Anyone know what the outlook is for Guard units with ready years of 2017?

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 11:30:09 -0500

Our Brigade has gone through Warfighter training, XCTC, and our Bn is going to NTC this year. We are a combined arms Bn, myself belonging to a mechanized infantry company (BFVs). We have seen many MUTA 6's/8's and beyond while keeping a very high Op Tempo. It seems like the Army is spending a lot of money and time on us to not do something worthwhile with us in 2017.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2016 11:48 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 11:48:30 -0500

Not sure you are going to get an answer to this on RP sir. Anyone who knows isn't going to post it on here (and shouldn't). Gotta love the ARFORGEN cycle. If you do all the awesome year 4 and 5 training then don't go anywhere it certainly seems like a let down. Only thing you can be guaranteed of is more training. Enjoy NTC.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2016 12:00 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 12:00:25 -0500

Great questions that won't get an answer to on here! In all seriousness, getting sourced for a mission may not be decided at this point. With the current EUCOM security situation and BCT rotations to Korea, the COCOMs might kit be making any annoucements. Big Army might just want to have a BCT on a short string, "just in case."
Or there could be decision made, but not being announced. OPSEC is funny like that.
Nonetheless, keep up the good work. I'm sure you guys are making the ARNG look good!!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2016 12:15 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 12:15:09 -0500

Nothing. Lol. They want to keep using ARFOGEN as the base model and all it does it keep the skills sharp "just in case". With budget cuts, reorgs, and NET fieldings the Guard is quasi rebuilding. As everyone else has stated you won't find the answer here, but IMHO we are just doing the "wash, rinse, repeat".

Response by LTC Yinon Weiss made Jan 30 at 2016 12:25 PM

LTC Yinon Weiss — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 12:25:29 -0500

Any use by the military in 2017 and beyond will be the decision of a new President, so it is impractical to think that there any plans right now that are set but are unknown. Units train all the time. In terms of "training a lot without doing something worthwhile"... Training itself is worthwhile. The best deterrent to a war is being prepared for a war.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2016 1:57 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 13:57:38 -0500

I just got back from a deployment and were already looking to do a month or so for our AT. We are definitely no longer following the old model. I haven't been on a high tempo redeployment rate like this since I was in the 82nd during the opening of OEF and OIF.

Response by COL Robert Davies made Jan 30 at 2016 6:27 PM

COL Robert Davies — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 18:27:46 -0500

Having spent 4.5 years there someone knows where you are going and when. I would be very tempted to say '16 is very locked and loaded. '17 may be a smidge gray but should give you an idea. At your level in the food chain finding someone to tell you yea or nay is unlikely but you should be able to see some stick figures on the wall.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2016 8:26 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 20:26:36 -0500

It's good to see a fellow "Bastard." I served in the 1-194 from 2007-2012. While I don't have the specific details of what your Brigade is doing in FY17, I can give you some ideas. My Brigade is on the same ARFORGEN timeline. So far we've received the following sourcings:

1. Our BDE HQ has been sourced for a possible Kosovo Mission:
http://www.ky3.com/news/local/balkan-tour-possible-for-130-arkansas-national-guard-troops/21048998_37099586

2. One of our Infantry Battalions has been sourced for a possible Africa Mission.
http://www.arguard.org/publicaffairs/index.asp?id=news/2015/AFRICOM.htm

3. My Battalion is looking at a possible State Partnership Program Mission. You can find your state alignment for the SPP here: http://www.minnesotanationalguard.org/currentops/spp/index.php

You're probably not going to find specifics on open source networks. If I had to give my best guess I would expect you're looking at a similar mission set to ours. Other missions I know are out there would be MFO-Sinai and Operation Spartan Shield. There's also rumors of stateside missions, including an OPFOR mission at a CTC. The chances of going to Iraq or Afghanistan, in my opinion, are relatively low.

Balkan tour possible for 130 Arkansas National Guard troops

About 130 Arkansas National Guard soldiers have been told that they may deploy to Bosnia-Herzegovina or Kosovo for a yearlong mission in the spring of 2017.

Response by CSM Carl Cunningham made Jan 30 at 2016 9:54 PM

CSM Carl Cunningham — Sat, 30 Jan 2016 21:54:42 -0500

Email me on global and I can give you an answer.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2016 11:24 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 Jan 2016 11:24:40 -0500

I hear you sir we have xctc and jrtc coming up. I know it's to keep readiness up in case a mission Does come down the pipeline. To shorten the train up turn around time. But I just can't see them spending all this one to train up guard units. When they have units in the AC already ready to go and not send us anywhere.

It just seems like a monumental waste of money for them not to use us Especially with all the budget cuts. But at the same time if they don't I'm not complaining I do enjoy training in my job. Alot of job training is neglected in the guard due to mandorty PPT classes and a lot of check the box classes.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 2 at 2016 9:14 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 02 Feb 2016 21:14:53 -0500

Sounds like you have a good training staff preparing your unit for whatever may be!

Response by SGT Michael May made May 13 at 2017 12:24 AM

SGT Michael May — Sat, 13 May 2017 00:24:13 -0400

Love the sound of the 25 mike mike, steel on target.