Posted on Dec 23, 2016
Has anyone been to pre-mobilization training at Ft. Bliss / Camp McGregor recently? What were your thoughts?
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Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 7
Was there in July/August 2016 for 1 month. We did a week at Bliss for Inbrief, SRP and Supply stations then moved out to McGregor. Barracks at Bliss were terrible (had cockroaches but no A/C), chow was average (5 min. walk), large PX complex with restaurants, a theater and outlet stores (15 min. walk), mini PX right next to barracks, internet cafe with slow internet in basement of barracks building, local cell service is excellent.
McGregor barracks were nicer (a/c) but were open bays instead of rooms, food was still so/so only a couple minute walk from barracks, good gym facilities and a running track, mini PX is in a complex with a MWR, barber shop, tactical store and internet cafe. Cell service here was terrible for T-mobile but I believe others had good luck with Verizon. They had wireless internet in buildings that could be bought on hourly, daily, weekly and monthly package prices. McGregor has hourly bus transfers to Bliss during the day.
The ranges were efficiently ran, but some were absolutely worthless for training value. Some ranges were close, but others were an hour away at another complex. Our MRX was less than stellar as we were the first to mobilize from there for our mission and they didn't have a good understanding of our actual mission. One nice thing was each company sized element got a 15 passenger van which greatly helped with follow up appointments at Bliss for SRP issues. Mobilizing units have to request bus and box truck transportation to and from ranges more than 72 hours out, it is an easy process.
Overall not the worst place I've trained at, and also not the best. Good luck on your mobilization.
McGregor barracks were nicer (a/c) but were open bays instead of rooms, food was still so/so only a couple minute walk from barracks, good gym facilities and a running track, mini PX is in a complex with a MWR, barber shop, tactical store and internet cafe. Cell service here was terrible for T-mobile but I believe others had good luck with Verizon. They had wireless internet in buildings that could be bought on hourly, daily, weekly and monthly package prices. McGregor has hourly bus transfers to Bliss during the day.
The ranges were efficiently ran, but some were absolutely worthless for training value. Some ranges were close, but others were an hour away at another complex. Our MRX was less than stellar as we were the first to mobilize from there for our mission and they didn't have a good understanding of our actual mission. One nice thing was each company sized element got a 15 passenger van which greatly helped with follow up appointments at Bliss for SRP issues. Mobilizing units have to request bus and box truck transportation to and from ranges more than 72 hours out, it is an easy process.
Overall not the worst place I've trained at, and also not the best. Good luck on your mobilization.
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SSG (Join to see)
Great info, especially about ranges and transportation. Those were two of our big worries.
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SSG (Join to see)
We've had a hell of a time getting guys from point A to point B during our state pre-mob and the training has been less than inspiring to say the least lol
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SSgt (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) - I mobed out of Bliss/McGregor in 2014. 1SG (Join to see) gave a better description than I could have. I don't recall any BAD training, but our optempo was pretty low. I don't know how much of that was our company, and how much of that was 1st Army.
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SSG (Join to see)
SSgt (Join to see) - No I think you're right. Unless you're going to a combat zone the training seems very slow...then again if you're going on a real combat deployment you're probably not pre-mobing out of Bliss
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did 6 rotations of Set Up for JTF 6 in the 90's... too hot and Dusty and we were restricted to 1/4 mile from Base when there only exception was the Harley Place outside of town... and a mexican restaurant just off post...
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It's 1 week, for pre-mob. My unit, native to Bliss, sent their soldiers there and it's an easy 7 days of what you would expect. Classroom instruction and a range day prior to the flight. It's too easy.
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WO1 (Join to see)
It's an entire unit, I assume, so yes, a month is about right. Individual deployers are more of what I was referring to, which is what I thought you were referring to.
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