Old habits...

[HEFF]

So I'm 23... been out just over 4 years now... hmm... somehow it felt longer! Anyways, who here still finds old habits creeping in? I still iron my uniform for as I would have with the exception of the pants which already have a stitched crease which drives me nuts but whatever. How about practicing your salute? Just did one in the mirror and wow!!! Still got it!! How about... walking in step with people? Don't act like you never did it!!!:woot: Check your eyes when you pass a flag? Freak out and assault people who allow a flag to touch the ground? Ok... maybe without the assault part:eek: Stand at attention during anthems? call out cadence while out for a jog? HELP ME OUT!! LET ME KNOW I'M NOT ALONE! :banghead: :airsalute:

[Happy?]

I routinely walk in step with people. As for everything else there, good luck with that. :p

[Cheryl Tucker]

Haha. I live in a university residence and when I got here last year I routinely called the caferteria a mess. Didnt help that a friend of mine did that too but it took a long time to call it a caferteria.

[BigRed Gunner]

With me, I have a friend that is in army cadets and agin' out tomorrow and we stay in step while walking through the mall. When I walk by the Legion when the flag is at half mast or when I'm on the city bus I always take my hat for some odd reason. Oh and when I take walks I call out marching cadences.

[sgt4life]

Check your eyes when you pass a flag?
You're not supposed to in the first place. I don't know what "check your eyes" is, but if the flag is not being moved (marched on or off, or raised or lowered) then you do not pay compliments of any sort. In any case, that's only for the national flag. Uncased colours are always saluted, but it is rare to see uncased colours in the civilian world.

[flawless.gunner]

Haha. I live in a university residence and when I got here last year I routinely called the caferteria a mess. Didnt help that a friend of mine did that too but it took a long time to call it a caferteria.
i ALWAYS call the cafeteria the mess... good thing nobody's given me any funny looks about it yet

[HEFF]

You're not supposed to in the first place. I don't know what "check your eyes" is, but if the flag is not being moved (marched on or off, or raised or lowered) then you do not pay compliments of any sort. In any case, that's only for the national flag. Uncased colours are always saluted, but it is rare to see uncased colours in the civilian world.

To render an eyes right, or an eyes left... no big deal. Saluting of the flag as you passed it was something quite common for my unit as well as PACSTC, and CLACSTC. No headdress... no salute... but you did "Check your eyes".

[Kortytoh]

So I'm 23... been out just over 4 years now... hmm... somehow it felt longer! Anyways, who here still finds old habits creeping in? I still iron my uniform for as I would have with the exception of the pants which already have a stitched crease which drives me nuts but whatever. How about practicing your salute? Just did one in the mirror and wow!!! Still got it!! How about... walking in step with people? Don't act like you never did it!!!:woot: Check your eyes when you pass a flag? Freak out and assault people who allow a flag to touch the ground? Ok... maybe without the assault part:eek: Stand at attention during anthems? call out cadence while out for a jog? HELP ME OUT!! LET ME KNOW I'M NOT ALONE! :banghead: :airsalute:

To borrow an analogy from Alcoholics Anonymous... you never "stop" being a cadet, particularly a Chief/Warrant. You are simply a "recovering cadet" for the rest of your natural life.

[shyraven]

Most of my habits have died down, except for the fact that I'm always trying to stay in step with people, oh...and standing at attention during O' Canada at events. And once in a while I get the urge to do some drill so I go marching down the halls of my apartment building...haven't been seen doing that yet...

[F/Sgt. Steele]

standing easy and at ease with hands properly placed. lol

[Canadian Idol]

I still cringe when anyone steps off with their right foot. I still listen to music and think it would be perfect for a silent drill routine, and I still cluck my tongue when I see someone with, ahem, "polished" dress shoes.That's just the short list... I completely agree though, once you are out of cadets, you are just a recovering cadet for the rest of your life.

GL.

[Cadpat Sailor]

I polish my boots
I seem to have become a "gear whore"
I call my profs sir and ma'm (and they laugh at me)
I call my managers at work sir and m'am (and it bugs the hell out of em...when I first came back from camp I gave them a round ing yes sir! and it scared the bezesus out of em)
I have a really loud voice (I make people jump when I do PA annoucements at work)
I have this "scary mom look" which everyone thinks I'm ****** off, in reality it was from being "mom" at camp
I make my bed
I iron things...I offer to iron things for others
I use acronyms...I make acronyms into verbs.

umm....I'm sure there's more

[SLt_Siwak]

I polish my boots
I call my profs sir and ma'm (and they laugh at me)
I still have my angry Cox'n Face. Man, its priceless when My friends see that face at school. their like "oh god...cadet mode...RUN FOR COVAH!!!"
I iron EVERYTHING. But that might be because my mom makes me.
I march around the mall. And Other places.
I call cadences randomly. Kind of funny.

