I am Army, and expect to complete a check ride this week with an Air Force unit--as a non-rated crewmember, meaning I don't fly the plane--and in my time over the past several months jumping through Air Force hoops, I have experienced several "culture shock" moments.
These are really too many to list, and out of place here; I did want to talk about check rides and beer, though.
The Air Force personnel seem to have a beer after every mission. They debrief in the bar here, and, I've heard, in theater, when there is one. Their unit break room has a keg. That said, I've never heard of any abuse, any drunkenness, or any other problems. When someone qualifies to complete their job without supervision--a "check ride," similar in many ways to a "Table VIII/Gunnery"--that person is expected to buy beer for the crew. Intent is clearly "one and done" and people seem to be doing what they're supposed to. If I crack a beer after my check ride--I probably will--it'll be the first time I will have done so. It works for them, and the Air Force seems to do the "personal responsibility" thing; it's mildly uncomfortable for me.
Why, you might ask? Well, with the Army, views on alcohol are very different in my limited experience. Unless you're in Germany or in some other NATO billet, where 'when in Rome' applies, or at one of those 'mandatory fun' functions, usually a formal function in a dress uniform, Soldiers are raised to believe that alcohol in a uniform is enormously, terribly wrong unless you're having some nod to tradition. I've heard from people who have been around that it wasn't that way even in the nineties, and I have a feeling that the way the Army used to do business was different and People Behaving Badly resulted in the change, which goes along with the trend of treading lightly, because leaders are responsible for the failures of their subordinates.
I know that if a senior leader went up to me and said "in my brigade, we're opening a beer after every field problem before letting them go, whether you like it or not," I would consider it an unnecessary risk.
I'm wondering what's typical for Navy/Marines, if we've got anyone from that background serving now or recently, and if there's been a change.
If you're wondering, I'm bringing two 12ers of Sam Adams Oktoberfest for the crew. I've seen a lot of Leinenkugels move through that break room, so they seem to like things sweet, and selection is pretty poor where I am, so there's not a lot of choice.
These are really too many to list, and out of place here; I did want to talk about check rides and beer, though.
The Air Force personnel seem to have a beer after every mission. They debrief in the bar here, and, I've heard, in theater, when there is one. Their unit break room has a keg. That said, I've never heard of any abuse, any drunkenness, or any other problems. When someone qualifies to complete their job without supervision--a "check ride," similar in many ways to a "Table VIII/Gunnery"--that person is expected to buy beer for the crew. Intent is clearly "one and done" and people seem to be doing what they're supposed to. If I crack a beer after my check ride--I probably will--it'll be the first time I will have done so. It works for them, and the Air Force seems to do the "personal responsibility" thing; it's mildly uncomfortable for me.
Why, you might ask? Well, with the Army, views on alcohol are very different in my limited experience. Unless you're in Germany or in some other NATO billet, where 'when in Rome' applies, or at one of those 'mandatory fun' functions, usually a formal function in a dress uniform, Soldiers are raised to believe that alcohol in a uniform is enormously, terribly wrong unless you're having some nod to tradition. I've heard from people who have been around that it wasn't that way even in the nineties, and I have a feeling that the way the Army used to do business was different and People Behaving Badly resulted in the change, which goes along with the trend of treading lightly, because leaders are responsible for the failures of their subordinates.
I know that if a senior leader went up to me and said "in my brigade, we're opening a beer after every field problem before letting them go, whether you like it or not," I would consider it an unnecessary risk.
I'm wondering what's typical for Navy/Marines, if we've got anyone from that background serving now or recently, and if there's been a change.
If you're wondering, I'm bringing two 12ers of Sam Adams Oktoberfest for the crew. I've seen a lot of Leinenkugels move through that break room, so they seem to like things sweet, and selection is pretty poor where I am, so there's not a lot of choice.
