How much of an Army prsence is there in Antarctica?

2015-11-09T16:16:22-05:00

I can only imagine that McMurdo Station is made up of prodominately Navy and AF. Are there any Army Communication slots open out there and if so, does anybody know of any Army points of contact out there? I'm a 25S (Satellite Communications) and very very interested in being stationed/deployed to McMurdo. I'm guessing it's a long shot, but it is always worth a shot. Especially, for a once in a lifetime opportunity like Antarctica. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 9 at 2015 4:31 PM

2015-11-09T16:31:31-05:00

Sgt,
I wish I could answer this question for you. I just wanted to tell you that I've been thinking about trying for Antarctica myself. And it's slowly becoming a career goal to get there if possible.

Response by Brig Gen Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2015 8:36 AM

2015-11-11T08:36:58-05:00

I was there in 2001; that was a LONG time ago . . but I saw no Army Uniforms down there.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 11 at 2015 7:23 PM

2015-11-11T19:23:16-05:00

ACT doesn't show any slots for army down there but you might be able to try looking up the NSF.

Response by SSG(P) Brian Kliesen made Aug 11 at 2017 9:33 PM

2017-08-11T21:33:31-04:00

I worked there from 1999 - 2006 and was on a science cruise in 2007 on one of the research vessels. I saw only a few Army folks down there my entire time. One was a Chaplain, there were a couple from CRREL, the Army Cold Regions Research Laboratory, and a few commo folks that went down for a specific project. The Navy pulled out in 1999, but I think has a logistics person still on staff to help with the cargo ship and off/on-loading. The USCG goes down when they have a working icebreaker, and the Air Force has the 109th ANG with their ski equipped LC-130's and the Active Duty Air Force with their C-17's. The Nuclear Test Ban Treaty also had one or two Army folks go down once or twice too. You might find it easier to find a job with one of the many contractors that go down to work on the ice and there is a satellite uplink at Black Island and NASA has a tracking and relay station at McMurdo. https://www.leidos.com/antarctic-support-contract?host=h is one of the contractors. Good Luck

antarctic-support-contract

Response by SMSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2018 11:11 PM

2018-06-30T23:11:43-04:00

No Army personnel... Navy turned over the mission to the Air Force (New York Air National Guard) years ago. You get some Active Duty flyers that fly the C-17 to McMurdo but the NY Guard flys the LC-130's all over Antarctica. Coast Guard runs an icebreaker to McMurdo each year to clear a channel in the frozen Ross Sea for a single re-supply container ship. The military is primarily a support role to the National Science Foundation.