I retired from the Air Force 25 years ago after serving for 21 years and still address seniors as sir or ma'am. I think we could use a lot more respect like that. Loved the film. And yes, I was an officer.
Unlike you I actually worked for a living…. Inside a steel coffin on the bottom of the ocean. I started using Sir and Ma’am after I got out, and it’s helped ease relationships ever since.
Dad was 30 years. Yep, officer. Cancer prevented me from military service. Went law enforcement and called everyone ma’am and sir. Still do. Doesn’t cost anything and goes a long way. Thank you.
I’m sure you’d be happy to know that in most of the military now that our newest generation of officers want to be liked and customs and courtesies are pretty much nonexistent. I’m in the US Army, and have been for 21 + years now. I spent 13 years an enlisted, crossed over to officer as an E7. I’m now a senior O3. I walk past enlisted and junior officers and NO ONE salutes, including most NCOs, no one one even acknowledges you’re an officer. They’re not much better to their NCOs. When you need to correct a Soldier you tend to get attitude and eventually told to “go f*** yourself!” It’s a new military.
Late in my career, I was walking, in uniform, down a sidewalk near base operations, of a very busy headquarters base (Scott AFB, IL). A brand new 2Lt. was walking my way, with a suitcase in each hand. He had. no. clue. what to do. He WANTED to salute, but he was "encumbered." I stopped him, and informed him politely that "when encumbered, a verbal greeting will suffice." We ended up having a pretty nice conversation on the sidewalk, and I gave him ten minutes of OJT on how a second lieutenant can survive until he figures shit out. He genuinely appreciated it. It was a good moment.
I wasn't born until 1969, but grew up reading my uncle's USAAF manuals from WWII, which showed the same courtesies. Looking at the style, dignity and culture depicted in this film, I long for the 20th century.
This is Barksdale AFB, Bossier City, Louisiana. I lived on the base from 1960 to 1962 as a dependent. I left for California in the summer of 1962 to attend college. The SAC unit was the 4238th Strategic Wing equipped with B-52Fs and KC-135As. In 1963 the unit was designated the 2nd Bomb Wing - and still is with the B-52H. I'm now 79 years old - and wonder how many of you remember the SAC designation: "Strategic Wing"!
Tom, I do recall the designation Strategic Wing. I served in SAC for 9 years launching ICBMs and flying BUFFs. Looking back at 79, those were the good old days.
I remember Barksdale very well! Wednesday nights at the NCO Club was Mongolian Beef night! Had an uncle who flew Buffs there, a step-father who retired there as Master Sergeant, & buddies in the 917th. Great memories!
This film was great. Only spent eight years with the Air Force but made a lot of lifelong friends. 314th Civil Engineering Squadron...."Combat Engineers Carry the Load!"
Ah, flight lunches. When I worked the swing shift on the flightline, usually spending a couple of hours refueling BUFFs, the lunch usually consisted of a piece of cold fried chicken, an apple, buttered bread and a carton of milk. Nothing fancy, but hit the spot. I remember having to pull over in my POV at 1700 while Retreat sounded, and hearing a recording of the anthem played.
When my father was stationed at Tachikawa Air Base in the mid-1960’s (I was in my teens) some wag had scrawled on the stall door of the men’s room in the West Side snack bar, “Flush twice, inflight kitchen 60 feet away.” I never had the opportunity of eating an inflight meal, but those who had, always gave mixed reviews!
They brought them out to us at night. ( In flight meals) Also known as Sac Nasty’s They asked if I wanted to sit in the truck and eat. Great I was new. I put my dog in the back of the truck and ran the leash through the window as school taught us. Later the driver said “Well we better get to the other guys” Saber had been back there with all the other lunches. I don’t think I ever got to sit in that truck again. No complaints from Saber. But he didn’t like the Pickle Loaf or Mystery Meat sandwiches. Remember how everyone seemed to be busy at the office. Until 40 seconds after retreat.!! I grew up with my Dad being in and my Mom so proud of what he was doing. If she could only bring him back. She would have him reenlisted. Even through all of the separations. She loved that man and her family and being an Air Force wife. She still alive 93. Still lives at home on her own. I should have stayed like I had planned.
5:55 ... keeping left of a senior officer goes all the way back to Roman days...you had to protect the non-sword side of your boss, and leave him free to attack using his right handed weapon. MANY years ago, while walking with my Colonel, I moved over to HIS left side, and he asked me why. I told him you never know when a crazy Spartan assassin would show up. He called me an idiot, and laughed. He also wrote, on my official performance evaluation..."Senior Master Sergeant Svitak carries a chainsaw, and gets good results." I loved the guy.
Interesting. I was a KC-135 pilot for many years in the mid 1970s and the first name/last name/rank naming rule in the training film simply did not exist. I called my entire crew by their first names and all but the boom operator who called us...well, I forget...maybe just by rank. As a captain I called all majors and below by their first names if I knew them as friends. Lt Colonels were always sir, regardless friendship. The Strategic Air Command was extremely regimented in most ways, but the formal protocols depicted disappeared by the time I joined. And, the B-52 crew preflighted with Hound Dog missiles under the wings, but somehow lost them prior to takeoff. They would have had to explain this when they landed.
I agree. All the flyers I ever knew from 1988 - 2015 when I retired were always informal for the most part from O1 -O4 with each other in the working environment and on the a/c. O5> was always Sir. Esp. during mission debrief rank was hung at the door when you walked in.
