What are deployments like for 88M?

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 17:53:54 -0500

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 26 at 2019 6:01 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 18:01:18 -0500

It depends on what unit they're in. My brother is National Guard and an 88M - he was in a transportation company and we deployed the same time in 05 (I'm active duty). They were always out on the road transporting stuff and he was in southern Iraq. I was in northern at the time. At that time not much happened in the south but if it did it was bad - they had 1 x KIA and 1 x WIA from an EFP that deployment.

I know we had 88Ms in my first unit which was a combat engineer battalion. They were generally in the motorpool.

Response by SPC Russ Bolton made Nov 26 at 2019 7:37 PM

SPC Russ Bolton — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 19:37:54 -0500

Driving, way too much time in the motor pool. You in most cases don't sleep on the ground. The sites of the different sceneries are priceless.

Response by SPC Russ Bolton made Nov 27 at 2019 12:42 AM

SPC Russ Bolton — Wed, 27 Nov 2019 00:42:19 -0500

Back in my time 88m was the heavy wheeled operator. I believe that the most was readjusted to other mos' so the information that I can give you is about 30 yrs old. You will be able to try to look busy pcms can only take so much time. If I may suggest is that you work on college courses. Promotion points, and to also may ets out with a degree or maybe more. The transmission industry out here is turning into self driving. Truck8bg out here was and is so much work. Rewarding career. Be blessed

Response by SPC Michael Sanders made Nov 27 at 2019 8:24 PM

SPC Michael Sanders — Wed, 27 Nov 2019 20:24:43 -0500

Lost of convoys and security missions

Response by SPC Angela Burnham made Nov 29 at 2019 3:35 PM

SPC Angela Burnham — Fri, 29 Nov 2019 15:35:40 -0500

Back in the day, they had one of the highest causality rates in Iraq. You had something like a 50/50 chance of catching an IED during your 16 month vacation to the sand box. Not fun. No idea what it's like these days, my guess would be that it's alot safer if you have to go past the wire now.

Response by SGT Cory Traxler made Dec 1 at 2019 12:12 PM

SGT Cory Traxler — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 12:12:02 -0500

I deployed to Kuwait in 2015, so it wasn’t too dangerous, but we did convey all the time. My unit had E-5’s as the convoy commander for the experience, which was an amazing experience, and I loved it, and the E-6’s became fobbets. If you had a mission the day before, the ACC (E-5) would have the soldiers that were on the mission go out to the motor pool and get the trucks ready while the convoy commander (E-5) got everything ready logistically. The CC would have to brief the battalion commander on the mission, and he would ask you any questions that he had just to see if you were prepared. We were never left alone as our platoon LT. was with us, so if the BC asked a question we didn’t know he could answer it. The next day you’ll go to the motor pool and do all your PMCS again to make sure everything was okay. Next, you’ll do your briefing with everyone, and then you’ll head out. If you weren't on a mission, then you were either doing a class that was scheduled for the whole unit, or you got to do whatever you wanted until a mission came up. Not all units will do the same, but this was a typical day for me while on deployment.

Response by CPL Shayne Sanchez made Dec 1 at 2019 11:54 PM

CPL Shayne Sanchez — Sun, 01 Dec 2019 23:54:18 -0500

Just remember that convoys make juicy targets. Even insurgents understand that cutting supply lines can hurt the forward operating missions. IED's, VBIED's, snipers and the good old fashioned ambushes are a real threat. You will have support in as much as engineers doing their best to keep MSR's clear. Just remember your training and dont panic and you'll be white as rain

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 4 at 2019 11:09 PM

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 23:09:07 -0500

I wouldnt consider this as a deployment but im at camp Humphreys in south korea and its really chill besides dealing with ammo

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 5 at 2019 3:55 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 05 Dec 2019 03:55:04 -0500

If your in kuwait like me all you do is sit around or go on missions in civilians. Definitely not like back in the day.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2019 12:31 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 12:31:24 -0500

I'd u go on a rotational deployment to Poland as an 88m, more specifically in a composite truck company, you will be racking up all the miles and conducting to many convoys to even count. You will be doing them all over eastern europe. The experience is something I can't exactly describe with words.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2019 12:31 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 12:31:51 -0500

If ur in a bsb or fsc you will not get the same experience as a CTC in Poland

Response by SPC Teresa Rogers made Dec 11 at 2019 11:49 PM

SPC Teresa Rogers — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 23:49:22 -0500

It depends on where you go really.