US Army 1970-71.
In Basic training at Ft. Lewis Washington in February '70 I swear it rained 5 out of 7 days the entire time. I grew up in frigid Minnesota but NEVER felt as cold as I did during Basic because I was never dry. Pay was $80 a month...paid in cash.
We had a skinny little drill Sgt looked alot like Sammy Davis Jr and he was about the same size. His favorite harassment was to make you do push ups but the kicker was he'd sit on your back while you did them.
Went to jump school at Ft Benning Ga during the summer of '70, but never got to jump again after getting my wings and experiencing that wonderful pinning ceremony.
Being Jump qualified got me an extra $50 every month.
Jump school mess hall had a sign over the exit door. "If you are still hungry, why are you leaving?" Never saw that anywhere else before or after. That mess hall had the best food ever.
My MOS was 11B4P The 11B means I was a grunt...infantry. The P designates the Paratrooper training and the 4 refers to rank. I was a Buck Sgt E5 when I got out.
No regrets. Had some good times and got close to a few good guys, but in the end if my grandson in a few years wanted to join up I'd try to persuade him to do something else.