How much have you changed during your time in uniform?

2016-08-25T22:34:25-04:00

Closing on three decades in uniform. At times I've felt like I've been ridden hard and put up wet, to use an old cavalry expression, but, still, I'm no worse for the wear.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Aug 25 at 2016 11:47 PM

2016-08-25T23:47:41-04:00

Colonel, how come your latest pic doesn't have your Ranger tab? (Not calling you out! Genuinely curious!).

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Aug 26 at 2016 2:28 AM

2016-08-26T02:28:10-04:00

COL Sam Russell Beautiful photos! Did your wife make you do it? Beautiful!

All the SMs should have a set of photos like that !! I absolutely love it! You did well Colonel! That is good, Father Time will catch up with you! WOW!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2016 7:56 AM

2016-08-26T07:56:49-04:00

wow its awesome what you did here.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Aug 26 at 2016 10:10 AM

2016-08-26T10:10:39-04:00

Well I haven't served nearly as long, but my photos varied from either having hair or shaving it all off. But in my stint in the Marine Corps, my body does feel like it's aged about 20 years.

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2016 3:54 PM

2016-08-26T15:54:31-04:00

Great Photos!! =)( 1999-That smile is priceless)

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2016 4:24 PM

2016-08-26T16:24:17-04:00

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2016 10:26 PM

2016-08-26T22:26:17-04:00

Well, I put mine in the closet in 1983, and I'll be danged if it shrunk in the last 33 years!!!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2016 11:52 PM

2016-08-26T23:52:11-04:00

Promotion to buck SGT 01 June 1989, Ft Bragg. One of my few surviving pics from "back in the day". So hot that the female behind me passed out and would have cracked her head on the cement were it not for her hair being in a bun.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2016 1:26 AM

2016-08-27T01:26:33-04:00

One thing that really stands out to me, COL Sam Russell is just how much more photogenic the new uniform is compared to the older class A's. It's amazing how much better the fruit salad and the devices pop out on the ASU.

Response by MSG Pat Colby made Sep 17 at 2016 6:11 PM

2016-09-17T18:11:16-04:00

DAMN, Sam!

THREE Decades! Nice job Sir!

I would salute but I think a ^ 5 is more in order! [size=35] ^ 5 [/size]

Response by SrA Jes Naber made Sep 17 at 2016 7:26 PM

2016-09-17T19:26:17-04:00

Sir you haven't aged a day!

I wish I had more pics. I think I found all of 3.

Response by CSM Michael Sweeney made Sep 17 at 2016 7:57 PM

2016-09-17T19:57:03-04:00

Well I do have some DA Photo's, but none scanned at the moment. Instead I can contribute a couple spanning from Basic in Jan 1970 to Retirement in Mar of 1999. From 17 years old to 46. Expect some age to show....

Response by MSgt John Taylor made Sep 17 at 2016 9:26 PM

2016-09-17T21:26:10-04:00

Excellent post. I like how you kept cutting the hair on top of your head closer and closer each time.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2016 8:08 AM

2016-09-18T08:08:24-04:00

Sir,
I must say that in my 20 years in the service I wish I would have had photos like these taken. I don't think I've changed much just a little older, slower and a litte less tolerant. The one thing that has changed is my wallet. As an officer all these changes get expensive.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2016 2:26 PM

2016-10-28T14:26:57-04:00

8 years later, rgr my cross rifles arnt on my lapel. Photo was taken mid set up...

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2016 4:48 PM

2016-10-28T16:48:24-04:00

I just like how you can literally track the amount of patience for stupid drops with every passing photo.

Response by Cpl Kent Mitchell made Oct 28 at 2016 7:29 PM

2016-10-28T19:29:33-04:00

Great progression. Looks like you had a fine and interesting career. Semper Fi.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 28 at 2016 9:38 PM

2016-10-28T21:38:42-04:00

Sir,
Great time lapse over the years, the army has benefited from your service, BTW I saw your name on the sidewalk bricks while I visiting VMI with my brother and nephew over the summer. It was an honor to have served with you, always put a calm and rational decision making on many irrational issues during that tour. BTW, I never was able to thank you in person after I came off emergency leave. Appreciated everything you did for me and others!
v/r
Gordon Joczik

Response by SGT Rick Eul made Oct 28 at 2016 10:50 PM

2016-10-28T22:50:30-04:00

Look on the bright side, you have multiple pictures to show your history of service. Most grunts are stuck with their one and only picture from basic that came 5 minutes after their "free" hair cut.
Sir, you look great. Thank you for your service to our country.

Response by MSgt Victor Moss made Oct 29 at 2016 12:24 AM

2016-10-29T00:24:06-04:00

1982, 1994, 2001, and 2013 (at a friend's retirement). What a difference a few of decades makes.

Response by MSgt Chris Chambre made Oct 29 at 2016 3:54 AM

2016-10-29T03:54:24-04:00

Its called getting older.

Response by SFC Bill Snyder made Oct 29 at 2016 8:36 AM

2016-10-29T08:36:36-04:00

From Brown Shoe Army and Ike Jackets to start; ending with Black Shoes and Greens.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2016 9:29 AM

2016-10-29T09:29:46-04:00

I've changed a bit.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2016 10:19 AM

2016-10-29T10:19:06-04:00

Look at that 10th Mountain patch from 2007! My first unit and still the best I've encountered. However, I have no intention on setting foot in Watertown again.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2016 11:38 AM

2016-10-29T11:38:39-04:00

Less hair and all of it gray, but I still fit into my commissioning uniform.

