Posted on May 26, 2019
Sgt Joey Poulson
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As a prior service Marine, I’m close to to going to the KS Army NG. I’ve been out a while. Wanted combat arms or armor. Was suggested I go 13f to retain rank. 11b/c would drop rank to E4. Would I get to be in the field or would I be stuck in a TOC environment? I’ve got a great career and I just want to get out in the field. Thoughts?
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Responses: 5
SPC Erich Guenther
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Edited >1 y ago
I've been out a very long time but I can chip in some advice here as well. Since I was in as 11 Series and am somewhat familiar with the position as old as I am. As a former Marine your going to be happier with a light unit than with an armor unit. So if you have a choice or preference, make it known before you enlist. In a armor unit your going to be in a Bradley IFV variant customized for FISTV tasks. Headroom in a Bradley sucks and if your tall your not going to like it. Also with a Armor unit you have more weapons and more involved in weapons and vehicle maintenance BS. Light units its just you, your MOS and what you can carry on your back.........life is more simplified. From a career development point of view, probably better to have experience in both types of units but I have not seen it hurt any Infantry guy that spent their whole career as light either. BTW, Armor is Combat Arms in the Army, so is Aviation. Not the end of the world if you get in an Armor unit, I just had more fun and better training in light units. Good Luck!
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CPT Lawrence Cable
>1 y
Sgt Joey Poulson - Mech Infantry, unless something drastic has changed. In my day, they did annual Training at Ft Carson and at Ft Riley. Normally they operate in a Mech Heavy Task Force, which just means two Companies of Mech Infantry and one Company of Armor. Take this with a grain of salt since I've been out of the Game for 20 years. My assumption would be that you will either be an FO or FDC.
It does mean that you probably wont have to walk.
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Sgt Joey Poulson
Sgt Joey Poulson
>1 y
CPT Lawrence Cable I just want to make sure I get to do field stuff. I’ve told 13f over 11x because it’s the best of both worlds. Thanks
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CPT Lawrence Cable
>1 y
Sgt Joey Poulson - And a humorous tale for an old timer at Carson with the 35th Division.
As I noted above, I served in Army National Guard Divisional Engineer unit that were located in Appalachia Kentucky and supported, among others, the 35th Division. Well, Divisional Engineer units are very equipment heavy, even compared to Mechanized Infantry units, and a lot of it couldn't be trammed, so we rail loaded the heavy stuff and convoyed the light trucks and jeeps (during the Hummer switch over). If you have ever been involved in a Divisional rail move, getting your cars to the unloading point makes a huge difference in how much down time and organizational time for the Company. The older guys had come to realize at some point that there was a preponderance of Southern/Appalachian Boys in position of authority in the Army and that the well placed gift of a mason jar of moonshine would often lubricate the placement of your flat cars at a unloading ramp. It had become a tradition in those Engineer units to take some "trading moonshine" along facilitate the flow of things. Of course, there are no secrets in an Army Unit and by time the exercise was over, the few jars of trading moonshine had grown to enormous proportions. I was walking across the Cantonment area when I was braced by a Full Bird Colonel, who turned out to be the G2 of the 35th Division. He asked after seeing the Castles, "Are you one of those Kentucky Engineers?", to which I replied affirmative. He then stated that he had heard that we had brought a Water Buffalo (big water trailer) full of Moonshine. That's a lot of booze and beyond the capability of the local suppliers, and I assured the Colonel that it was not True. Then he stated that the Commanding General would sure like to try some, and if I could facilitate that, he would appreciate it. I just told him I would pass it on to the proper authorities and see what we could do for the General.
I never knew if the General got his moonshine, although I suspect that he did. The 35th always requested us for any exercise after that AT.
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SPC Erich Guenther
SPC Erich Guenther
>1 y
CPT Lawrence Cable - I think if your in an Armored Formation and your FO your in a converted Bradley IFV but I am not 100% sure because when I was in they rode in FISTV that looked similar to a M901 ITV. I did a Google though and it looks like they are using Bradley IFV variants now. Ultimately you should be in a much quieter vehicle as you should be forward of the Armor so perhaps you might be in the new Army Jeep which would be really cool, they are rolling off the line at Oshkosh Truck now. You'll have to wait and see I guess at your unit. Yeah you will still have field exposure regardless of Armor unit or Light unit. Just that because in an Armor unit you have a ride they bog you down more with equipment.......since your not carrying it.
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
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As a 13F you have many environments in which to perform your duties, almost everyone gets a stint in a TO. Of some kind. Forward Observers are often imbed with the Infantry and Armor, placing you forward in the fight. Whether you are light or heavy determines if you tuck it up or ride heavy. In any case your mission is in the front line. Thank you for your service.
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Sgt Joey Poulson
Sgt Joey Poulson
>1 y
Thanks for responding. I have searched google to death on 13f and got mixed info. I assume different units=different experiences. Not completely understanding how Army units are laid out I just wanted to make sure the Leavenworth guard unit wasn’t just a HQ, I read it’s A Co so I assume that is a company level mos. thanks again
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
CSM Darieus ZaGara
>1 y
That sounds right. You will enjoy being a Fister. Sgt Joey Poulson
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SPC Driver
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You'll be in the field with everyone else, setting up your own toc
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Sgt Joey Poulson
Sgt Joey Poulson
>1 y
Thanks for the response.
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