Army making promotions tougher

[Rifleman]

The NCOES has been little more than a check the block requirement at least since October of '94 when I went to PLDC. I can't imagine that it was radically better before that.

It wasn't. PLDC at the 7th Army NCO Academy at Bad Tolz was useless for an 11B2P when I went in the '80s. If I learned anything of value I don't remember it.

I do remember polishing a wide black strip called The Autobahn that ran down the center of the barracks hallway and marching to chow carrying a goofy looking little stuffed troll called Al.

Things of great value for a young fire team leader.

At least the Bavarian Alps were nice to look at and I had some good beer in the Munich train station.