What is the best duty in the Military? For Marines one that is high on the list is Embassy Duty...

SSgt Kevin Chavez — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 20:16:55 -0500

I have been out of the Marines Corps for 12 years. I often look back on my 10 years of service and smile when I think of all the places and the things I experienced. I have talked with many Veterans and current active duty members of the Armed Forces, when I speak of Embassy Duty people always want to hear more about it. Marines do you agree??? What are gem duty stations for the other Branches of Service???

Response by CW5 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 1 at 2015 8:30 PM

CW5 Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 20:30:38 -0500

For the Army, I submit it's being a Tomb Guard (or Sentinel). It's not easy to get that job, but if you can get there, I think it's one of the best jobs (if not THE best job) in the Army.

And I know what I'm talking about. I served in the Old Guard (where the Tomb Guards are assigned) in 1978-1979. And I tried out to be a Tomb Guard. I didn't stay/pursue it, but I got a taste of it.

https://tombguard.org/

Society of the Honor Guard - Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

This work by Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 United States License.

Response by SSgt Kevin Chavez made Jan 1 at 2015 8:57 PM

SSgt Kevin Chavez — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 20:57:55 -0500

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HfKV20k_H4

Marine Security Guard Commercial "I've seen the four corners of the World"

New Marine Corps Commercial just for Marine Security Guard Embassy Duty. The primary mission of the Marine Security Guard (MSG) is to provide internal securi...

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2015 1:14 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 01:14:28 -0500

Recon Marine, living amongst the bugs, in the mud, master of cover and student of camoflauge. Insert by air, by boat, by sea, by foot, by helo, by rappel, by vehicle...extract when the job is done. Dirty, dirty living. Cammo paint, easy to put on, impossible to take off. Boonie cover, modifies cammies, snivel gear optional, this is a life for a country boy. Embassy duty is a far cry from the life a embassy guard, the shit - polished life of Guard to the Tomb....we all have our preferences...and a field Marine was much more desirable than a garrison Marine. I'm not a Dress Blue wearing type, I'm a ripped cammies wearing face painted, this - is - my - rifle type. Not a life for everyone. Ironic as it may be , I came in guaranteed contract for embassy duty/security forces, needless to say, I'm glad my life took a turn. Is it the best job in the military....NO, was it the best for me? It was for a season. I think flying a fast mover dropping 500 lb bombs would be way more exhilarating. I'm not going to try and be so arrogant and systems I had the best job in the Marines, but it was dang close.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 2 at 2015 1:14 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 01:14:38 -0500

The best duty in the military is being in a platoon, then a company/battery/troop, then a Squadron. The closer you are to a line the better. The closer you are to where the man with the rifle is taking it, the better it is. The further away you are...the more distant you are to where steel is forged in the furnace...the worse it is. Give me a rifle and let me be with the Troopers. Having brothers and sisters you know you can count on in a place where it really matters. That's the best duty in the military. Hell...in the whole damned world.

Response by MSgt Michael Durkee made Jan 2 at 2015 8:09 AM

MSgt Michael Durkee — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 08:09:37 -0500

My personal experience has been a three month, TDY in Abu Dhabi, UAE attached to a Mobile Training Team. My team and I mentored the Emirate Air Force on various maintenance, supply, and admin tasks to support their Squadron of fighter aircraft.
That was in 2008, and the recent news stories regarding the UAE assisting with strikes against ISIS brought a sense of accomplishment and pride knowing those were the aircraft that my team and I helped support through training.

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Jan 2 at 2015 8:58 AM

CMSgt James Nolan — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 08:58:14 -0500

And I was thinking First Sergeant of Security Forces in Kyrgyzstan! BWAHAHAHAHAHA

Response by CMSgt James Nolan made Jan 2 at 2015 3:41 PM

CMSgt James Nolan — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 15:41:08 -0500

After all of these years, I would have to say the best duty in the world, bar none, has got to be that of a Fighter Pilot-any service. All day, every day, nothing but rocketing around in the latest and greatest technology. That would have to be like playing, ALL THE TIME. Which is why only the very select few get the opportunity to do it.

Response by SFC A.M. Drake made Jan 2 at 2015 5:44 PM

SFC A.M. Drake — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 17:44:22 -0500

I always wondered why you guys always got the embassy duty...I'm jealous! Heck I don't even know what they look like. What do you do there anyways, besides SHAM! Lol

Response by GySgt Joe Strong made Mar 5 at 2015 1:36 PM

GySgt Joe Strong — Thu, 05 Mar 2015 13:36:14 -0500

I have to say that in my time as a Comm POG 2841/2862 (Lord and Master of Electrons and all Comm Equipment & Communiques that Transition my Area), that I never had a bad assignment.

I had a bad time with one supervisor and thought another was somewhat unfair, but the work, the glorious work was amazing. Even any glorious nights of Mud and Snow, I was still in the Corps, so how horrible could it be? If they'd let me I could pick any of the assignments and go back and do them again.

I fell from Bed of Roses into Bed of Roses, with the possible exception of Student time where I seriously had to buckle down. And even then, getting paid to go to School!!!

