I can't say anything about what kind of courses you've been on but, I have to interject about something: boot lacing.
So, you're saying there's a difference in how one laces ones boots at a unit and a different way on course? Actually, at least as of eight years ago, quite wrong. This is something that bugs me, so I apologize in advance.
Every now and then, someone would come along, and say that the dress regs on how one laced up the combat boots had changed and got everyone to do it their way. The funny thing was, I was a clerk. I had access to the dress regs (I know, everyone does now, online, I'm talking about back when it was a real book, with paper and everything!) because it was sitting two feet from my desk. I darn well knew no amendments had not come in for it, because, if they had, it would have been my job to update the book.
Furthermore, there was funny little notations in the book telling you when the section you're looking at was last changed. The combat boot lacing section had never been changed from way back in the '70's. The problem was that the diagram is what lost most people. They had a hard time making heads or tails out of it, and whenever there was a new Adjt or RSM involved, he or she would interpret it differently, and voila! there was a change in the regs that really wasn't a change!
Now, this doesn't mean that one should go and argue with your CofC! Not unless you want to risk spending some quality time in DB! :crybaby: But for those in leadership positions, please, please, please, could you read the book a little more carefully?
But, then again, I've been out for about eight years so, they might actually have changed the method of lacing the combat boots.