Did you know that Military members used to be paid in cash?

Sgt Kelli Mays — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 23:31:53 -0500

I searched online for an article about how the military used to get paid, but could not find one.

I was having diner with my father tonight who came into town for the night. Somehow we started talking about Military history and he told me that when he first joined the Air Force way back when that he was paid in cash. He would receive a voucher and then have to stand in line for ever to get up to the table where cash was handed out. Not in an envelope, but just cash...handed to you.

My father also said that Officers were paid on the 15th and last day of the month and enlisted were paid??? Can't remember what he said, but I'm sure there are many RP members who can fill in the blank for me.

My father said that it wasn't till he was stationed in Japan that he started receiving checks and when the Military started paying by check the pay dates changed and both Officers and Enlisted were paid on the same day.

I would find it weird and inconvenient to be paid by cash.

I prefer direct deposit.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Dec 1 at 2015 11:36 PM

SN Greg Wright — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 23:36:07 -0500

Sgt Kelli Mays I remember standing in pay lines. Waiting an hour for my cash to be handed to me. That was as recent as 91.

Response by SSgt Terry P. made Dec 1 at 2015 11:36 PM

SSgt Terry P. — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 23:36:59 -0500

Sgt Kelli Mays I remember very well reporting for pay and signing a pay roster,then getting paid in cash,not much cash, but cash.

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Dec 1 at 2015 11:39 PM

LTC Bink Romanick — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 23:39:41 -0500

Sgt Kelli Mays I remember reporting for pay in cash $78 a month. I also remember being a Class A Agent. I'm old,

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Dec 1 at 2015 11:43 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 23:43:40 -0500

I actually had to report for pay in 1992.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Dec 1 at 2015 11:49 PM

LTC Stephen C. — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 23:49:36 -0500

I was paid in cash a few times, Sgt Kelli Mays, in the early seventies! In the Army, it was the only instance in which you would salute, but the pay officer was not required to return the salute. All those to be paid would form a line and remain at parade rest. The pay officer would call your name, you would walk up to the pay officer's table, and say, for instance, "Private Curlee reports for pay." You would salute and then drop your hand. You would then be paid in bills and coins.
On the other side of the coin (so to speak) being the pay officer (Class A Agent) was an awful detail. It was an additional duty and much responsibility went with it. Usually, a junior officer and a senior NCO would first go to the armorer and each would draw a handgun with ammunition. The weapons were loaded. You then went and signed for a huge amount of money (bills and coins). It was the pay officer's responsibility to apportion the money out correctly to each soldier. If the pay officer came up short at the end, he made up the difference out of his own pocket!
One pay officer that I reported to took his job quite seriously. When we went in to report for pay, he had his M1911A1, locked and loaded, and placed on the table by his right hand! SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt Terry P. LTC Bink Romanick Capt Seid Waddell CSM Charles Hayden SGT Jerrold Pesz SGT Mark Anderson
LTC Private RallyPoint Member, our stories tally!
PO3 Bob McCord, here’s the earlier thread I mentioned. It was started by Sgt Kelli Mays.

Response by PVT Robert Gresham made Dec 2 at 2015 12:01 AM

PVT Robert Gresham — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 00:01:59 -0500

When I entered the service in 1982 Sgt Kelli Mays, there was always a pay call on the 1st and the 15th. I guess I continued seeing pay calls until the early 90's when I was stationed in Germany. I believe direct deposit became mandatory around January 1, 1995, although it was "strongly encouraged" before that.

Response by CDR Brian Rinaldi made Dec 2 at 2015 12:06 AM

CDR Brian Rinaldi — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 00:06:23 -0500

When I first joined the Navy I used to get paid in cash on the ship and all the wives and girlfriends would line up on the pier. Things have changed a lot in 38 years!

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Dec 2 at 2015 12:09 AM

CSM Charles Hayden — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 00:09:56 -0500

SPC Margaret Higgins PVT Hayden reporting for pay Sir!

In Korea, 1954/55 we were paid in Military Payment Currency, a version of the Korean 'Won' (sp).

To deter black marketing, absolutely unannounced, every year or so MPC was changed to a different color, version and general appearance.

If any one had prior knowledge of the changeover date, they could have bought the old currency and cashed it in before the changeover date which instantly rendered yesterday's MPC worthless.

