Hello! Been awhile, I debated weather I should post in the old 80s thread or just make a new one but I figured since the old one hasn't had any new posts since 2021 and I am not sure the rules here on resurrecting old threads that I'd just make a new one. 

So lets start at the very beginning, Basic Training. I'm curious of the whole process, when you joined what items did you receive? Pictured below is a 1981/1982 folder with paperwork for someone after enlisting. It has various official documents, stuff to read to learn more, even a plane ticket. Where these folders common or only a certain era? I've spoken to several vets and they never saw these folders. I find them really interesting (I've actually bought one 3 times but each time something happens - first the seller canceled, second one the seller never replied and I had to get a refund, and last time I got scammed, this folder is cursed for me lol) and wanna know if any of you ever saw them before? As for other items, did you get any other documents or paperwork, reading material like brochures or booklets about army/marine/navy/air force life or anything like that? I've seen various other stuff too like stickers, key chains, pens etc.

Follow up to that, what did you bring with you when you first reported to basic? Did they give you a list of items to bring? Obviously you would have your civilian clothes you are wearing and normally I see guys carrying bags or suitcases on the first few days. I have a list given to East German conscripts of items to bring when called up and it includes stuff like socks, towel, cutlery, shoe polish kit, sewing kit, shaving items etc, so I assume the US was probably similar?

When you were issued your uniforms at basic, how many were you issued? From what I understand it was 4 uniforms, 2 field jackets, 6 undershirts and underwear, 6 pairs of socks, and 2 patrol caps, is this correct? When issued how did the uniforms come? Did they come blank or did they have the nylon US ARMY tape already sewn on? From what I've been able to learn the nylon tapes were the issued type but many replaced it after basic training. I recently got a full roll of the name tape nylon, unused ofc, and then I found for sale 4 nylon name tapes but they were just one long piece of the nylon with the name stamped in back ink on it 4 times, so my assumption is that they would have the nylon rolls and just stamp the soldiers name 4 times and cut the whole strip off and then the soldier would cut it into 4 individual tapes to sew on their uniforms, which would explain the various size differences between them. Is this correct? Is that how you received them?

How did you mark your BDUs? I've seen so many different examples, some with name and a number written on the inside with black sharpie, sometimes a black ink stamp in the collar with name, I also from time to time see white cloth tape labels with numbers on the insides or paper tags stapled in, I assume these are laundry tags? 

Back to name tapes for a second, in the late 70s and throughout the 80s, the US Army used the nylon type (ofc as said above many guys would buy the non nylon type after basic and replace them), the USAF used the nylon as well but changed from the blue to the green in 1980 (at least that's what I was told). Now what about the US Navy and USMC? In the late 70s and early 80s the USMC used the ERDL RDF uniforms, I don't believe the marines ever used the 507s but please correct me if I'm wrong. The ERDL RDFs were just marked with an iron on EGA & USMC on the pocket. They did the same when they switched to the BDUs in 1981/82. At some point they started using name and branch tapes, when exactly? Late 80s is my current assumption. The Navy is a bit of a mystery to me, I assumed they really didn't use BDUs much until the 90s at which they just used the same branch and name tapes all of the other branches had standardized but I recently bought a first pattern 1981 dated BDU with US NAVY iron on stamp on the pocket, no other markings. What this the way the navy did it in the early 80s? 

For awhile (1981-1983) a lot of guys in the Army were issued 2 sets of OG-507s and 2 sets of BDUs, when did they finally stop issuing 507s in the army? I know the wear out date was 1985 for the army (1987 for nation guard) but id be surprised if any 507s were issued past 1983. I know you could buy them at the px and such but i'm talking about officially issued to you.

M81 Woodland M65 Field Jackets; now we know the BDU was adopted in 1981, and I have quite a few 1981 dated examples, I also have several 1981 dated patrol caps, but I have never seen a 1981 dated M65 in woodland. The earliest I've seen in a 1982 dated example. Given how most early photos from 1981-1983 show guys with OG M65s and BDUs, would I be correct in assuming the woodland M65s were not introduced until later? Even though I've seen a 1982 dated example they seem really rare, however the 1983 dated ones are fairly common.
 

