How to explain deployments with the current wars "ending" to new Privates?

2021-08-21T00:31:12-04:00

There was an ASU layout and a few shiny privates had seen some of our racks and wanted to know about the GWOT related ribbons (GWOT Service, GWOT Expeditionary, Afghanistan, Iraq, Inherent Resolve, NATO) and of course the patches. They asked about peoples deployments, and if they would would get the opportunity to earn them too.

Best I could think of on the spot was to tell them that their turn might come sooner or later, just be patient and volunteer if the opportunity presents itself if you really want to go.

Afterwards a few of us couldn't help but think, with the draw down this might be it for the new Joe's. If that's the case how much longer until they officially call it and no more fire watch ribbons either, a "peace time" military.

I'm sure there will be opportunities to go to Europe, Korea, or some partner nation for training but that's not what they're asking about. Deployments look like they're gone, at least for the immediate future.

There's bound to be problems down the road, because there always will be. So I guess the best we can tell them is just train and be patient.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2021 12:43 AM

2021-08-21T00:43:54-04:00

SPC Private RallyPoint Member Train for War and pray that peace lasts. War is hell and not something to be wished for.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2021 12:49 AM

2021-08-21T00:49:45-04:00

When I joined the Army in the 90s the only people with combat patches were a handful of 82d from Panama and Desert Storm, a smudge of 10th MTB from Somalia, and a few Rangers from Grenada, Somalia, and Panama. We're talking about a handful of small engagements over a 20 year period.

The Army will eventually go back to a peace time Army and every new private will join looking to fight. My old Squad Leader in the 75th used to say, "Pray for war men. Pray for war every night!"
Soon enough being deployed will be an anomoly

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2021 1:00 AM

2021-08-21T01:00:48-04:00

Going back to 1991 when I graduated high school I missed Desert Storm Iraq #1. Then came Bosnia. Then came 9/11, then came Iraq #2, and after all of that I finally enlisted at the ripe age of 38 in 2011.

It seems, without the counterbalance of another actively competing world power the USA has free reign to get its hands dirty anywhere it wants without the decision matrix considering pissing of a competitor.

You don't know when or where the next big thing is, but you need to be on the bench when it does. All of those new soldiers are at least "on the bench", and they will be first in line when it happens. They may be SGT's one day and find themselves 1SG's the next.

The lowest rank I have a picture of my grandfather is MSG. He was in the army before Dec 7th. So they probably said hey CPL, you over there, put these on there are 100 recruits you're now in charge of.

Eisenhower was only a COL on Dec 7th.

Statistically, the odds are in favor they will not miss out. I do know a few veterans who "missed out" but they fell in that post Bosnia pre 9/11 period.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Aug 21 at 2021 1:18 AM

2021-08-21T01:18:44-04:00

Tell them the truth "Who knows, in my career there was 2 wars, and 2 invasions and 7-9 Humanitarian missions.

Response by SPC James Neidig made Aug 21 at 2021 1:31 AM

2021-08-21T01:31:25-04:00

Teach Your New “JOE’S” To Do 100 + % of Their Jobs and They Will Get The Fruit Salad for Their ASU ,If They Do Their Job the AAMs and ARCOMs and Maybe Something Else Will Come Their Way I Didn’t Serve During any Major Time Of Conflict and have 12 Ribbons above the Left Pocket and 1 above the Right , For 8 Years of Active and 4 Years of Guard Service.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2021 10:26 AM

2021-08-21T10:26:42-04:00

I would tell them to first start doing their job right and stay out of trouble before getting shit on their ASUs

Response by SFC Charles W. Robinson made Aug 21 at 2021 11:22 AM

2021-08-21T11:22:29-04:00

Lol! I served in the Illinois National Guard for four years, and then I went active duty. At MEPS in St. Louis, I was told that I was going to Germany. I was stoked, my father was in the Army for 20 years, and spent 6 years in Germany as a kid. My wife and I went to a Chinese restaurant to celebrate. My fortune cookie said I was going to the land of sunshine. I laughed, Germany doesn't fit that description. Two weeks later, Iraq invaded Kuwait. I was in Germany for a whole to weeks...Lol! I went right into my first deployment. It kicked off my career of 22 years with one deployment to another. At one point, I was home for only seven months before I had to deploy again. I am retired now, and I am a 100% disabled Veteran. Guess what, the biggest thing I miss from the Army is the deployments. It gave me purpose, pride, I got to help a lot of people, experience many cultures, make great life long friends, and fight against the evils in this world. I think our newest batch of Soldiers will find plenty to do.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2021 1:57 PM

2021-08-21T13:57:46-04:00

I waited 5 almost 6 years for my first deployment. Even after volunteering for multiple deployments that either got off ramped or I wasn’t nedded. Their time will come eventually just be patient.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2021 4:53 PM

2021-08-21T16:53:35-04:00

I came in July 2000. I was told there wouldnt be any more major wars. That we would never invade a country.
The only constant in this world is war. Its not a matter of if, but when.
The writting is on the wall. We look weak. The next war is gonna be a big one.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2021 10:48 PM

2021-08-21T22:48:44-04:00

I went through Sand Hill in 2011. We were told 30% would deploy to either Iraq or Afghanistan within the first year. Based off the small sample size of guys from my company I kept in touch with it seemed about accurate.

I was told by one of my Drills that when I get to Jump School to request an airborne assignment seeing as how I was a fresh 11C going through airborne and 82nd was deploying in a few months. Well, my first introduction to Army logic was sending me, as originally planned, to Fort Bliss as a replacement soldier. I arrive there and the Rear D CoC felt that I was high speed (airborne qualified PV2 in an Armored Division) and tried to get me to go forward with the deployed element. 2 weeks later I get told, "Hey private, Obama's pulling us out. Our unit is heading back, we're not sending you.

It seemed that I wouldn't get a chance to deploy. Mind you I spent some months at Benning learning that I as an 11C would earn my keep in combat. Then I got my lucky break. I was told our BDE, 4th BDE (Mech), 1st AD would be disbanding. Turns out it didn't but that's not the point lol.

They said half of us would go to 2nd BDE, basically a test BDE for the Army, or 1st, a Stryker BDE. I went to the latter. Upon arrival I was told we were prepping for deployment. This is March of 2012 at this point and I began to get hopeful again. We left Bliss right after Christmas and got downrange 2013. 2 years after I went through OSUT. But I got my deployment.

Long story short, be patient and knowing how US politics works, you'll get a deployment soon enough. That's the story I tell troops I've had in the 173rd when we never got a combat deployment, well Active Fence but even that was combat.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Aug 22 at 2021 8:19 PM

2021-08-22T20:19:04-04:00

Name a time in the last 100 years when America did *not* have any full-scale military engagements in a span of 20 full years.

If they stick it out and do 20, they are almost guaranteed to be serving during *something*. Whether or not they will "get to" be part of it is up to luck-of-the-draw when the balloon goes up.

And if they don't, then they should consider themselves fortunate to have been ready, but never needed.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 22 at 2021 10:11 PM

2021-08-22T22:11:25-04:00

The same way it was explained to me when I was a young and dumb new Private in back in 1993 looking at damn near everyone in my unit with a right patch: "Just do your job. You stay in long enough, you'll get your chance."