How many got that one assignment in your career that was just what you wanted and how did you get it?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 14:13:09 -0400

How many of you have been fortunate enough to get that one assignment in your career that was just what you wanted? Did you have to reenlist for it? Did you go through branch? Was branch of any help when you did go through them? I was fortunate to work for the Clinic at 6th RTB in Florida for 2 years, and I lucked into the spot when a guy in my unit went to SFAS and his orders there were cancelled, I was was able to reenlist for it. That assignment was where I was able to "recharge my batteries" and decided to stay in the Army for a career. So, how did you get yours if you got your dream assignment? Any tips for people on how to work with branch to make it happen? I look forward to your input!

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Jun 26 at 2015 2:49 PM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 14:49:25 -0400

SSG Wallace, I will not attempt to claim that I know a whole lot about the assignment process of NCOs in your MOS, but I assume it works similar to that of the MP MOS I am familiar with.

First and foremost, you need to ensure that you are doing your level best in your current assignment. That gives you credibility with both your chain of command and the people in your MOS personnel office.

Ensure you have met all the requirements for your MOS and that you are qualified and eligible for the position/location you want.

Ensure both your chain of command and your assignment personnel know what you want to do and show your willingness to work with them to get it. I was engaged more times than I can count in helping get assignments for my personnel. Any commander worth his salt would be glad to do the same. Make sure folks know what you want and seek their assistance in getting it.

Be flexible -- Be prepared to extend or leave early, if that is what it takes to get what you want.

Have realistic expectations and show the willingness to take the bad with the good. It is unreasonable to expect that you will always be assigned to the most sought after assignments, while avoiding the less desirable. It is human nature (and, yes, assignment personnel are human) to try to pay back those who have endured less desirable assignments with great ones. I used to tell my folks (and it is the mantra I used in my personal dealings with my assignment officers), to convey to the assignment personnel that I would go to a bad place for a good job and I would go to a good place for a bad job, but that I would not go to a bad place for a bad job. They can usually work with that. Luckily, I almost always got good jobs in good places.

Remember that the location and position you are in are what you make them. When I was sent to Ft Riley, Kansas, when I wanted to go back to Ft Bragg, for example, I was not happy, yet my assignment to Ft Riley turned out to be one of the best and most rewarding of my career for both my family and me. The same was true for my unwanted assignment to Korea. Reminds me of the Garth Brooks song, Unanswered Prayers. Sometimes the best things that happen to you are exactly the opposite of what you wanted.

Best of luck to you...

Response by MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 26 at 2015 2:57 PM

MSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 14:57:27 -0400

SSG,

I've always got my dream assignments! All I choose and fought to get. A lot of moving around in my career. Started in Hawaii, Germany, Hunter AAF, Stewart, Atlanta, Fort Lee, Izmir, Turkey and back in Germany now. About to PCS yet again but to Belgium!

Luck of the draw I guess!!

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Jun 26 at 2015 3:11 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 15:11:14 -0400

SFC Private RallyPoint Member I got this assignment through Brigade PSNCO at 2nd of the 17th Infantry, 7th Infantry Division, Fort Ord, CA who had a brother that worked in my branch. I just asked him how I could an assignment to Europe with a new wife and he said you need to pass your next IG Inspection with flying colors and I did. Received an Army Commendation Medal for a perfect inspection and I had orders in hand before I was married for a 3 year accompanied tour to SHAPE, Belgium by June 1977. Got married in June 1977 in route to Europe. At the age of 19 I was given the opportunity to take an assignment at Chievres AFB, Belgium as part of the 357th Aviation Detachment, a unit responsible for flying the SACEUR (Supreme Allied Commander Europe) at the General Alexander Haig and all other major dignitaries throughout Europe in three (3) UH-1 Helicopters. It was a 14-person aviation detachment and I was the one of the youngest and one of three who had never been in the Vietnam War. All the rest were the very best and brightest soldiers that had been to Vietnam once, twice, and some cases three times. Highly decorated pilots. It was a great assignment for me being newly married. I got to fly all over Europe in those helicopters. This is a picture of all the enlisted members that were assigned. I'm the SP5 with the really light old starched fatigues fourth guy from the left and we all wore Purple Hats on the flight line in 1977! Great assignment!

