Big deal about going "outside wire"?

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 18:00:17 -0400

I often read on here about troops going outside the wire, as if were a big deal. I guess they are talking about their base camps. I was gone long before the GWOT. But if that is what it means, why is it a big deal to go to the local village, town, etc?
The only thing that I can guess is to force compliance with GO 1 and perhaps some with long memories think they might go to the equivalent of the RVN car washes. What is the real deal on this?

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Apr 3 at 2015 6:04 PM

Capt Richard I P. — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 18:04:08 -0400

MAJ Ronnie Reams Sir, its often used to distinguish those who go into the area an enemy can affect with direct fire and IEDs versus only IDF aboard Forward Operating Bases (FOBs). They are basically saying (more politely) "I am not solely a fobbit."

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Apr 3 at 2015 6:32 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 18:32:32 -0400

Ronnie no one goes outside the wire unless it is a combat operation. There is no "ville" to go to. You go out on your own and you will end up on a milk carton or worse. Many of our smaller outposts were game on with in steps of the gate. Totally different dynamic

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Apr 3 at 2015 6:40 PM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 18:40:30 -0400

I'm confused here.

Is an ex-11B Vietnam Vet asking if going outside the wire in a war zone is a "big deal"?

Response by COL Charles Williams made Apr 3 at 2015 9:49 PM

COL Charles Williams — Fri, 03 Apr 2015 21:49:39 -0400

It is all about your perspective.

It seems like, at least in my Army Career, your service in combat/combat zone is/was judged by whether you worked on a secure base, camp, FOB and COB, etc... or went outside... (In Somalia we called it into Indian Country; Not PC I know, but that was what we called it). Since 911, outside the wire has become the demarcation between the discussions actual combat service vs. service in a combat zone or theater.

In Iraq and Afghanistan (and other places I have been) there was always a threat of indirect fire attacks etc., but the threat was generally low. But, nevertheless, in a combat zone, you number can be up anywhere. The real threat generally came, in most places when you went outside to operate, or even just to travel from place to place. Hence the discourse and disagreement.

To me, it is not a big deal. Service is service. You do the best wherever you are planted.

Response by SGT Daniel Petitt made Apr 24 at 2022 7:07 PM

SGT Daniel Petitt — Sun, 24 Apr 2022 19:07:21 -0400

When you are going outside the wire it’s either an ambush patrol or a search & destroy mission or LP. I guess going outside the wire had different meanings depending on where you were at.