For your branch, which were the more accurate and most inaccurate movies about your branch? (motel, college)

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by BlackShoe

My gripe about a little wrong detail is one that has been in countless military films. It is about incorrect radio telephone procedure. Almost every time the guy says "over and out". This is a glaring error, an ambiguous statement that is never used. Over means I require a reply, out means this transmission is ended. During my Navy days a large part of my work was talking on an RT net, and procedures were very structured and disiplined. Perhaps things are different today, this is unknown to me, but back then things were very formal. Even today whenever I hear "over and out" I still wince. The effect is like the proverbial fingernails across the chalkboard. Some things from your service days stay with you forever, and this is one of them.

Just today, I was watching "Fail Safe" again and a jet pilot responded to HQ by saying, "I read you 5 by 5."

Duh!

[JustPassinThru]

Originally Posted by stillkit

Just today, I was watching "Fail Safe" again and a jet pilot responded to HQ by saying, "I read you 5 by 5."

Duh!

Fail Safe was published in 1962 and the movie followed in 1964. When I went through radio school in 1960, "I read you 5 X 5" was one of 25 possible responses, although brevity being important we shortened it to "5 by."

[Poncho_NM]

Originally Posted by JustPassinThru

"I read you 5 X 5" was one of 25 possible responses, although brevity being important we shortened it to "5 by."

That is correct. That is how to report the quality of communications. 5x5 is the best...


Rich

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by Poncho_NM

That is correct. That is how to report the quality of communications. 5x5 is the best...


Rich

Maybe things changed, but I was taught during basic training in 1969 that the only correct response is "I read you loud and clear (usually shortened to Lima Charlie)," and that 5X5 was a term used by ham radio operators, not the military.

[JustPassinThru]

Originally Posted by stillkit

Maybe things changed, but I was taught during basic training in 1969 that the only correct response is "I read you loud and clear (usually shortened to Lima Charlie)," and that 5X5 was a term used by ham radio operators, not the military.

Yes, and no. While it's necessary to use the phonetic alphabet and the signal strength/signal clarity number system when communicating with our NATO allies, I think that a little leeway within a unit is fine in regard to the number system.

Since no one else wanted the job, when I was 19 I had to give a two-hour lecture on proper radio procedure to all of the enlisted men and officers at Camp Hansen, Okinawa. There was no way that all of these guys were going to stay awake for that long in that heat, let alone memorize what the 10 numbers meant. So, I improvized.

I taught them to use loud/clear, loud/distorted, weak/clear, weak/distorted. I thought that they could remember those four terms easier than 25 combinations of numbers. More importantly, they needed to learn not to speak in the clear re their location and/or situation. A majority of those in attendance were tankers, who could usually be relied upon to say (on the radio), things like, "I"m low on fuel. Where's the **** fuel truck?" I would hope that we have secure communications now, making this discussion moot.

I can't think of a single movie that represents my time in the service. Rather, certain scenes in certain films, like The D.I., bring back memories. Movies are made to entertain us so I try not to get too distracted by their inaccuracies.

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by JustPassinThru

Yes, and no. While it's necessary to use the phonetic alphabet and the signal strength/signal clarity number system when communicating with our NATO allies, I think that a little leeway within a unit is fine in regard to the number system.

Since no one else wanted the job, when I was 19 I had to give a two-hour lecture on proper radio procedure to all of the enlisted men and officers at Camp Hansen, Okinawa. There was no way that all of these guys were going to stay awake for that long in that heat, let alone memorize what the 10 numbers meant. So, I improvized.

I taught them to use loud/clear, loud/distorted, weak/clear, weak/distorted. I thought that they could remember those four terms easier than 25 combinations of numbers. More importantly, they needed to learn not to speak in the clear re their location and/or situation. A majority of those in attendance were tankers, who could usually be relied upon to say (on the radio), things like, "I"m low on fuel. Where's the **** fuel truck?" I would hope that we have secure communications now, making this discussion moot.

I can't think of a single movie that represents my time in the service. Rather, certain scenes in certain films, like The D.I., bring back memories. Movies are made to entertain us so I try not to get too distracted by their inaccuracies.

Strictly proper procedure on the radio is practically non-existant and it drives whoever the net administrator is absolutely nuts. We used a lot of shorthand on the radio in my Infantry unit in Vietnam and we did the same thing in my tanker unit in Germany. It just happens and, when it's really getting hot and heavy, anything can come out of someone's mouth.

For instance, Arty dropped a short round on us one day and the LT jumped on the net and said, "WTF? Over."

I doubt you'd find that in the manuals.

[bs13690]

If movies were military movies were 100% accurate they would inlcude such exciting things as:

Field Day including barnburners like stripping/waxing/buffing the ready room/duty hut.
Shining your boots/shoes/buckles.
Ironing
Running around Parris Island shouting things like: "The four major battles of Vietnam War were, keyword Kill Saddam Hussein Dead. K: Kason, S: Saigon, H: Hanoi, Da Nang!!!"
Driving the CO to somewhere and then waiting around for hours to drive him or her back to base.

[JustPassinThru]

Originally Posted by stillkit

Strictly proper procedure on the radio is practically non-existant and it drives whoever the net administrator is absolutely nuts. We used a lot of shorthand on the radio in my Infantry unit in Vietnam and we did the same thing in my tanker unit in Germany. It just happens and, when it's really getting hot and heavy, anything can come out of someone's mouth.

One of my brothers was a platoon leader with the 101st, and he agrees. He also recalled the time that, in the middle of the night, his CO received an order to move the company immediately to a new position. Before moving out, the Captain acted on something that was bothering him; although the order was given in perfect English, the operator had transposed the words of their call sign. When the CO called Bn. he learned that no such order had been issued. This time, improper radio procedure by the NVA operator actually saved lives.

[joebagofdonuts]

I found it funny how in Transformers I, Tyrese was a TSgt (E-6), then 2 years later in Transformers II, Tyrese was a Chief MSgt (E-9). While the other dude just went from Captain (E-3) to Major (E-4). How did Tyrese become a Chief so fast? It would take several more years for him to make it from TSgt to Chief.
I guess if you save the planet you get promoted faster. But since he didn't have a college degree, Chief is the highest rank he can achieve. That is why in Transformers III, he is retired.

[stillkit]

Originally Posted by joebagofdonuts

I found it funny how in Transformers I, Tyrese was a TSgt (E-6), then 2 years later in Transformers II, Tyrese was a Chief MSgt (E-9). While the other dude just went from Captain (E-3) to Major (E-4). How did Tyrese become a Chief so fast? It would take several more years for him to make it from TSgt to Chief.
I guess if you save the planet you get promoted faster. But since he didn't have a college degree, Chief is the highest rank he can achieve. That is why in Transformers III, he is retired.

You think that's fast?

Back in the day, there was a comic book series named, "SGT. Rock."




Rock was a Master Sergeant, but one issue told the story of how Rock got that rank.

It seems that as a buck Private, Rock went on a patrol which was comprised of a Master Sgt, a Sgt. 1st Class, a Staff Sgt, a Corporal, a PFC and Private Rock. (Uh...that patrol's a little top heavy, ain't it? )

Anyhow, the other members of the patrol got killed off in succession, from the highest rank to the PFC. Each time one got killed, the others moved up a rank. Eventually, Rock was the only one left and he'd gone from E-1 or E-2 (the story wasn't clear) to E-8 during the course of a single day. He remained an E-8 forever after.

As a kid reading that, I remember thinking, "So...when I get in the Army, all I have to do to get promoted is kill the next guy above me?"