How about when that B-52 was short-stopped at Barksdale AFB when some E-4 noticed they had live nuclear cruise missiles mounted on their wings. They were "accidentally loaded" on the aircraft at Minot. BOGUS! That was Dick Cheney attempting to usurp power and start a nuclear war! Funny how it never got much press....
I was stationed at Cannon AFB, NM from 74 - 76. I remember one night (around 3AM)a 2nd Lt. (USAFA graduate) went through the dorm banging on doors and demanding the people salute him. Long story short, someone call the SP's and he was taken away in cuffs. I never did hear what his problem was.
I was a USAF cop at Sheppard AFB in the 80's. We had a pilot school there for foreign pilots. They had a graduation, and one of the new pilots was caught drunk as hell hanging on to the windshield wipers of a car being driven by another foreign student pilot who was also drunk. I was the shift supervisor, and I let them slide (took them back to their dorms.) In retrospect, I regretted doing that, because if it had been a regular GI that did that, he or she would have been toast. Having said that, I had another fellow who did some similar screw up and was also a student from a foreign (third world dictatorship) country. We busted him, and he was crying swearing that he would be executed if he was kicked out of the program. Not sure what happened to him. No easy decisions.
This brought back some memories....Entered the USAF from 1968 to 72, fresh out of HS. Was 17 & the parents signed for me. Went in the security police career field and was assigned at a SAC base (B-52s) out of basic (DDA). My last very interesting 14 months were spent at Incirlik CDI, Turkey (F4 Phantoms). Don't regret joining .Those 4 years helped me grow up & made me a better person....Those light colored uniforms seen in the video were called 1505s & were very comfortable.
Thanks for your service and your comment! I was wondering about the uniforms (re:1505s) as I was in the USAF 1987-1991 and except for flight suits none of the uniforms were especially comfortable! 🇺🇸
Long before BDUs, the average airman spent most of his work time in fatigues. Believe you would have been in BDUs?.... Forgot to mention our 1970 TDY to Guam in support of Ark-Lite bombing missions . Were supposed to be there 6 months but came back after about 2.5 mos.. I was happy to get back to Dyess AFB as were many others. Seemed like the PCS 1st.SGT. made it his mission to harass TDY people....A lot of good stories came out of that TDY. @@HEDGE1011
My father was the Housing Officer on a series of Air Force bases, including the then Headquarters, US Air Forces, Europe, at Wiesbaden, Germany. He was the civilian equivalent of a full colonel. Housing officers were no joke..organizing housing for many thousands of families.
For sure, visiting your troops in the hospital. You go, and if at all possible your NCOIC/First Sergeant goes with you, at a minimum. Saluted cars with colonel/general rank plates. Another very important courtesy - should someone have a death in the family the unit sends flowers to the funeral home, as appropriate. If someone in the unit passes away the unit will hold their own memorial service. Units also hold "hail and farewell" gatherings for those coming to and leaving the unit.
I dunno but I’m sharing this with my son to find out. He’s an active duty Major in the AF. He’s a very ez going fellow. I imagine some of these protocols would be challenging for him -)
I was AF officer 1963/ 67. (Officer Training School= the cheap way to commission officers even no fire arm training back then) My squadron ( fighter electronics maintenance - 200 enlisted, 4 officers on a poorly reactivated WWII base on Long Island NY) could have used this film. Squadron commander Captain was absent the day I reported in and then took 6 weeks before he realized I was sitting at a desk 5 feet from his office door but had never been assigned a job. In a room full of enlisted, he would call me by my first name and reminded me once that the automatic promotion to 1st LT could be delayed as much as 6 months. That kept me from joining the base wide chip in Promotion party. My 1st LT was not delayed, but when the Capt asked me "When is your party?" I referred to the base party which had already passed. Other than that he never showed any concern for the health and housing of any enlisted or officer. The walls of the enlisted barracks didn't meet by 3 inches and the BOQ heating didn't get some rooms up to 40 degrees F. I took a release from active duty the first chance I could.
When I was a butter bar, my wife came to see me on base and parked in the commander's parking space since it said "general" officer parking, she thought it meant "any" officer parking! I have never run so fast in my life to get to her.
Oops! When I go to the Air Force Museum at WPAFB in Dayton, OH, there is a reserved parking space next to the door for the (4 star) commander of the Air Force Materiel Command. I noticed that compared to all of the other spaces in the lot, it doesn't look like it had been used much. No wear, no oil stain.
I recognized the ceremonial "Retire the Colors" was conducted at Laughlin AFB, San Antonio, Tx. I was stationed at Lackland, AFB, as an MTI. I spent 4.5 years in the USAF, early released to join the USMC for 25.5 years. I still have my USAF and USMC uniforms.
When I was enlisted I bitch about having to salute the few officers we would see in the battalion. When I became an officer I realized that I would have to salute everyone in the Army.
When I was in the '80s base and wing commanders drove what were called white tops. They were a sedan in Air Force blue with the top painted white. Well you were not supposed to salute officers driving in vehicles. The exception was that you better salute the white top.
I finished HS 1983, near Holloman AFB, NM. I completely gave up the USAFA idea the moment dad told me "a couple phone calls" would smooth out any wrinkles". I entered another service, earned my BS, MS and PhD. I literally left home with only the clothes on my back and built everything after BOOT CAMP, yes USMC. Now retired and among mostly civilians, they change really quick once they see how former military address me and the tone changes instantly. They ask about formalities. I answer with "call me Sir when you think I've earned it". I retired after 30 years.
