Old habits die hard.

[aintgotnun]

What military habits do you still hang on to conscious or subconscious? You might have to think about it.




I still wake up at 05:00 whether I want to or not. No alarm needed
still maintain the “gig line” on my shirt, belt buckle, and trousers
still lace my boots left over right
while walking I still make “crisp” turns either at 90° or 45°
always start off walking with my left foot forward
still curl my fingers and swing 9 and 6 while walking
still use 24 hour time
still use ddmonthyy for dates (13Sep07) that really jacks people up
hang all my clothes in the same direction “dress right” in sections in the closet (this drives my wife nuts)

and last for now that I can think of:
when I’m out target shooting at a non-range (family or friend’s land, etc..) I shout “Is there anyone down range!?” and declare the range to now be “Hot” then shout “Cease fire!”

[RAC]

I still wake up at 05:00 whether I want to or not. No alarm needed
still maintain the “gig line” on my shirt, belt buckle, and trousers
still use ddmonthyy for dates (13Sep07) that really jacks people up


and.

I still spit shine my shoes for work

[aintgotnun]

Originally Posted by RetiredArmyCWO

I still spit shine my shoes for work

I gave up shoe polish.
I now where plain brown boots that I waterprof with mink oil.The leather saddle bags on my scooter shine like their polished though.

[RAC]

I wear shirts and ties, so no "plain stuff" here

[aintgotnun]

Used to have to wear a tie but that got abolished about 5 years ago. And our dress code never did allow for boots of any kind. I'm not giving up my steel or composite toe boots for anyone. I broke a toe once and will never let that happen again. They haven't fired me yet

[RAC]

I work around software engineers and uptight a-holes all day. I'm thinking I better stick with the game plan. Maybe I'll wear some lacy underwear just to know I'm getting away with something.

[aintgotnun]

Originally Posted by RetiredArmyCWO

Maybe I'll wear some lacy underwear just to know I'm getting away with something.

Your wife might not like you raiding her dresser....

[RAC]

[Radio]

I should have joined the Air Force but my parents bounced off all the walls at the mention of the idea. I did take ROTC in high school. These habits remain.

My "gig line" is always straight and I never have my shirt tail out. Even with tee shirts and shorts.

When leaving a meeting, I put my chair neatly under the table.

I say "sir" to lots of people.

I only know how to tie a tie the way Sgt. Couch showed me.

I use the "dd month yy" format for dating anything important, like checks.

I stand "parade rest" when the National Anthem is played.

I think military oxford shoes are pretty comfortable. I actually enjoy shining shoes. (I also like to sharpen knives and polish small metal things. Our silverware looks great!) But I hate doing dishes.

I guess if I had been in the Air Force I would have really been warped!!

Radio

[RAC]

Not exactly sure what standing at parade rest has to do with habits, as the military stands at attention and renders the proper hand salute when it is played.

[aintgotnun]

I also stand at attention while the National Anthem is played, even when at home. It took awhile to stop saluting and to start placing my hand over my heart though. I also have my girls stand at attention while the Anthem is played as well.

Since parade rest came up... I do that while talking with my supervisor and then come to attention and do an about face, right face before leaving his office. He's a vet so he gets it.

I hated shining brass so that wasn't hard to give up. And if the brass is showing on the eyelets of my boots,..... I ran out of M-New a looooong time ago.

[RAC]

ahhh good ole M-Nu. Never did understand what it stood for, but alas, every parade should have a bottle or two. God knows some idiot CSM would have a tizzy if a troopie had brass showing on his web belt. But it was cool to have black sh*t painted all over it and the belt too.

[aintgotnun]

Originally Posted by RetiredArmyCWO

God knows some idiot CSM would have a tizzy if a troopie had brass showing on his web belt. But it was cool to have black sh*t painted all over it and the belt too.

Yup.

[Radio]

Originally Posted by RetiredArmyCWO

Not exactly sure what standing at parade rest has to do with habits, as the military stands at attention and renders the proper hand salute when it is played.

You have to recall that I never was really in the military. And if your at the ball game wearing a team jersey and short pants, standing at "attention" is a little odd. I was taught that only military people in uniform (OK, maybe LEOs as well) should render the hand salute, so I never do that. The POTUS puts his hand over his heart, as he is not in uniform.

The parade rest thing shows respect without calling excess attention to myself...but now that I think about it, the hand over the heart thing is likely more correct. Always do that if the pledge is recited.

I guess the underling habit is, I always make a point to go out of my way to show respect for our flag and our service people and vets.

Thank you for serving.

Radio

[RAC]

Originally Posted by Radio

The parade rest thing shows respect without calling excess attention to myself...

Wow......

I didn't know one had to hide when showing respect for one's country......

[powerboatr]

still use words like

secure
bow
stern
starboard
port
overhead


still get teary eyed at our national anthem
fly my flag proudly

use yes sir to much

when i was a contractor like scuba
i wore a tie, nice shiny shoes, suit and of course the company shirt on fridays


now its shorts, flip flops or sneakers and a t shirt
haircuts.... when i feel shaggy
shaves, touch and go

but i never ever were lacy undies

[RAC]

I still use geedunk and scuttlebutt grom my squid days.

"but i never ever were lacy undies"................. sure you don 't.

[HookMeUp]

still do the "gig" line
still get tapered haircuts
use words like:
deck, overhead, head, scuttlebutt, passageway, hatch, etc ...

I have a co-worker that was in the Navy also, we often talk about deployments and missions using the "jargon", and nobody around has any idea what we are saying to each other.

If the president of the company walks into my office, always stand at attention, blows his mind.

[ForestGump]

I still use quotes such as: It doesn't pass the CS test or We are playing with a nuke round waiting for it to go off in someones a@@

[Hipshot]

Still check the gig line.
Use mam and sir to much on people to young to appreciate what it means, I'm 64.
Still don't walk on the grass except in my yard and camping.
Still pay respect to the flag and the national anthem.
Still get up at 0500.
Still keep the hair short.
Still shave ever day even when camping.
Still have pride in my country, if not in my government.