Are you a TA-50 equipment hoarder?

SFC Mark Merino — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 18:51:47 -0400

Do you require your own room just for your military wares?
Is Household 6 having a meltdown? When does it officially become "too much?"

Response by 1LT Nick Kidwell made Aug 18 at 2014 6:54 PM

1LT Nick Kidwell — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 18:54:44 -0400

I have gorilla boxes full of stuff still, and I've been out for 7 years.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 18 at 2014 7:08 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 19:08:50 -0400

Lets just say I'm prepared for what ever situation arises.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 18 at 2014 7:36 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 19:36:28 -0400

I'm laughing as I type this and say "NO", but my wife is walking out the door and said, "Yes that's you, a military hoarder!" Well that's BS. I did keep some things that I consider special momentos, but not many! But I'm not counting the pictures and things hanging on the wall in the garage either. But 1 Curio Cabinet and a couple pieces on tables is not too much. Now after we make this last move, my man room (war room) will not be bare. 1SG says so and that's FINAL!

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made Aug 18 at 2014 7:41 PM

MSG Wade Huffman — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 19:41:23 -0400

Well... I'll put it this way, when I retired, I had quite a few footlockers stored in the basement... 'just in case'.... after all, I was subject to recall until had 30 years. Well... the 30 years ended in July 2013 and my wife was VERY quick to remind me the hoards of footlockers in the basement was due to be thinned out. As of now, that has been dramatically thinned to 'just a few'!! LOL! I'm sure many of you will understand! LOL!

Response by MSG(P) Michael Warrick made Aug 18 at 2014 8:00 PM

MSG(P) Michael Warrick — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 20:00:23 -0400

All supply sergeants are !! LOL

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 18 at 2014 8:44 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 Aug 2014 20:44:38 -0400

Household 6 has only had that position for almost 2 months...just in time to PCS. They were dumbfounded by the footlockers stored in my garage and couldn't figure out why I had so much stuff. For now the situation is at a stand still since I argued the amount of "crap" they brought into the household which I swear is more than what I own. I fear however some stuff might "disappear" after we unpack lol

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2014 8:31 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 08:31:33 -0400

One of the many things I love about the military is that we get to unload our excess every three years or so. We have a rule that if a box remained unopened for the time we were on station it was not needed and could be donated/sold. That works great for civilian stuff...

On the other hand I have a ton of coins/plaques/uniforms/TA-50 to drive most spouses nuts. I don't know what will happen to it when I hit 20 (or longer) but I know I will keep the majority.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2014 12:08 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 12:08:59 -0400

Im ashamed to admit it.

My name is SFC Thomas and im a TA 50 hoarder. Every chance I get i collect and keep TA 50. I refuse to get rid of it until I final out from CIF for good lol. I would show you guys a picture BUT its a freaking mess in my garage.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2014 12:12 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 12:12:16 -0400

I could supply a military for a small third world country! But a hoarder no not at all, in my eye!! You never know when you might need something.

Response by SFC Robin Gates made Aug 19 at 2014 3:14 PM

SFC Robin Gates — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 15:14:23 -0400

19 yrs later still got my stash! Full LCE, Ranger ruck w/frame, K-pot ect. Household 6 gets upset, I just say "Don't make me build a man cave". Then I'd have to do 2: 1- with a military theme and 2- with a trucker theme (complete with pictures of Lot Lizards). Lol

Response by SSG William Patton made Aug 19 at 2014 3:51 PM

SSG William Patton — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 15:51:37 -0400

For many years my military memorabliia stayed in a couple of boxes in the back of a closet. One day, when I was bored, I decided to see what was in the boxes and only then did I realize just what treasures I had forgotten about. I found old ribbons, last worn when I came home from Vietnam, the orders sending me stateside and orders for my ETS. I had the uniform, now much too small, a pair of Ho Chi Minh sandals, dry rotten, my jungle boots also dry rotted, ratty jungle fatigues that were mildew laden and most important, a P-38 used to open C rations. That device brought back more memories, both good and bad, but it started me on a journey to embrace my service. I have accumulated many artilces of clothing and head gear reflecting the units I served with and aspects of my service that I now hold dear. That walk down memory lane helped me to overcome some of the demons that have haunted me for years and most importantly, make be very proud to have served my nation.

