Looking to re-enlist in the guard and reclass to 11B. Mechanized?

2016-09-05T06:37:07-04:00

I was a 12M in the reserves for 6 years and always felt I was a waste of good tax dollars. I was attached to an ordnance company from 2007-2013 and never once activated or deployed and barely trained even on drill weekends. It killed my morale.

I've decided I would like to do another contract and will be reclassing to an 11B. From people I've briefly spoke with in the Kentucky guard and the 1/49, Delta company is mechanized and seems the most interesting to me.

Please share your thoughts on mechanized vs "non" mechanized (terminology check), as well as any experience with Kentucky 1/49 and/or D Co.

Thank you all in advance!

Response by SPC Gabriel Camberos made Sep 5 at 2016 6:42 AM

2016-09-05T06:42:39-04:00

Correction! 1/149!

Response by CPL Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2016 8:24 AM

2016-09-05T08:24:27-04:00

I've been an 11B for just over 5 years and I'd say both have their ups and downs. Mechanized you have the headache of vehicles ALWAYS breaking down but might be warmer and have a place to hook up a coffee pot in, or light infantry where you walk around with everything on your back and spend less time worrying about mechanical parts failing and more time training

Response by SPC Erich Guenther made Sep 5 at 2016 8:46 AM

2016-09-05T08:46:53-04:00

Well first long ago Infantryman here but nothing much has changed in the Mech vs Light Infantry since I served. I served in both on Active Duty and only Light Infantry in National Guard. Tracked vehicles require approx 12-15 hours of maintenance for every hour of operation, additionally as stated before your going to be responsible for more equipment and weapon systems on the tracked vehicles because they can carry more. Sooo, you should see more accountabilty inspections with a Mechanized unit. Light Infantry is what you just can carry on your back (well in one case you don't walk....). If your fortunate enough to get a TOW Missile slot your not going to carry much on your back as you will have a vehicle to drive because that weapon system is too heavy to carry (light units have TOW's somewhere). In my view as well with National Guard your going to have more time training in a Light Infantry unit and possibly see the State Mission more of Civil Disturbance training as well as Disaster relief. Last but not least if your going to switch to a Light unit try to finagle a school out of it by going with a National Guard Air Assault unit or National Guard Airborne unit if you can. These units are only available in a few states (AAS is in IL and ABN is in TX as examples, I think CA has AAS as well.....use Google). Also, you'll have to research Stryker units as that vehicle and unit is after my time, so when I say Mech I only mean Bradley IFV Mech and before it the M113 which.....I doubt they have anymore..

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2016 10:05 AM

2016-09-05T10:05:42-04:00

Just an odd, off the wall question... Have you considered Active Duty? I've been both USAR and Active, I've never been NG. I must say, I felt the most fulfillment Active. My biggest USAR complaint was that I felt underutilized. Anyone I've ever known in the NG had the same complaints about that as I did about Reserves.

Response by SPC James Harsh made Sep 5 at 2016 10:41 AM

2016-09-05T10:41:02-04:00

Sounds like Cav, I don't know. Places are different. My brother was with headquarters awhile attached as a scout with our snipers. Many Units are light, and all Infantry should be light. I found myself in what they call heavy weapons, so on a budget mostly armors. Roles were similar while deployed, my Unit had served before I got there too, doing convoys with principals. Depending on how things work, and they vary, we were content with what we did. We could extend out as a patrol base for a dismount. Dismount is still there and you could be doing PSD or whatever. We would just walk out the gate too. The purpose was for having crew served's but as NG our role had been security, at home station training varies, mostly conventional. MP's could be a good route though because the experience would help to be police, Infantry would too but you would know how to secure an event as an MP, think 'securing a building'.

Response by SGT Tim Soyars made Sep 5 at 2016 1:06 PM

2016-09-05T13:06:03-04:00

I had always been in a high speed, low drag unit, but did training and aggressors against mech units. I'll say that, in my experience, when the vehicle breaks down and there's a mission to complete, you are now Light Infantry. Unfortunately, mech guys, especially NG & Reserves, don't tend to train like light fighters. Not being experienced in those nuances, can endanger a mission and get you killed. Have you considered two other options? First, changing branches. Navy & Air Force both have very active FF personnel due to aviation. If you train in CFR, that can also transfer into some great paying FF jobs as a civilian. The second option is just going all out. I don't know if KY still has them in the NG or Reserves, but LSRs are pretty high speed. There is always the 19th and 20th SF. They have unit HQs in WV, OH, and IL, with detachments in surrounding states. Good luck with you search and in your career.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2016 2:50 PM

2016-09-05T14:50:05-04:00

Guard isnt going to be muchdifferent than the reserves as far as activation/deployment goes. Look into active duty if you are looking for meaning. Your 9 to 5 will be as an active 11b i think will give you what you are looking for.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2016 9:16 PM

2016-09-05T21:16:01-04:00

I will be reenlisting for light infantry away from mechanized. Just personal preference but I would rather hump it around than ride around in a brad.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2016 9:52 AM

2016-09-06T09:52:10-04:00

It all depends on your preference some say mech is better some say light is better I've been mech twice 1st one hated and I'm in the Stryker world now let's see how this goes I would love to be light that's what I signed up for but my time will come

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2016 12:02 PM

2016-09-06T12:02:43-04:00

Are you sure it isn't a weapons company ? Huge difference between Mech and WPNS.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 6 at 2016 4:23 PM

2016-09-06T16:23:27-04:00

Don't go Guard I just came from the 1-149 and D 149 isn't mechanized infantry it's just the heavy weapons company, there are no longer mechanized infantry in KY.

Come to the Reserves and be a Black Hawk Crew Chief instead.

Let me know if you are interested.

Response by CPT Andrew Wright made Sep 7 at 2016 4:54 AM

2016-09-07T04:54:39-04:00

I served with Mech Infantry on active duty (1st Cav, 3d AD) and light Infantry (82d) with a few years more years light Infantry with the Guard (45th Inf Bde). The road marches in the mech infantry were a lot easier and you didn't have to carry all that gear!

Response by SFC Daniel McIntire made Sep 8 at 2016 5:46 PM

2016-09-08T17:46:53-04:00

If you want to go Guard, the majority of Guard infantry units are light (mud-borne!). If you want to be placed in a mechanized unit; join Penn ARNG (28th IN DIV). D Cos in infantry units are weapons companies.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 12 at 2016 2:58 PM

2016-09-12T14:58:07-04:00

Go to a light Infantry company in the guard you will most likely deploy and the friendships that you will make being a grunt are like no other. Make sure your PT score is above the standards and start knocking out your SSDs. You'll love it.

Response by SGT Josh Aholt made Oct 7 at 2016 7:57 PM

2016-10-07T19:57:23-04:00

spent 8 1/2 years 11b both Stryker and light I recommend active if you want infantry better training by far and learn the life the right way