Possesion of yesterday's currency, by GIs or indiginous personnel was like having a losing poker hand, useless!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2015 12:10 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 00:10:20 -0500

Stand in 1 line with ID to get check
Sign check. Report to pay Officer.
Cash check with pay Officer.
1SG in next line collecting for Soldier Home,CFC, etc
Fist full of dollars head to bank to get Deutsche Marks
Head downtown

Wash rinse repeat. Life in Germany in the 80's...lol

Response by SGT Jerrold Pesz made Dec 2 at 2015 12:16 AM

SGT Jerrold Pesz — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 00:16:51 -0500

Yep. But where I was only the lower ranks were paid that way. On pay day our company XO and I went to finance and got a big bag of cash which we had to count and sign for. We also had a printout of what each person got paid. The people got in line and as each one came up to our little table we both counted out their money and they signed for it. We were told that if we came up short we had to make it up since we had both counted and signed for it. We were never short but you had to be very careful. The money was all new bills and they liked to stick together. This was also when we extorted money from the troops when there was a United Fund drive. The CO always wanted 100% participation so we had two big yellow legal pad on the desk. Those who chose to donate got their name and the amount on one list. The other sheet said "Confined to Barracks" in big letters on the top. If you chose not to make a voluntary donation your name went on that list. The explanation was that if you can't afford to donate at least a dollar you obviously have a money problem so we were helping you to save money. It was to your benefit. After the plan was explained everyone always managed to donate a dollar. That was probably not even legal but that was how it worked. Above E3 we got a check twice a month.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2015 12:21 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 00:21:29 -0500

When I was with the ABCT in Vicenza in the early 1980s, LTs and CPTs would serve as pay officers for the Bn. You had to go to finance and count the money, both US dollars and Lire. Then you would pay the troops, and they could get it in part dollars and part Lire. You had to make sure you did the conversion right, because if it didnt all add up at the end of the day you were on the hook for the missing amount. It used to be one of those military trivia questions on Soldier of the Month boards that being a pay officer is the time that an officer doesnt return a soldiers salute when he reports for pay.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2015 1:02 AM

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 01:02:13 -0500

I was paid in travelers checks when i first joined the Army back in 88.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Dec 2 at 2015 1:06 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 01:06:42 -0500

I was never paid in cash, but I heard stories of bases that had difficult relationships with the locals before the commander had the men paid with $2 bills. It gave the townspeople a tangible sense of the value the base added to the area when the merchants were all flooded with $2 bills.

Response by SSG Audwin Scott made Dec 2 at 2015 1:12 AM

SSG Audwin Scott — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 01:12:03 -0500

I didn't get paid in cash,but I remember the cashier checks.

Response by SGT Francis Wright made Dec 2 at 2015 1:51 AM

SGT Francis Wright — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 01:51:33 -0500

I remember getting paid in cash in Basic. We would get paid and then go to another officer to by travelers checks. Since we were only allowed 50 dollars in cash. Fun times.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2015 2:14 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 02:14:17 -0500

I think it seems weird to get paid in cash due to the reflection of societal norms as they currently stand in 2015. But in the past, I don't think anybody had an issue with it.

Response by 1stSgt Eugene Harless made Dec 2 at 2015 2:14 AM

1stSgt Eugene Harless — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 02:14:34 -0500

I recieved Cash in Boot Camp, and hard checks after. One exception was while on deployment in 1981 we were paid in cash. They would hold our pay until we hit port then we signed a roster, Reflecting back on it, it was not that great of a thing. There was a lot of lockers broken into and people had hundreds of dollars stolen.

Response by MSgt Curtis Ellis made Dec 2 at 2015 2:14 AM

MSgt Curtis Ellis — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 02:14:47 -0500

The good ole days!!! LOL!

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Dec 2 at 2015 2:49 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 02:49:02 -0500

In the days before PII, there was a clipboard outside the Disbursing Office aboard ship. You'd look up your name, see what your total balance was, and then write in how much cash you wanted. So if you weren't going to a port, you'd draw enough for stuff at the Gedunk like toothpaste, etc. Back in homeport, you'd get a check.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Dec 2 at 2015 3:49 AM

PO1 John Miller — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 03:49:24 -0500

I got paid by paper check when I first came in. As SN Greg Wright and PO1 William "Chip" Nagel said, I would then have to stand in line to cash it, both on the ship and at Boot Camp.

