I am being Station in FOrt Irwin I would like to get a OC/T slot with the Gold miners

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 14:43:01 -0400

I am being station at Fort Irwin in December I was told I was going for NTC Support I am a 88M3O I am looking to see if I can get a OC/T can anyone help me and find out who I got to talk to get in with the Gold Miners

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Aug 23 at 2015 4:50 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 16:50:32 -0400

These are the RallyPoint members that can help you most. I hope you enjoy the heat. I pray you find on post housing. The Barstow/Irwin expedition will put 100,000K on your POV in no time. Back in 1992-1995 I was OPFOR and more than once I assisted getting casualties onto the medevac birds along 10 mile stretch from absolutely exhausted troops drifting a foot off the hard ball and then getting launched into the desert. Different Army/different mission back then. 2 hours to Big Bear, 2 hours to Vegas, 2 hours to the beach, dead center in the middle of hell.

https://www.rallypoint.com/units/ops-grp-operations-group-national-training-center-fort-irwin-ca

Operations Group (OPS GRP), National Training Center in Fort Irwin, CA is on RallyPoint

Connect with members of Operations Group (OPS GRP), National Training Center } on RallyPoint. Share your knowledge and get the answers you need from others with your experience.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 23 at 2015 7:31 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Aug 2015 19:31:33 -0400

Contact Operations Group at Fort Irwin.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 28 at 2015 5:18 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 17:18:07 -0400

I can't say anything positive about the lifestyle you will live there...basically, you are in the middle of nowhere and the weather is almost never friendly...although, the best hours are at night through the early mornings...Wear plenty of warm clothing during the winter months..it gets cold and snows once in awhile. You will get plenty of awesome night skies lit up with stars. Hardly any clouds in the summer months...I remember making a joke once...there was one tiny little cloud in the sky this one time...totally random and out of place! lol..cell phone coverage out there is crappy...you will probably find yourself climbing the highest points to get reception. Lots of field time...I completed 34 rotations while assigned there...seemed like I had no personal life whatsoever as OPFOR. The good thing about the assignment is the training and offroading you will get to do...if you never knew tactics or how to operate various vehicles on rough terrain..you will there!! Best of Luck to you and your family on your tour.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2015 9:49 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 21:49:23 -0400

SSG Vollbrech,
There's a few things to consider before you get here; have you completed all your MOS rank specific time (IE section, squad leader time), two what do your NCOER's look like, what's you physical fitness level, and there going to want to know what you bring to the table. I highly encourage getting here 10 days before your report date as getting hold of the Ops Group CSM's can be a real heart ache. Go straight to Gold Miner 40 (Gold Miner CSM). Come presentable with your NCOERS, ERB and anything else that you may think will strengthen you case that you'll be an asset to the GM team, ops group and the overall army. I'm a Cobra OC/T so if you need more help feel free to send me a message and I can give you my number. Good luck brother.

Response by Christine Pongratz made Oct 29 at 2015 1:24 AM

Christine Pongratz — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 01:24:36 -0400

You are actually on our gains roster here at IRWIN for 2nd HET.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 15 at 2016 12:29 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 00:29:54 -0500

Check out this website to learn about Ft. Irwin: http://www.irwinessentials.com/life-in-the-desert-blog

Life in the Desert Blog

If you haven't seen this , you're wrong. It has nothing to do with NTC, but it's cold out there! The temperatures here were frigid through block leave. It snows here at higher elevations, and the box...