Didn't mean to post yet but oh well, I have many more questions but this should be enough to start with. For the vets, if possible state the year and unit you served, would help a lot with research! Thanks everyone in advance!

Actually I have a few other questions I wanted to post now as well.

When issued a helmet, I've been told you would be issued a new sweatband for it. When you received the helmet (M1 or PASGT), would it have the old sweatband in it that you had to remove and then add yours or would it come without any band? Did the helmet cover with the cover already on or did you need to put it on yourself? 

On the topic of helmets; the helmet bands, when did they start adding the cat eyes to them? Late 70s? Also what was commonly marked on them? I've heard some would put on them with a pen or marker rank or last name, blood type, roster/service number and some said they used colored tape, like red tape for A company and blue for B Company, just a small band on either the from or each side. I assume this depended on the unit and year. 

Interesting project.

I was OSUT June 1984, Ft McClellan AL, MP School

 

When we arrived we were sent to the Reception Station for in process.  Medical, eyeglasses; 2 pair,  paperwork, dog-tags; 2 sets, hair cuts, briefings, shots and learning how to just sit around waiting.  Had enough clothing for 3 days was what I was told to bring.

4 sets of BDU, 2 Field Jackets, 2 sets of boots.  Name tags were applied while I was in line waiting once my sizes were given to me. All nylon, printed name.  All stuffed in duffel bag once collected.  All BDUs were what we called Elvis Collar heavy ones.  We were directed to use our Roster NUmber and Last name to mark clothing..ie:  A11 Scott9773.  I used a sharpie; no marking kits.

2 belts, 1 bk buckle, 1 brass.  Polish black belt tip to get back to brass under it.

white t-shirts for dress shirts. Brown tshirts, briefs and green boot socks.

2 pair of DMS boots. 1set had to have a white blotch of paint on the rear top so the DI could assure we rotated boots each day.

Company specific and branch color PT gear.

never saw one of the green folders.  Must have only been at some of the MEPS stations to give out. Used up old stock?> no idea.

upon arrival at Company we were taken to the PX to get specific stuff for display and use…toothpaste, soap, comb etc.. some I never used but it was on display.

At CIF we got the field gear.  Nothing was assembled, DIs showed us how to put everything together the way they wanted it. We did get OD winter field pants to use on combat courses to save wear on our BDU pants. We got steel helmets, liners and woodland covers…guess some were late ERDL ones too looking back at my BCT picture book.

At Bn Arms Room we were issued with our Weapons card and Gas Mask cards.  A bunch of us got brand new rebuilt M16A1s heat sealed to a sheet of brown cardboard along with the sling, TM and 1 magazine.  Mine was stamped on the mag well A N A D 10 83.  Kept it for 16 weeks…..well in the arms room when not using it.

Next was Benning for Abn School.  Same story but less TA50.  Still using steel helmets.

Ft Bragg.  Replacement comapny.  Wait for assignment to unit that needed you.  I went to the 82nd MP Co.  CIF was much the same. Got Kevlar helmets at Bragg.  Mine was a new one so all new stuff.  Did have a white one with big Red Cherrys on it till I made my first 82nd jump.

lots of purchased uniforms the rest of the time.  We always replaced our name tapes with embroidered ones.  Jump boots were mandatory.

while at Bragg were were authorized to purchase OG107 jungle fatigues from clothing sales.  I remember a SET was just over $7.  OD jungle boots was SOP 

 

my last issued uniform was OCP (Multicam) in 2011-12 for Afghanistan.

Greetings, I went through basic and ait jan - june 82.

In basic we were issued 4 sets woodland BDUs, with green T shirts.

Green boxers, green socks. And a Green OD field jacket and liner.

They did not have enough woodland field jackets in the system.

We also were issued black boots and low quarters. We did PT in boots back then.

They did not have PT uniforms. Or sneakers.

