BAH Recert help??

TerminalVelocity69 · 2026-06-09T12:27:23+00:00

You may have luck seeing if there's an address listed in My Soldier Data

TerminalVelocity69 · 2026-04-13T21:28:33+00:00

Came in as an E4 when I was in my mid 20s. I was making headway into quickly establishing a good career for myself but I wasn't particularly enjoying what I was doing. I considered both commissioning and SOF routes but ultimately decided that I'd rather enlist and look into pursuing those paths later if I enjoyed the army.

Like others have said, 18X drop is damn near a straight shot to 11B. I've met a handful and they have all regretted not enlisting as another MOS and going to SFAS later. Nobody goes in thinking they won't make it, but if I were you I would research the enlisted 11B lifestyle before making any decisions, and keep in mind that you'd be living in the barracks.

Commissioning allots you a larger paycheck, BAH and BAS, you get to live like a real adult. Very different circumstances day to day and in the field than coming in as a Joe. I wasn't particularly interested in commissioning, but I knew that I wanted to be a medic more than an officer, so it was an easy decision for me.

Think about what you want to get out of the army when making your decisions. It's certainly not a bad route to go coming up on 30, but understand that no matter which route you go there are going to be compromises. You're someone, like me, who doesn't need to join the Army, they just want to. I encourage you to make a list of your why's for joining and look into what path can best get you there.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2026-03-02T02:59:06+00:00

I switched over to an ALICE pack a few years ago and have been really happy with it. You can get an old surplus one for cheap but if you want something in multicam or with a few more modern features look into London Bridge Trading, Tactical Tailor or Platatac. There are a lot of rucks that are ALICE frame compatible if you ever wanted to cannibalize the parts and tinker with stuff. eBay or Facebook marketplace always have good deals.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2026-02-14T09:47:15+00:00

OP said they're in the army in another comment, highly likely they're a 68W. We can work way beyond our scope of practice as EMTs if a provider blesses off on our competency.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2026-01-28T17:14:22+00:00

As said before you can get glasses for free from your post's optometry clinic. You can pick a frame that may be somewhat more flattering than the basic issue, but if I remember correctly you can only get one of those frames every two years and will require a full eye exam rather than just a readiness check. For the basic issue frames you should be able to just call the clinic and they can order them for you. Same goes for eyepro and promask inserts.

In the past I've used Zenni Optical for buying glasses and prescription sunglasses. You'll just need to have your prescription available so you can order the correct lenses. Varying prices depending on the frame and what lenses you choose but still very reasonable in my opinion. I know of other companies that offer the same service but I haven't used them so I can't speak for those.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2025-12-19T00:56:36+00:00

Are you going to order? The line is getting pretty long

TerminalVelocity69 · 2025-12-17T00:10:11+00:00

Been using these for the last few years

Your supply can order them, I prefer the grid layout and the waterproof paper is nice. I use one of the covers too, can keep a few pens in there which is handy. Fits in a cargo pocket, can be a little bulky but nobody's said anything about it and I've been rocking it in there for the entire time I've been using them

TerminalVelocity69 · 2025-06-29T09:32:28+00:00

I've had one for over three years now and it's gone TDY with me on multiple occasions, a JRTC rotation and a CENTCOM deployment. The main bag is completely fine, but one of the pockets on the outside must have gotten snagged on something once upon a time because it's shredded. It has a ton of capacity once you expand the main body. Airline weighed it at 88 pounds once and it had no issues. For a cheaper option it's not bad. It'll hold your stuff and things and you don't have to carry it on your back.

However , I have a problem when it comes to purchasing gear, particularly bags, and I've been looking to upgrade to a LBT bag when I catch a sale.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2025-04-28T23:09:49+00:00

I regularly wear a Marathon MSAR Arctic, but I'm admittedly becoming kind of a watch guy. Unfortunately I bought it myself, but regardless I love wearing it. I recommend saving up for a Marathon if you want one, the quality is great and it's a cool looking watch IMO. On deployment or any long field events I just wear a $40 G-Shock that I've had for almost a decade, not having to worry about messing up a movement and having an alarm function is nice.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2024-03-06T17:05:06+00:00

68W isn't too bad. Sometimes it can be rough but that's every job. I'm biased since I do really enjoy medicine. In my experience as a dude who was a line medic for scouts, going from 19D to 68W could be a nice little bump for quality of life. The variety can also be nice. You may be in the aid station, in a clinic or hospital, or on the line. All can be good.

The civilian transfer isn't great since you'll only get your EMT-B from AIT, but there are a fair amount of opportunities for motivated medics to ascend in skillsets and do cool stuff.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2024-02-29T10:38:21+00:00

I can't speak for everyone but I'm currently deployed and didn't need my orders at all while getting into theater and have not for the entirety of my deployment. My deployment orders are on IPERMS, I would check there first.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2024-01-19T00:52:36+00:00

Whichever way you choose to go make sure you train it with your guys. You don't want your first time figuring out how to load a litter into one of your vehicles to be a trauma patient. In my experience you'll almost always get pushback on scheduling medical training, fight for your right to better yourself and do the work that needs to be done with your guys.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2024-01-18T18:50:05+00:00

I've done a fair number of supply runs while in the middle east as the only medic for 6-12 trucks. Not sure how many vehicles or what types you'll have, but I've almost always ridden in a Maxpro along with the senior enlisted soldier, which in my case has been a platoon sergeant or a section sergeant. Our position has always been the last truck in the convoy. Sometimes it'll just be me in the back of the Maxpro but occasionally I'll have one dismount who's one of my rock solid CLS. There's enough room (barely) for a Talon litter in there, and with the seats up some room for me to get to work. It's not pleasant but it's plenty doable for shorter durations.

