What was the best unit you served in and why was it the best?

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 14:38:03 -0500

We have all been in the military and have seen our share of good and not so good units. But we all have that one unit we thought was the best and after we left there it was only reaffirmed when compared to other units. For me it was F co, 51st IN, (Long Range Surveillance)(Airborne). It was a great group of guys that didn't know what failure meant. There were some tough times but there was never a time when I thought I was in a bad place. When I went to war with them I couldn't have imagined a better group of guys to go to war with. Still till today I am proud to have called myself an "Elite Bastard!"

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Nov 30 at 2016 2:47 PM

LTC Kevin B. — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 14:47:06 -0500

Easy. The 101st. Great leadership environment, and my company had awesome NCOs. They kept everyone in line and out of trouble, so I had very few discipline issues while in command.

Response by SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM made Nov 30 at 2016 3:06 PM

SFC William Stephens A. Jr., 3 MSM, JSCM — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 15:06:42 -0500

3-29 FA the 2nd time with TF 1-12 INF in KUWAIT we got to use the Paladin M109A6 the way it was designed NO TACSOP because we were writing a new one. Everything was on the chiefs and the unit leadership, People were amazed, great fellowship, and great NCO and officers.

"PACESETTERS"

Response by SGT David T. made Nov 30 at 2016 3:14 PM

SGT David T. — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 15:14:08 -0500

A co 1/506 Inf back in Korea. It was just our company on the post and it was very much like a family there. If it wasn't for that unit, I would have ETSed much sooner than I did.

Response by SFC J Fullerton made Nov 30 at 2016 4:14 PM

SFC J Fullerton — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 16:14:18 -0500

3/187 Infantry "IRON RAKKASANS", 101st. No bullshit leadership, LTC David Petraeus and CSM Donald Purdy. Standards were everything and non-negotiable. Intense, realistic training, high level of discipline. Leaders and Soldiers were held accountable. It was "old school Army" in the 90's. As tough and rigid as it was, there was high esprit de corps because it had the reputation in the 101st as being the toughest and best trained battalion in the division.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Nov 30 at 2016 4:26 PM

CSM Richard StCyr — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 16:26:41 -0500

Charlie Co. 43rd Engineers, tough and standards driven.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2016 4:34 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 16:34:21 -0500

Eight Recon Tech Squadron, Westover AFB MA. We were situated on a remote part of the base and the camaraderie was the best of which I have even been part

Response by CDR Terry Boles made Nov 30 at 2016 4:51 PM

CDR Terry Boles — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 16:51:05 -0500

Enlisted, my first unit, USS Biddle CG-34…this is where I grew up as a man. Officer, again my first unit, Keesler Medical Center where I was mentored as a newly minted junior officer. At both of these units I was provided the direction and mentorship that would influence my career(s).

Response by Capt Gregory Prickett made Nov 30 at 2016 6:01 PM

Capt Gregory Prickett — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 18:01:53 -0500

Co C, 2d Bn (Abn) - 143d Inf. Great unit and people, with a distinguished combat history.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 30 at 2016 6:10 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 18:10:18 -0500

1-102nd Infantry, CT National Guard. Went to Afghanistan twice with those dudes. Awesome people.

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Nov 30 at 2016 9:28 PM

SPC Erich Guenther — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 21:28:10 -0500

Yes, Airborne units I feel are a step above most Regular Army units in as far as reduced BS and better training and discipline. I completely enjoyed my time with the 101st Airborne as a Rakassan. Wish I could have avoided 2nd Armored Division and Mech Infantry kind of. I learned some things as Mech Infantry but the long hours and the BS really sucked in that unit. Still it was not unbearable just wish I spent the whole time with the 101st.

Response by Maj John Bell made Nov 30 at 2016 10:35 PM

Maj John Bell — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 22:35:46 -0500

Company C, Marine Barracks Bangor, Naval Submarine Base Bangor, WA. I was the company commander. It was the best, because I had the Barracks Commanders whose command philosophy was:

"Not one of these Marines signed up to stand in a bullet proof box and guard a tree line that nothing but deer and Canadian Geese are going to come out of. As long as no one is seriously hurt, and nothing really expensive is broken, your mission Captain Bell is to make sure that on Friday of training week, these Marines can walk in to the E Club, strike heroic poses and tell heroic TRUE stories about the insane crap that they did this week. It would be best if some of them were bleeding all of them were bruised and the Marines smelled so bad the submariners move to the other side of the club".