At my guard unit I was issued my TA 50. I got a brand new helmet and liner.

That varied as to what ever supply issued you. Some guys got WW2 lids and liners and had to cut the

WW2 chin straps off the steel and attach the clip on ones.

I lucked out with a brand new un issued M1 helmet and liner.

And a woodland cover. I still have it.

In my time in I was a rifleman, M16 / Grenadier-M203 and I carried the M60.

As a side arm we were issued WW2 .45's with the M60 machine gun. I carried the M60 for 2 years in the guard.. We traveled in jeeps and 2and a half ton trucks and M880 pick ups. And Huey helicopters.

The shots. It was like 3 or 4 guys on each side with air injectors and we filed past and got shots in both arms real quick. We had our own version of gomer pyle and I remember that he jumped and got a cut across his bicep and they had to hold him and knock him up again. We had 6 or 7 guys in our platoon who were sent home.

For various reasons. Some physical some mental, etc etc.

Our gomer never made it through basic. He ran away and they caught him hitchhiking in Georgia in his BDUS. They brought him back and a couple weeks latter he was gone. The bigger guys in our platoon gave Gomer a GI shower when he came back cause he stunk....

He chased them around the barracks threatening to kill them after wards.

Gomer was a big guy. But a Gomer. He was not fit for service. Honestly.

I kinda felt bad for him but things like that happened.

 

The dog tags the labels on our clothes- I used a marker, the army used laundry marks. Little tabs with numbers ironed into the clothes.

The boots had name and ss number inside.... and yes I have to mention this.

When they walked us into the area to get our clothes in basic....

I remember the sign over the door.

"You are about to become the best dressed soldier in the world."

And I cannot describe the smell of the place but all those uniforms etc

had a definite smell. Like maybe how a big department store clothing section would smell.

And the guys that measured us and doled out the clothing and boots knew what they were doing.

One guy would sing out you size and say grab your bag your box and move it on down the line.

I was impressed with the entire set up. And we had to go to the Gym on base to get paid.

The guards at the door had M16's and you had to hold your id card under your chin and file in and pay

was done alphabetically. If I remember right you could get cash and travelers checks.

Back then I kept a little cash and sent most of it home as travelers checks.

Lights went out at 9 and on at I think 4:00 am.

We were usually up quick and cleaning the barracks before chow. The barracks the bathrrom

the brass pipes on the sinks etc etc the floors buffed.

You own bed and personal space all had to be squared away before chow.

Rooster, I just noticed your tag line.  Cheetos?  Are you a lover of those things too?  I consider myself a “Cheeto Connoisseur” 

 

 

I think now that my time in served me well.

I got to realize how good we have it in America.

How nice it is to have a home of some sort where you can

turn up the heat when you are cold, turn the air on when hot,

walk to the kitchen and grab an ice cold coke, take a bath or shower.

Having a toilet. Watching a storm from a window while sipping hot coffee.

All of it..... I came to realize how blessed we all are .......

I came to really appreciate it all and still do.

After a couple weeks in the field sleeping on the ground once a year and a weekend a month for well over a decade........

It all made me value and appreciate our country. Home. The little things... Electricity!

How good we have it.

 

1 hour ago, The Rooster said:

Greetings, I went through basic and ait jan - june 82.

In basic we were issued 4 sets woodland BDUs, with green T shirts.

Green boxers, green socks. And a Green OD field jacket and liner.

They did not have enough woodland field jackets in the system.

We also were issued black boots and low quarters. We did PT in boots back then.

They did not have PT uniforms. Or sneakers.

At my guard unit I was issued my TA 50. I got a brand new helmet and liner.

That varied as to what ever supply issued you. Some guys got WW2 lids and liners and had to cut the

WW2 chin straps off the steel and attach the clip on ones.

I lucked out with a brand new un issued M1 helmet and liner.

And a woodland cover. I still have it.

In my time in I was a rifleman, M16 / Grenadier-M203 and I carried the M60.

