What constitutes being "old school" in the military?

When you got into fights and nobody got an article 15

Ever had a John wayne, ate C-Rats , Vietnam era utilities, steel canteen, iron on emblem

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

M16 HA
How bout the M1 they gave me ...

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Male and female are the ONLY 2 options to put as sex/gender choice.