pebd

 PEBD 

six digits

2024 - 1988  = 36

Pay Entry Base Date (PEBD) is the date that denotes how much of your service is creditable towards longevity for pay purposes.

On a day, a very long time ago, I had no idea that six numbers strung together would be such a significant deal in my life. But now as an adult, having lived through decades of changes, wars, victories, grief, and joy. The number means everything. The number brings me closer to freedom and security and at the time close to loss and unknown.

I share this date with my daughter twenty years later she received her own PEBD. 

Often I am mesmerized by the written word of others.
Once again another OIF vet finds my hidden voice.
I loved and recognized the language in this book and did not want it to end.



Matthew Gallagher OIF Veteran nails it.

no comments

Perspective and the art of saying nothing.
Last night, I was talking about going backpacking and how I am preparing to go on a four day women’s backpacking adventure. Women's Veteran Backpack Expeditions

He started warning about backpacking and camping in the rain and how that the weather can really ruin plans and your gear can be soaked. Very cautionary in nature.

I just laugh. Why? He has no idea the of the Army motto “It is not training unless it’s raining”. I have learned the hard way more than once about leaky tents, rucksacks in water and soaked jungle boots. For some reason my cot has ended up under the leaky spot more than once. Granted I am not an Infantry soldier and have not rucked across countless grid squares but I get it. I stepped in trenched and been soaked more than once.

Early on as a young private (a long time ago) I packed my rucksack and did not put my things in the wet weather bag first. You can imagine how that turned on. Valuable lesson…. I will always instantly recognizes the smell of wet poncho – it stays with you.

I will say the gear is better now, more functional, more rain retardant! But the rain finds the training.

life is funny.