Shortly after I got on the ship, I was encouraged to enroll in Direct Deposit. I had to open up a bank account to do that!

I had problems with that bank so I closed the account and went back to paper checks for a while, until I was pretty much "ordered" to open an account. This was right before Direct Deposit became mandatory.

Response by SFC Stephen King made Dec 2 at 2015 5:16 AM

SFC Stephen King — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 05:16:54 -0500

PFC King (Salutes) Reporting for Pay. Yes, I remember...

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2015 5:31 AM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 05:31:28 -0500

I was paid in cash early on, but the Army was moving away from that. We soon had a choice of a check or direct deposit. I do remember pay call though. Joined up in 1975.

Response by CW4 Guy Butler made Dec 2 at 2015 5:47 AM

CW4 Guy Butler — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 05:47:51 -0500

Yep. 1st and 15th, get in line to get cash, then get in line for traveller's checks.

There was a reason we used to have payday activities...

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Dec 2 at 2015 5:53 AM

SSG Gerhard S. — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 05:53:17 -0500

I was paid in cash as well, at least, at first. We would set a WHOLE day aside for "Payday activities". We would go to the post gymnasium, wait in line, report to a officer for pay, and receive cash. Afterward there was a formation, maybe a class of some sort, then we were typically released for the rest of the day.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2015 7:26 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 07:26:28 -0500

Yes. I was paid in cash for my first four years.

Response by SP5 Mark Kuzinski made Dec 2 at 2015 7:48 AM

SP5 Mark Kuzinski — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 07:48:16 -0500

Yes I do!

Response by 1SG Nick Baker made Dec 2 at 2015 8:06 AM

1SG Nick Baker — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 08:06:32 -0500

Early '80s, if not 1980, we went to check to bank. We could get paid mid and end of month. Ft Hood had long pay lines, guards every where, and helicopters circling. Pay lines were long, I want to say 45 minutes to an hour for a little over $100. Beer was a nickel, combat boots $10, Jump boots $15, a complete set of fatigues about $15. CSR (can't remember st--). Then you got to buy what was missing from the layouts.

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Dec 2 at 2015 9:18 AM

LTC Stephen F. — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 09:18:03 -0500

Yes, I remember being paid in cash after reporting to the pay officer Sgt Kelli Mays.
Of course way back then we were paid a lot less.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Dec 2 at 2015 9:44 AM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 09:44:33 -0500

Sgt Kelli Mays Roger that! My Dad could tell you stories about certain guys waiting right at the pay lines to collect from guys that owed them money on payday. Loan Sharks in the military loaning money to guys who ran out early and then charging them a lot of interest. Sometimes collecting at the payline got a little tough when some soldiers didn't want to pay up. Unbelievable and unfortunate that this kind of stuff happened then and in some cases still may be happening today - just a little tougher to get the cash when you have direct deposit. Just a little added history

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Dec 2 at 2015 9:46 AM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 09:46:36 -0500

Not I, but my dad and several relatives. My understanding is that right after you left the pay Officer with your fresh green money, you got to run the gauntlet of charities/unit fund/etc. .....

Response by MSgt James Mullis made Dec 2 at 2015 10:11 AM

MSgt James Mullis — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 10:11:49 -0500

Yes. According to my Dad, a favorite trick for Commanders when the money plane didn't arrive on time, was to begin a 3 day alert. No one could leave the base and no one got paid till it was over. As you can imagine, this put a huge strain on young airman with kids who were living from paycheck to paycheck.

Response by CDR Terry Boles made Dec 2 at 2015 10:28 AM

CDR Terry Boles — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 10:28:17 -0500

Sgt Kelli Mays
My days aboard ship in the 70s the crew was always paid in cash. Disbursing had the paper list of money available to every crew member come payday. Some, including myself a time or two, would keep money on the "books" from one payday to another...came in handy when deployed.

Not sure if this "cash payday" aboard ships is still practiced with today's technology, but I sure appreciated not having to stand in lines to cash a government check like so many others at naval bases.

Response by PO2 Michael Henry made Dec 2 at 2015 10:48 AM

PO2 Michael Henry — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 10:48:30 -0500

Well yeah they did get paid in cash, they didn't have direct deposit or places to cash checks back in Vietnam... I wasn't there just making a joke. I have no idea when the change was made though...

