tent

Response by 1SG James Kelly made Dec 18 at 2023 7:39 AM

1SG James Kelly — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 07:39:58 -0500

My first combat arms MOS as 11C and I carried a 1911A1 my whole time.

Response by SGT Chuck Freiman made Dec 18 at 2023 9:24 AM

SGT Chuck Freiman — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 09:24:01 -0500

Anyone who was in the military, at least 20 years before you joined up, is old school.

Response by TSgt Andrew Harper made Dec 18 at 2023 2:22 PM

TSgt Andrew Harper — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 14:22:12 -0500

Old MAC troop here: AF BMT in 83 simple and easy, 'cokes and smoke breaks, C-rats with smokes, pack of smokes was .35 cents, TDYs and deployments were paid out in cash, no credit cards. PT test was done in cut-offs/old t-shirt, no damn cell phones, no personal computers, qual'd on .38s, airmen painted rocks white, curb yellow safety lines and NCOs watched with coffee cup in one hand and smoke in the other, Commander's call was usually at the NCO club with your favorite alcoholic beverage, at the end of the day and mission accomplished, it was grab a cold beer. Retired in Jan 2004.

Response by 1SG(P) Dean Mcbride (MPER) (SPHR) made Dec 18 at 2023 5:02 PM

1SG(P) Dean Mcbride (MPER) (SPHR) — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 17:02:52 -0500

Old School... Perhaps if you experienced the following:
Troop Ship to Germany from New York in 1964
Twin 40mm Self Propelled Anti Aircraft Guns - US Army Panama 1960-63
Honest John Rockets in Fort Hood - 1965
75mm Pack Howitzers in Fort Sill - 1960
Different preperations of Spam, three meals a day for almost one week, 1965 in Vietnam.
Ceiling hangers for uniforms and clothing and open barracks for 60 or more - Panama
Bunk Beds in the barracks - many locations up to around 1979
Having to apply black dye to your issued Brown Boots - Fort Ord 1960
And many more!

Response by PO1 Kevin Dougherty made Dec 18 at 2023 11:23 PM

PO1 Kevin Dougherty — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 23:23:29 -0500

If it was done that way when you were in it's old school, if it came after it's wussy.

Response by MAJ Steve Daugherty made Dec 20 at 2023 12:59 AM

MAJ Steve Daugherty — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 00:59:12 -0500

Wore tailored, Starched fatigues. Did PT in our fatigues and boots. Had remedial platoons for those having difficulty adjusting to army life.

Response by PO3 Shayne Seibert made Dec 20 at 2023 8:40 AM

PO3 Shayne Seibert — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 08:40:23 -0500

Hazing, paint parties, Hiding in the outboards and sleeping off last nights drunk during field day.
Getting dolphins tacked on by shipmates and having them embedded in your ribs.
Getting mashed with rifles. Getting "Blown Up" during Seal exercises.
Cruising at periscope depth with a TV antenna zip tied to your periscope to watch the super bowl in sea state 4.
Honolulu honeys at 0400 on the way back to the boat.

Man, I miss the old days!

Response by Sgt James Biear made Dec 20 at 2023 8:49 AM

Sgt James Biear — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 08:49:55 -0500

With regard to the USMC, you are old school if you were “issued” the SATEEN COMBAT FIELD UNIFORM!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 20 at 2023 2:55 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 14:55:48 -0500

No days it’s not about the gear or experiences those that served in the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s. As Cpt Schwager describes, it’s about leadership style. Most importantly poessing and expecting discipline, putting counseling and mentorship ahead of one’s own promotion, holding those accountable, and for those senior NCOs not caring about what officers think. Although I retired almost two years ago, those are a few of the qualities I saw when referencing “old School”.

Response by CPL Raul Perez Jr made Dec 21 at 2023 2:44 PM

CPL Raul Perez Jr — Thu, 21 Dec 2023 14:44:19 -0500

Running in combats and starched fatigues, then changing into your spit shined boots at morning formation.

Response by PO2 Paul Dempsey made Dec 22 at 2023 5:26 PM

PO2 Paul Dempsey — Fri, 22 Dec 2023 17:26:36 -0500

More time in than the other sailor even one day. Chuckling

Response by CPO Kurt Baschab made Dec 24 at 2023 8:06 PM

CPO Kurt Baschab — Sun, 24 Dec 2023 20:06:53 -0500

old school is anything that happen yesterday,

Response by SPC Tracy Charpentier made Jan 8 at 2024 8:20 AM

SPC Tracy Charpentier — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 08:20:28 -0500

Performing P/T in your combat boots.

