The Exchange

C077/K051  February 21 – April 25, 1990

The Exchange was many things in one building. Barber Shop, Phone Center, Travel Agent, Pay Window, and Post office.

There were also some vending machines there as well.

Our first visit was the morning after we arrived to stop in at the barbershop. We were still in our civilian clothes when we each sat in the chair to get our buzz cut. I did not recognize most of the guys after they had their hair cut off. I was already getting very thin on top, so it did not do much to change my hairline. Then it was off to the RIF area for our Navy clothes.

On the next visit, we had a list of what we had to buy. This was probably done on our second or third full day at Orlando. Before we went, we sat around like little schoolboys and wrote down the list as it was given to us by our CCs. Each item had a purpose, and we would learn all of those as our training went along. So, list in hand, or back pocket, we file out of our compartment and line up to march over to the Exchange.

Oh, we also used a book of chits to pay. If you recall, this was a small book that had maybe $150 worth of play money in it so we could buy what we needed. Of course, when we got our first checks, it was subtracted. I’ll talk about that a little here too since the pay window was in the Exchange.

Remember getting paid? I know over the years that had changed a good deal. At one time, people in the military were paid in cash. Sometimes, depending on location, military people were paid in military script. Our checks, as I recall, were given to us, and we could cash them or get Money orders to send home or hold for our own use. Cash was not preferred because it was tempting. I will say this, we had an honest company. Not a thing came up missing from anyone at any time. I wish I could say the same thing for A-school or my DDG. That first check to me was a shock. I had set up a dependant allotment for my daughter. That was taken out, as was the cost of that chit book. So, my check was rather tiny. It took the Navy a while to get my pay fixed to include my dependant pay. But, that is a post-boot camp story.

We were also allowed out first phone call. Remember the “Hey, I am alive and well, but can’t talk long, I love you BYE!” call?

And there were those vending machines with their colorful lights teasing us. We could not use them during this visit, but at a later visit, we were allowed to use them. It was a reward for a test or inspection we dod really well on. While discussing Orlando with a young lady who started a month after I did, she was upset. Their CC’s never allowed them to hit the geedunk machines or buy it. She said all they got was one smartie candy a day for the last couple weeks there. She thought it was BS that we got geedunk.

But, we picked up what was on our list and back over to the compartment. I remember shoe polish, black and neutral. Paper, pencils, Listerine (Remember what that was for?) Two packs of insoles for our shoes. Extra shower shoes. Shaving cream and razors. Cough drops. A ruler. Zest soap.

We did get other trips to the Exchange as we earned them. Our phone calls also were longer when we visited other times. Payday was a little underwhelming.

We also had a visit when we had our pictures taken. Remember the fake uniforms that you put on like a costume? Stick your arms through the sleeves with Velcro in the back to close.

Work week was when we could utilize the Exchange more. We had to go there in groups, but it was easy to get guys to want to go. Of course, we had shopping lists from other people in the company who did not get time to actually go for themselves. We could have a book or a magazine now too. Things were really starting to look up for us.

We stopped in at the barber again for a second haircut. Some of us it was not noticeable, others you could see a tan line. Then before we went home, our final hair cut.

As we progressed in training, we filled out a paper so we could get travel arrangements to home for leave. Well, for those of us taking leave. As the day for departure came closer, we finally did make it to the travel agent and got our tickets home. After paying all the extras, there was not much left of my checks either!

The exchange center was a very nice distraction in our world.