I was on the Command Staff of the US Air Force 3-star, Lt. Gen. Hoerner, during Desert Storm. If you were to salute him outside the building, he would tear you a new asshole. It was a war zone...and snipers LOVE to see who gets saluted first.
I got a lot of laughs from this old video, I was a Sac B-52 Aircraft Commander in the 80’s, our crew protocol was very different then what was displayed in this video, during mission planning and during our fights we were on first name basis (don’t get me wrong, we each respected our individual rank, although we were more relaxed, which allowed for more camaraderie, better communication, and greater success during our missions).
I wonder if this was a change caused by the rise of Crew Resource Management. While rank and protocol is important in military culture, it's deadly on an airplane.
@@jamesholaday2900 Thank you! I never knew what they were called. I was in from 83 to 87 and only saw them in training films similar to this one. I've always thought the blue uniform looks too much like a Greyhound bus driver
Never failed to salute officers.Because there was a lot more of us than them! And of course getting caught when retreat sounded as the catcalls from the barracks proceeded.
We were taught last name only applied to E-1 through E-3, anyone north of that got rank and last name. E-4 Specialist was sort of nebulous, but I did hear "Specialist Webb" a lot more often than just "Webb"
I thought an officer rank required at least a Bachelor's Degree, except in rare cases such as battlefield commissions for enlisted ranks. The lieutenant said he had 2 years of college.
Customs and courtesies are fine and appropriate but I remember people checking their watches when it was close to retreat, and would either hurry to get where they wanted to be or wait until after retreat was over, as they didn't want to be caught outside and have to stand still through the ceremony. I still address people as Ma'am or Sir, regardless of social position (replacing rank) even after being out of the USAF for 25 years. I was an officer, and very rarely called others by first name while on duty, even when protocol allowed.
Rule 1. In book, No Hat, No Salute, the salute is a gesture to removing the hat. Never carry anything in the right hand, keeping it free to salute. Customs Change, both in time and service.
Hi, In the beginning of the section showing the lowering of the flag, the flag was lowed too fast. The procedure is, you raised the flay very quickly, you lower the flag very slowly. Former Air Force.
That's the official line about senior officers addressing their junior officers by last name or by rank when in the presence of enlisted. Then again, I was in the Navy, and later the Army in the early to late '70s up until 1980. I also worked with the active duty Navy and Marine Corps for 22 years, having just retired a few years ago. Of course, the film depicts a different time. Typically, both Navy and Marine Corps officers address both junior officers and enlisted they know and/or work with by their first names or call signs - though usually by first names. Same with civilians. Enlisted personnel that I worked with addressed my by my first name, where as personnel (and junior officers I didn't know) typically addressed me as Mr. Dur. A note on call signs: they're typically reserved for the air wing, though I've known grunts who were called "Granny," and "Cajun Bob," and so on. The vast majority of call signs are less than complimentary. So if you hear of a Colonel whose call sign is "Stroker," there were probably gym socks involved somewhere along the line, not high performance car engines. There was an Air Force officer who got tagged as "KC," or "Killer Chick." Either the 1st Gulf War, or early in the 2nd, her A-10 landed so shot full of holes that it was universally marveled that she was able to fly it at all, never mind land it. You can google her here on youtube.
Saw this same film at Lackland 8n boot camp. Still has the same glaring error in it that it did in 1985. We don’t salute on the flight line because we don’t wear covers on the flight line. The exception to this rule is the salute between the pilot and the crew chief after giving the go ahead to launch.
@@vaopr1012 not when I was in we didn’t. You only salute when you have on your cover, it is forbidden to wear a cover on the flight line with few exceptions, therefore no saluting on the flight line except when you salute the pilot when launching the plane to acknowledge his thumbs up. DCM would have had our ass up at Mt. Home.
Riddle me this. Very end of film the Lt. holds his wife's hand. We were taught (circa 1978) that public displays of affection (PDA) were verboten. And on a SAC base?! So different rules in 60's?
@@kennethsouthard6042 Based on experience I would say that every E-2 and above would have taken the opportunity to point out the errors of the 2dLt's ways.
Some may, some may not. I am sure Lackland and Maxwell still do. Somewhere in the late 2000's there was a push on to again get more squadron involvement in and raise, in at least MAJCOM' CC's eyes, base espirit de corps and morale by getting various base squadrons to perform the retreat ceremony on a rotating basis, as if these organizations were not already heavily overly task saturated enough and spread very thin due to continual deployments during this time in the "War on Terror". Hence, why just the Security Forces cops themselves had been taking care of it for so long.
Thanks for the input. Should be done on a weekly basis; not every day. Course I am thirty years out of uniform and seven years civil service. What really Burns my butt is when the main Base Flagpole is empty; no flag. Thanks for posting.@@macsdaddy3383
Meanwhile, the wife's job is to wait in the car until her husband tells her she can get out. I have no problem with that. I wish we still had the mandatory 2 year service; a lot of people could use it.
@@A166-b7x Thinking this is a good guess. Buildings look like bases in South West (Kelly etc.) but not familiar with any SAC bases down that way....never been to Barksdale so thinking maybe so.
@@A166-b7x Looks like you are right. Old Barksdale AFB postcards match up with two of these buildings. Good catch, I thought it was filmed somewhere in California.
