Posted on Aug 17, 2016
When did the military lose the art of smoking bags?
15.2K
54
45
8
8
0
When I came in Soldiers made mistakes and we were corrected by the judicious use of smoking bags aka lots of PT. As time wore on, there was less and less of this done and many excuses given by DS, DI's, NCO'S and as to the merits of new methods of corrective training. I'm asking ALL former DS/DI's and leaders as a whole, should we go back to doing it within guidance or forget it ever happened?
Discipline
Soldiers
00G: Drill Sergeant
Training Soldiers
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
1
1
0
It was around the early 2000's. I joined in 97 and we still had smoke sessions. We may all learn in different ways but the smoke session is a universal language. In the end and this is my personal opinion we have gotten soft. Now taking money from a service member is now the way to get there attention. The only issue with that is now you are hurting the whole family..
(1)
(0)
SSG Warren Swan
Good point Sir, but in defense of the unit and you, shouldn't the SM have thought about his actions before this. I'm noticing actions taken by SCNCO's that were once the domain of the lower enlisted. Showing up late from leave was a junior enlisted thing for sure. In this case, the SM is getting what he deserves. I've seen SNCO's smoked as I was being yelled away unless I wanted to join them, but is there a "cut" line for offenses? With an Art 15, you have all three, can you take away one and leave the others? Smoke sessions where everyone knows its you are the worst.
(0)
(0)
MAJ (Join to see)
I was an E-1 in '99 at Jackson: I have solid memories of stealing a glance (pushups are, of course, to be done "eyes-front", but it wasn't a long glance) from the Leaning Rest between the bunks at our DS tilted back in his chair as he called the cadence. Oh, yes: as much smoking and chewing as we got, you could have rolled us all for fine cigars!
(0)
(0)
1
1
0
I'd say about the early to mid '90's. Started getting some whiners in.
(1)
(0)
SSG Warren Swan
Got me thinking . I came in in 94. Whiners? I NEVER was able to whine when someone NCO was doing front, back, goes. Mule Kicks? Yup. Push ups..depends on speed. ANY corrective exercise with 1SG or the PSG there? HELLS NAW. I've had a few "do I want to go and talk about this in private", but I knew what they were, I KNEW I'd loose when ALL the SFC's get up to leave, but I knew and believed ONE THING, in loosing I was winning. Not that I would EVER snitch on them...to much damn respect, but for a NCO who is nowhere NEAR retirement to be willing to give his stripes and career up for you means they believe in you...or you are on HELL of a fuck up.
(0)
(0)
SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth
SSG Warren Swan - did you ever have someone in basic wearing the timeout card? Saw several of them when doing some training at Ft. Knox.
(0)
(0)
MAJ (Join to see)
I never saw anything such: Jackson in '99. The nearest I saw was a detested DS (from 1st platoon) get busted a rank and kicked off the trail for-- apparently, as I didn't witness the case and this was the story that reached us-- defying an LT's order to let soldiers hydrate at or possibly after the Confidence Course. We were nearly done with the cycle and it was early August.
(0)
(0)
SGT Armando Nunez
That's why we.need to give character & psychological testing during MEPS, so those who join.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Smoking bags is necessary and helped me. In Ranger Bat 3/75 one was rough. The " Qualify " one might seem harsh but made a Ranger a Ranger. Take your boots off and shinny up a Pine and rotate so head is down and feet up towards the sky. You hang on for dear life but gravity makes you slide down. As your face gets towards the dirt two jungle boots show up in your vision and when your face touches dirt you get a boot upside the head! You learn how to shinny back up that tree in reverse, blood pouring off your forearms and feet. And you stay there amazed its possible to defy gravity.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
PT was for punishment, to kill time, to amuse. Our 3D hat looking back was fairly new i suppose, We had about 30 minutes to chow he looked at his watch and simply said Begin. And we did bends and thrusts , mountain climbers for those 30 minutes. No harm done, you can't PT enough I suppose, I wish we were more like the Army, more push-ups and less bends and thrusts. Hell I'd of had 20 inch arms after basic.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
It happens, but it's now "frowned upon." By the regulation physical training can be employed as corrective training, however you're limited to 5 repetitions of an exercise within the PRT program. As we all know PRT is essentially worthless, so this severely limits the effectiveness of said corrective training.
I'll never forget a 1SG relating a story to me about showing up still drunk to PT as a PVT. His squad leader simply asked "Do you want my punishment or the Commander's punishment?". He opted for option #1 and reported to the PT field the following day in full kit. After a smoke session the incident was forgotten about.
I'd rather see a Soldier sweat and fix themselves than potentially end a career with paperwork immediately. Instead we give PVTs Article 15s and then hold it against them when they're SSGs.
I'll never forget a 1SG relating a story to me about showing up still drunk to PT as a PVT. His squad leader simply asked "Do you want my punishment or the Commander's punishment?". He opted for option #1 and reported to the PT field the following day in full kit. After a smoke session the incident was forgotten about.
I'd rather see a Soldier sweat and fix themselves than potentially end a career with paperwork immediately. Instead we give PVTs Article 15s and then hold it against them when they're SSGs.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google