What constitutes being "old school" in the military?

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

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!

Had a drink at lunch in uniform shoreside and used a sextant at sea.

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

Eating 1945 C rations in 1968.

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.