U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force salute indoors uncovered. U.S. Navy and Marine Corps do not salute uncovered indoors, following Naval tradition that likely descended from the Royal Navy. USN / USMC are only covered indoors when on duty under arms, and will render an indoor salute under those conditions. If USN/USMC are serving on board a USA / USAF base, then an uncovered indoor salute to USA/USAF officer can be rendered as a common courtesy, unless standing orders specify otherwise. Likewise, when USA / USAF are aboard a USN/USMC base, they will generally not salute indoors uncovered, following standing Naval tradition UNLESS standing orders specify otherwise.
@@63DW89A At certain joint-service national agencies, depends on the office chief. Ours was a Navy captain and he didn't allow anyone to salute uncovered. Great guy, though, had him be one of the pinners-on for the last promotion.
@@63DW89Aunless it's changed since I got out in 87, you did not salute indoors in the Air Force. The only exception to that was when you were reporting to someone of higher rank like they showed in the video.
@@63DW89Acorrect. 1967 I was a Marine , at DLI West and was an Army instillation. When reporting in to company commander I wast instructed to salute him without a cover. While there we followed all army customs.
The Air Force plays the national anthem at retreat? Very few civilians in a 60s seventies, eighties ever put their hand over the heart for the anthem. I still don't. People in the car should have got out since it's the anthem
my father was a Captain at Langley air force base in Hampton, Virginia in Intelligence, it must have been veitnam and the control my mother had over him, as he soon began molesting his four sons, after the war, and being free from the military he soon began to work in the human trafficing trade, often flying to Riyadh , and bringing more sicko's into our home, I found later, that because he held such a high Intelligence rank that he could not be charged with a civillian crime, so he still walks the street looking for that next chance , that he can be Courteous
What in the world is the procedure when a Trans (lieutenant who just painted his nails) must salute and shake hands with a Trans corporal who is attempting to tuck his genitals to" avoid the bulge " ? THESE ISSUES MUST BE ADDRESSED!
I retired from the Air Force 25 years ago after serving for 21 years and still address seniors as sir or ma'am. I think we could use a lot more respect like that. Loved the film. And yes, I was an officer.
Unlike you I actually worked for a living…. Inside a steel coffin on the bottom of the ocean. I started using Sir and Ma’am after I got out, and it’s helped ease relationships ever since.
Same here, been retired as long, served as long, also a retired officer. Also thought the film was great.
@@robertkb64 Lol!! Get 'em swabby!
Dad was 30 years. Yep, officer. Cancer prevented me from military service. Went law enforcement and called everyone ma’am and sir. Still do. Doesn’t cost anything and goes a long way. Thank you.
I’m sure you’d be happy to know that in most of the military now that our newest generation of officers want to be liked and customs and courtesies are pretty much nonexistent. I’m in the US Army, and have been for 21 + years now. I spent 13 years an enlisted, crossed over to officer as an E7. I’m now a senior O3. I walk past enlisted and junior officers and NO ONE salutes, including most NCOs, no one one even acknowledges you’re an officer. They’re not much better to their NCOs. When you need to correct a Soldier you tend to get attitude and eventually told to “go f*** yourself!” It’s a new military.
It blows my mind that there are B-52 pilots now whose parents weren't even born when their plane was built.
This is the same year my brother was a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force.. thanks for sharing
Late in my career, I was walking, in uniform, down a sidewalk near base operations, of a very busy headquarters base (Scott AFB, IL). A brand new 2Lt. was walking my way, with a suitcase in each hand. He had. no. clue. what to do. He WANTED to salute, but he was "encumbered." I stopped him, and informed him politely that "when encumbered, a verbal greeting will suffice." We ended up having a pretty nice conversation on the sidewalk, and I gave him ten minutes of OJT on how a second lieutenant can survive until he figures shit out. He genuinely appreciated it. It was a good moment.
I wasn't born until 1969, but grew up reading my uncle's USAAF manuals from WWII, which showed the same courtesies. Looking at the style, dignity and culture depicted in this film, I long for the 20th century.
Agree on the dignity and style depicted here. Our culture has certainly taken a turn away from these elements. 😢
This is Barksdale AFB, Bossier City, Louisiana. I lived on the base from 1960 to 1962 as a dependent. I left for California in the summer of 1962 to attend college. The SAC unit was the 4238th Strategic Wing equipped with B-52Fs and KC-135As. In 1963 the unit was designated the 2nd Bomb Wing - and still is with the B-52H. I'm now 79 years old - and wonder how many of you remember the SAC designation: "Strategic Wing"!
Tom, I do recall the designation Strategic Wing. I served in SAC for 9 years launching ICBMs and flying BUFFs. Looking back at 79, those were the good old days.
I was in SAC, 2nd Air Force at K.I. Sawyer AFB ‘64 - ‘68. (OTS Class 54F)
93rd Bomb Wing Castle AFB California ,1977-81, SAC trained killers
I remember Barksdale very well! Wednesday nights at the NCO Club was Mongolian Beef night! Had an uncle who flew Buffs there, a step-father who retired there as Master Sergeant, & buddies in the 917th. Great memories!
My wing, the 92nd Bomb Wing was known then as the Strategic Aerospace Wing due to the Atlas Missile being present!!
This film was great. Only spent eight years with the Air Force but made a lot of lifelong friends. 314th Civil Engineering Squadron...."Combat Engineers Carry the Load!"
That was the quickest appendectomy in the history of modern medicine. 1LT was on his feet in only a day from Dx to tx. Outstanding job !!
Amazing what a few Motrin will do.
Found myself beginning to rise and salute during the flag lowering ceremony. That's what 31 years in the Army will do to you.
Me, too!
I remember watching this at BMTS in 86, slept through most of it of course.