[HEFF]

mwahahahahah!! Well this is exciting... seems to be a common theme of doing things in public places... this marching thing is new to me however lol

So I went to my old unit last night for a meeting with the DCO and CO. Anyone ever feel old urges to just go "ape"? An example... I was standing along the side of the parade square at my old "pirch" observing a drill class, and a few Sr. NCO's cruising by. A Sr. NCO, who seemed quite certain of himself, passed me and siad "what are you doing?".... AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH H!!!! Never mind my rather dark blue uniform as I came straight from work. Never mind I am a civilian who entered the Armoury after speaking with a Commissionaire! Never mind YOU DON'T KNOW ME!!!! I had a Charlie/Hank moment from Me, Myself, and Irene... I think I even heard the music that played when he had his acute psychotic episodes lol Even the slow head turn and thousand yard stare was broken out! Anyways... good times were had lol It was nice to see things were going well, and what I left behind and what others left behind, remains in so many ways :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g69zfh3F9Hs

[J. Gleiberman]

mwahahahahah!! Well this is exciting... seems to be a common theme of doing things in public places... this marching thing is new to me however lol

So I went to my old unit last night for a meeting with the DCO and CO. Anyone ever feel old urges to just go "ape"? An example... I was standing along the side of the parade square at my old "pirch" observing a drill class, and a few Sr. NCO's cruising by. A Sr. NCO, who seemed quite certain of himself, passed me and siad "what are you doing?".... AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH H!!!! Never mind my rather dark blue uniform as I came straight from work. Never mind I am a civilian who entered the Armoury after speaking with a Commissionaire! Never mind YOU DON'T KNOW ME!!!! I had a Charlie/Hank moment from Me, Myself, and Irene... I think I even heard the music that played when he had his acute psychotic episodes lol Even the slow head turn and thousand yard stare was broken out! Anyways... good times were had lol It was nice to see things were going well, and what I left behind and what others left behind, remains in so many ways :D

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g69zfh3F9Hs

To recover from what I call PCS (Post Cadet Syndrome) takes years of work, some therapy, and possibly in extreme cases an intervention by loved ones (eg. my father who threw out all of the kit I amassed in 6 years of cadets when I was away at Law School).

Don't worry concentrate on your life and what may speed up the process is joining the CIC. For one night a week and one weekend a month :D we can exorcsize those feelings from you and you get paid while you heal.:lol:

All it takes is the first step by admitting you have PCS and calling up the local Cadet Detachment to find out what units are looking for staff.

Good luck.

[Tomtom]

At work we are organized into "Platoons" and I routinely refer to my platoon as "Flight".


I was talking to someone from another division who also has a former Air Cadet on her Platoon and I said something to the effect of "My flight does this or that..." and she picked up on it right away. So I say "... sorry, I mean platoon..." she cuts me off. "Marleen says that too, must be something I don't understand".

I just laughed. hahah

[BigRed Gunner]

I had the biggest flash back last week when my brothers went to cadets I looked at them and I instepected there unifroms I was like you got to work on your boots more and your white tops are drity as a drity dish, and you guys need hair cuts...

[UWSDWF]

things I do:
polished boots
occassionally using a drill voice
well turned out uniform
the amazing ability to aquire anything(did a fairbit of QM work)
the RSM look

a story:
visited a corp a year or two ago and saw some NCMs acting way out of line (goose stepping for some unknown reason). Well I found myself going through a set of tables and making a b-line for them. By the time a got to them one was saying sorry, another was fetal on the ground and the last stood to attention. As I began tearing a strip I realized they were not my charges and stood down for their CO to have a word with them.

[SLt_Siwak]

Oh man, I was at work (mcdonalds) the other day, and we're supposed to have "polishable black shoes" and I mentioned something about somebodys shoes looking like they hadn't been polished in years.
My manager looks at me and says "Sorry Super Cadet. You don't have to be able to put your make up on looking at them"
I replied "Phil, you don't wear make up in uniform."

He laughed hysterically, and walked away.

[hartleymartin]

About 20 months out of cadets now.

I suppose it didn't help that I am now an Officer of the Australian Air League and in the St John Ambulance.

I have found that whenever I walk I always step off with the left foot and I always take my last step with my left foot and place my right foot smartly next to it when I stop.

I usually walk at about 112-120 paces a minute (force of habit)

Whenever I jog I find myself double-marching.

I am an Acolyte (Senior Server) at my church and I find myself doing a somewhat sloppy slow march when walking towards the Altar at the start of mass.

I am almost always walking in step with my girlfriend when we are out on dates.

I am still extremely pedantic about how my clothes are ironed.

I don't polish my shoes that often any more, but whenever I do, they get a military-spec shine.

[pat16]

I have a tendency to try to stay in step with my friends when we are walking . I also practiced my salute in the mirror yesterday and its still sharp and sexy looking :p I iron my work pants , and its funny cause I work in a place where we get super dusty and stuff . The people I work with are like dude , why do you iron your work pants ? I'm like euuuhhhh long story lol . I had this thing when I was a cadet that I would kind of like sing the national anthem to myself when I heard it and I still do that now . You could see me in the parade square in the mornings , national anthem playing and my lips are moving a bit singing along .

