I like the army(or else I would'nt still be hanging around,after almost 26 years....),but,the army IS a bureacracy like any other,and,hence,has incomprehensible red tape and paperwork snafus,like anyone else-(and they WONDER why I drink...)Anyway,I've been trying to get some paperwork straightened out for the past few years,concerning some back pay the army owes me,due to my time in service-I'm supposed to be getting paid for 25 years service,but because my service is a mix of active duty time and guard time,something got goofed up in the process).Well,anyway,I thought I had all the proper paperwork assembled,so that the paper-pushers could submit it to army finance,and get me credit for the proper years of service,and get a nice back pay check-after digging through all my files at home-(my filing cabinet,otherwise known as "the bermuda triangle"-is a shambles).Of course,I expected too much....."can you get yer original enlistment contract when from you FIRST entered military service?"-uh,that was like during the Reagan administration......I PROBABLY don't have it anymore......."OK,how about paperwork bringing you back from the National Guard?"-well,searched high and low,stumbled across Jimmy Hoffa while searching my files,but alas,no sign of it-so,now,I have to submit a request to the National Archives,in St. Louis,to dig through THEIR Bermuda triangle,to find one inconsequential peice of paper,that does'nt really tell the army anything they don't already KNOW!Ready to pull my hair out..........I WOULD like the back pay that they owe me-not sure how much it'll come to,but its money i earned,and I fully expect the army to pay it to me.Of course,it'll probably be a LONG battle,before I finally get this un-screwed-but it should'nt surprise me-I was digging through my official personell file the other day,and noticed an award in there,from my days with the 2nd US Cavalry-the award was presented to me in December-of the year 1900.......ok,if thats an indication of their competence,we're ALL in trouble!
