Most interesting "assignment, detail, or special duty?"

2013-12-23T01:54:54-05:00

There are some absolutely amazing special assignments out there... what was yours? Perhaps it was a B-billet, a special assignment, an additional duty, detail, or career broadening experience; there are definitely many memorable, interesting, and rewarding military special duties and career expanding assignments out there. Perhaps it was your time on the drill field (drill instructor, sergeant instructor, drill sergeant, training instructor, etc.), ceremonial duty (color guard, drill team, honor guard, etc.), or an academic, diplomatic, security detail, embassy duty, a special board or administrative duty, an interesting foreign assignment, or perhaps it was just an exciting and completely out-of-the-ordinary duty or assignment. Please feel free to share any descriptions, photos, links, websites, or anything else necessary to help tell your story; I'm absolutely certain that this will be an interesting and enlightening discussion, so pull up a keyboard and let's get this thing started, thank you for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!

Response by 1SG Steven Stankovich made Dec 23 at 2013 3:21 AM

2013-12-23T03:21:23-05:00

Great question sir.  My most memorable special duty was when I was tasked to provide casualty assistance services to the families of the fallen in the Pentagon attacks right after 9/11.  I was assigned to PERSCOM in Alexandria VA at the time.  After the attacks, there was a handful of us who were placed on a 30 day mission to assist in the set-up and then in taking family members of the fallen through the casualty assistance center that was set up in Crystal City.  Each branch of service had their own personnel that were tasked with helping.  They were long days, sitting in briefings about the recovery effort twice a day, talking to family members about their loved ones, etc.  It was one of the most mentally draining duties I have ever been on, but definitely one of the most rewarding.  I really believe that we made a difference for the families of the fallen during that time.

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2013 3:47 AM

2013-12-23T03:47:03-05:00

<font face="Tahoma, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: 9px; line-height: 10px;">The Defense Attaché System is hard to beat. Each country is different, but in terms of overall big-picture for a region, knowledge gained, and joint-experience it is simple awesome! The quality of life and professional respect are hand-down near the top of what most service members will ever come to know, and the special pays, scope of responsibility, and day to day operations just continue to amaze me.<br><br>A+ Duty!</span></font>

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2013 3:52 AM

2013-12-23T03:52:56-05:00

<div>Was assigned to Joint Special Operations Task Force – Philippines a few years ago, and it was like a huge family with a purpose that no-kidding took care of one another and had each other’s backs! Funding didn’t seem to be a major issue for what we needed, and most people were knowledgeable, motivated, and competent, which is a rare and awesome mix!  </div><div><br></div><div>Learned MUCH from how Army SF and the SEALs conducted business, and I outright copied certain methods for conducting business from them an integrated them into how I now do things in my own unit(s). </div><div><br></div><div>FANTASTIC experience! </div><div><br></div>

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 27 at 2013 12:09 AM

2013-12-27T00:09:22-05:00

Serving as GEN Austin's ex Vice Chief of the army's PSD 1SG in OND(Iraq)

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2014 2:41 PM

2014-02-01T14:41:53-05:00

In order to facilitate continued professional discussion, here are just a few threads on related subjects; thank you for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!

Response by Lt Col Luis A. Rojas made Feb 1 at 2014 3:55 PM

2014-02-01T15:55:29-05:00

I would have to say working in Security Cooperation in country with Venezuela, Chile and Spain. Great learning experience working with partner nations.

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Feb 5 at 2014 12:11 AM

2014-02-05T00:11:07-05:00

My best "special duty" was actually part of my deployment to Afghanistan.  I was in a deployed position and was pulled out by the Command Chief Nurse of the AOR to help teach the first Afghan Army School of Nursing and first Afghan Army Physician Assistant Program.  Was worth while and a challenge! 

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2014 5:15 PM

2014-03-02T17:15:50-05:00

Take a look at my assignment history, best assignments/duties EVER. My recruiter did not lie........

Response by MSG Gene Potocki made Mar 2 at 2014 5:33 PM

2014-03-02T17:33:24-05:00

Drill Sergeant 85-87 taught me a whole lot about mentoring and leadership.

