CoLawman
10-01-2005, 09:06
Took a trip to Fort Bragg last week to see my son. The wife and I were there at SOAF Saturday night as he returned from Phase II. He jumped out of the truck disheveled, dirty, and a weeks growth of beard.......he looked great! He started the 18E course the following Monday.
Now for some musings and observations:
1. Smith Lake has a great MWR recreation area. One room cabins @ $25 a night with new shower facilities within yards. Camping sites at $15 a night with full hook ups. Currently under construction....2BR log cabins with indoor plumbing for $75 a night. Consider that it costs around $75 a night in hotels.
2. Stayed at the Airborne Inn @ $45 a night. Nice place and nice staff. Former SF from the 10th was working the desk. Bent over backwards to accomodate us.
3. The allotted uniform allowance does not come close to meeting the needs of our young soldiers. I'm trying to figure how I can get a tax deduction for supplementing, on a regular basis, that allowance.
4. Went searching for Desert Boots that are required, as stated by 18E cadre. $150 new. Found some new ones at a pawn shop for $60. They had an excellent selection and supply of them. Got me to wondering (always the cynical cop) where those boots come from. Hmmmmmmm. They certainly had new issue everything at half the cost.
5. Met some more of my sons friends in the pipeline. Ladies and Gentlemen.....Our country is in good hands. My son and 6 of his friends drove up to Washington to run the ARMY 10 Miler today! Gluttons for punishment.
6. Businesses are quick to offer discounts to cops..........why the hell don't they give that discount to the troops. Seems to me that the engine that drives Fayetteville's economy is Fort Bragg personnel. I witnessed more attempts to take advantage of the soldiers than to give them breaks. The ever present "We support our Troops" on marquees should read; "Our troops support us."
7. Comparing Fort Benning to Fort Bragg..........alot of effort goes into keeping Fort Bragg beautiful.
8. Both times I was at Fort Bragg this year the JFK special forces museum was closed!
9. The Airborne and Special Ops museum just keeps getting better!
10. There were collection boxes throughout the post for hurricane victims.
11. The E7s thru E9's have gotten alot younger from when I was in. When I was in they were all in their 70's (I thought)!
12. They sent a bunch of guys that were in the pipeline to E5 boards, as long as they met the 18 mo TIS and 4 mos TIG. So in theory an 18X could be promoted to E5 before he graduates. That is if he had the 4 yr college degree when he enlisted.
13. Everywhere I went people were calling me sir. That's an outrage!
14. Wilmington is a beautiful city!
Okay just some ramblings about my trip. Much more but this will have to suffice.
Now for some musings and observations:
1. Smith Lake has a great MWR recreation area. One room cabins @ $25 a night with new shower facilities within yards. Camping sites at $15 a night with full hook ups. Currently under construction....2BR log cabins with indoor plumbing for $75 a night. Consider that it costs around $75 a night in hotels.
2. Stayed at the Airborne Inn @ $45 a night. Nice place and nice staff. Former SF from the 10th was working the desk. Bent over backwards to accomodate us.
3. The allotted uniform allowance does not come close to meeting the needs of our young soldiers. I'm trying to figure how I can get a tax deduction for supplementing, on a regular basis, that allowance.
4. Went searching for Desert Boots that are required, as stated by 18E cadre. $150 new. Found some new ones at a pawn shop for $60. They had an excellent selection and supply of them. Got me to wondering (always the cynical cop) where those boots come from. Hmmmmmmm. They certainly had new issue everything at half the cost.
5. Met some more of my sons friends in the pipeline. Ladies and Gentlemen.....Our country is in good hands. My son and 6 of his friends drove up to Washington to run the ARMY 10 Miler today! Gluttons for punishment.
6. Businesses are quick to offer discounts to cops..........why the hell don't they give that discount to the troops. Seems to me that the engine that drives Fayetteville's economy is Fort Bragg personnel. I witnessed more attempts to take advantage of the soldiers than to give them breaks. The ever present "We support our Troops" on marquees should read; "Our troops support us."
7. Comparing Fort Benning to Fort Bragg..........alot of effort goes into keeping Fort Bragg beautiful.
8. Both times I was at Fort Bragg this year the JFK special forces museum was closed!
9. The Airborne and Special Ops museum just keeps getting better!
10. There were collection boxes throughout the post for hurricane victims.
11. The E7s thru E9's have gotten alot younger from when I was in. When I was in they were all in their 70's (I thought)!
12. They sent a bunch of guys that were in the pipeline to E5 boards, as long as they met the 18 mo TIS and 4 mos TIG. So in theory an 18X could be promoted to E5 before he graduates. That is if he had the 4 yr college degree when he enlisted.
13. Everywhere I went people were calling me sir. That's an outrage!
14. Wilmington is a beautiful city!
Okay just some ramblings about my trip. Much more but this will have to suffice.