Attn. Reservists...

[Scrim]

Just to let you know, both of my old units got activated for Iraq last week.
One is an Artillery Battery, the other a Low Altitude Air Defense Battery(LAAD).
Neither one will be doing their trained jobs.(Not much of an air threat over there for the LAAD!)
They will be providing airfield security, convoy security and village/city patrols. So they are basically Grunts now. Every Marine a rifleman after all!
My point being that if you are in a Reserve unit, and think you will never be activated because you are a Water Purification Specialist or some such ****, think again.
Anyway good luck Bro's. Semper Fi.

[zenmaster]

Again? I'm gonna have to sign up for frequent flyer miles this time. Good luck-

Semper Fi

[Pandy]

Yea, my guard unit is ADA (AVERGERS), last time we were in Texas, we were training anti-sniper movements, urban warfare, etc, we have been airmarked Homeland defense for 18 months over the pass 4 years. Would have been deployed to Iraq but called off, our deployment date was going to be April 2003... Close call in my fine words.

[jlanni]

thats interesting to know... thats for the heads up

[Jack Mehoff]

A 155mm artillery unit from UTNG (148th FA) will be in Iraq for a year. Their mission is convoy duties instead of putting steel down range, but first, they wil be in Ft. Bliss for 2 months for more training and 2 weeks in Polk to re-qual.

And WTF is up with jarheads thinking every jarhead is a rifleman? Everybody in uniform serving in Iraq IS a rifleman.

[zenmaster]

That's been a Marine saying for a long time. "Every Marine a rifleman" is to distinguish the attitude of Marines from the attitudes of other services- for example many in the Navy have never fired a rifle, and many in the Army have the attitude that nobody fights but the infantry. I agree that the war in Iraq has brought conflict to all MOS's. It really illustrates a state of mind difference between Marine pogues and Army pogues.

[wyrm_142]

Scary thought? Even the AF has some members thinking tactically (a small %, the rest are sitting at BIAP writing regs for wear of hats & authorization for underarmour t-shirts).

There are USAF combat arms instructors as part of the staff at the pre-Iraq convoy training course in Kuwait.

Heck, I started buying firearms 'cause I didn't feel that shooting once every two years was enough - now its OCD.

[usa320]

Even the AF has some members thinking tactically (a small %, the rest are sitting at BIAP writing regs for wear of hats & authorization for underarmour t-shirts).


The AF has always had some people that are skilled in the tactical arts-

Combat Controllers, Pararescue, A-10 drivers...

YOud be surprised the tactical training that A-10 pilots are required to go through now. They are all trained as FAC's and are sent into the field with grunts for some time before they are allowed to fly in combat.

[wyrm_142]

Considering I'm in the AF - and work with some of those guys... I'm not suprized. Post OEF the fighter community has shifted alot of training. F-15E crews hardly ever did any FAC work, talkin with one of my friends still on AD, the guys are Mt Home have a GLO on base (didn't have one while I was there) and they do talk on to targets on a weekly basis. CAS happens - and the AF is training for it.

The AF still have a HUGE burden to overcome of people that think guns are icky (hell someone complained cause three of us were comparing knives at work). The remedy will come from instilling a 'warrior' mentality while at basic, the course that all Airmen go thru (less O's). But I'm not the CSAF (but he's at least got us doing something other than the bike test).