Posted on Mar 18, 2015
SPC Air Defense Battle Management System Operator
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Sure the Jr. Enlisted and/ or future troops want to know how deployments are: bad and/or good. If you dont have a stereotype , post your own experience from a deployment that you have encountered.

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Posted in these groups: Imgres Deployment
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Responses: 6
CSM Brigade Operations (S3) Sergeant Major
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Edited 9 y ago
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I don't know about stereotyping but every deployment is different. What I have noticed is senior leaders telling their experiences from previous deployments and building a picture in their subordinates heads on what deployment is like. This tends to wind up being a let down to the subordinate when they arrive in theater.

EXAMPLE:

SFC Snuffy: Man, no shit there I was in 2010, surrounded by Taliban fighters, fast movers dropping scunion like 100 meters from my position etc, etc.

2014: Unit arrives in theater and you spend nine months sitting in a guard tower and teach Afghan Police how to apply a tourniquet.

It's not the leaders fault, they are just trying to share their experience and prepare their Soldiers. A lot of times it is depressing for the Soldier because they want to fight or experience the thrill of combat. No matter what your mission is, you are doing a valorous thing by just serving in a combat theater. The things you do on a daily basis are important, even if it's burning shit on detail once a week.
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SPC Air Defense Battle Management System Operator
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9 y
I completely agree and understand CSM Oldsen
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SFC Michael Hasbun
SFC Michael Hasbun
9 y
Unfortunately the difference between OIF/OEF 1 and the same theater years later is night and day. It was Cowboys and Indians when it first kicked off, and leter devolved into forward garrisons with PT Belts and Green Beans Coffee (I'm not downing Green Beans, greatest Vanilla Chai Latte on the planet!).

Anyone expecting Vietnam is in for a letdown..
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SFC Michael Jackson, MBA
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Every deployment and mission is different. stereotypically, the Air Force go on short cushy assignments with cable TV, while the Marines get the toughest missions with the worst life support. However, it a stereo type for a reason. Its not necessarily true
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CMSgt Senior Enlisted Leader
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9 y
Wait a minute! We don't always get those assignments! Sometimes we are stuck with AFN.
Lol
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SSG Rob Cline
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My unit replaced 3rd ID in downtown Baghdad in April '03. That was the Wild West. We had freedom of movement (no IEDs until June/July, and those were Command Wire and not powerful); RoE was enforced, but not restricted; no DAPS or throat protectors on our IBAs; If your team saw a problem (firefight, civilian unrest, etc.), you fixed it. There was no waiting for approval from higher or from the Host Nation.
Those were the days when we took off our doors on the -1026 gun trucks and sat facing out. Why, you may ask? Because when you have a SAW mounted behind your driver, two M4s sticking out the TC side, and a .50 cal on top of the truck, nobody wanted to F*#k with you.

Oh, the good 'ol days...
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