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?
Tradition
Humor
Memories
Military History
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 1808
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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.
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PO1 John Miller
Navy Radioman A school had us watch the video on him, and I believe that the Navy STILL shows that video to A school students.
Yes I cheered when I heard the bastard died in prison!
Yes I cheered when I heard the bastard died in prison!
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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.
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CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
Your pay check? How about, When you reported to the pay officer, saluted and he paid you in greenbacks or MPC.
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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)
-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)
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MSG John Wirts
I'm realy old school then. C-Rats were WWII with OD tall cans and 20 pack od and black package Lucky Strikes in each meal. Later we transitioned to Nato Green short can rations with 5 pack cigarettes. I remember our soldiers going to and coming back from Vietnam, and a story from Grenada Where a engineering paratrooper
was assigned his cherry jump into Grenada earning him the gold combat jump star on his cherry jump. Some paratroopers had years of jumps and senior and master jump wings but no combat jump star. Qualified on the M35 gasoline reo cold star gas engine, the M35-A1 Texaco Multi Fuel, and the M35A2 diesel.
was assigned his cherry jump into Grenada earning him the gold combat jump star on his cherry jump. Some paratroopers had years of jumps and senior and master jump wings but no combat jump star. Qualified on the M35 gasoline reo cold star gas engine, the M35-A1 Texaco Multi Fuel, and the M35A2 diesel.
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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.
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LCpl Steve Wininger
There should be a museum of software somewhere. I would venture to say, with all the tech savvy individuals around, the old stuff would probably blow their minds because it was not so user friendly, nor was it automated.
I still have a copy of Windows 3.1 somewhere and would venture to say I would be lost using it or even 95.
I still have a copy of Windows 3.1 somewhere and would venture to say I would be lost using it or even 95.
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GySgt William Hardy
When I went electronics school in San Diego in 1967, we used slide-rulers, paper, and pencils to do our math because we never heard of a calculator. We learned to test vacuum tubes and this newer item called a transistor.
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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
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If you've Lived, Slept, or spent time in either of these. You "Might Be Old Skool"
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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.
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.
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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.
Giving a briefing using an overhead projector and transparencies.
Beer was included the pop machines.
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