Response by SSG Todd Halverson made Dec 2 at 2015 10:53 AM

SSG Todd Halverson — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 10:53:27 -0500

I remember back in '85 we were paid in cash during basic. Stand in line with ID card in hand waiting to get called. Pay Officer calls you forward, verifies information and you sign for your pay. report to cashier and receive your pay, all under the watchful eye of armed guards. Then report outside and get into formation to march to the PX / Shopette. Get needed items, pay for them and then head to customer service counter to exchange the rest of your cash for a money order, except for a few dollars. Then, march back to barracks and write a letter to parents and mail money order home. Thankfully once I got to AIT, they started making direct deposit available.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2015 11:19 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 11:19:14 -0500

Back in the day, we had to report for pay.
You'd go to the gym in class A's and wait in line for an officer to dispense the cash.
Chances were, the troops in the barracks would have it all blown by the end of the weekend.

Only us old Soldiers remember these days, but for you younger ones, this is where the tradition of "pay day activities" comes from. Soldiers would work a half day so they could get to the bank, pay bills, and run errands.
The Commissary and PX were nuthouses on pay day.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Dec 2 at 2015 12:16 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 12:16:02 -0500

Trace it further back, and once we were paid with promissory notes. Keep going far back enough and I'm sure it was little bags of gold ;)

Response by SFC Wade W. made Dec 2 at 2015 12:36 PM

SFC Wade W. — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 12:36:37 -0500

I enlisted in 1983 and we were paid in cash until you got to your first duty assignment. And then you put in the paperwork for direct deposit which took about 3 months to kick so you still had to stand in the for pay call, get cash, go to the bank and get cashier's checks to pay your bills. That's why we had Payday activities. To pay bills. Only got paid once a month.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Dec 2 at 2015 1:20 PM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 13:20:14 -0500

I remember moving forward, reporting for pay, receiving greenbacks. Days long gone.

Response by Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin made Dec 2 at 2015 2:20 PM

Maj Kevin "Mac" McLaughlin — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 14:20:38 -0500

I was paid in cash initially when I first started in the Air Force in 1994. There was a lag time for them to get you set up with a direct deposit so they had you go to finance and collect your first pay check in cash. Usually took on pay period to work out the direct deposit issues but some took longer.

Response by SPC Andrew Griffin made Dec 2 at 2015 3:57 PM

SPC Andrew Griffin — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 15:57:02 -0500

Yes! And I remember getting the Government checks out in the Field!

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 2 at 2015 4:37 PM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 16:37:14 -0500

Yeah...that's why they call it "Pay Day Activities." There was a time when there weren't ATM machines and on line banking. The finance team would arrive and would hand out the pay.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Dec 2 at 2015 4:59 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 16:59:30 -0500

One of the problems of paying Iraqi soldiers is they had no bank accounts. They were given bags for their pay and time off to take the money to the family. I heard many were often mugged on this journey.

Response by PO3 Sherry Thornburg made Dec 2 at 2015 6:30 PM

PO3 Sherry Thornburg — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 18:30:06 -0500

Occasionally paid in special scripts and locally paid in silver dollars.

Response by MSgt Bj Jones made Dec 2 at 2015 7:14 PM

MSgt Bj Jones — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 19:14:52 -0500

My dad and stepdad were both career Navy men. I remember my stepdad telling me how he went to collect his paycheck at a window. There was a long line in front of him. By the time he made it to the window, the payroll clerk saw that it was closing time and shut the window--right in front of my stepdad. If I remember the story right, Dad was the last person or there were just a few Sailors left to get their pay, and the payroll clerk refused to open the pay window after shutting it in their faces.

Response by Sgt Jay Jones made Dec 2 at 2015 10:32 PM

Sgt Jay Jones — Wed, 02 Dec 2015 22:32:11 -0500

Sgt Kelli Mays my MOS when I was in the Marine Corps was 3421/Disbursing man. I was on active duty from 1969-1974. Early in my tour of duty we paid Marines in cash. Each Company Commander or his designee would report to the Disbursing Officer and draw the appropriate monies for his/her company and with an armed NCO would set about to pay all company personnel. Marines would submit their military ID cards and sign on their respective line and receive their designated pay. Signed payroll rosters would be returned to the Disbursing Officer for auditing. Sometime between 1972 and 1974 the Marine Corps began transitioning to a program that would eventually include all branches of the military it was called "JUMPS" which was a acronym for Joint Uniformed Military Pay System. I was discharged prior to it's full implementation.