I don't know why. It's spellbinding.
Ah, flight lunches. When I worked the swing shift on the flightline, usually spending a couple of hours refueling BUFFs, the lunch usually consisted of a piece of cold fried chicken, an apple, buttered bread and a carton of milk. Nothing fancy, but hit the spot.
I remember having to pull over in my POV at 1700 while Retreat sounded, and hearing a recording of the anthem played.
When my father was stationed at Tachikawa Air Base in the mid-1960’s (I was in my teens) some wag had scrawled on the stall door of the men’s room in the West Side snack bar, “Flush twice, inflight kitchen 60 feet away.” I never had the opportunity of eating an inflight meal, but those who had, always gave mixed reviews!
They brought them out to us at night. ( In flight meals) Also known as Sac Nasty’s They asked if I wanted to sit in the truck and eat. Great I was new. I put my dog in the back of the truck and ran the leash through the window as school taught us. Later the driver said “Well we better get to the other guys” Saber had been back there with all the other lunches. I don’t think I ever got to sit in that truck again. No complaints from Saber. But he didn’t like the Pickle Loaf or Mystery Meat sandwiches. Remember how everyone seemed to be busy at the office. Until 40 seconds after retreat.!! I grew up with my Dad being in and my Mom so proud of what he was doing. If she could only bring him back. She would have him reenlisted. Even through all of the separations. She loved that man and her family and being an Air Force wife. She still alive 93. Still lives at home on her own. I should have stayed like I had planned.
5:55 ... keeping left of a senior officer goes all the way back to Roman days...you had to protect the non-sword side of your boss, and leave him free to attack using his right handed weapon. MANY years ago, while walking with my Colonel, I moved over to HIS left side, and he asked me why. I told him you never know when a crazy Spartan assassin would show up. He called me an idiot, and laughed. He also wrote, on my official performance evaluation..."Senior Master Sergeant Svitak carries a chainsaw, and gets good results." I loved the guy.
classic to hear the words "old man" in an official publication. these films are cool.
If you can remember all of that then flying and B-52 is a piece of cake.
Interesting. I was a KC-135 pilot for many years in the mid 1970s and the first name/last name/rank naming rule in the training film simply did not exist. I called my entire crew by their first names and all but the boom operator who called us...well, I forget...maybe just by rank. As a captain I called all majors and below by their first names if I knew them as friends. Lt Colonels were always sir, regardless friendship.
The Strategic Air Command was extremely regimented in most ways, but the formal protocols depicted disappeared by the time I joined.
And, the B-52 crew preflighted with Hound Dog missiles under the wings, but somehow lost them prior to takeoff. They would have had to explain this when they landed.
HAHAHA, this is golden stuff...thanks, dude. Your last comment had me rolling on the floor.
I agree. All the flyers I ever knew from 1988 - 2015 when I retired were always informal for the most part from O1 -O4 with each other in the working environment and on the a/c. O5> was always Sir. Esp. during mission debrief rank was hung at the door when you walked in.
🤣🤣🤣.
How about when that B-52 was short-stopped at Barksdale AFB when some E-4 noticed they had live nuclear cruise missiles mounted on their wings. They were "accidentally loaded" on the aircraft at Minot. BOGUS! That was Dick Cheney attempting to usurp power and start a nuclear war! Funny how it never got much press....
@@ashleymarie7452How does your comment fit with the film? ( B-52 alert birds usually armed with nuclear weapons, for obvious reason.)
I was stationed at Cannon AFB, NM from 74 - 76. I remember one night (around 3AM)a 2nd Lt. (USAFA graduate) went through the dorm banging on doors and demanding the people salute him. Long story short, someone call the SP's and he was taken away in cuffs. I never did hear what his problem was.
Ethanol.
@@MichaelKingsfordGray Guaranteed!!!!
He was probably handing out towels at the base gym the next day. That's what they did with screw-ups pending being thrown out of the service.
A spontaneous Section 8.
I was a USAF cop at Sheppard AFB in the 80's. We had a pilot school there for foreign pilots. They had a graduation, and one of the new pilots was caught drunk as hell hanging on to the windshield wipers of a car being driven by another foreign student pilot who was also drunk. I was the shift supervisor, and I let them slide (took them back to their dorms.) In retrospect, I regretted doing that, because if it had been a regular GI that did that, he or she would have been toast.
Having said that, I had another fellow who did some similar screw up and was also a student from a foreign (third world dictatorship) country. We busted him, and he was crying swearing that he would be executed if he was kicked out of the program.
Not sure what happened to him. No easy decisions.
This brought back some memories....Entered the USAF from 1968 to 72, fresh out of HS. Was 17 & the parents signed for me. Went in the security police career field and was assigned at a SAC base (B-52s) out of basic (DDA). My last very interesting 14 months were spent at Incirlik CDI, Turkey (F4 Phantoms). Don't regret joining .Those 4 years helped me grow up & made me a better person....Those light colored uniforms seen in the video were called 1505s & were very comfortable.
Thanks for your service and your comment! I was wondering about the uniforms (re:1505s) as I was in the USAF 1987-1991 and except for flight suits none of the uniforms were especially comfortable!
🇺🇸
Long before BDUs, the average airman spent most of his work time in fatigues. Believe you would have been in BDUs?.... Forgot to mention our 1970 TDY to Guam in support of Ark-Lite bombing missions . Were supposed to be there 6 months but came back after about 2.5 mos.. I was happy to get back to Dyess AFB as were many others. Seemed like the PCS 1st.SGT. made it his mission to harass TDY people....A lot of good stories came out of that TDY.
