With all of the changes currently underway with the Army, is it time to finally upgrade the living conditions in the RUBA at NTC?

2017-03-09T00:35:07-05:00

Response by CPT Jacob Swartout made Mar 9 at 2017 12:43 AM

2017-03-09T00:43:41-05:00

It differently wouldn't hurt. It was horrible when I was there the first time many years ago. An upgrade is needed for sure.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2017 12:48 AM

2017-03-09T00:48:28-05:00

I don't know what they're like now, but the last time I was there we still buddied up and put our shelter halves together and slept on the sand. MREs three times a day, unless they decided to set up the MKT....HUGE open bay shitters with the crappers right next to each other with no walls, and right across from the piss troughs. The showers were a prize too...and oh yeah, the laundry facility was a cinder block shed with four washers and four dryers, about half of which worked. The was a little PX that never had anything in it and hardly any shade to be found. This was back in '94 so hopefully it is not the same, and if it's not, we'll then it has to be better!

Response by SPC(P) Gildardo Navarro made Mar 9 at 2017 1:23 AM

2017-03-09T01:23:43-05:00

what's funny is the army spends billions on new HMVs, just for it to break apart easily and destroy your emotions from inside.

Response by SSG Laurie Mullen made Mar 9 at 2017 1:37 AM

2017-03-09T01:37:10-05:00

My first time there was in November 86 and the last time was in 2001. They had made a lot of improvements between those years. I don't know what it looks like now.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2017 7:08 AM

2017-03-09T07:08:42-05:00

No. Experiencing things that suck with your soldiers is extremely important to building trust and comradery. Also if you think NTC is bad then I'd venture to say you've never been to JRTC.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2017 12:03 PM

2017-03-09T12:03:55-05:00

I assume this is sarcastic. LTC Private RallyPoint Member is right on the money. The NTC RUBA has been upgraded. Initially it was a sand lot. The first time I went it was metal overhangs without walls and you put your ruck down and slept on pea-gravel. Now there are shelters with cots. Not sure what else we would want to do to the place. It isn't supposed to be there for comfort...it is supposed to replicate a forward staging base that you would find just short of crossing an international border. If we are fighting expeditionary in a contested environment (which we are supposed to be training for), I would argue that we need to get rid of all of the upgrades they have put in or move to another spot in the desert to stage without any of the amenities. If we have to "fight tonight," when you get off the ship and assemble, you should be able to move to your attack positions in 24-48 hours. The RUBA does not meet these operational requirements.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2017 1:37 PM

2017-03-09T13:37:40-05:00

I think so.

Response by SSG Mark Madsen made Mar 9 at 2017 1:55 PM

2017-03-09T13:55:45-05:00

They WERE upgraded! Between my last rotation in 2003 and being stationed there in 2012, the shades were converted into buildings. You mean more upgraded that that?

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2017 8:12 PM

2017-03-09T20:12:09-05:00

"Upgrade the living conditions in the RUBA"...
LOLOLOL

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2017 10:25 PM

2017-03-09T22:25:28-05:00

Y'all got a fancified NTC. Back in my day (dear god did I really just say that?), there were no villages. just straight up force on force tank battles and everyone slept in/on/near their vehicles.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 11 at 2017 10:36 PM

2017-03-11T22:36:03-05:00

Negative. Having been there more times than all but a few other people in my company, I hate it how it stands now. I also think they should tear everything down in RUBA and increase the suck. NTC needs to be worse than anything else we'll face. That's how you win at war. Teach soldiers to be successful in the worst conditions you can think of.

I'll caveat this by saying I'd regret this comment if they followed my advice haha but it's all true.

Response by SSG(P) Erik Hein made Mar 16 at 2017 11:06 PM

2017-03-16T23:06:44-04:00

I was there in 87 and through the 90s and actually was attached during my AGR years through 2012. It's supposed to simulate actual conditions. Yeah it was the SUCK back in the day though.