Where Did Standards Go?

[jmsenk]

Back in my day...
Back when the Army was tough...
Before the black beret...
Back when we wore BDU's...
Back when we had to shine boots...
The Corps has...
Back in 'Nam...
When we were training to fight the Soviets...

I have heard them all, and even used a few myself. My biggest issue has been the disparity in standards between units. Like how can some soldiers get away with acting a certain way when I would crucify some of my Paratroopers for even thinking about it. Before anyone gets too bent out of shape about this whole New Military vs Old Military thing, just remember, no one will ever be as tough as you used to be, period. And remember, this has been going on for hundreds, if not thousands of years. I leave you with this quote from one of my favorite Authors...

"There is no disdain so complete, as that of the old soldier for the new"

~Rudyard Kipling

[chris]

and the funny thing is that some think that shining boots will bring back that discipline.
i just laugh and ask them to walk in my dirt motor pool and tell me that by the end of the day what color your boots would be.

[Manolito]

Things are different I was in in 66 and we had inspections at the gate. You had to have a liberty card and there was always a chief in front of a full length mirror at the gate. Chief inspected your uniform even the white piping on your sleeves and your shoes had to pass muster you were only allowed to wear dress blues off base. We had a locker club across the street no civvies were allowed on base at the time. I did four and got out as a E5 engineman and I enjoyed my four years and the discipline. I must be really different.
I don't even see shore patrol anymore.

[dalriaden]

Passed the national guard place in Fresno the other day at about 1pm there was a woman walking and talking on her cell phone shirt untucked and hand in pocket. I yelled at her even though I'm no longer AD. /shrug

[himurax13]

So tonight I was going to pick up pizza after work. Pizza place is right next door to a recruiting station.

There's a Petty Officer Second Class standing out front, in uniform. He is not wearing a cover. I "inquire" as to the location of his cover. He thumbs back over his shoulder, says "Inside," then before I could say anything else turns away and makes a call on his cell phone, which is of course being held in his right hand.

Depressing that this is the image that our Navy is holding up for interested members of the public.

Military standards have been deteriorating since the Clinton Era. The government employee standards have deteriorating since, well, umm, since FDR?

[tanksoldier]

and the funny thing is that some think that shining boots will bring back that discipline.

By itself, no... but it is part of a larger package.

i just laugh and ask them to walk in my dirt motor pool and tell me that by the end of the day what color your boots would be.

...and you shine them again that night. You thought it was a 9-5 job, perhaps?

[chris]

Cell phone are now allowed while walking unless you are a Seabee we make our orders more stringent

not in the Army it isn't.

[dalriaden]

By itself, no... but it is part of a larger package.



...and you shine them again that night. You thought it was a 9-5 job, perhaps?

Or have field boots and duty boots like we did before acus. Same for uniforms.

[SGT Loco]

The fact is, if recruiters looked and acted unapproachable- ie; yelling at and smoking prospective recruits, looking all serious and going on about the hours they spend each night shining their boots- there wouldn't be a military, because nobody would want to join.

I think there are a time and place for tight, crisp, professional uniform standards. A combat uniform should not be held to those standards. I'll shine the **** out of my oxfords to wear my blues (and my brass, and my badges, and my flashes, and it will be pressed, etc...)- all my duty boots should need is to be serviceable.

The military is and should be a bastion of personal character. Personal character is not defined by the shine of your boots.

[chris]

Or have field boots and duty boots like we did before acus. Same for uniforms.

i still do that today. i try to tell young Soldiers to do that and they just go "huh?"

[Stanksbeamen]

Maybe it's the standards in basic training/boot camp? The same standards should be followed once they arrive at their first base but lacking NCO's/leadership dont follow/enforce it. Seems like everyone wants to be a friend, it definately wasn't like it is now when I got in/first base.

Maybe its just the new/next generation? Lousy parents? IDK