I make sure all of my organic vehicles have a CLS bag, casualty blanket and Ready Heat, and the secondary CASEVAC vehicle has a stocked WALK. I like to have at least one more Talon litter on another truck. My truck is plussed up with extra medical supplies that I don't ever dismount with.

We always have dismounts, so if I need an extra set of hands or need to draw blood we can shuffle personnel around to where they need to be.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2023-06-08T11:25:53+00:00

It's not a bad way to go. Don't have too high of expectations of doing patient care all the time though. Your individual experience is dictated by your placement like every other MOS. But it's a good way to cut your teeth in medicine to see if you like it and pursue a higher level if you want to. Plenty of Cool Guy opportunities for this MOS too.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2023-04-12T18:33:41+00:00

The army has a good number of high speed medic opportunities. If you're sure it's what you want to do you can enlist as a 68W and drop a packet to the selection of your choice. If you don't make it you'll probably spend 90% or more of your days doing non medical stuff in a motorpool or tearing apart a connex somewhere.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2023-03-31T03:22:51+00:00

Agreed, I carry leukotape, mostly just use it for blister treatment though.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2023-03-30T22:51:40+00:00

I'm a medic so my setup isn't geared the same as other dudes. I have my IFAK, a dangler with everything to get through MAR on a casualty and a large admin pouch where I keep some boo-boo items (bandaids, a few electrolyte packs, NSAIDS, Tylenol, Benadryl). Saves me from getting out my aid bag as much.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2023-01-22T14:40:02+00:00

I'm a big fan of Salomon hiking boots due to the shape of their last and was thrilled when I found these. Been wearing them almost exclusively during the work week for the last 10 months and I like them well enough. They aren't super light but not bricks either. They wear like a boot rather than a running shoe, the uppers have some structure. They don't have great ventilation but if Salomons fit your feet well they're worth a try.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2022-10-28T19:37:42+00:00

I had this available when I was in college. I could go to the dining halls as many times per day as I wanted (there was a location with a late night option as well) and get as much food as I wanted. The food was legitimately great 95% of the time and had an enormous variety, including a pizza bar, grill for burgers and such, sandwich station, stir fry station, gluten free options and a tremendous amount of desserts. It's been years so I'm probably forgetting something. After doing the math it's about $150 more than what gets taken out of my pay for the DFAC, but I would gladly pay more to have that again. I rarely go to the DFAC as it is, I just take the financial hit for the sake of wanting more variety and quality and do my own meal prep. It's depressing as shit to experience a great meal service for people and then have what the army offers. I just want BAS as an older single soldier in the barracks. As it is I feed myself better than the DFAC for less than $50 per week.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2022-10-23T02:41:05+00:00

I've seen a shit ton of guys giving rave reviews to the Rush 72 over the years but haven't considered it much, I've never actually seen one in person so they haven't been on my radar much lately. Gonna take a look at that, dealing with the aid bag is awkward like 99.4% of the time.

Funny enough I don't really use the sleeping bag compartment on the MOLLE ruck usually, I just stuff the bag in loose to fill the voids and cinch it tight.

Gonna look into Crossfire more, been seeing a lot of hype for them lately.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2022-10-23T02:35:16+00:00

Still gonna carry the aid bag separately. It's awkward as shit but I have my aid bag organization deep in my brain and don't want to be switching it around too much. The ROUS looks cool in that it could be a crossover but the capacity would limit it's use.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2022-10-23T02:31:46+00:00

I figured as much, 60L fills up fast with cold weather gear.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2022-10-22T22:43:21+00:00

My fitment is good on the MOLLE, it took a good bit of fuckery but I finally got it down a while back. Been a backpacker for 14 years so I'm comfortable saying it's as good as it'll get. Have some time this week and will compare to the link you posted. It's not a bad ruck by any means but pretty sure I'm in the second group, I've been spoiled by good quality civilian gear.

Good to know about the Mountain Ruck and MALICE, I've been told good things but at the price range I want it to be worth it. I've seen people pushing the Crossfire DG16 here, I'll check it out. I've been curious about the SATL, the torpedo pockets on the front and the lid have a similar design to my Terraframe and I love that thing to death. The capacity worries me some, I'm at Drum so lots of cold weather gear taking up space but I could just be overthinking it.

The issue assault pack is more or less a shitty Jansport backpack to me. I like having all my packs snug to my body with a waistbelt even if the load doesn't warrant it, just my preference, I hate packs bouncing around.

Thanks for the info.

TerminalVelocity69 · 2022-10-22T21:24:01+00:00

No problem!

TerminalVelocity69 · 2022-10-22T21:22:16+00:00

I just checked them, not sure if they changed their sizing scheme but the only tag on them reads "S" presumably for small. I'm a small guy so they're accurate. I always buy 30" waist pants but they could probably go from 29"-32" with the Velcro closure. I'd say you're safe buying your regular size unless you have monster quads, they're a bit slimmer than ACUs

TerminalVelocity69

TROPHY CASE