Posted on Jul 1, 2014
What constitutes being "old school" in the military?
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I'm hearing/reading people saying "I'm old school, therefore..." So out of curiosity's sake, where is that ever-moving line?
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Military History
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 1808
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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!
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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.
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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
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
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GySgt Melissa Gravila
SCPO Don Groves - I know I do! My kids do, and I have "introduced" my staff to a Lejeune field day in the kitchen one day when I walked in and saw some things I didn't like (plug up the floor drains, turn on the sinks and scrub from ceiling to floor)
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GySgt Melissa Gravila
SCPO Don Groves - oh trust me THEY WERE MAD!! LOL They went to my boss crying and whining, I got called to her office, I said, "was the kitchen up to my standard?" They said no, I said "is the kitchen up to my standard now?" They said yes. I said, "the standard you walk by is the standard you accept. I refuse to accept mediocrity. I will not accept a dirty kitchen. Any questions? If we work in sub-par conditions, people can get sick, people can die. That will not happen on my watch- period"
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GySgt Melissa Gravila
SCPO Don Groves - I'd like to think so anyways! We've always taught our kids nobody ever drowned in sweat- if you want something work hard and earn it. And they do- we are very proud of them! :)
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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.
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SGT Randall Smith
We don't talk about the PRC-25. By the 3rd day out it weight close to a ton and the extra batteries weighted 50 pounds each. A 31M40 knew this very well.
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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.
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.
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So much changes in the services that old school is get shorter from the present, my opinion anything over 15 years.
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being p***** off that things are not what they used to be . things change too fast.
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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.
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SGT Randall Smith
I had been out about a month and thought about re-enlisting. Went to Ft Hood to talk about it. When I saw the slobs on base, hands in pockets, pants not bloused, caps on crooked, dirty boots and uniforms not ironed, I knew that I would not last. They would not know what the word " Strack" meant. But in Germany I was a soldier and proud of it. In Nam I washed my uniform when ever I could, did not polish my boots but put polish on them to protect them.
I was in the PX at Ft. Hood a couple of months ago and a young trooper came by and said," watch it old man". I was using a walker after an accident. I lost my cool and said F.U.. my wife had a fit. What if he comes back she ask. I'm not sure what I would have done, but I do carry. I'm too old to fight, to fat to run but I do carry a gun.
I was in the PX at Ft. Hood a couple of months ago and a young trooper came by and said," watch it old man". I was using a walker after an accident. I lost my cool and said F.U.. my wife had a fit. What if he comes back she ask. I'm not sure what I would have done, but I do carry. I'm too old to fight, to fat to run but I do carry a gun.
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SPC Woody Bullard
SGT Randall Smith - I really try to respect all active duty military when I see them but there are a few "punks" like that guy that have no respect. You and I wore the uniform before he was born and anyone who shows no respect for me will get no respect from me in return. Like you I'm too old to fight a young man but if a fight is pushed on me I will use what I have to defend myself. Much respect to you for your service SGT.
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CDR Brian Rinaldi
I have always thought of "old school" as a way of thinking and doing things that predates the current way of doing things but usually gets things done just as well if not better.
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To me "Old School" is the generation of service members prior to you serving.
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