Response by CW4 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 3 at 2015 3:14 AM

CW4 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 03:14:48 -0500

Yep.

Response by COL John Hudson made Dec 3 at 2015 7:16 AM

COL John Hudson — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 07:16:37 -0500

Kelli. I enlisted in the Army on Aug 22, 1966 at age 19. This was still the "old" Army...we tore boards off the windows of barracks that had been stored since the end of WWII and trained with M14 rifles. Women did not join "our" Army - they joined the "Women's Army Corp" (WACs). My very first payday as a Pvt. E-1 had me report to a paymaster (Captain) who sat at a small field desk, had me repeat my service number, then placed the princely sum of $71.00 into my eager hands. If you consider the most money I ever made as a civilian up to that point was about $30 a month, you can understand my thinking of how in the world I would spend so much money!

Response by SCPO Larry Poffenbarger made Dec 3 at 2015 1:18 PM

SCPO Larry Poffenbarger — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 13:18:04 -0500

Prior to deployment ( Old Tin Can Navy ) I was detailed along with another PO to accompany our Supply Office to the Base Disbursing Office to pick up payroll and expense funds for out trip to the Med. Two large canvas and leather bags full of large bills. All three of us with loaded .45s. I also remember everyone being paid in $2 bills in Norfolk. $2 bills were everywhere for months. This was back in the 50s.

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Dec 3 at 2015 4:44 PM

PO1 Glenn Boucher — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 16:44:54 -0500

Onboard ship we used to be paid in cash. The disbursing clerks would bring the pay rosters and money to the mess decks with a Marine armed guard and set up for payday.
I remember you could draw your entire check or take a portion of it by writing the amount you wanted to get and then signing.
It was kind of nice to get the cash in your hand.

Response by CW2 Carl Swanson made Dec 3 at 2015 6:15 PM

CW2 Carl Swanson — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 18:15:37 -0500

I think they made us change to direct deposit sometime around '90 or '91.

Response by SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT made Dec 3 at 2015 6:54 PM

SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT — Thu, 03 Dec 2015 18:54:00 -0500

Yes we lined up in a big room and had to report to the paymaster to receive our pay
There would be various desks so you could pay different bills.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2015 1:06 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 01:06:23 -0500

I remember getting paid in cash a couple or so times, earlier in my career. Of course, they eventually progressed to checks, and then direct deposit.

This was all before technology became what it is today. We didn't always have the Internet around, ya know. :-)

Response by CSM Tony Bowen made Dec 4 at 2015 9:41 AM

CSM Tony Bowen — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 09:41:38 -0500

"Sir, Private Bowen reporting to Pay Officer!"
Usually an NCO. LOL
Cash in hand!

Response by SGT Rick Ash made Dec 4 at 2015 7:08 PM

SGT Rick Ash — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 19:08:46 -0500

I remember it well. I was active duty in 1973 and during BCT the D.I.'s would choose me as a guard. I carried an M16A1 but no ammo. There was also a time when the services paid in "Scrip" which all of the shops off base took like food stamps with no restrictions on alcohol and tobacco.
Thanks,
Rick

Response by 1SG David Niles made Dec 4 at 2015 11:05 PM

1SG David Niles — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 23:05:27 -0500

I use to have pay officer guard duty was paid once a month in cash by the pay officer

Response by Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth made Dec 14 at 2015 11:26 AM

Lt Col Scott Shuttleworth — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 11:26:41 -0500

It wasn't weird or inconvenient at all...as a matter of fact I really liked it. I remember in 1985 at basic training that you went to the window, they counted out your pay, you verified by counting out your pay before you left (cause if you left and it was wrong...you lost), signed the roster and got back in formation. When you got back to your barracks, you had to record the serial numbers of all your bills in case they came up "missing". If you spent anything you had to redo the list and keep it current as it was an inspectable item during basic. I also remember filling out travel vouchers and handing them in at the finance window. They calculated them right there and paid you the cash you were due. I liked both cash processes. I didn't like it when it got e-deposited to your account. If I had cash it was up to me to put it in the bank or bury it outside in a coffee can...but it was my decision... now it goes directly to my bank and I have to go get cash when I want it versus having it in hand.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Dec 14 at 2015 3:04 PM

SFC Pete Kain — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 15:04:48 -0500

Ahh the good old days, getting paid in cash and then walking the gauntlet of everybody collecting for this and that.

