What constitutes being "old school" in the military?

SSG Bodley,

This is an "OLD" CSM's opinion only.... (retired in September, 2016 after 42 years of service).

All these things as noted by everybody are true to the "material" side of the house. We all grew up in a different era and so certain things often associated with our basic training and advance individual training pop in mind. For new soldiers these days, 9MM pistols and M16A2 are considered old school (vs the M4 or new Sig coming out). Can you imagine soldiers who come in when they have the new body armor and body skins that help increase lift and body protection skills, what they will consider "old school"?

In any case, from the "time wise" side of the house, I would say that anybody over 20 years in service is "old school", especially given the rate of change these days. Having watched soldiers for 40 plus years, it was my time as a SFC and higher rank (usually around the 15-20 year mark for most career soldiers) when the "old school" phrase starts appearing in their vocabulary.

I kept thinking that as I grew older and higher in rank and position responsibility, watching all the new elements of military training and wishing I was an eighteen old kid again to play with this new "fun" stuff. I look at GPS tools now and think back how to try and explain map reading and compass use to even new soldiers. Plus, when you move to these higher positions, you don't spend the time working the "foot soldier" level anymore. I remember being a Military Police 1SG and having my CO CDR and BN CDR tell me I couldn't work the streets anymore or gate duty with my soldiers (afraid to scare off officers and other senior personnel when I 1SG stops them - Ha Ha).

So in my opinion, you're on the cusp of getting to that point in your career where you soon will be using that "old school" terminology as a daily speech pattern.

Good Luck with the you transition to being a part of the "old school" battalion.

Respectfully
Bob S
CSM (R)

If you never ran in fatigues and boots you ain’t old school

PT in green fatigues and boots... M16a1, being known as part of "The Green Machine..."

At this point, if you were in the military before Iraq/ Afghanistan, you’re old school. If you were part of single digit OEF or OIF missions (e.g. OEF 4), you’re old school. Bonus points if you were a single digit Kosovo mission like me (KFOR 1B)

only old school military I know are the ones that crossed the Delaware.

When you served before the privates were born, that makes you old school as well as everything else that has been written.

For females:
-You lived with all of the females on post sometimes over a mile from your unit. (that meant getting up before your male counterparts to make formation.)
-You wore these lovely poplin things instead of fatigues.

Ever took the AF PT bike test. If you remember when MREs came in dark brown bag without the chemical kit to warm it up

Old school to me is Washing your uniforms called Utilities at a stone sink wash area with cold water a scrub brush and a bottle of Wisk Semper-Fi .LOL Oh and C-rats with a small pack of smokes .

No I disagree with the comment about mre’s in the same context as steel pots. In “old school” we ate C rats