I can relate to all of this stuff. After 22 years I still eat too fast, check the gig line (Even in civvies) swear with the best of them (but can turn it off when it isnt called for) and heres one I havent seen posted yet... I take my hat off indoors. It aggrivates the hell out of me when I am out and about and see somebody walk into a store/building and not remove their head gear....go figure. Sir and Ma'am goes a long ways as does please and thank you. I guess uncle sugar did some good for me after all.. Good thread. Keep it going. "Q"

Keep the thread going huh? This could become embarrassing...

Let's see; I spent most of my time in service as a USAF Security Policeman. We never removed our berets indoors - SP's DO NOT do such a thing! So, it really doesn't bother me too much to see it in civilian circles. Problem is, SP's are charged with enforcement of AFR 35-10 - Uniform Dress Policy, so habits of looking at what people are wearing is really difficult to break even today. Imagine walking on the Wharf in San Francisco or down a street in Berkeley and NOT looking...

I still wear shirt garter straps - since most of my jobs since leaving the military were business dress. I can't stand the "duffle-bag" look of unfitted shirts and pants that haven't been cut and fitted properly. Neurotic in the extreme - but I am learning to really like sandals and sweatsuits...

Also, SP's don't wear tie ties. Clip-ons are order of the day, unless, you really want to put your life in jeopardy and give a suspect being detained a great handle to choke you out. I never learned how to actually tie a tie growing up - Mom and Dad had long since divorced when I came of age to know what a tie was. I actually had to learn when I left the military - reading an encyclopedia. After all this time, wearing the stupid things everyday, I still recoil a little bit when I put one on...

Gunnie

Fast eater - check
POV gas thing - check
Coffee drinking - check
Punctuality - check
Shined shoes - check

I do all of these and yet, have never been in the military. What do you think this means? Could it be a past life thing?

Hand signals to the Mrs.... Keeps me from having to repeat myself.

The more I read, the more I see of these things in myself and never realized. The gasoline level and PMCS on my POV really hit home. Same with the hair cuts. Punctuality, respect for rank and elders... just about everything. I would also say that most of my veteran friends are the same way. When we are together, we usually end up in step without a doubt.

Ha!!

I'm slowly turning into a hippie now. I'm letting my hair grow and I have a goatee. It's odd considering that I was in the Army for 8 years.

I have many of the same habits that have already been mentioned and the very annoying "Sir" and "Ma'am" but I explain it that I'm used to looking for name tags on uniforms and I shouldn't stare at a female's chest for her name, so I just say "ma'am. They understand.

had to learn to stop asking for NATO in my coffee in civ div as no one knew unless they'd been in the forces BTW it means milk and 2 sugars

I joined the military at 17 so I sent the better part of my teen life in uniform. After 27 years I have no bad habits only Military ones. Like Gunnie I was a Security Policeman and then later A DOD cop. I transfered to the Air Force in 1972 from the US Army. I ended up a Shift commander and spent my time looking after my troops. Gig lines, shined boots and shoes clean and proper uniform etc were the order of the day. Funny thing about the shirt garters. I still have a pair of them, have not worn them in years. I am somewhat a Hippie my self today. My hair is longer and I have a full beard. This is mainly because I can now. After spending almost my entire life in a "glass house" I can now be the Animal that has been kept locked up inside me for all those years

The Air Force has a uniform policy??? When I was on detail for loading aircraft at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, we soldiers were always amazed at the variety of stuff the wingnuts called a "uniform." It was nearly impossible to find two of them dressed the same. Except the SPs, of course ...

What about wearing hats? I rarely wore a hat before I was in the service -- now, I still really feel strange going outdoors "uncovered." Also, I come to the position of attention whenever I hear the National Anthem or the colors pass by (of course, the hat comes off then, too.).

I hate hats and I am not a morning person. From the aspect of those two issues, I have picked the wrong career field. But, there are many soldiers who have fallen on the field of battle, died in training accidents, etc. who would love to have another chance to put a hat on or cuss the alarm clock at 0400. So, each day I do it for them with no complaint.

Well, when I went in in 1972, I was a hippie. My hair was down in between my shoulder blades and after all of us got our hair cut at 0400, there was quite a pile! I was lucky in that I actually had a head left after that buzz!

After 12 years in and achieving the rank of SSG, I maybe cut my hair six times a year now. Winters I don't shave. (Still being neat in appearance.) Maybe the shaving bit is due to those ice cold water or dry shaves with razor blades in the winter wonderlands of Germany.

I am still 'squared away' IMHO.

I guess that there are civilian habits that are never forgotten as well... once a hippie, always a hippie:(

Well all this talk about Hippies has made me feel I have to come clean (no pun).

My transition from the Army back to civilian life was really easy as for my last two years in the Army I was on civiilian clothing status, thank you all tax payers, $600 a month to maintain my wardrode, had a "Beetle haircut", worked with more civilians than military personnel, and lived on the economy, in Berlin ( yes I do, or a least could speak German rather well). Not bad duty. Those were the good old days. Used to love reporting for pay in my double breasted twead jacket and turtle neck, "needing a haircut". I brought most of the clothes home as all I had to turn in was my military issue, or at least what I could find of it. They wouldn't let me keep the car though, dang. Nice little BMW 2002 (model not year).:-)

At my E-6 promotion board, a snappy new second Lewy ask my where I worked, I told him "I can't tell you, Sir". Luckily my OPS officer (a Major) was on the board and leaned forward, looked at him and said, "That's right, you don't have a need to know that". Even the CO, a Full Bird, got a chuckle out of that. I got the promotion by the way. Oh that was the life, almost 40 years ago now. It was fun pretending to be James Bond.

