RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Stress card? Call the MP's and two weeks in the motivational platoon at the stockade will fix then right up! Cripes.
Army Seeking Retirees to Come back
- Thread starter richhodg66
- Start date
oscarflytyer
Well-Known Member
Ric - you have no idea! Circa '93/'94/I was a CO of a Language Co (Arabic) at DLI Monterey. When Desert Storm kicked off, there were exactly SIX! (6) Persian Farsi linguists in the entire US Army! I had one of the original as one of my NCOs (E6) during my time as CO. The 'path' for a linguist was Boot, then ~18 mo of language school, THEN and only then (in case they bolo'd the language) did they go to AIT for specialty job training... And the Army was so short... SO we were getting kids straight out of (I THINK, 6 week Boot) that had never passed a PT Test OR ever met height/weight! I am sure the Drills were beside themselves - I know we were when we got the slugs. And they were not motivated at all and didn't want to be there. Saving grace was that BC would help in any way possible to Chapter them out/send them home.
Then, the Stress Card started showing up! All they had to do was show us the card if they were getting over-whelmed or 'stressed.' I made it known to all my NCOs (and to the CO via my loud carrying voice during morning formation, through my open window) that if anyone showed me a stress card, I would eat it on the spot! I had a bit of a reputation, and was apparently believed - I never saw a card!
I will say, to Leadership's credit - we had the Intel School CG visit 6 mo later. Our BC set up a meeting with him and the COs. We, as one, told the CG the problem and PLEASE stop sending us CAT 4's that couldn't pass height/weight/PT Test. Within about 4 weeks - we didn't see any more of that nonsense. First and only time in my 11 yrs that I ever saw bottom up feedback work, and work fast! I wish I could remember the CG's name - I would send him a Christmas card!
Then, the Stress Card started showing up! All they had to do was show us the card if they were getting over-whelmed or 'stressed.' I made it known to all my NCOs (and to the CO via my loud carrying voice during morning formation, through my open window) that if anyone showed me a stress card, I would eat it on the spot! I had a bit of a reputation, and was apparently believed - I never saw a card!
I will say, to Leadership's credit - we had the Intel School CG visit 6 mo later. Our BC set up a meeting with him and the COs. We, as one, told the CG the problem and PLEASE stop sending us CAT 4's that couldn't pass height/weight/PT Test. Within about 4 weeks - we didn't see any more of that nonsense. First and only time in my 11 yrs that I ever saw bottom up feedback work, and work fast! I wish I could remember the CG's name - I would send him a Christmas card!
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
DLI! Made a man out of my son, 1989/1990. Eight weeks of Basic at Ft Gordon, or what ever they changed the name to, then four weeks Jump school at Ft Benning, or what ever they call it now. Then 50 weeks at DLI for Russian school. At the end of the term, he was second behind a West Point graduate but ahead of an Annapolis graduate and two State Department guys. Then to Ft Huachuca for interrogator AIT.
He never did the regular PT because he aced all the PT tests. Only because he did his workouts with a SFC SF guy who was in his class and taught him how to run and stay fit. Finished his enlistment with the 82nd Airborne at Ft Bragg, or what ever they call it now.
He always said that he knew he could do anything he wanted in life after leaving DLI. So he goes to college, Villanova for a JD and Pennsylvania School of Medicine for a MS in Psychology. We both owe it to the challenges of the Army.
He never did the regular PT because he aced all the PT tests. Only because he did his workouts with a SFC SF guy who was in his class and taught him how to run and stay fit. Finished his enlistment with the 82nd Airborne at Ft Bragg, or what ever they call it now.
He always said that he knew he could do anything he wanted in life after leaving DLI. So he goes to college, Villanova for a JD and Pennsylvania School of Medicine for a MS in Psychology. We both owe it to the challenges of the Army.
richhodg66
Well-Known Member
Not sure how retiring after 24 years equates to being kicked out, but whatever.
richhodg66
Well-Known Member
One of my Cadets joined the Guard under that split option thing (I didn't know they were still doing it) went to basic training over the Summer between her Junior and Senior year. She's a pretty sharp kid. When I asked her how basic was, she kinda shrugged and said a lot easier than she thought it would be.
She wants to transfer to the active force when she graduates in a couple of months. I hope she can, but it's not as easy to do that as it was for a while.
She wants to transfer to the active force when she graduates in a couple of months. I hope she can, but it's not as easy to do that as it was for a while.
oscarflytyer
Well-Known Member
Ric - your son and I may have crossed paths. I took the Arabic Co Dec 1990. He might remember LTC Lessor - an 82nd guy that was the BC. I can't recall who the Russian Co CO was near the end of his time, but would prob recall if I heard the name.
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
We’ll ask him next weekend.
dannyd
Well-Known Member
I was a active duty Navy chief for 9 years and the Navy was thinking of something like this until the subject of a fire or flooding on the ship was brought up.
Unfortunately the individual would be under a great deal of stress, but pulling a card would be useless, so the plan was dropped.
dannyd
Well-Known Member
Never had a guy that couldn't fit through a scuttle because we had smaller openings on aircraft that they had to fit through.
oscarflytyer
Well-Known Member
I was a active duty Navy chief for 9 years and the Navy was thinking of something like this until the subject of a fire or flooding on the ship was brought up.
Unfortunately the individual would be under a great deal of stress, but pulling a card would be useless, so the plan was dropped.
Damned Lucky!
Wiresguy
Active Member
I joined in 1966 and as a seaman, I wondered why some of the Chiefs were such hard a$$es. It wasn't until later that I realized some of these guys had been in during WWII and were finishing up their careers. Pretty much at the end of the "Rocks and Shoals" events down in the bosun locker to settle any question of who was in charge.
462
California's Central Coast Amid The Insanity
In '67 as an Airman Basic, at Amarillo Air Force Base, and in '68 as an E-4, at Phan Rang Air Base, Viet Nam, I learned more from my DI MSGT Prokop and line chief MSGT Volk than any other men in my live, save my father.
I think Prokop was an Army airborne retread, he was the only Air Force guy I ever saw who wore Corcoran boots. And, yes, they were highly polished.
I think Prokop was an Army airborne retread, he was the only Air Force guy I ever saw who wore Corcoran boots. And, yes, they were highly polished.
dannyd
Well-Known Member
My first barracks Chief in A school was at Midway in 42, he was a retread of retreads. Same age has my old man, so it was almost like living at the house again because all he did was tell us how much we sucked.
oscarflytyer
Well-Known Member
^^^ funny! My youngest said Basic was easy. It was just like living with me!
Monochrome
Active Member
when i was doing my basic at benning in 08 i had the misfortune? of having a pair of complete misfits for DI.. seriously inept and stupid. When week 6 rolled around, we were still doing the official week 3 things. Everyone else was at week 6. Oddly, once i was in outprocessing for a health issue, those two idiots got replaced with a DI who had done 20 years as a marine before retreading in as an army DI for 4 years.
johnnyjr
Well-Known Member
Told me I was to old.. 74..