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Aug 19 at 2014 4:14 PM

Cpl Dennis F. — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 16:14:14 -0400

Oh Lord!
I have a 16'x24' reloading and assembly shack.
Coming from 3 gun competition and now the Tactical Carbine training I have decades of STUFF. Reloading and working up 14 calibers fills a lot of benches as does the cast bullet station.
As most of the students are new to this and are often not "geared up" or not properly, at any given time, I can kit up a fire team or so including plate carriers and NVDs.
Last year I decided that I wanted to build my own M4s, so that is more STUFF, parts, tools, jigs and gun safes to store the four so far built.
The STUFF seems to move around the house of its own volition depending on what training or fun day is coming up or needs cleaned up from. I have a number of inventory lists just to keep track of it all.
I have always suffered from too many interests and the collections shows...being single has its advantages.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Aug 19 at 2014 5:21 PM

SGT Richard H. — Tue, 19 Aug 2014 17:21:21 -0400

I still have TA50, Desert camo BDU's, Woodland BDU's....a complete gun shop in my garage, several products of said gun shop, I could keep going.....

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2014 3:14 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 03:14:08 -0500

I happen to have too many uniforms. They just accumulated from ROTC and LDAC. I honestly think all the army gear I have is a cost effective way to go camping. I love to camp with a well packed ruck, excellent sleep system and gortex boots. However I think it's better to travel with a real camping tent vs. setting up a hooch.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2014 3:20 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 03:20:54 -0500

Some RC units provide a place for and , in fact, insist on TA-50 load to be stored at the unit. I wish my current one did, so now I have converted my laundry room pantry into my own OCIE room. My stuff is divided into Shit I Will NEVER USE, Stuff only used on AT, and stuff I bring to every BTA. I also have all the training aids I have collected or created over the years, a whole box of weapons cleaning stuff (anyone need an OTIS cleaning set..I have a few) and all the extras that I have obtained during my career.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2014 5:59 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 05:59:03 -0500

Most of my office is all military stuff:

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Nov 16 at 2014 10:03 AM

CPT Jacob Swartout — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 10:03:48 -0500

I have a few boxes of older uniforms, boots, and other misc Army items in the garage. Not much because I won't allow it to get too out of control. Now I have seen some people who have 20+ boxes.

Response by SFC Dave Joslin made Nov 16 at 2014 2:15 PM

SFC Dave Joslin — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 14:15:05 -0500

Hahaha - great question - I would have to say yes...sort of. In the two years (almost) since my retirement, I have been able to consolidate my collection down to about 4 foot lockers. HH6 is actually encouraging retaining a lot of the items. Between deployments in both Iraq and Afghanistan, so much of my stuff (tac-vests, Aid Bags, etc.) has certain meaning and personal value to us, we just can't seem to part with it. As our children grow older and ask questions, and the thoughtful prospects of grandchildren one day (not any time soon we hope), these items of family history will only gain in value. We feel that it important to keep certain items around for our future generations in the family. For me, I am 5th generation military in my family blood-line, and as a family, we have fought in every engagement since the revolution - for us it's what we do. We want to be able to carry the history forward......and some of the stuff it just too useful and cool to get rid of!

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 16 at 2014 4:25 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 16 Nov 2014 16:25:47 -0500

I'm a hoarder period. I don't throw anything away. There isn't any space in the house for military memorabilia so I hang up everything in my office. 6 assignments in 8 years and not enough wall space for all my going away gifts. Not sure how I will be able to accumulate and keep 12 more years of military plaques and souvenirs, but am thankful for every piece!!!

Response by CSM Tony Bowen made Nov 17 at 2014 3:18 PM

CSM Tony Bowen — Mon, 17 Nov 2014 15:18:29 -0500

My wife knows I have one room and she has the rest of the house. None of my Military "I Love Me" stuff is in her way. Never Enough.
PS: There's always the Garage walls if I run out of room in my Special Place. LOL

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 18 at 2014 8:46 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 18 Dec 2014 20:46:35 -0500

I have some of my original ALICE gear from the mid-80s, and I recently came across a set of BDUs and a pair of jungle boots (with 550 cord laces).

Response by SSG John M. made Feb 8 at 2015 9:44 AM

SSG John M. — Sun, 08 Feb 2015 09:44:36 -0500

Still lol

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 2 at 2020 8:29 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 08:29:15 -0400

I have at least 10 duffel bags full of stuff in my attic. Afraid to get rid of any of it just in case when I finally do retire the Army is going to want back those 12 pairs of black socks I got issued in 1984....