@@HEDGE1011
My father was the Housing Officer on a series of Air Force bases, including the then Headquarters, US Air Forces, Europe, at Wiesbaden, Germany. He was the civilian equivalent of a full colonel. Housing officers were no joke..organizing housing for many thousands of families.
There is no civilian equivalent of a full colonel.
Fascinating film. I wonder how many of these courtesies and protocols remain today. B-52 footage was great.
It's amazing that the B-52 is still in full use over 70 years after its introduction, and it is expected to continue in active duty into the 2050s!
For sure, visiting your troops in the hospital. You go, and if at all possible your NCOIC/First Sergeant goes with you, at a minimum. Saluted cars with colonel/general rank plates. Another very important courtesy - should someone have a death in the family the unit sends flowers to the funeral home, as appropriate. If someone in the unit passes away the unit will hold their own memorial service. Units also hold "hail and farewell" gatherings for those coming to and leaving the unit.
I dunno but I’m sharing this with my son to find out. He’s an active duty Major in the AF. He’s a very ez going fellow. I imagine some of these protocols would be challenging for him -)
@@OldsVistaCruiseryes indeed, they’re re-engining them now. The new engines are very remarkable in providing more thrust, fuel economy and long life.
I was AF officer 1963/ 67. (Officer Training School= the cheap way to commission officers even no fire arm training back then) My squadron ( fighter electronics maintenance - 200 enlisted, 4 officers on a poorly reactivated WWII base on Long Island NY) could have used this film. Squadron commander Captain was absent the day I reported in and then took 6 weeks before he realized I was sitting at a desk 5 feet from his office door but had never been assigned a job. In a room full of enlisted, he would call me by my first name and reminded me once that the automatic promotion to 1st LT could be delayed as much as 6 months. That kept me from joining the base wide chip in Promotion party. My 1st LT was not delayed, but when the Capt asked me "When is your party?" I referred to the base party which had already passed. Other than that he never showed any concern for the health and housing of any enlisted or officer. The walls of the enlisted barracks didn't meet by 3 inches and the BOQ heating didn't get some rooms up to 40 degrees F. I took a release from active duty the first chance I could.
When I was a butter bar, my wife came to see me on base and parked in the commander's parking space since it said "general" officer parking, she thought it meant "any" officer parking! I have never run so fast in my life to get to her.
Oops! When I go to the Air Force Museum at WPAFB in Dayton, OH, there is a reserved parking space next to the door for the (4 star) commander of the Air Force Materiel Command. I noticed that compared to all of the other spaces in the lot, it doesn't look like it had been used much. No wear, no oil stain.
Hahaha.
Officer’s cubs often had the best parking spot reserved. For any 2nd LT
I recognized the ceremonial "Retire the Colors" was conducted at Laughlin AFB, San Antonio, Tx. I was stationed at Lackland, AFB, as an MTI. I spent 4.5 years in the USAF, early released to join the USMC for 25.5 years. I still have my USAF and USMC uniforms.
Did you mean Lackland AFB? Laughlin AFB is near Del Rio, TX. I was stationed at both.
Dude, I remember Laughlin is outside Del Rio. It's Randolph AFB. I would go with my aunt to the commissary runs.
You're welcome.@@jamescastleberry
Those were the days when there was a dress code in the commissary and BX...for family members!
Why? So what. Another dumb reg about tucking in shit-tails.. Sometime just chicken S.
When the general got off that plane that was another custom and courtesy.
Highest ranking always boards last and gets off first.
When I was enlisted I bitch about having to salute the few officers we would see in the battalion. When I became an officer I realized that I would have to salute everyone in the Army.
Whatever you do, don't forget to salute that Post Commander's car if the flag is flying.
Yup.
Damn straight
When I was in the '80s base and wing commanders drove what were called white tops. They were a sedan in Air Force blue with the top painted white.
Well you were not supposed to salute officers driving in vehicles. The exception was that you better salute the white top.
I finished HS 1983, near Holloman AFB, NM. I completely gave up the USAFA idea the moment dad told me "a couple phone calls" would smooth out any wrinkles". I entered another service, earned my BS, MS and PhD. I literally left home with only the clothes on my back and built everything after BOOT CAMP, yes USMC. Now retired and among mostly civilians, they change really quick once they see how former military address me and the tone changes instantly. They ask about formalities. I answer with "call me Sir when you think I've earned it". I retired after 30 years.
👋 Kudos, congrats.
I was on the Command Staff of the US Air Force 3-star, Lt. Gen. Hoerner, during Desert Storm. If you were to salute him outside the building, he would tear you a new asshole. It was a war zone...and snipers LOVE to see who gets saluted first.
I got a lot of laughs from this old video, I was a Sac B-52 Aircraft Commander in the 80’s, our crew protocol was very different then what was displayed in this video, during mission planning and during our fights we were on first name basis (don’t get me wrong, we each respected our individual rank, although we were more relaxed, which allowed for more camaraderie, better communication, and greater success during our missions).
I wonder if this was a change caused by the rise of Crew Resource Management.
While rank and protocol is important in military culture, it's deadly on an airplane.
I always liked those Air Force khaki uniforms. I wish they would bring them back.
1505s!
@@jamesholaday2900 Thank you! I never knew what they were called. I was in from 83 to 87 and only saw them in training films similar to this one.
I've always thought the blue uniform looks too much like a Greyhound bus driver
I went in Jan 77 and they still were giving them out at basic but it was all odd ball sizes, if you were "normal" you did not get issued one.
