There an IA billet for Afghanistan.  Convoy patrol, etc, boots on the ground stuff.  For an airedale and a Navy airedale at that it is a completely foreign realm to me but USN offers advancement points and the tax free for a year would be great.  Also Im looking for another challenge in my career.  As it stands I will be released back to the reserve Navy in a few weeks.  The career counselor told me about the billet.  Its urgent and he needs a decision ASAP.  

The good things I can think of are the weapon training they give before you ship out and the tax free dollars and the advancement points.  The bad, blown up, shot up, etc.  I asked if it was a logistics job in the rear and he was told that it was a boots on the ground billet for an E5 doing convoy escorts, foot patrols in local towns and some IED disposal stuff.  He said it might involve some EOD training as Im an Ordy they are looking for someone with explosive knowledge.

Im interested if that sounds crazy enough..  What say you?

Heh-I don't think you'll see many posts telling you not to go...and Navy Reservists have a very high MOB OPTEMPO, so I would say do it if you're interested in the duty.  Sounds like it beats being forced to go count mess kits and hang out playing pool in the MWR for a year in some FOB.  

Quoted: Go for it. My 13 months there I would not trade for anything in the world. You will regret it the rest of your life if you let the chance pass you by.

What did you do there duty-wise.  Trying to get an idea of the daily routine, what I can expect if I decide to do it..

Quoted: I am a maintenace tech (Warrant Officer), for a Combat Engineer company. Our heavey equipment platoon went out 6 days a week to build roads. Our first platoon, along with a platoon of Afghan National Army they worked with and trained, provided security for the construction both with traffic control points along the road and patroling the high ground on both sides. Our second platoon did route clearance, going out every day to search for IED's along MSR's, the construction route, and any routes the Infantry was going to go through that day. Everyday routine will vary greatly depending on where you end up there...have they said where in Afghanistan you will be based?

The only info I got was it was a "guns and boots" "kicking doors and foot patrols with Army".  He mentioned some training in basic EOD if I was interested in that.  Convoy escort and basic infantry patrols I figure.   In addition to typical IA indoc which is some basic infantry and weapons training it had some more in depth combat training, etc.  Had a debrief of an email from a female E7in a sister squadron that depicted the graphic result of she and her squad getting hit with an IED then ambushed while she did an IA tour there.  Im an ordnanceman by trade, E5.  Qualified expert on pistol and rifle these two alone make me a bit more desirable to the USN for IA in this type of billet so Im told.  I want to do it but have my rservations.  Main one is leaving family again.  I've been mobilized for 2 1/2 years and am being released as I type.  My Itempo is about 50% of those two teays spent deployed.  I am looking forward to regular hours at civie job, deer season, I missed Christmas and all that for two years straight, missed daughters BDay last year.  My wife and I are reconciling after 3 years of seperation and it is going well.    Funny thing,getting killed is the last thing on my mind but its everything the family thinks about..

I need to give an answer by the end of the week..

But, already I miss the military.  my personality traits require the structure.  I want to try a new path in my career.  I requested flight enhgineer school and regardless of my decision to go to Astan I will get to go, just at a later date.   I think the weapons training would be a blast and a chance to see how the ground pounders do it.  and there is the extra points for advancement and the bullet for my evals..  With good test scores and an IA tour under my belt, I realistically can look at E6 within the next two years.  That makes me eligible for E7 in 5 years maybe less..  Wouldnt be too shabby..  Plus theres a desire to get more involved in the war even though I've flown my ass off supporting the war, only a few times did it feel hands on..