[masadaman]

As an opener, I don't expect that the U.S. Army has any troops in NORTH Korea.

[HiJinx]

Dittos.

If he's buying ammo, it's Chinese, perhaps?

The story you're being told is a whopper, hold the mayo, extra baloney!

[Chummy]

"...a very liberal friend who has a son currently in the Army stationed in North Korea...."


"Very liberal"? I'll say. Those are communists in the North Korean Army.

[skikvt]

Man, I remember having to buy my own TOW missiles. At $180,000 a pop it really puts a damper on the extra spending cash...

[Jo5329]

My wife has a very liberal friend who has a son currently in the Army stationed in North Do you mean South? Korea. At every opportunity she complains of how the Army is mistreating her son, requiring him to pay for his own food, uniforms and even ammunition.

Soliders are provided a basic issue of uniforms out of basic training. Every year they are giving a Clothing Allowence (amount determined by rank) to replinish this initial issue. Food is provided 3 times a day in situations where the solider cannot go to the mess hall. (ie: MREs) Yes, you have to pay for the food in the mess hall, but it's a cheap. As for the ammunition issue, that's a lie that solider is making up to make it sound worse than it really is.

To back up my information - my husband is a 1SG in the US Army.

[dinasour]

My son is in South Korea and he does have to by his own uniform and meals.

The Army is a job, just like any other. I have to by my clothes and meals too.

If he were in combat, he would be supplied more, but when you are stationed on base, it just like a job.

[sandviper]

If you don’t live in barracks you are paid for food and you must pay back the cost of the meal to the service if you eat in the mess hall. Every enlistment you are issued new clothing. There is no ammo buying.

If this guy is living in a barracks he pays for NOTHING !!! If he’s living in a hooch someplace he’s paying for more then food