Response by SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D made Jan 8 at 2024 9:31 AM

SPC Michael Duricko, Ph.D — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 09:31:10 -0500

I have met all of the criterion listed and proud of it!

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jan 8 at 2024 9:51 AM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 09:51:40 -0500

WOULD LOVE TO HEAR YOUR STORIES:

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk SGT Charlie Lee] Sgt Private RallyPoint Member Maj Kim Patterson] SFC Ralph E Kelley SPC Private RallyPoint Member SSG William Jones CPL Douglas Chrysler PO1 H Gene Lawrence Lt Col Charlie Brown PO2 Marco Monsalve SGT Ruben Lozada A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney PO3 Charles Lewis SPC Private RallyPoint Member CPL LaForest Gray PO1 Lyndon Thomas

Response by SGT Kerry Sommers made Jan 8 at 2024 6:04 PM

SGT Kerry Sommers — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 18:04:59 -0500

Old school military makes me remember my Drill Sergeant Brown. 50 years and I still distinctly remember him. He was very tough and a great teacher! I still remember his yelling and screaming. The best one I remember is "The army promised you 3 meals a day. They did not promise that you would time to eat them". Classic!

Response by SSG Rick Bousfield made Jan 11 at 2024 9:37 PM

SSG Rick Bousfield — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 21:37:44 -0500

Sounds like Harmony church. You know what I am talking about.

Response by SPC Donn Sinclair made Jan 16 at 2024 7:35 AM

SPC Donn Sinclair — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 07:35:09 -0500

Black, spit-shined boots. Separate stateside and jungle fatigues, (not BDU's), all green. Armoring up an M151A1 MUTT, (aka a Jeep), meant putting sandbags on the floorboards. Cold weather and travel Class A uni was green, Warm weather, Khakis, open collar, no tie, short sleeves. M14, later m-16 rifle, 1911 45 pistol, iron sights on both. There's more, but those came to mind just now.

Response by SSG David Forler made Feb 11 at 2024 12:22 PM

SSG David Forler — Sun, 11 Feb 2024 12:22:29 -0500

Old school to each new generation is the experience of the veterans.. for me, entered in 79, old school was the senior vietnam veterans way of doing things... like today, we have monthly counseling, we have emotional training, dei, eo, lgbt/trans.... OLD SCHOOL was going behind the building and settling the argument as men...

Old school is the way we prepare our C' Rations... using the john wayne cookie tin as a stove.. when no heat tabs, c-4 was used..now there are mre with heaters...

Response by SGT Kenneth Stelly made Feb 22 at 2024 11:55 AM

SGT Kenneth Stelly — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 11:55:19 -0500

Spit shined your boots and low quarters, all the time, everyday or get in trouble. And pressed your uniform. A uniform that looked sharp and crisp. We looked good. I can't believe is not being done today. I believe it instilled discipline that is very much lacking.

Response by 1SG Steven Malkowski made Mar 20 at 2024 5:50 PM

1SG Steven Malkowski — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 17:50:44 -0400

Me, and anyone before me. I'll throw in anyone who joined in the 80's.

Response by PO2 Christopher Foss made May 5 at 2024 11:26 AM

PO2 Christopher Foss — Sun, 05 May 2024 11:26:24 -0400

If the person you are speaking to got out before you got in...

Response by SP5 Donna Barr made Jun 9 at 2024 11:57 AM

SP5 Donna Barr — Sun, 09 Jun 2024 11:57:34 -0400

Getting ALL the teletype lists of returnees, dead or alive, in 1973, and suspecting the Army just put the Missing in the wrong graves. Well, it's the Army, isn't it?

Response by Cpl Ray Fernandez made Jul 5 at 2024 2:01 AM

Cpl Ray Fernandez — Fri, 05 Jul 2024 02:01:55 -0400

Being in before some major change. Before I joined the crucible wasn't part of Marine boot camp, and my series was the first in M Co to participate in the Crucible. Then in 2001, the Marine Corps decided to test MarPat digital camouflage, as we were warned not to chew out any 7th Marine grunts testing it out as they were conducting training across 29 Palms including mainside (some idiot from NCIS tried shooting "armed Marines" and claimed it was just a negligent discharge).

