Posted on Apr 27, 2014
What is the smallest unit, remotist location, long term hardship military assignement?
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DEW line? Mountaintops in far away places? Underground bunkers? Keyword: Ice breakers? AGB-5 for example.
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 77
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In 2003 Firebase Shkin was a pretty small, pretty remote place to be. Geraldo even called it the "most dangerous place held by Americans" (that was before Fallujah a few months later). Platoon and a half plus a couple sections of gun trucks and an arty section was all we had. 8 clicks from Pakistan, lots of action. I hear it's much bigger now. I think there were COP's that were even smaller later on though.
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SGT James Elphick
Lilley was an SF operator killed there. Before that it was FB Checo, named after a 1/504 soldier killed in 2002. I've mostly just heard it called Shkin though. That place was almost a daily photo op. Whose side were the Pakistani border guards on when you were there?
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SGT James Elphick
Yeah, it became an OGA post for awhile after we left. A 10th Mountain unit took over and almost got overrun so they pulled all the conventional forces out. And those border guards certainly weren't our friends. They blocked us from hot pursuit a time or two and possibly medevac'd insurgent casualties. Our FO paid them back once though by walking some arty rounds up a hillside towards one of their post. Those guys took off running and we had a good laugh.
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For the Coast Guard , it was LorSta Attu in Alaska. One year tours with a very small group of folks whose only function was to keep the Loran working. I was told the upside was 30 extra days leave once you completed your tour.
Never had enough of whatever it took to ask for an assignment quite that remote.
Never had enough of whatever it took to ask for an assignment quite that remote.
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PO1 (Join to see)
It seemed to be a highly desired unit. I had a bunch of friends go there and they loved it.
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Top 10 Most Remote American Outposts in the World - Toptenz.net
To pick where a military base goes has to be an easy job. Putting a military base in a place where there’s fighting is a no-brainer. But sometimes you fi
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MSgt (Join to see)
I'm not sure what qualifies Mr. Shariff as an expert.
I was stationed at Thule AB and it's not as bad as he makes it out to be. It does get cold and snowy and icy, but we saw temps up to the 60s in May-July, despite a quick snow on June 3rd.
It's the most remote, isolated DoD installation in the world, but the Air Force knows it too; they make the extra effort to take care of us up there. The job wasn't the most fun, but the uniqueness of the assignment makes it one of my favorites.
I was stationed at Thule AB and it's not as bad as he makes it out to be. It does get cold and snowy and icy, but we saw temps up to the 60s in May-July, despite a quick snow on June 3rd.
It's the most remote, isolated DoD installation in the world, but the Air Force knows it too; they make the extra effort to take care of us up there. The job wasn't the most fun, but the uniqueness of the assignment makes it one of my favorites.
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SGT (Join to see)
I thought that living and working on Kwajalein was remote until I had spent some time on Wake Island- "Where America's Day REALLY Begins!". #2 on the list.
I also forgot to point out that, when I was there, the majority of the support staff (Food Service, Housekeeping, Etc.) are Thai. The Thais incorporate their cooking style in the chow hall. If you like Thai food, then a stay on Wake Island will be manageable.
I also forgot to point out that, when I was there, the majority of the support staff (Food Service, Housekeeping, Etc.) are Thai. The Thais incorporate their cooking style in the chow hall. If you like Thai food, then a stay on Wake Island will be manageable.
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SGT Thomas Lucken
Kunsan Air Base, really! JSA yes, but Kunsan????? One not on there and probable has been closed down, Azores Island off Portugal.
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SSgt Edward Miller
I don't think he has his facts straight. His #10, Shemya AK is very remote, but is not off the southern coast of Alaska, It's the 3rd from farthest Aleutian island & is much closer to Siberia than mainland Alaska. And if it's a constant 50 degrees, how did we get 14 feet of snow the winter I spent there.
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WOW, my smallest was hardly remote, it was in Florida. My most remote was hardly small, Aviano. Does visiting a refugee camp in Slovenia count?
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SSG Matt Murphy
Everything counts.....all interesting (and inspiring). Where and what in Florida? Key West?
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Sgt Packy Flickinger
I was in Mayport and Jacksonville. Mayport was the smallest place I've been. Next to Pendleton of course. That was really small. lol
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Hohenfels in the dead of a harsher than normal German Winter. So cold there, it froze MILSPEC oil inside the block of an M88 TRV.
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Not too remote, pretty small, but one fantastic assignment - NATO Missile Firing Installation, Chania, Crete. About a 15 minute taxi ride into town, or 15 minutes the other way to Souda Bay Naval Support Activity. A gem of a place in the 70's, have never been back, but it is still operational.
http://www.namfi.gr/
http://www.namfi.gr/
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