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Posted: 8/24/2004 3:42:15 PM EDT
A few weeks ago my best friend told me he is joining the Army. He talked about a couple weeks before that but I didn't know if it was for sure or not. Well it is and he is going to Ft. Knox in late December where he will be going into tank training (Armor Crewman - 19K?). Anyways I was wondering if by the time he is doing training, would he be shipped off to Iraq? Is there a 'high' demand for tank operators right now? Thanks much.
Link Posted: 8/24/2004 3:44:18 PM EDT
[#1]
99% if he makes it through training without wussing out or getting hurt
Link Posted: 8/24/2004 3:45:07 PM EDT
[#2]
Link Posted: 8/24/2004 3:50:12 PM EDT
[#3]

Quoted:
Very likely. If he joined the Guard it would be a certainty.



Even though he isn't going into the National Guard or Army Reserve, why would these be more certain? Thanks.
Link Posted: 8/24/2004 3:51:00 PM EDT
[#4]
most likely
Link Posted: 8/24/2004 3:52:08 PM EDT
[#5]
Link Posted: 8/24/2004 5:41:10 PM EDT
[#6]
rotation policy.  Many of the front line heavy units are being reconstituted and prepped for the next contingency.  Korea or Iran?  
Link Posted: 8/24/2004 6:02:33 PM EDT
[#7]
good bye 19 kilo hello 11bravo!
Link Posted: 8/24/2004 6:03:14 PM EDT
[#8]
yeah just expect to go, although I am guessing  things are going to cool down soon (hopefully)
Link Posted: 8/24/2004 6:17:29 PM EDT
[#9]
If I were going in I'd want to go there promptly.  My buddy says it was more fun than garrison duty.

GunLvr
Link Posted: 8/24/2004 6:19:42 PM EDT
[#10]
More likely by the time he get's through training he will be on the way to IRAN.
Link Posted: 8/24/2004 6:22:23 PM EDT
[#11]
I'd give it an even 50-50 at this point.  As SteyrAug said, if he was Guard, and his unit was not already there, he's going.  As for Active Component, it all depends on where they fall in the rotation.
Link Posted: 8/24/2004 6:24:42 PM EDT
[#12]
more than likely, or at least the European theatre.
Link Posted: 8/25/2004 2:59:00 AM EDT
[#13]
As a 19k, he will be assigned to an armor unit. Chance of going at least once in his 3yr tour is around 100%.

Hell, they are deploying the Old Guard, OPFOR units, recalling people who got out, etc.
Link Posted: 8/25/2004 3:18:36 AM EDT
[#14]
it depends....but most likely he'll get in the sandbox within 6 months of finishing training.
Link Posted: 8/25/2004 4:06:42 AM EDT
[#15]
I wouldnt join now for the college benifits!!!
Link Posted: 8/25/2004 6:05:05 AM EDT
[#16]
Half of our mechanized units are in Iraq now, and the other half will be relieving them next spring.  If he's lucky, he'll get to a unit this winter that is redeploying, and he'll have a whole year to train up for the next rotation.  But it looks like it's going to be one year in Iraq, one year at home, one year in Iraq... for almost all active units until something changes.

Dave
Link Posted: 8/25/2004 6:42:37 AM EDT
[#17]
There is a high probability that soon your friend will be seeing landscape where the predominant color is brown.

Thank him for his service and have him post here from time to time.
Link Posted: 8/25/2004 6:45:06 AM EDT
[#18]

Quoted:
good bye 19 kilo hello 11bravo!



Yep,  happening to my unit right now.   You should hear the bellyaching.

Link Posted: 8/25/2004 6:48:10 AM EDT
[#19]
He may not go right away, but it is likely he will go for 12 months in one of the next three years.
Link Posted: 8/25/2004 6:55:58 AM EDT
[#20]

Quoted:
99% if he makes it through training without wussing out or getting hurt



yup
Link Posted: 8/25/2004 9:22:32 AM EDT
[#21]

Quoted:
Half of our mechanized units are in Iraq now, and the other half will be relieving them next spring.  If he's lucky, he'll get to a unit this winter that is redeploying, and he'll have a whole year to train up for the next rotation.  But it looks like it's going to be one year in Iraq, one year at home, one year in Iraq... for almost all active units until something changes.

Dave



It's not quite that bad....101st and 3rd ID will both be home for about 18 months before redeploying ( a bit less for some units in the 3rd ID).

GunLvr
Link Posted: 8/25/2004 9:52:27 AM EDT
[#22]
Is the Pope Catholic, Are the Kennedys gunshy?  Yes, he will be going to .Iraq.......Syria...... Iran

On the other hand, There will still be a need for 19K's in Korea, Germany, etc.  One thing about the Military life is that it's unpredictable, and does not follow any known rules of logic.




Quoted:
good bye 19 kilo hello 11bravo!



Do you mean that with the proposed troop realignment,  a lot of tankers will be converted to infantry?

They need to convert the Tankers into CAT drivers, so we can clear terrain, IDF style.
Link Posted: 8/25/2004 12:37:31 PM EDT
[#23]

Quoted:
It's not quite that bad....101st and 3rd ID will both be home for about 18 months before redeploying ( a bit less for some units in the 3rd ID).



That's more because of the reorganization those units are going through, although in the case of the 3rd ID, they've been home longer because they were sent home before other OIF 1 units, since they carried most of the load during the initial assault.  The general rule of thumb is one year rotations though - a year deployed, a year at home station.


Quoted:
Do you mean that with the proposed troop realignment,  a lot of tankers will be converted to infantry?



He's talking about how everyone is serving as infantry and kicking in doors in Iraq now - tankers, scouts, engineers, artillery, etc.  Everyone may still operate in their normal MOS, but at least part of the time we'll be walking the streets as infantry / MPs.

Dave
Link Posted: 8/25/2004 12:42:43 PM EDT
[#24]

Quoted:
Very likely. If he joined the Guard it would be a certainty.

huh? Only 1/3 of our Guards / Reserves have yet been rotated through Iraq.

I agree with the other posts above, though - Tanker? Certitude.


mh454 - why do you ask?
Link Posted: 8/25/2004 12:54:43 PM EDT
[#25]
Hope he likes sand.
Link Posted: 8/25/2004 1:08:13 PM EDT
[#26]
Shouldn't there be a poll here?
Link Posted: 8/25/2004 1:55:55 PM EDT
[#27]

Quoted:
Hope he likes sand.



A friend of mine is in the 10th Mtn Div. He's been over there once already (during and after the invasion of Iraq), wounded in the elbow by an enemy grenade, and now he's going back again to Iraq. He loves it!
Link Posted: 8/25/2004 2:30:06 PM EDT
[#28]
He ain't there yet?
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