What is it like being a 19k?

2019-05-02T19:12:20-04:00

I would like to know what it is like being a 19k?

Response by SGT Dave Matteson made May 2 at 2019 7:44 PM

2019-05-02T19:44:21-04:00

My point of view is this...it is a big pain in the A55! BUT it can be fun, rewarding, and confidence building. It will take a lot out of you and it will put a lot into you. I was infantry and there 42 of us in a platoon. In a tank platoon there is only 16 of you taking care of 4 68 ton babies. This is an MOS where you are a team or crew but ear the name TANKER. My MOS' are 11B/11M/19K. But that is my point of view. Others, will have a different opinion.

Response by Capt Gregory Prickett made May 2 at 2019 9:18 PM

2019-05-02T21:18:25-04:00

There is nothing quite so rewarding as putting steel on steel at 2000+ meters aways, and there is nothing quite as demoralizing as breaking track, thrown to the inside, on a slope, in the rain--just before the final drive pisses out all of the trans fluid so that you have to pull the pack to replace the final drive.

Being a grunt is better, IMO.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2019 10:11 PM

2019-05-02T22:11:56-04:00

It really depends on your unit, your optempo, and your chain of command. I’ve had great chains of command with great experiences and I’ve had crap chains of command with poor experiences. The optempo right now in the ABCT is very high; do not expect to spend much time at home. You will be in the field a lot; that being said, the field is where we actually get to do our job, and the job is extremely gratifying and a lot of fun. You can’t find anything else like it!

If you don’t mind hard work and take pride in your work, you will find 19K gratifying. It will be hard if you have a family, however, if you get assigned to an ABCT. If you’re young, single, and enjoy the outdoors and hard, sometimes extremely frustrating work with some of the best friends you’ll ever make, a tanker’s life is the life for you.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made May 3 at 2019 10:18 PM

2019-05-03T22:18:43-04:00

Maintenance and Maneuver two sides of the same coin.

Response by SFC Ron Shaffer made May 3 at 2019 11:43 PM

2019-05-03T23:43:11-04:00

Not sure how it is now with tanks being embedded with infantry. I retired in 2002 and loved it. I served on the M60A1, M60A3, M1IP and retired on the M1A1. Looking back there is no other job I would have wanted to be other than on tanks. That is my new tank that we got once we landed in Saudi during the first gulf war. Best tank I ever had. Never broke down the 2 years it was mine.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2019 2:31 AM

2019-05-07T02:31:02-04:00

I am a Cav Scout 19D. I must tell you that when we're out in the field during the cold days and nights, we see a Tank, we stand behind the exhaust and warm up! Tank I think are pretty bad a$$. I have many Tanker buddies and my oldest son is a tanker. He loves it. When you qualify as a crew with your Tank during Gunnery, you get to wear Tanker Boots. From what I heard, they are comfortable.

Response by SGT Edward Boronkas made May 7 at 2019 2:50 PM

2019-05-07T14:50:28-04:00

Simply put “Best Job Ever”. And I was one everything from an M48A5 to an M1A1.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made May 7 at 2019 3:22 PM

2019-05-07T15:22:42-04:00

Best camping trips of your life and the most frustrating people you'll ever meet.

Response by SPC Xiao Fu made May 8 at 2019 10:29 PM

2019-05-08T22:29:28-04:00

Hot in the summer, cold in the winter. Always heavy work, always deafening. Best job in the army.

Response by CPL Robert Crain made May 10 at 2019 9:43 AM

2019-05-10T09:43:28-04:00

Well, It is alot of work, Changing track pads, end connectors, Complete track, keeping the tank clean, guard duty, weapons maintenance, loading and unloading and all the other ARMY stuff on top of that, that being said, It was the best time of my life. We worked hard and played hard (Germany). We explored multiple cities and enjoyed the culture. Traveled to other Countries. It also helps to have a great crew working with you. Alot of times we traveled around together because we knew that we had each others backs. The camaraderie is great but you have to work with it. I was on 4 different tank crews and all of them required alot of diplomacy on my part. If I could go back and change anything I would not change anything. I was able to secure a Government job based on my Military service and I am very thankful. Basically, it is like any other job in the ARMY, it is what you make of it!

Response by PV2 Cory Hagen made May 13 at 2019 10:05 AM

2019-05-13T10:05:19-04:00

When I went to MEPS the gentleman told me that hearing the main gun go off for the first time will make your dick harder than Chinese arithmetic

Response by SSG Robert Shingleton made Jun 12 at 2019 9:28 PM

2019-06-12T21:28:19-04:00

Was stationed in Korea 3 times. E4, E5, E6. Camp Casey all three times and in 1st tank D co all three times. Great if you’re single but I was married and it made it tough on my wife and kids. I started out on an M60A3 and finished on an M1A2 SEP. I was also a Master Gunner and loved that, except for being in the tower when everyone else was going down range.

Response by SSG Owen Kingsley made Jun 15 at 2019 12:48 AM

2019-06-15T00:48:33-04:00

It’s awesome

Response by SSG Stuart Zion made Jun 16 at 2019 11:45 PM

2019-06-16T23:45:17-04:00

I was a tanker most of my career and I wouldn’t trade it for the world a good crew will be stronger than family and if you get fortunate to get a CAV unit it even more like family just remember there is no privacy in a tank