Response by COL John Hudson made Dec 14 at 2015 8:15 PM

COL John Hudson — Mon, 14 Dec 2015 20:15:26 -0500

True anecdote: In Saigon (1968), a young Air Force Captain was paymaster for his unit. He drove his jeep to the Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon, parking it in front of the PX there for a quick dash inside. He conveniently forgot he left the entire payroll bag for his unit (+$90,000.00 in military script) in full view on the seat. It should come as no surprise it was gone when he came out!!! Script, which we shortened to "P" - was issued in differing colors on unannounced dates. Each base/post was locked down and everyone had to report to the paymaster to turn in, for example, old (Yellow) for new (Purple) script that day or lose it all. While it was worthless anywhere else, the thief would have had one hell of a time in Vietnam until the next color change. Using Script in this manner was an attempt to cut down the local black markets. I had a very unfortunate Vietnamese business woman approach me just outside the wire when one such event took place. She offered me $10,000.00 as a commission if I would take all of her old Script (about $30,000.00) and turn it in. I had to explain to her as kindly as I could that at my rank, no one would ever believe I had that kind of money on me at any time, it was illegal, and both of us would wind up in jail. I left her there crying but could do nothing to assist her.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made May 9 at 2018 9:30 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Wed, 09 May 2018 21:30:49 -0400

Yes- at Ft Bragg, in the 60's the civilians were harassing troops and wanted them gone- the Fayetteville mayor said that Ft Bragg did nothing for the economy. Commanding General had all troops paid with silver dollars- and then took the Mayor on a tour of the banks after payday to see how much silver was there. The mayor shut up after that. We all where paid cash until Direct Deposit came in in mid 70's

Response by PO2 John Mcwilliams made Aug 5 at 2018 2:56 AM

PO2 John Mcwilliams — Sun, 05 Aug 2018 02:56:52 -0400

Best of my recollection I and my ship mates were also paid in cash on the 15th and 30th of the month. I was active duty US Navy 1974 to 1978

Response by Maj John Bell made Sep 25 at 2019 9:11 PM

Maj John Bell — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 21:11:54 -0400

I conducted the last cash Payday for my rifle company. Most of the Marines were already on direct deposit. Of the ones not on direct deposit, most got checks, but there were about two dozen who were paid in cash.

Response by MAJ Byron Oyler made Sep 25 at 2019 11:46 PM

MAJ Byron Oyler — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 23:46:23 -0400

Don't think I got paid in cash in 1992 but to this day I only get paid once a month. I got used to once a month as an enlisted soldier and while a 2LT, switched to being paid once a month and have done so for probably the last 15years.

Response by SP5 Anthony Guion made Nov 15 at 2019 10:18 PM

SP5 Anthony Guion — Fri, 15 Nov 2019 22:18:42 -0500

I, in my early years of Army Security Agency service, had to accompany our CO to pay our troops. We carried thousands of dollars and I carried an M14 fully auto rifle, as guard. I guess it was good training for Vietnam. Also, we got paid monthly. He once asked me if I would really shoot someone who might try to rob us, I told him that I would because I wasn't going to be held responsible for losing all that money.

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Dec 24 at 2019 2:11 PM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Tue, 24 Dec 2019 14:11:51 -0500

Everyone was paid on the last duty day of month. Whether in envelope or just counted out cash was the option of the Class A Agent officer. I did the envelope when small unit and just doled out cash for larger units. After paying unit, whilst everyone else on payday activities, had to go visit the ones in the hospital, stockade, etc to give them their pay. Long day.

Response by 1SG John Highfill made Apr 6 at 2020 10:56 PM

1SG John Highfill — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 22:56:51 -0400

When I enlisted in 1971 we were paid in cash you stood in line and reported the payroll officer the paid only in bills all change was given to the Soldiers Hone

Response by Lt Col Valorie Baggenstoss made May 5 at 2020 7:14 PM

Lt Col Valorie Baggenstoss — Tue, 05 May 2020 19:14:21 -0400

I entered the military in the 80’s so my pay was always done with direct deposit but for moves and TDYs we were fronted about 80% of the expected cost. The finance troop gave me a voucher that I took to the money window where I was handed cash. Which was over $1K for my first move and I had never had that much cash in my hand! But that stopped in the mid 90’s.

