In the last decade, never have I ever seen local ladies inside a military drinking establishment. Anytime you see a civilian female in such an establishment, the only logical conclusion is dependapotamus.all the local ladies were there
In the last decade, never have I ever seen local ladies inside a military drinking establishment. Anytime you see a civilian female in such an establishment, the only logical conclusion is dependapotamus.all the local ladies were there
In the last decade, never have I ever seen local ladies inside a military drinking establishment. Anytime you see a civilian female in such an establishment, the only logical conclusion is dependapotamus.
Miramar on the West Coast Wednesday night. Oceana Friday night tripping over couples on the golf course followed by Ft Story Sunday night waking up under the picnic tables Monday morning. No cops in the parking lot or breathalizers...we took care of our own or walked home/across the street to the BOQ (or took a nap on the golf course). Those Navy days are dead (or "changed" as the new breed calls it). NAS JAX used to have a rage. I went to that club while on det to Cecil and I remember walking into the club, don't remember walking out (they still had an open base....so all the local ladies were there). I do remember maning up an TA-4 with my Reserve pilot to go fight a F-18 stud (with RAG CO in the back seat) the next morning. O2 never taste so good.
ATIS, the dinosaur.
In the last decade, never have I ever seen local ladies inside a military drinking establishment. Anytime you see a civilian female in such an establishment, the only logical conclusion is dependapotamus.
So, in a sense, I agree with you. People say that (one of the reasons) nobody goes to the club anymore because security is waiting to pounce on you. My contention is that this is not actually why people stopped going to the club.No JO is waxing nostalgic about driving drunk.
So, in a sense, I agree with you. People say that (one of the reasons) nobody goes to the club anymore because security is waiting to pounce on you. My contention is that this is not actually why people stopped going to the club.
So, in a sense, I agree with you. People say that (one of the reasons) nobody goes to the club anymore because security is waiting to pounce on you. My contention is that this is not actually why people stopped going to the club.
I don't dispute things have changed, but I don't think we fully understand why. The club was pretty rocking when I was a JO. I'm not aware of any policy changes from Big Navy that directly contributed to that change. Maybe people's OPTEMPO has been higher and they just wanted to go home to be with family. Maybe Millennials socialize and party differently than Gen-Xers. Maybe the Navy's emphasis on deglamorizing alcohol has some effect, but I didn't see that where I was in Whidbey.And the JOs you speak of that are complaining about the club are saying the reason they stopped going is because the description ATIS made above no longer applies. JOs condemn drunk driving and do not want to return to a time where that was less of a big deal. They do want to return to a time where the club was as ATIS described: the best party in town. THAT is what JOs are waxing nostalgic about, and that is what they are saying when they say the Navy ain’t what is used to be. We hear stories from seniors that match what ATIS was talking about.
I don't dispute things have changed, but I don't think we fully understand why. The club was pretty rocking when I was a JO. I'm not aware of any policy changes from Big Navy that directly contributed to that change. Maybe people's OPTEMPO has been higher and they just wanted to go home to be with family. Maybe Millennials socialize and party differently than Gen-Xers. Maybe the Navy's emphasis on deglamorizing alcohol has some effect, but I didn't see that where I was in Whidbey.
I'll ask you (and the group) what you think contributed. I will say this - when people say "the Navy ain't what it used to be," they're usually talking about a period that they themselves never experienced first hand - like how it was in the 70s. That's just a strange perspective to hold.
"I'll ask you (and the group) what you think contributed. I will say this - when people say "the Navy ain't what it used to be," they're usually talking about a period that they themselves never experienced first hand - like how it was in the 70s. That's just a strange perspective to hold.
Differences in socializing such as what?I would offer that generational differences in how millennials socialize may offer some insights worth exploring.
Do you think JOs not wanting the Oclub to be the best party in town is why the clubs aren't the best party in town, or is the Oclub not the best party in town due to base restrictions and distance from the more populated hotspots in-town? Or another reason altogether?They do want to return to a time where the club was as ATIS described: the best party in town.
Good perspective, and Atsugi is certainly a special case. Honest question though - Varying COs temperament notwithstanding, when it comes to tradition in general, who is pissing it away? Is it leadership? Is it the rank and file? Do we really value tradition, or just pay it lip service? I think the Millennial generation brings some influence to this issue as well. If there's one attribute that most people identify with Millennials, it would be that they don't value traditional ways of doing things in the workplace. Food for thought.I did a few years in Atsugi (when the airwing was still in town) and the club could get lively. Two quick stories. One night an older dude in civvies was being a belligerent drunk and general douchewad, enough of an ass that a couple guys and I eventually threw him out. Next Monday come to find out he was the base XO, and had figured out who we were and cried to our skipper about it. The CO called us in, asked about it, then backed us and told the guy to fuck off. Kinda restored a little faith in things for me.
Another skipper of ours was not quite the same. He'd announced to the ready room, "I don't require you to come to mando fun - but I know who's there." Turning socializing into a Fitrep 500 schlong-chugging contest on the boss is a great way to kill the fun. When a guy gives you weekly lectures about not drinking too much or doing anything that could put him in the Navy Crimes, sure, you don't wanna have a beer with him.
Can't speak to the misty distant past but I would throw out there that the more corporate the Navy becomes, the more the Navy has to compete with actual corporations for talent. They pay better and they don't have boats. Culture is our best lever for retention, and we don't seem to mind pissing it away.