What constitutes being "old school" in the military?

- 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.

You were old school if you were armed with a rifle with a wooden stock.

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

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

How about a sailor who wore dungarees instead of stupid cammo. Sailors are meant to wear blue!

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".

Knowing what F.T.A. stood for and what the average soldier actually said.....:-)

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....

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.

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 (Join to see)