I know the US military was in a mess post Vietnam until Reagan came along but this lot take the biscuit
Was long hair permitted in the NG in early 70's? (The film was set in 1973), Sloppy weapons drill, what infantryman calls rounds or ammo "bullets"?....the list goes on
I remember the National Guard didn’t come across great in First Blood too
The Ry Cooder music was class though
I agree.
The scenery and music were great, but the story took place over such a short time span, the characters completely falling apart on the VERY FIRST DAY of the exercise, it made it too difficult for me to suspend disbelief and get into it the way most of the people on these boards seem to have done.
Fred Ward's "Hard Guy" expressions were quite laughable, when Coach said he didn't feel they should take the boats because they weren't theirs, Reece replies, "That's right, they ain't ours, so let's get in 'em!" Why did Poole order the men to remove their helmuts before boarding the pirogues? The list DOES go on and on...
I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.
"Why did Poole order the men to remove their helmuts before boarding the pirogues?"
Becuz it's not comfortable to swim with a helmet if the boat sinks.
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http://stefanmag.blogspot.com
I've been in the Air National Guard since 1988, and when I saw this movie the first thing that struck me was the LACK of grooming standards. I know that way before my time (60's & 70s) the National Guard could have long hair, but they'd have to wear a short-haired wig on drill weekends. I only know this because an old timer in my old unit had this really cheesy looking wig on a styrofoam wighead in his office and he explained it to me. Nowadays, you most certainly have to maintain the same grooming standards as the active duty troops.
Knowing what I do about the National Guard (Air National Guard, in my case)I just overlooked the inconsistencies and enjoyed the movie for what it was. And damn, was Powers Booth not smoking hot in his day?
"Knowing what I do about the National Guard (Air National Guard, in my case)I just overlooked the inconsistencies and enjoyed the movie for what it was. And damn, was Powers Booth not smoking hot in his day?"
He was smoking hot. But I also think that it was correct in the way that they didn't give much on the hair suit. Remember, it was just a break for the weekend.
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http://stefanmag.blogspot.com
"Remember, it was just a break for the weekend." Not sure what that means. When you are on weekend duty, you are not on a break of any sort - you are on active duty, subject to the same rules and standards as an active duty soldier/airman. They may have been more lax on grooming standards back in the 60s-70s but they most certainly are not now :) I've been putting long curly hair up into a tight bun and shining my boots for a long time now and have had to straighten out a young airman or two who don't have a grasp of grooming standards.
Not trying to bust your chops, I just didn't get the "weekend break" statement.....