Old army vs. new army....?

Question

When I was in the army, I had a first seargent say that he was tired of hearing people complain about the new army; there's just the army. There was no such thing as the old army. I know this isn't true, there really is an old army and a new army. When I was in basic, you couldn't get beat up anymore but you could damn sure still get smoked, then when I was on permanent duty I met a private who said they had stress cards, that they could use for a 'time-out'! Whiskey Tango Foxtrot? What I want to know is, when and how did the change occur? Is it going back, I hope?

Answer 1

If you truly hoped the Army would return to days of old, you would have stayed in and changed it.

Answer 2

When I went thru Basic, The Drills use profanity towards the traineees if they screwed up and we had the "permission" to
motivate fellow trainees to get them up to speed.
but, the Drills never got physical with us!
smoked, yes!

My last assignment before retiring from the Army was a Basic Training Post and, yes, I did see the stress cards! Give me a break!

I now live near an AIT Post and see the trainees in the PX during lunch, acting up, no supervision, Take cabs to and from the company area, No police call or KP duties and pretty much the weekends free!

Oh, This Post just took out the Drills for AIT, now they are back to Cadres & Instructors!

I miss running my troops for miles and miles and miles,
and they better no dare drop out of my formation!!!

Answer 3

As a "crusty old" Nam era guy I can state that the training given now is Soooooo much better. Carterism drove me out.

I went into the Reserves after separating. I felt safer in Germany with the nukes just 200 yards away.

The equipment was left over from the Korean adventure, discipline was none existent and there was no real training.

I guess Zachs non answer is a "yes".

SSG US Army 73-82

Answer 4

Years ago I'm told there used to be an (unofficial) wall to wall counseling FM. So I'm told by my superiors and they were absolutely dead serious.

Anyway as for me I had an E-7 punch me in the chest that was a few years ago. While I was in basic our Drill SGT's did stuff like made us kiss their boots when we went down to push. There was also much more physical posturing but never outright pushing or hitting but the threat was there if you know what I mean.

To answer your question I think the new Army came about gradually in the 90's with a lot of the Vietnam era guys slowly retiring. Those crusty "Nam" era guys were the last of a breed!

Answer 5

Its no longer the priority of weapons or technologies and army. in basic terms the blood in vains does remember. I mean to assert Indians are slave and doesnt have any selfrespect and dedication in the direction of their usa India's previous is info of this. on the different hand china replaced into in no way a slave and the blood line is from the wariers they'll easily weigh down bloody coward Indians.

Answer 6

That stress card BS was either a widespread myth, or it was very short-lived. I got the dog-shlt smoked out of me just about every day at BCT, but every person I talk to tries to accuse me of having had stress cards. I was told that it was during the Clinton days, but who knows.

One caveat: We did have a guy that had to go see the phychiatrist, and was diagnosed with clinical depression. He was written a 'No being yelled at' profile, but he was awaiting discharge.

Answer 7

Stress cards do not exist. They are sort of a military urban myth. I worked for TRADOC for 2 years and I know for a fact they never existed. I have heard rumors from Soldiers, Marines, Airmen, and Sailors about basic training sights with them but its all the same BS.

Answer 8

Stress cards are a myth, there have never been such things.

Anyone who says they had them, is lying to you.

There is always the old Army and the new Army.

People who went to basic in 2000, will swear it was harder then, than it is now.

People who went to basic in 1990 will swear it was harder then than it was in 2000.

People who went to basic in 1980 will swear it was harder than it was in 1990.

People who went to basic in 1970 will swear it was harder than it was in 1980.

People who went to basic in 1960 will swear it was harder than it was in 1970.

People who went to basic in 1950 will swear it was harder than it was in 1960.

People who went to basic in 1940 will swear it was harder than it was in 1950.

And people who go to basic in 2250 will swear it was harder than the people who go to basic in 2260 and beyond.

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If you listen to this nonsense,

Back in the 1930's, superman wouldn't have been able to make it thru basic training.

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Yes there are changes in basic training, 18 year olds are different today, than they were in 1960.

So training has to take that into account.

A good example was a comment made by a SAS major about new SAS candiates in the 1970's.

The major said, in the 1950's, we knew the candiates were physically hard enough to make it thru, what they had a hard time with, was learning the technology and all the other things they had to do.

Now, the candiates, know the technology and know they can learn the skills, but we have to prove to them, that they can personally take 10 times more physical punishment, than they ever though they could take.

Answer 9

stress cards how bout a butt chewing instead the military is what it is military. there to defend not pamper the soldiers. our goverment is so afraid of liability. new /old? army nope just my army. the training needs to be as strigent to save your tail during combat. see.... im retired army drill

Answer 10

There is no old or new army because the Army is just the same, only the people became old and must be retired.