God Bless those two LtCols, they meant every word of what they said. If I had pulled any of the insane crap we did anywhere else in the Marine Corps, I would have been relieved and cashiered. For three years Peter Pan would have been jealous of me.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Nov 30 at 2016 11:20 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 23:20:50 -0500

Any command that maximize mission performance opportunities and minimized adminiscrap. So for me, that was Naval Support Force, Antarctica. There was so much real work to do, a lot was ignored or forgiven. Like Maj John Bell said, that was the place where my stunts would have me in Leavenworth otherwise. That night I gassed the XO or stranded him at South Pole. Having a snow-bast baptize the Chief of Chaplains properly. Running the high quality booze racket. The list goes on.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Nov 30 at 2016 11:37 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 23:37:56 -0500

They were all great for different reasons, USS California put my Technical Skills to the test fixing what the Shipyard screwed up. NCU London for getting Knee Deep in Operations Achile Lauro/Prairie Fire Eldorado Canyon, Iran-Contra, Debrief of Clayton Lonetree. USS Arkansas where most of my Medals and Ribbons came from Fiery Vigil, Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Desert Strike. SPAWARs 6211 where I became an Aide de Camp to an O-6 and a Rear Admiral. NSGD SGROVE where I was working on the most expensive Intel Project of the Time. CINCPACFLT Started my Career on a 4 Stars Staff working on "Blind Mans Bluff" with the Creme de la Creme of my Community. Dodge (Diego Garcia) for the Off-Time.

Response by CW2 Donald Kempf made Dec 1 at 2016 3:58 PM

CW2 Donald Kempf — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 15:58:51 -0500

Bravo 2/501 AVN (Innkeepers) Camp Humphreys SK. We had an outstanding chain of command and they lead by example. You were expected to know how do your job and were left to do it. It was an impressive group of aviators.

Response by MSG Dan Castaneda made Dec 1 at 2016 4:09 PM

MSG Dan Castaneda — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 16:09:22 -0500

1st Special Forces Command (Airborne) where I work at now. After 21 years I finally found somewhere I can be proud of.

Response by SSG Eddie Helmling made Dec 3 at 2016 7:42 PM

SSG Eddie Helmling — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 19:42:42 -0500

B co/ 710 maint 10 Inf. first unit so I still learning my MOS and the Army. Did not know how good it was until I got to Germany.

Response by MAJ David Vermillion made Dec 3 at 2016 9:17 PM

MAJ David Vermillion — Sat, 03 Dec 2016 21:17:47 -0500

Best ever was A-Team 231, B/24, 5th Special Forces. High caliber, well trained and highly motivated men.

Response by MSgt George Cater made Dec 4 at 2016 12:48 AM

MSgt George Cater — Sun, 04 Dec 2016 00:48:02 -0500

3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd MARDIV on Okinawa & a 7 month float throughout the Far East - Jan 1978 - Jan 1978. All officers above 1LT & most SNCOs were Vietnam combat vets. Even several retread sergeants, like my mortar and machine gun section leaders were combat vets. The leaders knew their jobs, took care of their men, were firm but fair and the battalion was HARD. The younger Marines were motivated and did everything with zeal. Even many of the pilots who flew helos and A-4s in suport of us were combat vets and they flew just like back on country. I'll never forget how low the A-4s came over in simulated bomb runs on our aggressor unit in the Philippines.
Best year of my 24.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Dec 5 at 2016 6:24 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Mon, 05 Dec 2016 18:24:48 -0500

I'm bias since I spent the most time in this unit and made some great friends but the 401st Chem from Boston.

Response by SGT Paul Mackay made Dec 8 at 2016 8:32 PM

SGT Paul Mackay — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 20:32:47 -0500

a troop 2/1 cav 4thinf div or 1st armered div in vietnam one of the most decorated units in nam

Response by SSG Brian L. made Aug 19 at 2021 7:45 PM

SSG Brian L. — Thu, 19 Aug 2021 19:45:35 -0400

Split between 4-9IN 2ID or 2-506IN 101st... Leans towards Manchus.... KUTF