17th Field Artillery conducts payday activities inspection

Photo By Staff Sgt. Quanesha Barnett | Soldiers with the 17th Field Artillery Brigade, Headquarter and Headquarter Battery, get inspected on their formal dress uniform. During inspection, senior noncommissioned officers quizzed Soldiers on the Army Regulations and the three general orders at Joint Base Lewis McChord.  

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, UNITED STATES

02.09.2015

Story by Sgt. Quanesha Barnett 

17th Field Artillery Brigade

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – Soldiers with the 17th Field Artillery Brigade have payday activities every first Friday of the month. The 17th FAB first sergeants in each battalion on JBLM, Lewis North, inspect Soldiers and leaders.

First sergeants call the batteries to attention, give the command, “Open ranks March!” and inspect each Soldier with their first line supervisors.

It’s not about getting an early release day; it’s about honoring the U.S Army Service Uniform.

Soldiers new to the Army may be unfamiliar with payday activities. Payday activities are structured training events; conduct inspections, and an opportunity to conduct personnel accountability. This gives Soldiers the opportunity to take the time to take care of financial and personal responsibilities. In addition to payday activities, leaders have to confirm their Soldiers’ strip maps from work to home. Their residences may not be inspected, but if leaders are invited into their residence, it is out of courtesy and families will be treated with respect.

Another purpose for payday activities is to give Soldiers an opportunity to take pride in what they have earned throughout their service time by showing off their ribbons, customs and courtesy and knowledge of historical events.

The ASU is a military uniform that is worn by U.S. Army personnel in a formal dress situation but the most commonly worn dress blue uniforms are class “A” and class “B” which are used for promotion boards and open rank inspections.

“Payday activities give Soldiers a day to take of personal responsibilities and for leadership to check their Soldiers’ ASU to make sure that they have a fitted formal dress uniform ready to be inspected at all time,” said Sgt. 1st Class Derek White, 17th FAB, Equal Opportunity non-commissioned officer. “Also, it is a time to honor the tradition that got away from us due to training, but I am glad to see that we are bringing the old tradition back to the young generation.”

This is a tradition that started years ago when leaders inspected their Soldiers’ dress uniform and release them to take care of personal responsibilities such as doctor appointments and paying bills, said Staff Sgt. Spencer Brotherson, 17th FAB Legal Non-Commissioned Officer.

“As this tradition continues, Soldiers can understand the purpose of payday activities and continue to carry on the old tradition,” said White.

• Date Taken: 02.09.2015
• Date Posted: 02.09.2015 14:32
• Story ID: 154029
• Location: JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, WA, US