Response by A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney made Jul 7 at 2024 2:19 PM

A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney — Sun, 07 Jul 2024 14:19:45 -0400

FIRST ~ I Just Turned 80 ~~ YES, I DO Know "I Should've Been Dead By Now"
So I AM "Old School", And From What I've Seen And Experienced Throughout These Years,
Here's The "Difference": We Old Timers "THINK".....
~~ Yup That's The Difference.~~

Response by MSgt Robert Branscome made Jul 8 at 2024 8:25 AM

MSgt Robert Branscome — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 08:25:42 -0400

i would say before the leadership became "WOKE" and lowered the standards of training.

Response by TSgt David Olson made Jul 8 at 2024 11:44 AM

TSgt David Olson — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 11:44:08 -0400

Did PT in your fatigues, wearing your combat boots. In basic and AIT lived in WWII barracks, pulled KP, cleaned the grease trap outside the mess hall, drilled with a real rifle the M1 Grand 8 1/2 pounds if I remember the nomenclature, policing the area, field stripping cigarettes, going to the local “beer bar”. Basic training concluded with a 26 mile, 13 miles out and back march, full field pack, rifle, steel helmet. WACS. Five days at the rifle range, in addition to your own MOS, everyone had a secondary of 11B. Drivers Ed on the jeep, 3/4 ton truck. Over night bivouac, putting up and sleeping in a pup tent, pressing my class A’s, and spit shining low quarters and two pair of combat boots. Keeping both your wall locker and foot locker squared away. Memorizing your individual service number (not your SS)

Response by SPC Tawni Sullivan made Jul 10 at 2024 1:13 PM

SPC Tawni Sullivan — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 13:13:02 -0400

First Company on base to have COMPUTERS. With NO WINDOWS, and dot matrix printers. Drove 5-ton MANUAL transmission trucks. "This side towards enemy. Off color cadence. Flew in Hueys and Cobras. Did correspondence courses. Drove ambulance, with no air-conditioning. Possibly tests and dogs on New Years Eve and Day. The clicking of their toenails as we waited in the day room. The call out of names for those receiving Article 15's, for their revelry. Push-ups and push-ups, so, so, many push-ups. Cattle car rides, and I could go on.... Great memories, some were "old school", and some were "new school" (for their time). But, we all SERVED, and that's what counts.

Response by SGT Bill Braniff made Jul 25 at 2024 12:57 PM

SGT Bill Braniff — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 12:57:59 -0400

I’m Old School Military. I took basic at Ft Dix in 196) and left for Vietnam In January 1968. Just in time for Tet.
Yes I’m old school man’s very proud of it.

Response by Cpl George Matousek made Jul 29 at 2024 12:33 PM

Cpl George Matousek — Mon, 29 Jul 2024 12:33:58 -0400

I agree with the post, did all of those in the Marines. Semper Fi

Response by SPC Staci Brill made Aug 4 at 2024 3:31 PM

SPC Staci Brill — Sun, 04 Aug 2024 15:31:51 -0400

Old school is relative, lots of changes since I ETS’d 45 years ago.
Break starch everyday
Spit shined boots and boot blousers
Steel pots
Web gear
P-38’s
C-rats ( included a 4 pack of cigarettes)
M-16A1 rifles had full auto selector
Basic and AIT was at Ft Bliss, TX for ADA
chaparral, hawk missles, Vulcan guns.
It would be laughable if you ever thought of saying your feelings were hurt, then there would be yelling followed by pt until you were too tired to worry about feelings. Feelings wasn’t in anyone’s terminology back then. Political correctness hadn’t been invented yet either. Back in the day it was about being prepared and trained for war.
I remember pulling guard duty at the motor pool at Ft Lewis, 1/67 ADA. It was a boring night. I kept hoping to come across someone so I could say halt, who goes there? Advance to be recognized. lol, nothing ever happened. All the military vehicles I drove were manual transmissions except for the m880 dodge 4x4. Yup, duece and a half, 5 ton and 1/4 ton ford jeeps.
Remember singing cadence, a yellow bird, lol.

I’ve heard stories about today’s army. They may have better equipment but hearing about feelings, whiners and political correctness makes me sick.
Just remember one thing… you’re not there to die for your country, you’re there to make the other mf die for his country!