Response by CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2021 11:19 AM

CWO3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 11:19:45 -0500

We did in Japan 1978. Pay Officer counted the few bills, you verified the count and signed the Pay Roster. He had an NCO guard and they were both armed with 1911. They rode around in M151 jeep to areas of Air Station. Cash in ammo box. If you arrived late you could track them down and get payed at another location. Base pay for LCpl was $460.20, so take home was around $180 on 1st and 15th. Beer in the club was 50 cents so it was a lot of dough.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2021 4:20 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 16:20:10 -0500

Yep. That's where payday activities came from is what I was told (for the Army...I don't know if other services do that).

They didn't have direct deposit back in the day though. So...they had to pay cash and then check. I mean - when I worked at Pizza Hut in college I think at first I got an actual paycheck. I worked there 2000-2002. I think toward the end I started getting direct deposit? I can't really remember. Then I worked at a nursing home in the kitchen.

When I interned at the local paper, I got paid and that was an actual paycheck too. 2003-2004 I did that.

And I just realized this post is 6 years old almost. Damn it.

Response by PO2 Harold Ashton made Mar 2 at 2021 4:34 PM

PO2 Harold Ashton — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 16:34:45 -0500

I remember cash payments from when I first enlisted in September, 1955 through ? I phrase each payday (I believe monthly) was "The Eagle just S--t." $78/mo was my starting pay in boot camp.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 2 at 2021 4:51 PM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 16:51:16 -0500

Back in my day, we used to receive little bags of gold from the Pay Master, delivered via Pony Express. ;o)

Response by Wayne Soares made Mar 2 at 2021 9:49 PM

Wayne Soares — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 21:49:23 -0500

Thanks for the question Sgt. Mays

Response by SCPO Morris Ramsey made Mar 2 at 2021 11:03 PM

SCPO Morris Ramsey — Tue, 02 Mar 2021 23:03:34 -0500

We got paid in cash every other Friday. On board ship we got paid in cash the 15th and last day of the month.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2021 1:04 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 01:04:20 -0500

1983. Basic training. Report for pay. Paid in travelers checks. Sign the checks and move on. Supposed to prevent theft.

Response by CW5 Michael Scheller made Mar 3 at 2021 1:57 AM

CW5 Michael Scheller — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 01:57:23 -0500

Without a time frame to reference what your father told you, it is impossible to confirm nor deny.

I entered service in April 1981 and was required to setup for Direct Deposit and could select either once a month or twice; but that was a very new program at the time. When I got to my first active duty unit after Basic and AIT, pay day at the end of the month was an ordeal. We usually stood a Class A (greens) or B (khakis) inspection/awards ceremony then stood in line to report and receive our pay voucher (LES) from a group of pay officers. “Sir, Private Scheller reports for pay.” The majority of Soldiers in my unit had “Check to Unit” as their pay option, so along with their LES they picked up their paycheck and were then given the option to cash their check with the pay officers who had cash secured from Finance Division for that exact purpose.

Sometime in 1983-4 Direct Deposit became mandatory and Check to Unit and thus reporting to the pay officer and cashing your check were eliminated. This also ended the fleecing of young Soldiers by an exit line of “donation seekers” of “Cup and Flower Fund”, going away presents, Army Emergency Relief, American Red Cross, AUSA, 82nd Airborne Association (insert your division here). All of these were tables manned by Senior NCOs who pressured Soldiers to contribute.

Was there a time in recent history where Soldiers were paid in cash before the times of checks? I’ll wager that is exactly the case, but I do not know the date that ended and checks began.

Response by MAJ Matthew Arnold made Mar 3 at 2021 10:01 AM

MAJ Matthew Arnold — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 10:01:41 -0500

Yep, I remember standing in line to get paid. While in basic training I would put most of it in an envelope and send it home to mom and dad. A few years later I was a class A agent and carried around thousands of dollars, even later, 10s of thousands of dollars, it was a heavy load.