Response by CCMSgt Michael Sullivan Ph.D made Jun 26 at 2015 4:00 PM

CCMSgt Michael Sullivan Ph.D — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 16:00:31 -0400

I didn't have much choice, there were only 6 base I could go to, with only 342 airman in my carrier field you didn't have much choice.
Any assignment is what you make it, if you get off base and enjoy the area it will be a good assignment

Response by SGM Matthew Quick made Jun 26 at 2015 4:06 PM

SGM Matthew Quick — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 16:06:27 -0400

Dream assignments don't come through reenlistment, unless you're looking for a specific location (i.e. Fort Stewart) not a specific unit (i.e., 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment in Savannah, GA (Hunter Army Airfield)).

I landed my first my dream assignment at the Pentagon after someone I worked with previously recommended me to submit a packet for...I competed and was awarded the assignment.

I landed my second dream assignment with the 3d U.S. Infantry Regiment (The Old Guard) just outside Washington, DC in similar fashion....recommended to apply by former peer and competing.

Response by LTC Ed Ross made Jun 26 at 2015 6:59 PM

LTC Ed Ross — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 18:59:23 -0400

I can honestly say that in 20 years in the Army I never had an assignment I didn't want, and that includes two tours of duty in Vietnam. I got my bachelors and masters degree at government expense. I received four years of Chinese Language training. As a n Army HUMINT case officer and counterintelligence special agent I chased Russian and Chinese spies. As a China Foreign Area Officer I lived and worked in Taiwan and China and traveled to every courntry in Asia. Only end-stage renal disease brought my military career to an end. Fortunately a kidney transplant in 1985 allowed me to go on to a 23-year career as a senior DoD civilian. The U.S. Military is much different than it was then, but if you want to look back at the end of your career and feel like I do, my advice is focus on job not location. Know what you want to do and what skills you are required to achieve your goals and acquire those skills. Don't let anyone tell you you can't achieve your goals. Don't give up if you can't get in the front door go around to the side and back doors. Finally, don't worry about promotions. If you are good at what you do they will take care if themselves.

Response by MAJ Raúl Rovira made Jun 26 at 2015 8:06 PM

MAJ Raúl Rovira — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 20:06:35 -0400

From what I've experienced a lot of it has to do with timing, the requirements available, and how you negotiate with the person holding the cards.

From Anchorage Alaska I was sent to Cairo, Egypt to work at the Embassy. It was #12 of 50 assignments on my list. However, branch had stated it was a 12 month tour without the family and after he slotted me, it turned out to be an 18 month assignment.

Luckily, my family could remain in on-post housing during the Cairo tour. But I used the branch managers bad call on the assignment length to get back to Anchorage (Joint Base Richardson Elmendorf) after Cairo. Again: timing, availability, and negotiation.

Response by SP5 Joel O'Brien made Jun 26 at 2015 8:33 PM

SP5 Joel O'Brien — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 20:33:52 -0400

While my four years were not a career by any stretch, I consider it plain, old luck to get a dream assignment. Before enlisting(to beat the draft), I earned an A.S. in Communications(radio & TV broadcasting). My recruiter signed me up for the 71Q20/Journalism course at the Defense Information School, then at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis. After about a week of classes, I learned auditions for the 71R20 Broadcasting were being held so I took the audition. Passed the audition and was told I could start that course upon successful completion of the Journalism course. Well, I passed Journalism and graduated from it in the morning and started the Broadcasting course that afternoon. After passing that course, I eventually wound up being sent to the American Forces Network, Europe,(AFRTS) in West Berlin, where I enjoyed three years of a great assignment.

Response by MSgt Jim Wolverton made Jun 26 at 2015 10:25 PM

MSgt Jim Wolverton — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 22:25:39 -0400

I had what turned out to be my dream assignment twice, for 7 years total. I did Korea for a year and went to Germany for 3 years and then bacl to the States. After 5 years another opportunity popped up so I called my career field functional manager and worked it from there. It was exactly what I needed after being stuck Stateside for 9 years. The day my family and I left in 2013 was the lowest point and saddest day of my career. The next 22 months before I retired were very anticlimactic and not the way I envisioned ending my career. Germany was where my family really started; it's where my daughter was born and where my wife and I really started our life. Everything about Europe resonated with me and I'd go back tomorrow.