Response by SFC Joseph Behmke made Aug 5 at 2024 8:00 AM

SFC Joseph Behmke — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 08:00:57 -0400

I joined in Jan ‘75; we wore cotton fituges with baseball caps, did PT in Cbt Boots without shirts before yellow PT uniforms and Saucer Caps with our Dress Greens. Gamma Goats, jeeps,
Mogas. 5/4s & 3/4T Powerwagons and M48A5 and M60A3 Tanks abounded. I think the line be set in the mid 80’s when we switched to the first came fituges. A lot of changes happened around that time.

Response by PO1 Todd B. made Aug 8 at 2024 11:21 PM

PO1 Todd B. — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 23:21:45 -0400

Served on a ship that had actual boilers and steam engines, not nuclear and/or uses gas turbine
Served on a ship that had no air conditioning
Served on a ship that got 20 feet from the pier and broke down
Knows what the F111 and F14 are
Knows what an FF and DE are
Had and used full analog dials, knobs and controls and use reel to reel and cassette tapes to load systems bios/OS on ships and punch cards on shore.
Served during a time that cell phones and internet had never been invented yet
Knows what HAM radio telephone calls are at sea back to your parents or family
Knows what a blanket party is
Knows what becoming a Shellback REALLY means and how a real passing is done
Knows what a Nuke Cruiser is

Response by SGT Greg Knytych made Aug 13 at 2024 2:01 AM

SGT Greg Knytych — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 02:01:07 -0400

If you served in the last century before cell phones existed, saw C-Rats being phased out and being replaced with MREs, had to heat the water for rehydrating your MRE in your steel pot with a sterno stove, saw your steel pot replaced with Kevlar Helmets and not given an alternate pot to heat water for your MRE (cold water just don't cut it), did PT in a black ARMY t-shirt and bloused fatigue trousers while running in your "PT Jumpboots", drove an M151-A1 with an M-60 mount between the front seats, saw your fatigues replaced with BDUs and were ordered to ignore AR-670 and iron pleats into said BDUs, strip and reassemble your M-16-A1 and your M1911 in less than 2 minutes, and knew how to land nav on paper maps while determining ground elevation from those lines on the map. This is my "Old School"

Response by SMSgt Bob W. made Aug 13 at 2024 12:49 PM

SMSgt Bob W. — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 12:49:31 -0400

E6 and above or O5 and above.

Response by MAJ Gregory Moon made Aug 14 at 2024 11:06 PM

MAJ Gregory Moon — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 23:06:05 -0400

When one on of your basic training trainees gets commissioned and retired before you do.When you run into one of your trainees from basic and he's a MSG. When you get asked about how it was with General Washington. A concerned Seabee asks if he needs to get you a defibrillator while you are running around the FOB.

Response by PO1 Kenneth Helmick made Aug 15 at 2024 6:35 AM

PO1 Kenneth Helmick — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 06:35:28 -0400

I was in the Navy and Naval Reserves. Every two years, they would reinvent the Navy, and then we would have a "New Navy" and an "Old Navy". After 3 or 4 cycles of these changes, the latest version of the "New Navy" was almost indistinguishable from the "Old Navy" that they pronounced obsolete just a few years before. Most of us seemed to cope by taking as little notice as possible and just carrying on in whatever fashion actually seemed to work.

Response by LTC Lance Headrick made Aug 24 at 2024 11:33 PM

LTC Lance Headrick — Sat, 24 Aug 2024 23:33:48 -0400

Two beer lunch.

Response by Sgt Terry R Whitford made Nov 25 at 2024 9:41 AM

Sgt Terry R Whitford — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 09:41:23 -0500

Standing in line twice a month to get my $26 in cash from the "Pay Officer".
The buttons on my Utilities had a flap to hide them and I was issued one set of herringbone utilities.
The mess hall at Chu Lai was a series of tents with sand as floors.
Using an M1 for training at ITR Camp Pendelton.
Issued a M14 in Vietnam, I never saw an M16
Staying in Quonset huts for Boot Camp, MCRD San Diego
Boots n Utes for PT
Junk on the Bunk
Open Squad Bay

Response by SSG Mike Zientek made Nov 27 at 2024 3:07 PM

SSG Mike Zientek — Wed, 27 Nov 2024 15:07:52 -0500

Being old school means Nobody gives a fu<£ about your feelings. Deal with your feelings as the mission allows.

If you’re offended, nobody cares about you being offended.

Develop thick enough skin so you won’t melt under pressure.

