Being an old Sweat - when you can still remember how to 'shoulder arms' using an old .303 Lee Enfield, but that was in the Cadets at school. I still can remember how to shoulder arms with a Sten..... and an SLR.... I never did get to handle an SA80....

I 'signed on' the Reserves back in 1989 after demob in 1977. I think I was pissed at the time I went into this Army Recruiting Office and asked about the Reserves when one recieved a bounty of £100-00. I nearly shit myself when Gulf War 1 came along.... I was worried that I would be called up... I did 'sweat' for a few nights.... I had to turn out once a year at Colchester Garrison along with all the other Reservists.... I really did think I was an 'Old Sweat'.... I was nearly 60 then, fat, unfit and generally looking like Mr Blobby.... delusions... I still get 'em... [delusions that is..]

I still have a bag of Army Kit... Respirtor the lot.... I was told a few years ago when I urned 60 that the Army did not want the kit back.... so, anybody want to buy some old kit.... aint no good to me...

Originally Posted by 3isgreen

When you see your ex COs son, who you once had to give a swift kick up the arse(For being an arse) become a CO himself.

Ah, but does he remember it?

Edit: either of them?

MSR

When you start to call everone two years younger than you 'son' and the lads don't find you funny any more because you let slip that you still think Michael jackson is cool. And dance to Thriller when pished to prove it.

When you are talking to a lad in the Mess thinking it is the son of a member, to find out he's on his Tiffy course...

:D
You know when you have become an old seat when you start a sentance "this is the way we used to do it"........

or "Not wishing to sound like a dinosaur".....arrse

wish I could spellllllllllll as well.......kin ell

Man, SLIDEX.......LARKSPUR

ALthough Im a civvy now.....

I realised I was an old sweat when I found out that I joined the Army as a boy soldier three years before the guy I have on work experience was born!!!

Diehard57

How about:-

When the platoon signaller was known as the 'wireless operator'

When you remember how 24 Hour Compo came in three brown paper bags marked 'Breakfast', 'Main Meal' and 'Supper'

When your 'sleeping system' was a couple of blankets, half a dozen blanket pins and a gas cape.

When you refer to a poncho as a gas cape.

When the LMG fired bulleted blank.

When your No. 2 Dress shirt had a detachable collar.

When all army vehicles were painted gloss green.

When you remember TV adverts to 'Join The Professionals' which showed squaddies miming laying a chickens' egg to a bemused German farm frau.

When 'Puttees' replaced 'Gaitors'

When AFV recognition consisted of being able to tell the difference between a T54/55 and a T-62.

When we had about 35 different infantry regiments with over 100 battalions

Nostalgia ain't what it used to be.........

.....Gosh!! I recall ALL of that.....and when we had Austin Champs instead of Landies and wore scratchy old BD and blancoed belts and polished belt brasses and (whisper) used Pledge to buff up our boots and our SNCOs fought in the war (take your pick from WWII/Korean.......

When you are sitting in an office with your feet up on the table..... and can remember standing to attention and trembling in the corridor outside it .................

Trotsky