Response by PO2 Ryan Terlisner made Oct 29 at 2016 12:17 PM

2016-10-29T12:17:03-04:00

Looks like Captain is the E5 of the officers.

Response by PVT Raymond Lopez made Oct 29 at 2016 1:59 PM

2016-10-29T13:59:36-04:00

I got older and more smartmoted!!

Response by SFC George Smith made Oct 29 at 2016 9:36 PM

2016-10-29T21:36:34-04:00

Not bad... all i would do is break the camera...

Response by SPC Wayne Stambaugh made Oct 30 at 2016 3:38 AM

2016-10-30T03:38:58-04:00

Lookin' good Colonel,lookin' good.....Thank you for your Service,btw.

Response by SGT Ramon Nieves made Oct 30 at 2016 8:36 AM

2016-10-30T08:36:27-04:00

Before 1988

Response by SFC Erich Orrick made Oct 30 at 2016 8:51 AM

2016-10-30T08:51:11-04:00

Funny how the eyes changed after combat.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 30 at 2016 4:17 PM

2016-10-30T16:17:43-04:00

Thank you for sharing the photos, this story and for your service!

Response by SCPO Bill Toth made Oct 30 at 2016 4:41 PM

2016-10-30T16:41:23-04:00

It damn near killed me.

Response by SGT Felicia King made Oct 30 at 2016 8:05 PM

2016-10-30T20:05:36-04:00

I don't have my basic training picture, but I have my AIT picture. I have a giant head, but thankful for the ruck marches it doesn't look as big. My shoulders got a little bigger.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 31 at 2016 5:32 PM

2016-10-31T17:32:32-04:00

Granted Your pics span 3 decades and I myself am just closing the first decade I love seeing the progression. It makes for great story telling to the younger people both in and out of uniform how much we as soldiers put ourselves through physically through out our time in uniform.

Response by 1SG Marc Goulet made Oct 31 at 2016 8:28 PM

2016-10-31T20:28:28-04:00

The hair is the first thing to go

Response by 1SG Leon Espe made Oct 31 at 2016 10:11 PM

2016-10-31T22:11:15-04:00

When I took basic training with the 10th Mountain Division in 1948 we had ODs with the Ike Jacket and leggings with one pair service shoes, one pair low quarters and one pair of the new combat boots with the 2 buckles at the top. When I retired in 1971 we had greens, new combat boots that resembled the old tanker or jump boots and low quarters. Looking back I think the ODs with the Ike Jacket was the sharpest. We use to press the OD pants between the mattress and a bed board at night. The Officers had the Ike Jacket and "Pinks" I think the pants were called. They looked good. I never cared much for the khakis because they were hard to keep clean and wrinkled easy. The Vietnam era jungle boots didn't appeal to me either but the light weight jungle fatigues and the light weight green class A was comfortable. Actually, nothing was comfortable in Vietnam in the humidity and heat and in the Korean War during the Battle of Chosin I froze.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 31 at 2016 11:40 PM

2016-10-31T23:40:02-04:00

99-03 must've been some great years.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 1 at 2016 7:49 AM

2016-11-01T07:49:01-04:00

I like how you seem so happy in the first 4 pictures, and then we have been at war for the last 2. That's where everything changed, especially your hairline. You have obviously been tested and proven to be a great leader to still be here and show the hardships of your commands on your face.

Response by MSG Clark Shumway made Nov 1 at 2016 8:15 PM

2016-11-01T20:15:25-04:00

Why is it the Army can't figure out what uniform to stay with? 241 Years of tradition unhampered by progress.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Nov 3 at 2016 8:54 PM

2016-11-03T20:54:57-04:00

COL Sam Russell this is one of my fav posts on RallyPoint in its entire history. Thanks for sharing.

Response by COL Sam Russell made Dec 2 at 2016 12:49 PM

2016-12-02T12:49:46-05:00

Here's the last DA Photo of my career, Dec 2016, almost exactly 28 years after the first one in the above montage. A few pounds more, a few hairs less.

Response by LTC Joseph Gross made Dec 2 at 2016 1:09 PM

2016-12-02T13:09:56-05:00

You got old. I'm glad that didn't happen to me! But seriously, now I want to find all my old DA photos and see what I look like.

Response by SPC Nathan Dougherty made Jun 2 at 2020 3:03 AM

2020-06-02T03:03:24-04:00

RIGGER!!! 101st Heavy drop baby 4/647th disbanded 2012

Response by TSgt Bill Eudy made Jun 3 at 2020 12:20 PM

2020-06-03T12:20:03-04:00

Quite a lot

Response by CPT Robert Holden made Jun 11 at 2020 6:19 PM

2020-06-11T18:19:12-04:00

Uniforms change over time . It's part of advancement . My first uniforms were issued . After I was commissionedi I bought my own . Still cared for them the same .

Response by MAJ Jack Newton made Jun 12 at 2020 12:07 PM

2020-06-12T12:07:28-04:00

I need to dig up my photos.

Response by MSG Joseph Dutton made Jun 15 at 2020 10:35 AM

2020-06-15T10:35:05-04:00

Congrats