What are 13 Tell-Tale Signs You’re A Paratrooper?

Touché, SFC Jack S.! I will say, though, I don't remember getting any hot, prepared chow at Camp Mackall!

SFC Jack S., I was at Camp Mackall during APR-MAY70. We had C-Rations (really MCIs) for every meal. Once, before the beginning of the exercise where we patrolled all the way back to Fort Bragg, they took us to some honky tonk where everyone got a steak.
The entire time we were there we got to take one shower (they said the showers were broken). Otherwise, they let us get in the lake once to bathe and one time it rained so hard everyone stood naked in the rain with bar soap for Mother Nature's shower! Believe it or not, we still had to shave every morning in our steel pots!

SFC Jack S., it's hard to remember, but I think it was three days. It really wasn't all that far, but with the patrols and ambushes, it took awhile. Also, even when we got back on post, we had to hump it back to the barracks. No buses or anything picked us up. I think it was three days because they gave us C-Rations and ammo (so they said) for three days.
Interestingly enough though, I think we patrolled back to Bragg with M-16s, but we carried M-14s without slings all through Phase 1. That meant everytime you moved out at double time (which was all the time), you were at port arms. The SF instructors would try to steal everyone's weapons, especially at night. I started putting mine inside my sleeping bag (how unrealistic is that?). Still a few guys washed out because the instructors stole their weapons. When patrolling, not only did some us carry the M-60, but some still had to hump the .30 cal machine gun! That thing was heavy!
We were not given extra water when patrolling. We had two canteens, and as we walked through creeks, we simply filled our canteens, and put in iodine tablets.
We still wore 100% cotton OD fatigues, so "going commando" was a matter of necessity. With the rain, perspiration and walking through creeks, two layers of cotton would never dry out.
We slept in GP larges (which did have wooden floors) that had cots. We just put our sleeping bags on the cots. Instructors would come in during the day while we were training and swipe any personal items not absolutely nailed down and hidden.
There was an indoor classroom for map reading, etc. When we started the day there, we had to come to attention and sing SSG Barry Sadler's "Ballad of the Green Berets"! Phase 1 then lasted 4 or 5 or 6 weeks, I really can't remember. I think 5 seems like the right number.
That's about all I can remember about Phase 1 for now. That was 45 years ago this month!

And the honor is mine to know you, SFC Jack S.!

CSM Charles Hayden, these are the Navy and Marine Corps jump wings. They must wear Army wings until they make a certain number of jumps with their organizational unit. I'm sure GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad will fill us in!