How long did a soldier have to serve in Vietnam?
The majority of service members deployed to South Vietnam were volunteers, even though hundreds of thousands of men opted to join the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Coast Guard (for three or four year terms of enlistment) before they could be drafted, serve for two years, and have no choice over their military occupational …
How long was basic training during Vietnam War?
8 weeks
During the Vietnam War, more than 200,000 recruits graduated from Parris Island with the peak load being 10,979 in March 1966. No new battalions were added, but training was cut from 11 weeks to 8 weeks and the size of the recruit platoons was increased.
How long was a tour in Vietnam War?
one-year
The Army rotated soldiers through Vietnam on one-year tours. Officers also spent a year in country, but only six of those months were in a troop command.
What was boot camp like during Vietnam?
In some training camps, recruits were forced to repeatedly cross the horizontal ladder, colloquially known as monkey bars, before each and every meal. It was a tough order, and one that could take a serious toll on your hands, according to Larry Lettie, who belonged to the Signal Corps from 1971-74.
How much money do Vietnam Veterans get?
About 1.3 million Vietnam veterans, nearly 25 percent, collected disability compensation from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in 2018; their average annual payment was $18,100. Those payments boosted average income for all Vietnam veterans by $4,300.
How did the soldiers feel about being in Vietnam?
Vietnam War soldiers endured many hardships and faced many problems. Combatants on both sides faced physical challenges posed by the climate, terrain and wildlife of the country. They also struggled with logistical problems and the complex political situation in Vietnam.
Are there still US soldiers in Vietnam?
Yes, as expected there are the normal active duty U.S,. Marine Corps contingent (without disclosing the true number of personnel/equipment & support staff) that guard the existing U.S. Embassy & State Department officials/staff. There are also former U.S. soldiers/veterans & retirees that have made Vietnam their second home.
How many US soldiers were in Vietnam at one time?
Like so many of the 500,000 Americans who served in Vietnam in 1968, he’d been drafted. The young soldier, who lived in Wellsville, Pa., arrived in Southeast Asia at a moment of peak violence. The communists had launched a May offensive, also known as mini-Tet.
What weapons did American soldiers have in Vietnam?
AK-47.