Rodgers that James
I loved them as well wore them out of basic training until January 1977 when they were phased out!
Never failed to salute officers.Because there was a lot more of us than them! And of course getting caught when retreat sounded as the catcalls from the barracks proceeded.
I had a Chaplain insist I call him “Father”. I politely told him that I wasn’t Catholic and would call him “Chaplain”. He was OK with it 😂
Hard to believe just a short time before this we had a military the size of Paraguay and had no air force.
Someday they'll be saying the same about the Space Force.
7:55. NO ONE, EVER, uses last names only. I would, and did, raise hell when it happened to me. 100% of the time.
We were taught last name only applied to E-1 through E-3, anyone north of that got rank and last name. E-4 Specialist was sort of nebulous, but I did hear "Specialist Webb" a lot more often than just "Webb"
I thought an officer rank required at least a Bachelor's Degree, except in rare cases such as battlefield commissions for enlisted ranks. The lieutenant said he had 2 years of college.
It does today, but in the mid 1960's this was certainly not the case.
And he had two years of ROTC which equaled an additional two years giving him a total of 4 years thus earning a commission!!
Customs and courtesies are fine and appropriate but I remember people checking their watches when it was close to retreat, and would either hurry to get where they wanted to be or wait until after retreat was over, as they didn't want to be caught outside and have to stand still through the ceremony. I still address people as Ma'am or Sir, regardless of social position (replacing rank) even after being out of the USAF for 25 years. I was an officer, and very rarely called others by first name while on duty, even when protocol allowed.
Rule 1. In book, No Hat, No Salute, the salute is a gesture to removing the hat. Never carry anything in the right hand, keeping it free to salute. Customs Change, both in time and service.
USN USMC and USCG you may salute with the left hand if you have something in your right hand.
@@jhonyermo Only if the Right arm is incapacitated, not just carrying.
Hi, In the beginning of the section showing the lowering of the flag, the flag was lowed too fast.
The procedure is, you raised the flay very quickly, you lower the flag very slowly. Former Air Force.
My guess is that they sped it up to save screen time. Thanks for your service to our great nation.
I served over five years in this base and I never learned where their Flight Kitchen was.
If you made the rank 2LT (OCS, Direct Commission or ROTC etc . . .) and you need this video for direction, you are in trouble.
That's the official line about senior officers addressing their junior officers by last name or by rank when in the presence of enlisted.
Then again, I was in the Navy, and later the Army in the early to late '70s up until 1980. I also worked with the active duty Navy and Marine Corps for 22 years, having just retired a few years ago.
Of course, the film depicts a different time.
Typically, both Navy and Marine Corps officers address both junior officers and enlisted they know and/or work with by their first names or call signs - though usually by first names. Same with civilians. Enlisted personnel that I worked with addressed my by my first name, where as personnel (and junior officers I didn't know) typically addressed me as Mr. Dur.
A note on call signs: they're typically reserved for the air wing, though I've known grunts who were called "Granny," and "Cajun Bob," and so on. The vast majority of call signs are less than complimentary. So if you hear of a Colonel whose call sign is "Stroker," there were probably gym socks involved somewhere along the line, not high performance car engines.
There was an Air Force officer who got tagged as "KC," or "Killer Chick." Either the 1st Gulf War, or early in the 2nd, her A-10 landed so shot full of holes that it was universally marveled that she was able to fly it at all, never mind land it. You can google her here on youtube.
Ahh Stroker, the sock that stands up on its own under the bunk. It also cracks when you bend it in half. 😂😂
Boy, is that 1St Sgt Old! Too many late nights in the NCO club.
Saw this same film at Lackland 8n boot camp. Still has the same glaring error in it that it did in 1985. We don’t salute on the flight line because we don’t wear covers on the flight line. The exception to this rule is the salute between the pilot and the crew chief after giving the go ahead to launch.
All flag officers (O-6 and above) get saluted on the flight line.
@@vaopr1012 not when I was in we didn’t. You only salute when you have on your cover, it is forbidden to wear a cover on the flight line with few exceptions, therefore no saluting on the flight line except when you salute the pilot when launching the plane to acknowledge his thumbs up. DCM would have had our ass up at Mt. Home.
It's not too hard to remember little things when everyone's door it. It's called teamwork. Courtesy and discipline are oil for the machine. Job first.
I was hoping to see major nelson or Healey, or colonel bellows.
Well played.
They didn't show the courtesy that whenever the highest ranking person enters a building or room, it is called to attention.
I believe the narrator was veteran radio announcer George Walsh.
Probably a member of American Forces Radio & TV Service.
7:59: Sergeant walks into room with hat on. BIG NO-NO!
The exception is if you were armed you always wore a hat.
@@kennethsouthard6042 Except in the base chapel.
@@ashleymarie7452 I didn't know about that one
Riddle me this. Very end of film the Lt. holds his wife's hand. We were taught (circa 1978) that public displays of affection (PDA) were verboten. And on a SAC base?! So different rules in 60's?
Yeah. I was thinking the same thing. He was in uniform holding her hand.
I don't think that was considered PDA.
She was blind. Just guiding her
@@whirledpeas3477 Good one
@@kennethsouthard6042 Based on experience I would say that every E-2 and above would have taken the opportunity to point out the errors of the 2dLt's ways.
Served 1963-1985, not much different than film. Served with Korean War and some WW2 members, became a "mustang" late in my career, no regrets.
