What is life like as an infantry platoon leader (or any infantry position) at Fort Irwin in the 11th ACR?

While I am not a member of 11th ACR, I am stationed at Fort Irwin. I highly recommend living on post, as the nearest town Barstow is nothing special. Additionally, the community here is very tight knit, as we are the "nations biggest cul-de-sac". I am also from CA, and not a fan of LA, so I get away to the Sierra Nevada mountains every chance I get. Or, I also enjoy the central coast for some beach time. Unfortunately, if you were hoping to go light infantry, this is not that. Just embrace it, learn as much as you can, as it is the NTC. Talk to the OC's and pick their brains, and don't cover your MILES sensors!! You'll know what I mean when you get here.

One thing is certain, if you embrace it, you will be the best trained LT in the Army. I can’t think of a better education in any other assignment as a PL.

I attended the OPFOR Commander's Course when I was a Company Commander with 1st CAV as part of 6 rotations in 13 months of command. I also had a bunch of OPFOR rotations with CMTC in Hohenfels, FRG as a Mech Infantry Platoon Leader, so although I was not in the 11th ACR, I did roll with them a couple of times. As far as being a Platoon Leader with them, you will get to understand tactics better than most and particularly how to use terrain in an area where concealment is not abundant. Another positive aspect, from a leadership perspective, is that the mission is dictated by the units being trained, and thus scenarios are worked up based on a unit's real world mission such that as the world picture changes, you are on the frontline of the changes in Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures for a desert environment.

I saw some negative comments about being infantry in a cavalry unit, 11th ACR is not that type of CAV unit, so I think you can take that with a grain of salt. You will be getting a Stetson though, and because you are CAV, you may not be leading 11 series soldiers. As and 11A, it is possible that you would be leading 19s as well as 11s.

In a mech unit, maintenance is the majority of your time, and keeping your vehicles rolling will be your top priority. Make sure you get in there and get dirty with you guys breaking track and turning wrenches. There are some rolling stock that are old Soviet era vehicles, so even if you aren't leading and maintaining them, you do have the opportunity to work with them and understand their strengths and limitations.

The downside in my mind is that you won't be as familiar with the latest in US technology because the real life OPFOR doesn't have it so you won't get it either. Also, the desert is the desert and Fort Irwin is pretty isolated. They do well with the amenities on post (and I suppose you can get used to having a guy with blue hands sit next to you in the Food Court...although knowing the guy has blue hands because he maintains the porta-pots was off-putting to me). The weather is pleasant in the mornings and evenings, even in the summer, and there are plenty of things within 3 miles to do on long weekends.

The nice thing about being the OPFOR is that you aren't actually doing the 30 day rotations. You will get a mission, go out for an overnight or two, and then reset, so you aren't constantly living in the vehicle or a tent. Finally, after a couple of years, you should be able to move to other opportunities at Fort Irwin if you like (rotate with the OCs to get some hands on with working in US units). Overall NTC is a positive assignment and will be good for your career.