Whats some of your worst pre-deployment experiences?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 07:34:32 -0400

Response by TSgt Joe C. made Jul 6 at 2016 7:37 AM

TSgt Joe C. — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 07:37:40 -0400

Sitting and waiting; hurrying up and waiting. Long flights getting into theater. Can't complain otherwise.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2016 8:04 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 08:04:31 -0400

I am now about a month out from my third deployment. This month is the worst. Waiting for the date to say goodbye to my family, while packing in all the training required.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jul 6 at 2016 9:45 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 09:45:01 -0400

Stuff that's beyond our control. Sat tied up to the dock because the Yard Birds were on strike. Spent several days in a hangar while the Keystone Kops were trying to figure out a bomb threat called in. Turned out to be an airhead who didn't want her Sugar Daddy to leave. Knowing my seabags just went wheels up to Okinawa when I'm headed to HOA by way of Stuttgart. When your mind shifts to deployed status and your body isn't deployed yet, it's a different kind of of bipolar.

Post deployment has it's own aggravations as well. Sitting at an airport for three days because the plane is down hard for parts and only an "American Flagged Carrier" can pick your butt up. Watching lightly filled planes from foreign carriers taking off every few hours to the States is more than grating. The plus side? It was Papeete.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2016 9:54 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 09:54:43 -0400

Back in 2007, I was getting ready to go to Iraq for deployment number three through Fort Bragg. After they cut the "condemned" tape from our barracks in Old Division, we were given a training schedule that did not resemble when any of our support or trainers would be there. We'd be told to be at the pick up point (which of course was a half mile away, even though we were the only unit the bus was picking up... as if it couldn't drive the half mile to where we were) for bussing at 0800 (ten minutes prior, of course), knowing full well the drivers didn't report to work until 0800. They'd PMCS their busses and get their coffee, and show up around 0830-0845. Didn't matter if the weather was bad.
Then we'd go to a locked theater for our daily briefings, where the civilian trainers weren't at yet since they didn't start work until 0900. They'd show up eventually, then spend the next 30 minutes or more setting up, while we were "on break". Then they'd have the temerity to say that we couldn't have breaks during their compelling briefings because they were behind schedule.
This would continue throughout the day.
Fort Bragg took hurry up and wait to a whole 'nother level. I kept telling myself it didn't matter, that I was being paid by the month, that we would get to Iraq at the same time regardless of how much time we had wasted. But that isn't much comfort when you are standing in the cold December rain waiting for disgruntled people to brief you on stuff you already know.
Hooah, Army.

Response by SSgt Dan Montague made Jul 6 at 2016 10:05 AM

SSgt Dan Montague — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 10:05:38 -0400

Normally we lock on to the BLT 6 months prior and start the work ups. In 2002 we were prepping for a 6-8 month float starting in 2003 heading towards Iraq. No one knew the exact month of departure or how long we will be gone for. Pretty much we locked on about 8 months before the deployment, and didn't find out for sure how long we will be gone until 2 months into our deployment. We all thought Christmas 2002 was our pre deployment leave. So many Marines took all their time. Come to find out, we didn't leave until March.
We got home in mid Nov. We couldn't take post deployment leave until Christmas. Then we got a new CO. He wouldn't let us take an extended leave block like we were promised by the MEU commander. Instead, he took us to the field for a week in freezing rainy conditions during the time we were promised leave. That was a long 17 months

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2016 3:59 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 06 Jul 2016 15:59:25 -0400

when you tell your unit that you have specialized training requirements, well before pre mob, and they figure it out at pre mob

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2016 4:13 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 16:13:35 -0400

In 06 boarding the flight to Afghanistan, this Soldier shows up with his initials larger than life on each side of his neck and showed the 1SG the Army Times article he had wadded up in his pocket. Literally on the stairs walking into the plane itself. Just glad it wasn't my platoon.
Saw a Soldier go to board the bus to Purple Ramp en route Iraq when he was disarmed and apprehended by the MPs. Spouse and child standing at the curb.
CPL shot into a HMMWV during a CLFX. Funny part was the blank adaptor still attached to her weapon. The core rod was missing but the box was now wedged on her M4 compensator.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2016 4:50 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 16:50:18 -0400

While preparing to deploy to Iraq in '03, we had a soldier come out to the commander. I had no problem with him being gay as everyone suspected it, but he actually disgraced himself and those who had to serve in secret.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 7 at 2016 4:54 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 07 Jul 2016 16:54:57 -0400

Back in '03 while in pre-deployment for Iraq, we had a soldier come out to the commander. What was sad is everyone knew before hand, but since he never said anything, then all was fine. I did not have a problem with him being gay, but had to tell him not only did he disgrace himself and was a coward, but he hurt the cause of those gay soldiers who had to serve in secret.