Posted on Jul 1, 2014
What constitutes being "old school" in the military?
1.04M
19.9K
5.63K
1.9K
1.9K
0
I'm hearing/reading people saying "I'm old school, therefore..." So out of curiosity's sake, where is that ever-moving line?
Tradition
Humor
Memories
Military History
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 1808
3
3
0
3
3
0
Sorry... I forgot to answer you question with my post below... the line in my opinion is 2006ish... I think that was the mandatory time for all Soldiers to have ACUs. That my friend is the line for "old school."
(3)
(0)
SPC (Join to see)
Long before that. 2006 is still a modern period. Compare the uniforms from the 2000's to years before it. I would say anything pre-personal computers. Old School is definitely long before the 2000's like when you had to make a phone call and used a payphone or some crank job in a foreign country. There are probably several chunks of periods that would be considered Old School in relation to previous periods. I think generations have a lot to do with it.
I always believed Old School was more related to the WWII period probably because my parents both served in that war and were born in the early 1920's. I would consider them ancient Old School. Another 20 years and 2006 will be ancient.
I always believed Old School was more related to the WWII period probably because my parents both served in that war and were born in the early 1920's. I would consider them ancient Old School. Another 20 years and 2006 will be ancient.
(0)
(0)
3
3
0
SSG Selwyn Bodley, My having worn boots, 1953 issue with rough-out leather on the bottoms and smooth leather for the uppers w/ 2 buckles = OLD SCHOOL AND EVERYTHING ELSE!
I hereby claim maximum seniority points in RP's "Old School"!
PS, I learned to Spit Shine those rough-out boots and was normally anointed COL's Orderly after guard mount!
I hereby claim maximum seniority points in RP's "Old School"!
PS, I learned to Spit Shine those rough-out boots and was normally anointed COL's Orderly after guard mount!
(3)
(0)
SFC Greg Bruorton
I came in shortly after you did--1960. Slapping M-1 Garand stocks, even K-rations, P-38, J-38 (Morse code), WWII jeeps, spit-shined boots and OD fatigues with white name tapes. All of us came in at one time or another and relish the old days compared to the modern Army.
(3)
(0)
3
3
0
3
3
0
Brown boots with rough-out lowers and smooth leather tops with 2 buckles!
(3)
(0)
CSM Charles Hayden Passed 7/29/2025
MSG John Wirts, I soon learned to spit-shine those rough-out boots! I would hand carry them to guard mount at Ft Knox, change boots and instantly become Colonel's orderly! Lawrence T Smith, COL, Armor, USA sent me multiple congratulatory letters to me via chain of command! Born in Columbus, I also lived near Wapakoneta and McGuffey. The late wife's folks arrived in Tiffin, OH in 1837
(0)
(0)
3
3
0
SPC William Weedman
My buddy I served in the Guard with swears he was there when Washington got his orders for OCS....
(2)
(0)
3
3
0
3
3
0
3
3
0
I personally think the dividing line between "old school" and where we are now began somewhere in the late 1970s. Prior to that, I remember:
- Khaki brown summer uniforms, Ike Jackets and Long Sleeve dark blue flannel shirts - in the Air Force.
- Annual re-qualifications with Mattel M-16s using .22 caliber inserts
- Wearing a S&W .38 Police Special when serving as an NCOD in a secure facility
- C-Rations -- yeah, the boxes marked "1949" that still had cigarettes and matches in them
- Auto-ordered PB&J boxed in-flight lunches if you didn't order better or in advance
- Being issued a field jacket, which, incidentally, never fit right
- Manual Radar sites (no computers) (UPA-35, FPS-6, Back-Plot Board & grease pencil)
- Beer in the NCO's Mess - and we were allowed to have one 6oz beer with lunch
- Meal Cards for the Airmens' and NCOs Messes - if you lived in the barracks
...these are a few of my favorite things... I'm "old school."
- Khaki brown summer uniforms, Ike Jackets and Long Sleeve dark blue flannel shirts - in the Air Force.
- Annual re-qualifications with Mattel M-16s using .22 caliber inserts
- Wearing a S&W .38 Police Special when serving as an NCOD in a secure facility
- C-Rations -- yeah, the boxes marked "1949" that still had cigarettes and matches in them
- Auto-ordered PB&J boxed in-flight lunches if you didn't order better or in advance
- Being issued a field jacket, which, incidentally, never fit right
- Manual Radar sites (no computers) (UPA-35, FPS-6, Back-Plot Board & grease pencil)
- Beer in the NCO's Mess - and we were allowed to have one 6oz beer with lunch
- Meal Cards for the Airmens' and NCOs Messes - if you lived in the barracks
...these are a few of my favorite things... I'm "old school."
(3)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google