Posted on Dec 1, 2015
Did you know that Military members used to be paid in cash?
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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.
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.
Posted in these groups: 
Military History
Military Pay
Military History Military Pay
Posted 10 y ago
Responses: 75
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I was paid in travelers checks when i first joined the Army back in 88.
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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
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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.
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COL John Hudson
Kelli, I got quite a chuckle over your comment about cash and direct deposit. Back in the day, many banks opened accounts based only on your name...there weren't any account numbers. Cash was good. No ATMs, direct deposit, money transfer...nada. No modern items that this generation takes for granted on a daily basis ever existed in my childhood. We didn't have TV, used a "Party Line" phone system, didn't see a TV of our own until I was 16 yrs old and saw my first color TV at age 19. I turned 21 and 22 in the Republic of Vietnam. No Skype, no internet - you wrote letters home that took 10 days to get there, 2 day turnaround, then another 10 days to get a response. I wouldn't trade my childhood for any of the stress faced by today's youth.
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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
Thanks,
Rick
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"Sir, Private Bowen reporting to Pay Officer!"
Usually an NCO. LOL
Cash in hand!
Usually an NCO. LOL
Cash in hand!
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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. :-)
This was all before technology became what it is today. We didn't always have the Internet around, ya know. :-)
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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.
There would be various desks so you could pay different bills.
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