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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Military History
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 1808
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1. You know you are Old School when - you hear the word, "Digital" and you think "Knuckles".
2. You know you are Old School when - you went to Basic and you washed your clothes by hand.
3. You know you are Old School when - the ship you were on got underway, the engineers were yelling "Stroke, Stroke, Stroke"
4. You know you are Old School when - crossing the Equator and Arctic Circle meant something.
2. You know you are Old School when - you went to Basic and you washed your clothes by hand.
3. You know you are Old School when - the ship you were on got underway, the engineers were yelling "Stroke, Stroke, Stroke"
4. You know you are Old School when - crossing the Equator and Arctic Circle meant something.
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PO2 David Wagner
I made Golden Shellback, Red Nose, Blue Nose, transited the Panama Canal three times. I've also got 1 & 2 covered and we did row lifeboats in the Atlantic during basic training. Is that old school enough?
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MSG John Wirts
You know you're old school when you remember rowing the ship, then getting a break and a large meal, then being told the captain wants to go water skiing after lunch. (lol)
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When your boot's laces have more time in service than the member in question...
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I believe at one point, everyone believes they are "old school". We are in a constantly evolving organization. New regs, new technologies, new TTPs, it's always changing. I myself feel old school due to the fact that I came in wearing BDU's and carried an M16 during my first tour. But during that time, I heard the "old timers" talking about wearing OD's and shooting grease guns. In summary, old school is truly subjective.
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MSG John Wirts
Yes it is, I wore Khaki's both long sleeve with tie and short sleeve with out tie, AG44 wool Green uniform with tan poplin shirt, and Fatigue (pickle suit) work uniform. I was trained on the M-1 garand, and rifle grenades, when I got to Germany we were using M-14's and rifle grenades. When I went to The Air Guard it was M-1 carbines and S&W Combat Special. I've been accused of starting in the Roman Legion!
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Here's another 'old school' reference point: when you are still on active duty and NCOs are young enough to be your kids!
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MSG John Wirts
P{ity the poor Air Force, one of their main bombers has the distinction of being one of the only plane still in use that has been piloted by the original pilots,, their sons, their grandsons, and I believe some great grandsons and great granddaughters. This bomber is the venerable B-52 first acquired in 1954.
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If you've been around long enough to retire, but aren't smart enough to do so because you really are not quite sure what you would do otherwise.
If your Company Commander was born after you enlisted.
If you walk into the drill shed of a field artillery unit and have to pick your jaw up from the floor when your old driver, who is now a laucher chief introduces you to his new female driver (who happens to also be younger than your daughter).
If your Company Commander was born after you enlisted.
If you walk into the drill shed of a field artillery unit and have to pick your jaw up from the floor when your old driver, who is now a laucher chief introduces you to his new female driver (who happens to also be younger than your daughter).
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CSM Christopher St. Cyr
Dog tags much older, some poly pro. I found a woodland camo cap (with ear flaps) the other day that had SSG rank on it!
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When a 18 or 19 year old PFC with less than 18 months time in service says, "the Army needs to go back to old school way of doing things" I chuckle because that private doesn't know what he or she is talking about. lol
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MSG John Wirts
I remember when discipline could be arranged by a platoon blanket party! Everyone in today's Army would be appalled at the mere thought of such an event.
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Old School...Before the Gender trap before the word Gay was used, when TI's could take you out back and whoop your ass and yell at you. You didn't have a Time Out, card when they hurt your feelings (there were no feelings in Basic Training), you were in, or you were out. You had an old Green wool blanket that made every one itch, and a old metal POC locker to hang your clothes in (Called the Brown Shoe Days). Everyone wasn't called a Hero like today. The word has been taken out of context now. Old School, when AF had 1505's (Tan Uniform). The B-52 (BUFF) was still a new weapon. There were no Camo BDU's and just plain green work uniforms (couldn't tell us apart from the Army) and white T shirts. All of our TO's came from the Army. Eating C-Rations. There were no battery operated hand drills, or saws, pocket calculators, cell phones or computers. Remember having punch cards. I think we trained with Old WWII helmets, with the liner inside. I was born in 1953, delayed enlistment in 1971, in basic 1972, retired 1992.
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MSG John Wirts
I distinctly remember one canteen and cup I was issued had a 1918 date on the bottom, all helmets were WWII style and most were WWII veterans as were some of our M1 Garands. You talk about 1505's how about 505's? I remember some military wives talking about when there was a short pants version of the 505 uniform which had very loose legs. The wife whose husband was exposed was called to the kitchen and asked to have her husband sit properly so as not to expose himself.
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-Where soldiers executed their directives (lawful) with a 'Moving SGT ' and didnt as 21 question.
-Where in-ranks inspections were thr norm.
-The E-4 Mafia policed up the soldiers before the NCOs got wind of it.
-Wall-to-wall counselings.....(I know....Im reaching....lol)
-Sundays were dedicated to shining boots and ironing uniforms.
-If you used Sta-Flo versus regular starch.
-Melted fishing line in your uniforms to make a permanent crease.
-Where in-ranks inspections were thr norm.
-The E-4 Mafia policed up the soldiers before the NCOs got wind of it.
-Wall-to-wall counselings.....(I know....Im reaching....lol)
-Sundays were dedicated to shining boots and ironing uniforms.
-If you used Sta-Flo versus regular starch.
-Melted fishing line in your uniforms to make a permanent crease.
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SSG Christopher Parrish
I find it funny I read your list this morning. Just this past weekend at Guard drill, I caught a WO1 off guard when he called for me from down the hall and I yelled out "moving sir". He is one of the more relaxed WO and looked at me and said "Don't do that".
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If you wore a white tee-shirt, fatigue pants, and your combat boots to complete your PT test.
If you ever had to do the Run, Dodge, and Jump and the horizontal ladder as part of the PT test.
A 2-mile run in boots, pants, and a tee-shirt in 12:30 as a young 18 year-old. Wow, I wish I had that back! lol
If you ever had to do the Run, Dodge, and Jump and the horizontal ladder as part of the PT test.
A 2-mile run in boots, pants, and a tee-shirt in 12:30 as a young 18 year-old. Wow, I wish I had that back! lol
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SFC Kenneth Hunnell
Chief Almsick,
I did all of that except for the Run, Dodge, and Jump and the horizontal ladder as part of the PT test.
Not to kill your run time, but mine was 11:59. I wanted to get it over
I did all of that except for the Run, Dodge, and Jump and the horizontal ladder as part of the PT test.
Not to kill your run time, but mine was 11:59. I wanted to get it over
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A combat patch from any conflict before the GWOT. Bonus "old school" points for multiple deployments without earning a star on your CIB.
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