[Mere Fraser]

MY good friend is an OCdt with a sqn here in town (where I plan on becoming a CI next yr) and I was helping her mark promotion exams one night a few months ago. We were writing down the answers so as to have a marking scheme. Anyways, one of the questions was, "What is the definition of leadership?" We both looked at each other and recited it perfectly in unison. And then we burst out laughing for 5 mins. It was great! :D

[TerrillDrew]

I polish my boots
I seem to have become a "gear whore"
I call my profs sir and ma'm (and they laugh at me)
I call my managers at work sir and m'am (and it bugs the hell out of em...when I first came back from camp I gave them a round ing yes sir! and it scared the bezesus out of em)
I have a really loud voice (I make people jump when I do PA annoucements at work)
I have this "scary mom look" which everyone thinks I'm ****** off, in reality it was from being "mom" at camp
I make my bed
I iron things...I offer to iron things for others
I use acronyms...I make acronyms into verbs.

umm....I'm sure there's more


LOL I have been out of cadets for 2 1/2 years now, I work in a gas abr...I know shameful but I call everyone sir or miss and I have told on so many ocassions that I am a gentleman and a scholar.....I still do the walk in step and attention at the national anthem. Even last night when I seen the flames lose to chicago but that is something other but I seen a couple people around me standing at attention.

[Barbie]

Lol.

This thread reminds me of yesterday when I actually called my teacher Ma'am.

[Chief Bosn Chick 5]

It's been approx 2.5 years and I still

Step off with my left foot
Walk in step with friends
Carry everything in my left hand
Have Short Nails without Nail polish (though now this a requirement for school)

But I did away with all the ironing, takes too much time between work, school and the busses

[Cat]

Walk/March in step with anyone near me
Stand at attention for O Canada
Polish anything that's black and leather
and of all things, I'm now a CI with a squadon....I just can't get away from it all....though that may be a goodthing....i'm pretty sure i can't recover at this point....

[SemperFi]

If you think 4 or 5 years in Cadets gets you in a routine after, try 9 years or more in the real stuff. I have been retired 16 years now, and still do half the stuff I once did! Getting back in as an officer with the Navy League brought back a lot of memories too!

Semper Fi

[E Riley]

WOW I would imagine I mean I am still in cadets and I have a habit in school of getting people to quite down so the teachers can teach, and I also when getting grocerys or something and there are kids like swearing I tell them to stop. Talk about force of habit!!!

[MThornback]

I never point, I always use my whole hand

I (also) walk at a near perfect 120 paces a minute all the time...unless its winter :p civy shoes fail me miserably in winter for keeping pace.

When I jog, I am usually mumbling "I love PT" to myself :p

[mrshappy]

Yup....22 YEARS since I was an Air Cadet.
I still stand at attention for "O Canada"
I freaked out when I saw the Canadian Flag still up after sunset at my son's school (and not lit up).
I still walk in step with people and don't even realize I'm doing it until they tell me.
I perfected my Senior NCO Glare in my last year of Cadets while in charge of 40 First years.....my kids call it "the Look of Death"....very handy at times still!
I still carry everything in my left hand when I'm outside.
I still call any authority figure in my life "Sir" or "Ma'am" and they usually look at me weird when I do it.
I still know the CF definition of Leadership by heart.
Not satisfied with getting both my kids into Air Cadets (at my old Squadron no less!)...I now am a CI there and enrolling CIC. I just couldn't stay away....

[Lynx_Armourer]

Lemme see.. When I was on Basic (The Reg(F) kind) I was getting a little impatient during our drill classes as I'd *taught* half the movements in question. I still have my wedge cap tipped over like it should be. I carry everything in my left hand, and I never think twice about it. Cliché but true: You can take the person out of cadets, but you won't have much luck trying to get the cadet out of the person.

That actually nearly led to my destruction: First day in Borden after Basic, we all go Wasaga Beach, and Casper the Ghost here gets burnt. I mean *crispy*. Next day, we're doing our Air Force indoc course, and they tell us we can wear either the dark blue navy shirts, or the light blue air force ones. Do I need to tell you mine were in my locker starched to within an inch of their life? Well let me tell you this: SUNBURNS AND STARCH DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT MIX!!!!!! You don't believe me? Try it.

[ALI~2853]

I walk in step with other people (I did that before I joined cadets too)
Help my sister with her unifrom...actually it's more like I randomly polish her boots

[Barbie]

Freak out and assault people who allow a flag to touch the ground?

That reminds me of what happened this last cadet night.






















. . . . The flag touched the ground while a PO was folding it. :eek: I screamed, "It's touching the ground." It was too late . . . I'm mad.

It was the RPO.