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?
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Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 1808
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Most of the soldiers in my unit weren't born yet when I enlisted. I'm claiming old school status.
C-rats
green fatigues
cattle cars
M16A1
M1911
Steel pot
M151 jeep
West Germany
PT in fatigues pants and white t-shirt and boots
C-rats
green fatigues
cattle cars
M16A1
M1911
Steel pot
M151 jeep
West Germany
PT in fatigues pants and white t-shirt and boots
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MSG John Wirts
I remember the EE-8 field phones, some with leather cases, Ta-312 field phones. The TA-1 handset only field telephone, SB-22 a company level or higher field switchboards which could be strapped together to support larger units. The prc 10 field radio. The PRC-6 Walkie Talkie. P-38 can openers were packaged in every WWII
C RAT meal.
C RAT meal.
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CSM Christopher St. Cyr
Pak, you are old and old school. I like your WEST Germany point. I don't remember who it was, but when we landed in Lipsig (sp?) I commented about being in East Germany. One of the young fellas tried to correct me, "You mean eastern Germany Master Sergeant." I replied, "No EAST Germany." I asked when he was born then realized there had only been one Germany in his lifetime! I'll be seeing some of those folks next week at their Yellow Ribbon event.
Hey how's life with your new Diamond. I trust you are keeping him on his toes as you did with me.
Hey how's life with your new Diamond. I trust you are keeping him on his toes as you did with me.
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SFC (Join to see)
Weird that a lot of today's soldiers weren't around when there were two Germanys.
Dave is great. A very common sense guy.
Dave is great. A very common sense guy.
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MSG John Wirts
What happened to the M38 and M38A1, The M37 all variants, and the M35 M35A1 and M35A2 trucks?
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"OLD SCHOOL"
1) Communicating with a PRC-77 or T-1 Field Phone
2) Happilly driving a JEEP; istead of "Leather Personnel Carriers" or LPC's
3) Wearing BDU's; Polishing Boots; LBE was an upgrade over just a Utility-belt
4) Advanced Arms included the LAW, M-16 A-1, & M-60; Steel-helmet Vs. Kevilar
5) C-Rations or when there were ONLY 12-MRE Types & they were Brown-colored
6) Night-vision meant letting your eyes adjust or conducting missions based on the lunar-calandar
1) Communicating with a PRC-77 or T-1 Field Phone
2) Happilly driving a JEEP; istead of "Leather Personnel Carriers" or LPC's
3) Wearing BDU's; Polishing Boots; LBE was an upgrade over just a Utility-belt
4) Advanced Arms included the LAW, M-16 A-1, & M-60; Steel-helmet Vs. Kevilar
5) C-Rations or when there were ONLY 12-MRE Types & they were Brown-colored
6) Night-vision meant letting your eyes adjust or conducting missions based on the lunar-calandar
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MSG John Wirts
Yes and metal buttons riveted in place and painted black with stars on the face. MC utilities with the map pocket behind the third button.
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SSG Selwyn Bodley, you hit the nail on the head when you said ever moving line, because as time goes by the line moves to the right. I'd say don't talk to me about "old school" unless you remember wearing the khaki uniform and the yellow PT uniform. Others might say Vietnam, brown boots (maybe still around), etc.
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SSG Selwyn Bodley
CW5 (Join to see) for me it would be Vietnam era, but what I find strange to embrace is that for others they consider me old school. I think in the end, at least for me, Old school will always be 20 plus years ago.
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SPC(P) Jay Heenan
I hated that stupid yellow PT suit...the good ole banana suit! The shorts were like daisy dukes...
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MSG John Wirts
Yellow pt suit? Fatigues with bloused combat boots, Fatigue jacket could be removed in hot weather. Khaki's were in two forms when I came in. The long sleeved khaki with tucked in tie. The on post only short sleeved khaki shirt without tie. The long sleeved brass placement was different from placement on short sleeve shirt. hen the long sleeves were modified to short sleeve and the tie was dropped for the khaki uniform. Then khakis were dropped , the class A shirt was changed from the tan poplin to short and long sleeve green shirts with epaulets. name tags and rank was worn on both shirts so when the AG-#$$ coat was removed the solder's name and rank were on the shirt.
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SSG Maurice P.
White T-shirt scarlet and gold Marine Corps pt shorts for PFT....normal runs were done in uts and boots......oohrah semper fi
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I think it is a relative term. even I would be considered "old school" because how my buddies and I were trained and how we would train others comes not from the current doctrine.
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me, I am old school because I am old. Well not as old as some of us on here but old enough.
To answer this, I think old school is from the last major change in something, IE uniforms or policy that radically changed the way things were. When I came in Old school was those who wore the pickle suits and smoked in their office and had a beer at lunch. For me I am old school because I wore BDU, We spit shined boots, so on and so on. I am old school because I am retired.
To answer this, I think old school is from the last major change in something, IE uniforms or policy that radically changed the way things were. When I came in Old school was those who wore the pickle suits and smoked in their office and had a beer at lunch. For me I am old school because I wore BDU, We spit shined boots, so on and so on. I am old school because I am retired.
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When i was promoted to CPL in the marines i got tagged for the strips on the shoulder and down the leg for the blood strip. This was done back in the earliy
80's. I was sore for awhile. That was old school.
80's. I was sore for awhile. That was old school.
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SSG Maurice P.
i earned my blood stripe in the 70's........i couldnt walk all weekend and it was friday payday weekend hehehehehehehe
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Sgt Frank Rinchich
did the same in the 50 s with the shoulder tag anyone your rank or higher pinned your strips on. I was glad we had only one Sgt, and one SSgt. in the company. Never heard anything about the red strips.
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Is it really a moving line or more of a way of life? I have been out over twenty years and I still polish my shoes, hand press/iron my clothes (no starch out of a can), I still wear a flat-top haircut and I certainly still PT. I have been called "old school" many a times. lol
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GySgt William Hardy
Yes it is a moving line. I remember serving with WWII and Korean vets who were my senior NCOs and ranking officers. When I was at Cherry Point they had the last two "flying Sergeants" who flew the Lear Jets. Years later when a young guy said, "You served in Vietnam? You must be old school." Somewhere along the time line I had crossed over.
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GySgt Joe Strong
Definitely a moving line. That jackass boot who marched in 45 seconds earlier than you and knows where the scuttlebutt is, and you just walked thru the door and don't, well, he's old school.
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Im not old school...but I guess old school would be if you were ever blood pinned, or conducted a Chinese field day before it was known as hazing.
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Col Joel Anderson
I think you could be put into the category if you could explain what the Protestant Work Ethic is. The essence of the ethic, not all the connotations that will undoubtedly arise from those who want to turn it into a different discussion. Just the essence, not all the intrigue.
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