As a side arm we were issued WW2 .45's with the M60 machine gun. I carried the M60 for 2 years in the guard.. We traveled in jeeps and 2and a half ton trucks and M880 pick ups. And Huey helicopters.

 

I got in exactly two years earlier. I’m curious if anyone has come across this. We were issued maybe a half dozen white cloth name tags that were later sewn into different parts of our uniform or equipment. The first one I remember was for the head or sweat band we fastened to the webbing in our steel pot. Also our original issue of two sets of black boots had the nametags sewn in-

Rob

56 minutes ago, BeansEnHay said:

I got in exactly two years earlier. I’m curious if anyone has come across this. We were issued maybe a half dozen white cloth name tags that were later sewn into different parts of our uniform or equipment. The first one I remember was for the head or sweat band we fastened to the webbing in our steel pot. Also our original issue of two sets of black boots had the nametags sewn in-

Rob

I never saw that. 

We did get two pairs of boots but

they stamped our names and numbers in.

 

After a month in basic,

they put the whole company on

buses and took us to the USO in Columbia.

For a couple hours. They let us drink beer.

I myself drank two 16ounce beers.

I wont write what happened afterwards

but safe to say most of the company caught a buzz at the USO.

It was a controlled mess. I wonder if they still do things like that?

I seriously doubt it. But maybe?

They also marched us all to the post theater once during basic.....

to watch Stripes.

It was a new movie at the time.

The food in basic was mostly good but

you did not have much time to eat it and you could not talk.

I think the pay for a private E1 at that time was around $750.00 a month.

 

 

16 hours ago, BeansEnHay said:

I got in exactly two years earlier. I’m curious if anyone has come across this. We were issued maybe a half dozen white cloth name tags that were later sewn into different parts of our uniform or equipment. The first one I remember was for the head or sweat band we fastened to the webbing in our steel pot. Also our original issue of two sets of black boots had the nametags sewn in-

Rob

I remember the white printed name tags. Somewhere I think I still have one. We were also given white tape to put inside our shoes and boots with our name and SSN. Ft. Puke Louseyanna, December 1972.

 Ah! And here it is! I realize this was from the 1970's but some things don't change much for the Army over time.

5 hours ago, The Rooster said:

After a month in basic,

they put the whole company on

buses and took us to the USO in Columbia.

For a couple hours. They let us drink beer.

I myself drank two 16ounce beers.

I wont write what happened afterwards

but safe to say most of the company caught a buzz at the USO.

It was a controlled mess. I wonder if they still do things like that?

I seriously doubt it. But maybe?

They also marched us all to the post theater once during basic.....

to watch Stripes.

It was a new movie at the time.

The food in basic was mostly good but

you did not have much time to eat it and you could not talk.

I think the pay for a private E1 at that time was around $750.00 a month.

 

 

We had liberty at a on post Class 6 PX and could have a beer after a few weeks into BCT.  Got off post liberty after BCT and thru AIT.

Are we into those stories now?🤣 At Ft. Polk, which was in the south, the barracks were off the ground in some instances. Me, the guy above the 'LL' in the nametape and the Black guy above the left corner would saunter down to the PX, purchase a 6-pack of PBR and crawl under the barracks to consume same. Helped along by the straightened joint my wife had sent through the mail. Fun to sneak back up to the porch after and listen to the smokers speculate where that marijuana smell was coming from.🙄 My Black buddy went by the unlikely name of Private Hargrove!😆

Does anyone know how the NBC warning flags were deployed and set up, more specifically how the flags themselves attached to the pool

For example, I'm referring to these 

 

 I'm not sure so I'll be guessing here, but I would think they would be attached by their upper corners to a rope or wire that surrounded the impact area.

We had NBC detection kits and NBC marking kits that had the marker flags for each type on a spool.  The ones I remember self hooked to itself.  The area was to be marked off.

NBC is now referred to a CBRN. 

I suspect if you googled NBC Marking Kit you could most likely find a video…..everything is on YouTube

On 3/3/2025 at 2:39 AM, Rhscott said:

Rooster, looking good and very ok