How much have you changed during your time in uniform?

COL Sam Russell — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 22:34:25 -0400

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

SN Greg Wright — Thu, 25 Aug 2016 23:47:41 -0400

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

CSM Charles Hayden — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 02:28:10 -0400

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

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 07:56:49 -0400

wow its awesome what you did here.

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

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 10:10:39 -0400

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

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 15:54:31 -0400

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

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

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 16:24:17 -0400

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

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 22:26:17 -0400

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

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Aug 2016 23:52:11 -0400

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

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 27 Aug 2016 01:26:33 -0400

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

MSG Pat Colby — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 18:11:16 -0400

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

SrA Jes Naber — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 19:26:17 -0400

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

CSM Michael Sweeney — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 19:57:03 -0400

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

MSgt John Taylor — Sat, 17 Sep 2016 21:26:10 -0400

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

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 18 Sep 2016 08:08:24 -0400

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

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 14:26:57 -0400

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

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 16:48:24 -0400

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

Cpl Kent Mitchell — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 19:29:33 -0400

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

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 21:38:42 -0400

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

SGT Rick Eul — Fri, 28 Oct 2016 22:50:30 -0400

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

MSgt Victor Moss — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 00:24:06 -0400

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

MSgt Chris Chambre — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 03:54:24 -0400

Its called getting older.

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

SFC Bill Snyder — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 08:36:36 -0400

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

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 09:29:46 -0400

I've changed a bit.

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

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 10:19:06 -0400

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

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 11:38:39 -0400

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

PO2 Ryan Terlisner — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 12:17:03 -0400

Looks like Captain is the E5 of the officers.

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

PVT Raymond Lopez — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 13:59:36 -0400

I got older and more smartmoted!!

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

SFC George Smith — Sat, 29 Oct 2016 21:36:34 -0400

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

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

SPC Wayne Stambaugh — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 03:38:58 -0400

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

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

SGT Ramon Nieves — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 08:36:27 -0400

Before 1988

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

SFC Erich Orrick — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 08:51:11 -0400

Funny how the eyes changed after combat.

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

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 16:17:43 -0400

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

SCPO Bill Toth — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 16:41:23 -0400

It damn near killed me.

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

SGT Felicia King — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 20:05:36 -0400

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

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 17:32:32 -0400

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

1SG Marc Goulet — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 20:28:28 -0400

The hair is the first thing to go

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

1SG Leon Espe — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 22:11:15 -0400

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

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 31 Oct 2016 23:40:02 -0400

99-03 must've been some great years.

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

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 07:49:01 -0400

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

MSG Clark Shumway — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 20:15:25 -0400

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

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 20:54:57 -0400

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

COL Sam Russell — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 12:49:46 -0500

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

LTC Joseph Gross — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 13:09:56 -0500

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

SPC Nathan Dougherty — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 03:03:24 -0400

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

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

TSgt Bill Eudy — Wed, 03 Jun 2020 12:20:03 -0400

Quite a lot

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

CPT Robert Holden — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 18:19:12 -0400

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

MAJ Jack Newton — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 12:07:28 -0400

I need to dig up my photos.

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

MSG Joseph Dutton — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 10:35:05 -0400

Congrats