Posted on Jul 28, 2015
How has your branch of service changed while you served or are serving?
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Posted >1 y ago
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USAF has been carried along the liberal blowing winds of US society at large. I see better IT skills and lower fitness, better inclusivity and less celebration of exceptional performance. I see a great deal more time and money and training spent to ensure no one is ever offended. I see less emphasis on determination and resolve to get the job done no matter what.
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TSgt David L.
That pretty well sums it up Col Joseph Lenertz. I don't know how far back you go, but once Gen. McPeak opened the flood gates of change, we've had nothing but. It's almost embarrassing as an enlisted person and all we see in the PFE is "who changed what. Very sad to me.
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Constantly evolving. I saw LOTS of little changes which would make the service appear massively different over the several combined years.
Shortly after I joined, women started going to MCT. The female PFT standard was modified to include a 3 mile run (increased from 1.5). About two years in, we switched removed "Momentum Assisted" Pull-up/Chin-ups (increasing the difficulty).
We swapped from the Entry Level KD (5 point system) to the Hit/Miss Qualification Course for Rifle.
We swapped gear incrementally to the point where if you look at the stuff we were wearing in 1990 to the stuff wore in 2000, it was just a completely different set. From 2000 to 2010, there additional changes, and it's like just crazy to think we ever wore stuff like that.
And then we get into technology. I came in when when we still took "typing" tests (min 40wpm), and there was 1 computer per shop, and maybe 2 dozen in the battalion. Email was a luxury, as opposed to a necessity. When I got out, we had ruggedized laptops mounted in HMMWVs which allowed Platoon Commanders to see a near realtime image of the battlespace.
The changes were little, but constant. Some didn't seem like they would be a big deal at the time, while others ended up having massive effects or were building blocks for other things, like MARPAT.
Shortly after I joined, women started going to MCT. The female PFT standard was modified to include a 3 mile run (increased from 1.5). About two years in, we switched removed "Momentum Assisted" Pull-up/Chin-ups (increasing the difficulty).
We swapped from the Entry Level KD (5 point system) to the Hit/Miss Qualification Course for Rifle.
We swapped gear incrementally to the point where if you look at the stuff we were wearing in 1990 to the stuff wore in 2000, it was just a completely different set. From 2000 to 2010, there additional changes, and it's like just crazy to think we ever wore stuff like that.
And then we get into technology. I came in when when we still took "typing" tests (min 40wpm), and there was 1 computer per shop, and maybe 2 dozen in the battalion. Email was a luxury, as opposed to a necessity. When I got out, we had ruggedized laptops mounted in HMMWVs which allowed Platoon Commanders to see a near realtime image of the battlespace.
The changes were little, but constant. Some didn't seem like they would be a big deal at the time, while others ended up having massive effects or were building blocks for other things, like MARPAT.
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SCPO David Lockwood
Navy has changed so much that is almost a completely different navy. I joined in 1982 and we had no women aboard ships with the exception of the training carrier USS Lexington, my first ship, now women are allowed not only to serve aboard ships but in combat roles. Many rates have been combined into one. Went from standing in line to get paid to DD and ATMs aboard ship. Went from writing letters (Does anyone know how to do that any more?) home and wait for weeks to receive a response and then the letters you received were not in order they were written to email. I think you get the picture.
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LT (Join to see)
Being a Senior Chief, how do you feel the role of Chief has changed? Also curious your thoughts on the integration and interactions between enlisted/chief/officer over the years.
Thanks!
Thanks!
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