So... Lt. Hackley just left his wife sitting in the car?
4:21 The "Commander" asks the Lt. "Did you go to college?" Anyone else see what's wrong with that question?
How does the sentry at the gate not have a cover over the trigger guard of his weapon?
Randolph AFB……actually Randolph Field back then (San Antonio, TX)
Does any base still do a retreat ceremony? If my troops stood formation, so did I.
Some may, some may not. I am sure Lackland and Maxwell still do. Somewhere in the late 2000's there was a push on to again get more squadron involvement in and raise, in at least MAJCOM' CC's eyes, base espirit de corps and morale by getting various base squadrons to perform the retreat ceremony on a rotating basis, as if these organizations were not already heavily overly task saturated enough and spread very thin due to continual deployments during this time in the "War on Terror". Hence, why just the Security Forces cops themselves had been taking care of it for so long.
Thanks for the input. Should be done on a weekly basis; not every day. Course I am thirty years out of uniform and seven years civil service. What really Burns my butt is when the main Base Flagpole is empty; no flag. Thanks for posting.@@macsdaddy3383
Watch out for that major, he looks like he’s about to turn into a bat and bite someone on the neck 😂
I thought he was going to make the Sergeant clean the shitter
Middle management is a bitch.
Meanwhile, the wife's job is to wait in the car until her husband tells her she can get out. I have no problem with that. I wish we still had the mandatory 2 year service; a lot of people could use it.
Wanna watch the other services go nuts? Put them on a Navy base.
Couple of editing jumps in that made it a bit hard to follow, but hey ... seems I recall something like this from BMT in 1975 ...
Pants are high water but otherwise, looking good.
In ‘Top Gun’ the officers drink out of bottles. It would probably be ground upon when this film was made. M.
Most of the people in this film are probably dead, but I bet that B-52 is still flying.
useful if you need to bullshit your way around a 1960's military base for time travel reasons
Its all first names from what ive seen. This film is totally a Lackland training film :D lol!!
I was in the Air Force from 1966 to 69 and remember wearing 1505s. 😊I think they did away with wearing them.
The 1505 uniforms were used from 1965 to 1978. I wore them, 1970-1974.
?? Anyone recognize where this was filmed? Thanks
It looks like Fly High AFB and the CO was General Wizzy Mcfly
Could have been filmed at Barksdale AFB.
@@A166-b7x Thinking this is a good guess. Buildings look like bases in South West (Kelly etc.) but not familiar with any SAC bases down that way....never been to Barksdale so thinking maybe so.
@@A166-b7x Looks like you are right. Old Barksdale AFB postcards match up with two of these buildings. Good catch, I thought it was filmed somewhere in California.
THANKS !@@guyintenn
The opening music! 🤣🤣🤣
All these commenters here wanting the "ego" to be saluted and not the rank... sadz
Can someone explain saluting without hats ? In the UK forces this is not performed.
Yes it's against the rules in Iran and has a penalty
U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force salute indoors uncovered. U.S. Navy and Marine Corps do not salute uncovered indoors, following Naval tradition that likely descended from the Royal Navy. USN / USMC are only covered indoors when on duty under arms, and will render an indoor salute under those conditions. If USN/USMC are serving on board a USA / USAF base, then an uncovered indoor salute to USA/USAF officer can be rendered as a common courtesy, unless standing orders specify otherwise. Likewise, when USA / USAF are aboard a USN/USMC base, they will generally not salute indoors uncovered, following standing Naval tradition UNLESS standing orders specify otherwise.
@@63DW89A At certain joint-service national agencies, depends on the office chief. Ours was a Navy captain and he didn't allow anyone to salute uncovered. Great guy, though, had him be one of the pinners-on for the last promotion.
@@63DW89Aunless it's changed since I got out in 87, you did not salute indoors in the Air Force.
The only exception to that was when you were reporting to someone of higher rank like they showed in the video.
@@63DW89Acorrect. 1967 I was a Marine , at DLI West and was an Army instillation. When reporting in to company commander I wast instructed to salute him without a cover. While there we followed all army customs.
Oh, one thing- the butter bar can’t walk hand in hand with his wife in uniform. PDA…
For some reason it seems like common sense.
That LT's pants are too high, maybe they wore them like that in 60's, not when I was in though.
You noticed the high-water pants too?
The Air Force plays the national anthem at retreat? Very few civilians in a 60s seventies, eighties ever put their hand over the heart for the anthem. I still don't. People in the car should have got out since it's the anthem
my father was a Captain at Langley air force base in Hampton, Virginia in Intelligence, it must have been veitnam and the control my mother had over him, as he soon began molesting his four sons, after the war, and being free from the military he soon began to work in the human trafficing trade, often flying to Riyadh , and bringing more sicko's into our home, I found later, that because he held such a high Intelligence rank that he could not be charged with a civillian crime, so he still walks the street looking for that next chance , that he can be Courteous
Make America Great Again
😅
What in the world is the procedure when a Trans (lieutenant who just painted his nails) must salute and shake hands with a Trans corporal who is attempting to tuck his genitals to" avoid the bulge " ?
THESE ISSUES MUST BE ADDRESSED!
Everyone was white?
The good ol' days ❤
Yes...And?
Pretty cool, huh?
Well now it'll be correct pronouns, eyeliner, misgendering and nail polish that dominate protocol!
I was a Jet Jockey...and saluted no one. Pilots need top tier respect. Not office moles.
4:34 No Officer salutes setting down unless you're at the gate and driving!!!