The whole point of training is to simulate war. If it sucks, then the training is teaching you to embrace the suck, relish the suck. Look forward to the next time it sucks even worse, so you can say you made it through the shittiest experience in your life, and you are disappointed that the suck factor was not higher.

Old school means mission accomplishment is more important than your weak-ass feelings.

Being old school means shut up and do your job, your whining is not helping anyone.

Response by SFC Kevin Childers made Nov 28 at 2024 4:20 PM

SFC Kevin Childers — Thu, 28 Nov 2024 16:20:57 -0500

As a Marine the "Old Corps/Old Breed" ended the day before you enlisted.

Response by SPC Danny Land made Dec 23 at 2024 8:50 AM

SPC Danny Land — Mon, 23 Dec 2024 08:50:01 -0500

The "Brown Shoe Army"?

Response by CPO Kurt Baschab made Dec 24 at 2024 7:36 PM

CPO Kurt Baschab — Tue, 24 Dec 2024 19:36:22 -0500

Old School is anything that happen or any old rules or Reg that you did Yesterday, that are no longer in effect today, for example if tou talk to a WWII VET AND A Korean war Vetm the WWII vet would tell the Korean vet he is old school, a Korean vet would tell the Vietnam Vet he is old school, and so on, it could be due to Technology, Unifourm REG Changes , a change in the military rules and regulations, and so on it goes, this is why I say old school is anything that happen yesterday.

Response by SPC Staci Brill made Jan 1 at 2025 4:31 PM

SPC Staci Brill — Wed, 01 Jan 2025 16:31:17 -0500

I remember the old days,
M16A1
1/4ton Ford built Jeeps
M880
Deuce and a half
5ton
Cattle car
Heavy starched BDU’s
Spit shined boots
Steel pot helmets
Anyone remember the cadence song “a yellow bird “? lol
Drill sergeant’s never asked about our feelings, especially when they were swearing at you with the brim of their hat against your forehead.
Sea rations, the canned food smelled like dog food. The good stuff was the chocolate rice cookie and the four pack of cigarettes. (Smoke em if you got em)
P38
Them days are long gone.

Response by MAJ Steve Daugherty made Jan 26 at 2025 2:36 PM

MAJ Steve Daugherty — Sun, 26 Jan 2025 14:36:25 -0500

Had white TShirts, tailored, starched fatigues, did PT in fatigues and combat boots. Ate C rations. Carried a p38 Bathed and shaved using my steel pot helmet.

Response by PO1 Charles Babcock made Feb 10 at 2025 1:33 PM

PO1 Charles Babcock — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 13:33:12 -0500

Here's one for all those Submarine sailors out there, Old school is going thru Escape Training in the 120 foot tall water filled tower practicing with the Bright orange escape hood on. At New London Conn. Sub School.

Response by Capt Joe Paolilli made Feb 15 at 2025 11:39 AM

Capt Joe Paolilli — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 11:39:12 -0500

I used to have breakfast with some WWII vets at a place in Bandera, TX (all motorcycle riders). One guy told me about riding his cavalry horse to the next fort in Oklahoma to take the flying physical. That’s as old school as I ever saw.

Response by SMSgt Keith Stephens made Mar 10 at 2025 8:16 AM

SMSgt Keith Stephens — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 08:16:50 -0400

Major Petrarch,
Will burying our father at Arlington National Cemetery last Friday 7 Mar 2025, finally joining him up with our mother who’s been buried there since 1973. I was talking with my Brother who’s older about old Army PT stuff. I went down memory lane with all the old stuff I did in the 1980s in the US Army. Kinda like your list you wrote. My brother just looked at me as he’s a 101st guy from the early 1970s and said, “but did you do PT in combat boots and fatigues like he did.” In his day they had no PT uniforms every PT session was in boots and utes. I laughed and said you got me there. He laughed a big laugh and said uh huh. My 12 years in US Army I’m very proud of and as I transferred to the USAFR in 1995 And spent another 24 years until retirement. I and my brother just sat there as the old guard US 3rd Infantry did a flawless ceremony with Chaplain CPT Philip Morelock officiating with the absolutely best ceremony and prayers we have ever heard. I wish I knew the rest of the details names as I will be writing a letter to the 3rd Infantry commanding general acknowledging and thanking them all for their great work. To every veteran out there I just want to thank you for your service. This country would not be free without you.