All that said Embassy Duty did look fairly cool, those Marines in the Cairo Embassy had it sussed. Probably the 2nd Best Marine Corps Ball I ever went to. Sorry, the Wife invited me to her Units Annual event and that one was pretty awesome ;)

And LtCol Robert Halvorson has the truth of it. Shortened - (sic) It's in the being where it matters, and that you are doing what matters, that adds the sweetness to the doing.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Mar 19 at 2015 4:46 PM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 16:46:22 -0400

Response by SP5 Joel O'Brien made Mar 19 at 2015 8:49 PM

SP5 Joel O'Brien — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 20:49:18 -0400

Can't say that I disagree with any answers that have been given so far. All of the ones mentioned are no doubt noble and rewarding. Trust me when I tell you I feel the best assignment/best job in the Army or the military for that matter is with the American Forces Network.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 19 at 2015 10:39 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 19 Mar 2015 22:39:08 -0400

Ft Buchanan, that was a rough duty station. Why anyone would want to be stationed in a Caribbean island, as a single guy, going tdy to south central American countries for three weeks at a time, as a single guy, when they be somewhere fun like ft Polk or Minot AFB, is beyond me.
It's a good thing they removed active duty units from there, because the effect on morale was very noticeable.

Don't get me started on the navy guys on the other side of the island, how they could stare at the sapphire blue water day in and out with the mountains at their back without wishing to be back at Norfolk, I'll never know.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2015 11:21 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 11:21:40 -0400

I have to say, the U.S. military has a reach like no other. I can't think of a single country where America does not have a service member on the ground, whether it be a SEAL team on a secret mission, security guard at an embassy, or a regular fleet assignment at a permanent base overseas. I think there are always benefits (and downsides) to every branch, rank, job, and position. In the end, we truly have a lot to be thankful for. Most foreign militaries simply do not have the opportunities that we do.

My first assignment was with the 1st Marine Division Band out of Camp Pendleton as a musician. That was great because I got to be close to home, march in the Rose Parade, and do gigs in places like San Francisco and Estes Park, Colorado. I was also fortunate enough to deploy to Afghanistan and gain a little experience there.

For the past couple years, I've been on embassy duty, and have been assigned to the U.S. embassies in Singapore, Brunei, Turkey, and the USINT in Cuba. Out of all those, my favorite would have to be Havana for numerous reasons. Being able to improve my Spanish and meet some of the warmest people, it was exciting to be there this past year, especially with all the changes that have been happening. It was great to be able to get off work, and go for a run down the Malecon, looking north out to the Caribbean Sea knowing that I was in "enemy territory", 90 miles from America, in a communist country. Also knowing that service members were not allowed to visit, and the Marines were the only DoD personnel in country made it exciting (the only other military peeps being a Coast Guard rep and the troops down south in the prison....but they can't leave the base or interact with locals). While I loved my other assignments, being able to have a mojito in Old Havana on a Friday beats a night out in Oceanside every time by a landslide.

While embassy duty has a lot of rules fleet Marines don't have (no drinking in rooms, 3 am curfew, having to sign out with another Marine before going anywhere, etc), the benefits make me believe it is the best duty in the Corps. Meeting other people in their homeland is something I wouldn't trade for anything.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emslsV358Sw

2 Years, 15 Countries, 4 Minutes

In 2013, I decided it was time for a break to see the world. I could never have predicted the wonderful people I'd meet, or the amazing memories I'd share. T...

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 11 at 2015 11:47 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 11:47:28 -0400

For the Navy I would have to say special duty onboard the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) and military liaison duty in Belgium.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 11 at 2015 11:49 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 11:49:15 -0400

I almost forgot... For IT types at least, JCU (Joint Communications Unit) Ft Bragg and WHCA (White House Communications Agency) are 2 other highly sought after duties.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 11 at 2015 2:30 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 14:30:20 -0400

The best duty in the military is the one that you love to do the most. It will be different for every branch, MOS, and individual soldier. Some soldier may love embassy duty and other may hate it. Some love the Airborne some would get out of the army before going.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jul 12 at 2015 10:22 AM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 10:22:39 -0400

Jumping from perfectly good airplanes.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jul 12 at 2015 1:06 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Sun, 12 Jul 2015 13:06:36 -0400

I couldn't say what "the best duty in the Military" is. Whatever it is, I guess I missed it. Don't get me wrong. I have no complaints. But I've spoken with others and some of their experiences leave me a bit envious. Currently, I'm interviewing a member of my VFW Post who was an embassy guard in Rio de Janero, Brazil during the early days of the Korean War. He wanted to get into the action but had to serve out his "contract" first. He shared a beachfront apartment with another guard, had a maid, dressed in civies provided by the government, and by all accounts, had a grand time. He even met his wife who was a civilian employee of the embassy at that time. (They had a long an happy marriage until she died) Well, that's one duty I would have liked...

Response by MSG David Chappell made Jul 20 at 2015 1:40 PM

MSG David Chappell — Mon, 20 Jul 2015 13:40:51 -0400

The best duty is the one where you look at the soldier on your left and right and know they are there for you as you are for them.