The "Cold War" made for some strange duty. Wish I could afored to live like that now.

P.S. What ever you're thinking, no it wasn't that. Nothing so grand. Just a way to spend taxpayer money and make a young GI feel really great.

Well I still keep my hair short After getting out of AF i let my hair growout,but it felt to uncomfortable

The coffee thing I did not care for military coffee I thought it was waaaaaaaaaaaaaay to strong Took me awhile before I could drink coffee again

Of course some of this truck stop coffee puts military coffee to shame

Great thread. I, too, still do many of the things mentioned so far. I'm teaching my youngest daughter the benefits of tucking in her shoe laces...

Darned RCR, giving the rest of us a bad name. Just kidding, I still "march" when walking, and heaven forbid that the hair touches the ears or collar, and for some reason I still like corned beef hash like used to be in the old IRPs.

Gig-line, shoeshine, hair cut every 2 weeks......I wear my uniform at work the same as in the military clean, pressed and properly even after being out almost 20 years now

No cover indoors, take it off to eat, everyone is sir or ma'm, personal area always squared away etc, etc, etc. :-)

Where to start, where to start... lemme see, haircut every 1-2 weeks (and we're talking high and tight here), shined boots, ironed uniform (no starch though, it burns...); Always check the gig line, collar ornaments 1 inch up and centered...I'm a huge caffiene addict although I have cut down somewhat, and I still use some of my old drill sgt.'s whiticisms, i.e. "You're burning daylight!" or the ever popular "It's perfectly all right with me IF YO MOVE A LITTLE FASTER!" Yeah, I got it bad...

I didn’t realize I had any until I read this thread:

Still march (heel first)
Hate young (ish) people who crawl along / dawdle (understand the older folks)
Always walk to the left side of passages and stairs
Still hate civilian disorganisation especially shops / malls etc… (get what you want and leave)
As you say gig line still there (even with the ever spreading girth)
Clothes neat and always ironed, wife stopped ironing my clothes years ago (slowing down on the jeans and T-shirts, to wife and kids relief)
Inhale food
Drink way too much coffee
Clothing in cupboard is still arranged (Jackets then Long Sleeves then Short Sleeves and then trousers) and Folded T-shirts, polo shirts together, then shorts etc… underwear and socks still rolled up the same way.
Still say Sir and ma’am
Still find it very difficult to use the first name of a senior officer (Even Sabot’s)
Still able to fall asleep anywhere etc…
Car never under quarter tank

Ones I haven’t seen in the post.
Talk about clicks not kilometres.
Still point with my hand not finger
Drive with thumbs toward outside of (not clutching) the steering wheel.
Still balance on the balls (front) of my feet when standing.
Stand to attention when I hear the Anthem / Last Post or when a laden hearse passes by.

How do you field strip a cigarette?

I'm asking this out of curiosity....yeah.....curiosity...

Wow, I thought I was nuts. I was in the Army '65-'68, and still always check my gig line! Guess old habits DO die hard. Also, some old 'Nam expressions still find their way into my vocabulary

Field stripping a cigarette- tear the paper off the butt, shake whatever tobacco is left into the wind, roll the paper into a tiny ball, and if no one is looking, toss it into the wind also. (or else, put it in your pocket)

I was reminded of another military habit today at work. I'm a television news photographer and part of my duties involves flying in the station's helicopter and operating the stabilized camera. With the headset on and boom mic in front of my face, I usually revert to "TC Mode" when talking to the station on the radio and telling the pilot where to go over the intercom. Then again, whenever I'm talking to the station on the Nextel in a stressful situation, my speech reverts back to "TC Mode".

Gig Line ------ Guilty and in tact
Shoelaces left over right -----Guilty
Coffee a must
High and tight is there another style???

Fast eater ---- yes, but I still eat some foods cold. It somhow tastes better to me I guess it is from all the hotmeals we used to get in the field.

I can only sleep 4 hours at a time. Matters not when I fall asleep or what time. Once 4 hours hits its up and at 'em

When talking with someone casually while standing. I find myself at parade rest. My wife pointed this one out to me and hey she was right.

When walking in public with the wife I also have to be on the left. One pace behind her and in step.

Yeah I know it is weird but i do this without even thinking about it.

She thinks its cute but also says they way I walk/march I am easier to find in the mall or store if she is looking for me.

Paul

Wow, I never realized how ingrained these things become! I thought I was probably the only one who still worried about a gig line! I'll agree with the rest also:

-Eat too fast
-(Used to) Smoke
-COFFEE!!!!
-Cannot abide a mess
-Cannot abide not having a plan, it can change, and often does, but let's at least have a plan!
-Cannot stand to leave things undone

I jusr came home from a reserve activation, needless to say, some of the same habits I retained when I got off active duty six years ago are still around.

I wake, EVERY MORNING at 5:15, regardless of when I have to get out of bed. I also keep my hair very short. I'm a bit of a neat freak, can't stand stuff being out of place. Suffice to say, I drive my girlfriend and others crazy.

You know, people around me STILL don't know what "ate up" means. Jeez.

I was getting dressed for my little sister's funeral and had my suit set up like my Class A's when my wife chided me that my brush shined shoes were "good enough".

I was at a loss. Leather should be spit shined. I spit shined my shoes for her father's funeral.

However, I was the only black suit with a patch of camo pattern on the hankey in the jacket. Not that it mattered to my sister. She would have understood.