Posted on Oct 10, 2022
Is your deployment unit assignment done prior to deploying or once you are on site?
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I recently returned from a reunion of the company I served with in Vietnam, Delta Company 1/12th Cavalry. I was a platoon medic assigned to HHQ and detailed to Delta Company. The day I was to fly to Vietnam, the plane made 3 aborted attempts to take-off. We deplaned and spent the night in hotels in Seattle and flew out the next day. My question is your unit assignment done prior to deployment or once on site? Always wondered if I had flown out the original day, might I have been assigned to a different unit? No complaints, I served with a great company and unit?
Posted in these groups: 
Deployment
Deployment
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 5
As others have mentioned, usually it's done prior to your movement. However, in your case I expect that it is the same as what was done in DS/DS - there will be a mixture.
For the "I need a left-handed basket repairer", there will be a specific assignment to a specific unit. However, there will be a lot of assignments where you are deployed to a region and once you arrive, the personnel folks will determine where you go.
As MSG (Join to see) pointed out, even if you have a directed assignment, it can change once you're on the ground because of shifting priorities.
For the "I need a left-handed basket repairer", there will be a specific assignment to a specific unit. However, there will be a lot of assignments where you are deployed to a region and once you arrive, the personnel folks will determine where you go.
As MSG (Join to see) pointed out, even if you have a directed assignment, it can change once you're on the ground because of shifting priorities.
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SPC Paul Marling
As a Combat Medic, I am sure many line companies might need replacements. When I reported to the 12th Cav, so did 4 other medics. Things happened so fast once assigned to my platoon, it felt like I was supposed to be there.
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I believe it depends on the deployment. Mine were always done ahead of time.
MSG (Join to see)
MSG (Join to see)
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During the Viet Nam war, all but the first units to go, were actually individual PCS moves. To answer your question, you could have been sent wherever the replacement battalion had a need that day. I know this personally. After filling sandbags all day at 90 replacement, I came down with heat exhaustion and missed a roll call. Had I been there, I would have gone to the the 23rd ARTY Grp. Being it was thenext day, I went to the 25th INF Div.
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SPC Paul Marling
That is what I always thought but was not sure. Thank you for your own experience at the 90th Replacement, that also was where I went also.
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