What is Fort Irwin like for an 11B?

2021-05-06T20:02:58-04:00

Fort Irwin will be my third duty station. I am getting a compassionate reassignment so my son can get help from Operation Autism there on post. Currently I am at Fort Polk and know what the lowest of the low is. Quite frankly I don't care how awful the place is. I would like to know what life will be like as an 11B and if I would be given the time to help my son. My wife has a degenerative eye disease so driving is out of the question for her until she gets her eyes fixed.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made May 6 at 2021 8:11 PM

2021-05-06T20:11:06-04:00

I visited Fort Irwin just once, for one day, to celebrate an anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. Most personnel (regardless of MOS) are lured there by the fact that it "lies" halfway between Las Vegas and Los Angeles which promises access to plenty of fun. Well, "lie" is the operative word. The cutoff to Fort Irwin lies halfway between but from that junction to Fort Irwin is a very long and desolate drive, one that your wife may be disinclined to make even with good eyes. Sorry, but that's the extent of my knowledge. What help is available for your family there, I can't say. I hope better sources will respond on that subject. Best to you and your family. Hope everything works out for the best...

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 6 at 2021 8:25 PM

2021-05-06T20:25:25-04:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member I share "the Lowest of the Low" with you. I was at Ft. Polk December 1969- February 1970 in 11B A.I.T.. ANYPLACE has to be better than Ft. Polk. I admire both you and your wife for seeking out the best options for your son. My newphew moved from Chicago to North Carolina for the same reason. They have two sons with Autism, one son with Aspergers, one son & one daughter without those challenges. Prayers going up for all your families future.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 6 at 2021 8:28 PM

2021-05-06T20:28:44-04:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member Below is one previous post. You can search on "Fort Irwin" to find many other posts.

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/help-with-training-drills-ideas-for-11b-stuck-in-fort-irwin-who-has-no-team-to-work-with

Help with training & drills ideas for 11B stuck in Fort Irwin who has no team to work with? |...

I am currently at my first duty station, in Fort Irwin. For those of you who are familiar with this place I'm sure you'll understand that for an 11B, this duty station provides almost no practical training related to the 11 series mos. The rotational schedule sees all 11 series out in the box for 10 days a month, typically on OSVs and the remainder of the month revolves around waiting around the motorpool doing pmcs on those OSVs. My question...

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made May 6 at 2021 9:07 PM

2021-05-06T21:07:02-04:00

:D Well, as I drove my rental car out to the Fort I saw all the dry, sagebrush and I thought to myself, "Whosoever I have pissed off, I am humbly sorry."
Based on your family circumstances talk to the post CSM prior to reporting into command. He may have a position available in an off-post capacity but don't place all your eggs in that basket until you talk to him.
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Duty:
However it really turned out to be a great training post. Though I spent most my time there on staff at the Live Fire Range up above the Alvaraz Mountains, it was a great preparation for the Gulf War.
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As an 11B you will do a lot of 11B stuff and will have an opportunity to plan for extended engagements. I recommend you study defense in depth, fighting positions, weapons deployment and integrated fires. Practice your range card, including left and right interlocking fires, Final protective fires and map symbols.
Learn about extended supply lines, long range antennae (both Omni and Directional), Antenna Placement Planning, Retransmission Capabilities and Multiband Radio.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antenna_types
ATP 6-02.53, Techniques for Tactical Radio Operations, February 2020 is also a great guide.
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There are water holes all up in the rocks next to the valleys, usually in the spring-fed portales. I found several large natural water cisterns (20 to 30 meters wide and 5 to 15 meters deep) where there was usually a large cheft of the rock. Follow the animal tracks.
Another source for water knowledge is the old civilian scavengers that abound in the area. They know where all the hidden water points are - they may have a map or two or even lead you to some. The water found in mines is suspect since it may be contaminated.
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Map navigation. Use vehicle odometers and learn to read the skyline with your paper (no batteries) maps. Get an old plain Grid coordinate GPS that straps onto your wrist to use with the paper map. Most use rechargeable AAA batteries - have a small portable solar recharger that fits in your pocket.
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Vehicle maintenance is key along with accountability of equipment. Dummy cords will save a 5 mile "loop" as your people trudge back to get a set of Binoculars or even a missing (one infantry platoon left a sleeping OP) soldier or two.
Points:
1. Fighting and Battle Positions + Integrated Fires,
2. Supply, Communications, Antennas and RETRANs.
3. Water Holes,
4. Navigation,
5. Equipment Maintenance,
6. Accountability.
+++++++++++++
Housing and Barracks:
Contact post housing and arrange for quarters But single soldiers in a unit will have their command will take care of it. I say single because of your families circumstances you may be assigned to an unaccompanied (command's determination) tour.
A car in good condition is needed to go to town (40+ miles one way). Make sure you have a survival kit in the car and two cases of water that stays in the car. It will get hot but its still water.
Barstow CA is the linkup point where all the traffic moves out to Fort Irwin. . If you fly into Orlando contact the Military liaison there for transportation or if in Los Vegas there is a liaison in the Airport (at least there was one).

Antenna_types

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 6 at 2021 11:03 PM

2021-05-06T23:03:22-04:00

There is a huge bowl surrounded by mountains or huge hills. The blue forces will go into the bowl. You will occupy the mountains then kill the blue forces.

Response by CPL Richard Hughes made May 7 at 2021 3:21 AM

2021-05-07T03:21:40-04:00

Typical high desert environment. Barstow is outside of the base. Hop on I-15 and come down out of the desert. Your in Fontana and East LA. Lots of family activities.

Response by CPL Richard Hughes made May 7 at 2021 3:23 AM

2021-05-07T03:23:06-04:00

It is a long road from base to town. As Captain Durish stated.

Response by MSG Greg Kelly made May 7 at 2021 5:27 AM

2021-05-07T05:27:37-04:00

hot, sandy, empty and not a dam thing to do for miles. but you will get good training

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made May 7 at 2021 8:54 AM

2021-05-07T08:54:16-04:00

Embrace........

Response by SGT Richard H. made May 10 at 2021 9:42 AM

2021-05-10T09:42:39-04:00

Best way I can describe Ft. Irwin is that if the world were living body, Ft. Irwin would be the a$$hole.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2021 4:38 PM

2021-05-17T16:38:53-04:00

I was there from 2014-2017. It’s honestly not that bad of a place. It is of course up to interpretation by you. The local area around Fort Irwin isn’t much. When I was there we got a 3-day and a 4-day after each rotation while I was in 2/11 ACR. If that is still a thing, I suggest going out with the family as much as possible during that time. There’s plenty of beaches, parks, etc.
If you’re familiar with California already and have family residing there like I did, then that’s a plus. Rotations will be busy and you’ll go out into the desert a couple weeks a month. It gets pretty repetitive after about a year. As for medical care, they built a bigger hospital on post right as I left, so I don’t know what services they provide on post now. We used to have to drive to Lona Linda and San Diego for specialized care and appointments. If you can, try to go to Killer Troop, 2/11. That was the best company and probably still is. I wish you the best of luck out there and I hope you find the care you need for your family.

Response by SGT Lorenzo Nieto made May 18 at 2021 5:38 AM

2021-05-18T05:38:13-04:00

I was there in1967 before deploying to Vietnam, the only thing out there is the post nothing else, how ever you can take a really nice long drive to the nearest town Barstow.