NTC and the mystery SPC

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Mar 2014 23:29:03 -0400

Has anyone heard the story of the soldier that supposedly came up with the idea to save the Army money by moving the Fort Irwin property line further out so soldiers and family could not be compensated for living so far away from civilization (COLA.) Is there any legitimacy to this story? And who is the mystery soldier? Also, should the families and soldiers be compensated? For you that don't know, NTC is 35 miles away from the nearest Wal-Mart and Mickey Ds. 

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 21 at 2014 1:25 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 01:25:13 -0400

news to me...

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2014 7:18 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 19:18:50 -0400

Wal-Mart and McDonalds are slipping. 35 miles!? There are so many Mickey D's in my city there is talk turf wars.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 22 at 2014 9:17 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 21:17:45 -0400

Never heard such story, SL was there for a few years.<div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Unrelated, but "Mickey Ds" is the devil.</div>

Response by 1SG Shane Hansen made Mar 22 at 2014 9:22 PM

1SG Shane Hansen — Sat, 22 Mar 2014 21:22:53 -0400

I heard the same story about 10 years ago, of course it was through word of mouth and I do not know the validity of it. Just wanted you to know that you weren't the only one that had heard that.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2014 6:22 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 18:22:02 -0400

Been at NTC for over a year and have never heard that story

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Mar 26 at 2014 9:58 AM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Wed, 26 Mar 2014 09:58:26 -0400

That's the first I heard of this story, but I see you're not the only one who has heard it. Needless to say, I can see why this "mystery SPC" wishes to remain anonymous. Hell hath no fury like when you try to take someone's money in the military.

Response by CSM Mike Maynard made Apr 12 at 2014 8:51 PM

CSM Mike Maynard — Sat, 12 Apr 2014 20:51:59 -0400

I was stationed at NTC from 2000-2002. I heard that they moved the "front gate" up by the rock so that it was a specific distance from the closest "city" for some type of "entitlement" reason.

Not sure of the exact year that the moved the entrance, but probably somewhere between 1990-2000.

Not sure where in the volumes of pages in the JFTR or US Code you would find a reference to something like that, but I wouldn't put it past the great minds to come up with something like that to save an installation some money.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Apr 12 at 2014 10:22 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sat, 12 Apr 2014 22:22:57 -0400

The version of that story when I was there in 1994 to 1998 was that people assigned to Fort Irwin were entitled to hardship duty pay and the SPC of legend determined the movement of the post boundary closer to Jack Hammer pass negated the requirement. Legend further had it that he was spirited away in a protective custody/ witness relocation-esque PCS in the dead of night along with a percentage of the savings ala the Army Suggestion Program. Probably living the good life in the Caymans next door to Jimmy Buffet with the 20 percent of our combined broken dreams. I had never seen a shred of official evidence or documentation to indicate that such a special pay had ever existed or that it was disallowed. It certainly makes for a great story, so I am sure that it is why it persists...when ever it is told, it is always referenced as to have happened "right before I got here" by the teller. Would love to see a LES or JUMPS statement that shows it paid.