An Army of One???

Question

I had to sit down recently and think about the new slogan for today's Army. Not counting the war we are currently fighting, I don't think that the change in the slogan makes the US Army seem any better. Let alone, with the way soldiers are entering nowadays. Basic Training and AIT soldiers are taking over DS' (which I think is total BS). Being more lenient on a soldier and pushing them through without passing the Army's PT standards. I'd have to say that the new slogan is just mocking what today's modern Army is becoming. I don't mean to offend anybody who currently is still serving because I myself am still serving. I would like to know what is on other peoples minds pertaining to the new slogan and their opinions on IET soldiers going through training.

Answer 1

Take note: not everyone has it easy in basic training and AIT these days. Initial training is becoming easier for some, it largely depends on your MOS, but there are good reasons for this. Also note that during times of war, training and standards tend to become lax - and this has been present throughout history. Hell, how about in WWII where basically all they did was hand you a rifle and tell you how to shoot it. You're not one for tradition, are you?

EDIT: In reply to previous poster: The "Army Strong" slogan was actually a big hit within the Army. Check out the articles in the Stars & Stripes and Army Times. Also check out the new Army Strong promotional video. I'd say 9 out of 10 soldiers in my unit think it was a good change as well.

Answer 2

I question where you're view of current IET comes from.

PT standards have not changed, nor adherance to them.

Drill Sergeants have the saem authority they have always had, it's just executed differently.

Army of One: I never had a problem with Army of One. I also don't think a slogan can affect camraderie. I'd think less of anyone who allowed it to.

Grammar: As for grammar, it's a descriptive, not an exclamation and far from unprecidented. Dogde Trucks are Ram Tough. West Texas fences have to be horse high, hog tight and bull strong.

Advertising: For what it's worth, the slogan could be "Join the Army." It matters not a whit to my carreer, my self-image as a Soldier, or as a person. If it affects how someone else sees me and my fellows, that's a reflection on them, not us.

Be All You Can Be: As successful as "Be all you can be," was, it was starting to slip when it was replaced and Army of One was similarly successful. Hard to argue with what works. That'll be my metric for this one as well.

Cost: We have an All Volunteer Force. It'd be great if new recruits were always beating a path to the recruiter's doors, but the simple truth is that some persuasion is necessary to keep the rolls full.

For those who haven't seen it here's the initial presentation of the Army Strong campaign: http://blip.tv/file/85752

Answer 3

As of November 9 our slogan is "Army Strong"

They spend millions of dollars making a mockary of the Army with it's tackless slogans. Be all you can be. Army of One and now Army Strong....are you strong or Army Strong... Spend that money elsewhere....like the correction the current situations...

Ii is common opinion with the soldiers I have spoken with on a regular basis that 9 out of 10 hate this slogan as well as the previous ones.

Answer 4

I thought it was a goofy slogan to begin with. The army is an organization that lives and dies on team work. "Army of One" seems to fly in the face of that creed.

BTW your comments on the rush through Basic training and AIT are true. However, it is a wartime Army and does not have the luxury of an extended BT/AIT when I went through in the mid-eighties. The Army did the same thing during WW2, Korea, and Vietnam, i.e. shortened basic training and AIT would actually have been on the job training with your unit.

Answer 5

Agreed after reading your statement. But the Army has/had nothing on the US Navy when I signed up. I got a t-shirt that read: Go Hard, or Go Home. Maybe not the best slogan to be used for a Military branch filled with same s*x jokes. Not that in any way many of the brave sailors are that way. But, we do catch alot of flak.

Answer 6

I never like the slogan. I thought it took away from what was really happening which is great team work. The slogans used are for advertising and recruiting purposes to draw new interests.

Answer 7

Army of One isnt the slogan anymore. It has been phased out and the new slogan is ARMY STRONG

Answer 8

as soon as it come out i thought it was silly, im in the air force and ours isnt much better though Air Force no one comes close i really dont like that slogan either

Answer 9

I personally don't like it. Teamwork is the basic building block of military operations. Like we say, "There is no me in team."