What to expect in 1/11th ACR as 91H?

SSG (Join to see) get ready for a crash course in field maintenance. I led two MSTs and was the Shop Officer of Maintenance Troop 11ACR 1994-1998. So your primary tracked system is a derivative of a M113 that is permanently visually modified to serve as the OPFOR Surrogate Vehicle OSV. There are Tank and IFV versions. The regiment fights a rotation each month for two weeks in the box against every CONUS Stryker/Mech/Armor BCT and sometimes light and Airborne task forces and BCTs. The regiment has some number of M1s and Brads for gunnery (used to be 8 and 16) and crew proficiency. I can't really tell you much about the OSV as it was a concept when I left. We supported M551 Sheridan VISMODs that represented T72s and BMP1-3.

Two seasons at Irwin. hot and windy and cold and windy season. You are going to learn so much about soldiering, field craft, field maintenance, etc you are not going to believe it. You are serving with a unit that does 2-3 week rotations each month, 11 months a year. Block leave is set in stone about 12 months out. Good deals on plane tickets as you lock in leave that far out.

There is a NG unit in NV and AZ that are war traced to 11th ACR. The NV unit is 221 CAV and they bring their M1s dressed up like T80s ever couple years. AZ is the artillery for the regiment if it rolls out.

What to expect? Expect it ain't Korea. Stay in shape, drink water.

I was part of the AVN support unit, so I can't really speak to the OPTEMO and field requirments for the ACR unit. I can talk about the "off duty" part of life.
You asked about the climate, it is very similar to the Iraq / Kuwait border. Very dry and often hot. It might seem overwhelming but the heat is something you adjust to and isn't as bad as the posted averages would lead you to believe.
Off duty life consists of on post or road trips for entertainment and activities. The distance from larger towns and cities makes you feel like you are isolated. But! Being 2 hours from everything is way different than being in the middle of everything with a short trip of 2 hours to get nearly anywhere. It's in how you look at it. You will be closer to Los Vegas, Los Angeles (Disney and Universal Studios and the other tourist activities like whale watching), and San Diego (Sea World) than most postings you can get in the Army. It is a great time to take advantage of that centralized location and get some travel activities crossed off that bucket list.

I was in the 1/11 ACR a long time ago at Ft Irwin and loved th job. It was the only unit i was in in my career where i knew the training schedule a year out and could actually make plans. My family on the other hand absolutely hated it. Have to drive 30 minutes to Barstow and 50 to Victorville, neither of which is the greatest towns in the wolrd just to do some shopping. The PX is tiny with weird hours. The commissary never has enough meat because the regiment and the rotational units clear it out before they head into the box. If your not taking block leave when scheduled all of the facilities have limited hours because most everyone does take block leave, but leaves the Soldiers not on leave with nothing available to them. But i loved being out in the field every month. Good luck. I sure dont miss it.

SPC Griffin,
As soon I saw your job title, I went like...oh my! Just be ready for work brother. I wasn't assigned to the 11th ACR, but I was on Ops Grp on the Vultures Team from 1993-1996. The Vultures are tasked to document all facets of rotations both on video and still photography when combat arms units go to train, and war gaming against the "opposing forces", in other words against 11th ACR. So, we went to the field just as much as everyone did during rotations.
I don't know anything about tracked vehicles, but one thing I can say is that some vehicles are modified to give that "enemy" look. I know they modified M113s, HMMWV or Humvee, and Huey Helicopters...you'll see when you arrive to your unit.
As far the immediate areas, you'll have Barstow, Victorville, Las Vegas, Los Angeles if you are willing to drive that far. Barstow is the closest about 30-40 minutes drive from post. I had family in the LA area which is almost a two hour drive, give or take. I know it's been a long time since I was there so, I'm sure a lot of stuff has changed. Good luck brother!

BLACKHORSE!!!!!!!!

I was stationed there twice. The first time when my household stuff was.delivered to me. It got picked three days later to go back into storage. An I went back to Iraq with 2/11th ACR. My second time I was in maintance troop an we were hodgies on the battle field 2 weeks out of every month. Be prepared for nothing to do or see while your there. You are literally in the middle of no where.

This place is exhausting. I’m here right now, hit me up if you have more questions. I’d be more than willing to help you out