Response by SN Alan West made Mar 3 at 2014 10:21 AM

2014-03-03T10:21:02-05:00

Being asked to renovate the Captain's inport cabin onboard the USS Iowa (BB-61) which included the <span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: 16px;">Roosevelt </span><font face="arial, sans-serif" size="2"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Bathtub.  The bathtub was installed for President Franklin D. Roosevelt who would not have been able to use the shower because of his paralysis from having polio as a child.  After we finished the project I received a thank you note from Captain Fred Moosally, who was the Commanding Officer of USS Iowa (BB-61).</span></font>

Response by SPC Michael Hunt made Mar 16 at 2014 9:17 PM

2014-03-16T21:17:06-04:00

TDY as an assistant crew chief on a UH-60 "Black Hawk" Helicopter during the Desert Storm era... best 9 months of my military career... favorite part was doing N.O.E. during training at Fort Hunter Liggit. Flying 10meters off the ground at high speeds was a blast.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 27 at 2014 6:39 PM

2014-04-27T18:39:27-04:00

Master at Arms to Commander Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command. Shortly after reporting to SPAWARS Project 6211 as Leading Petty Officer. One of the "Skippers" Admin Assistants comes down and gives me Naval District Washington Badge #9. I asked him "WTH" He said Congratulations you are now Master at Arms to Chief of Staff and Aide de Camp to Project 620, "Huh What". I was the Ceremonial Coordinator for COMSPAWARSYSCOM, Master at Arms for Article 15's and Liason between the Senior Astronaut and the Naval Museum. I was assigned there as Tech Boss for CNO WWMCCS but that Blossomed into all kinds of weird things. Great Job.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2014 1:23 AM

2014-04-28T01:23:51-04:00

Major Burns. During my first school I was promoted to a Yellow Rope and some of us ropes were selected to help out at Lake Texoma.

I guess they sent us there to fish and ride in the big outboards fitted with 150HP Mercury Motors. We also had the great breakfasts that I can even remember, by a chef. We also had a pinball machine that I maxed out several times. That was such a challenge.

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2014 1:39 AM

2014-04-28T01:39:12-04:00

USCENTCOM Commander's Communications Team providing comms for General Mattis and the current CENTCOM Commander General Austin. Never been to so many countries in such a short time to provide comms to these Generals in the craziest ways. It was a different world for sure at that level of operations.

Police Advisory Team embedded with the Afghan National Police in Afghanistan during the surge and when the Marine Corps made it's first major footprint in Helmand Province was rough and rugged. Living and fighting together with Afghans was definitely an experience truly interesting.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2014 4:00 AM

2014-04-28T04:00:43-04:00

My favorite was CBIRF- chemical/biological incidence response force. It's a Marine unit. I found working with Marines to be "interesting" and enjoyable. These guys would burn out a GCMS machine by repeatedly injecting dead samples for hours unless you specifically told them to stop. I also learned quickly as a young captain that first sergeants are not "top" in the Marine Corps.

Response by SGT Shon D. Hill made Apr 29 at 2014 3:14 AM

2014-04-29T03:14:50-04:00

Most incredible assignment/duty in almost 15 year career has to be the honor of being an EFMB Proctor (Expert Field Medical Badge, US Army). Training and testing any army medical branch candidates from Private to Colonel is challenging but so rewarding, especially as a lane NCOIC. I learned more about people, politics, and sheer willingness to succeed at this event many times! So glad I got my badge 1st time! I was as shocked as everyone else, LOL. Never underestimate ANYONE folks

Response by SCPO Max Sanchez made May 10 at 2014 11:53 AM

2014-05-10T11:53:46-04:00

Graduating from 'Top Gun' ground school as an Air intercept Control Supervisor. Instructors were all Top Gun pilots with Randy Cunningham Ace pilot during the Vietnam era.

Response by SCPO Max Sanchez made May 10 at 2014 12:03 PM

2014-05-10T12:03:59-04:00

Prevented loss of an A4E aircraft low on fuel by diverting tanker on a head on intercept and turning the tanker directly in front of the A4e for a quick plug-in before flame out.

Response by SCPO Max Sanchez made May 10 at 2014 12:09 PM

2014-05-10T12:09:03-04:00

As a graduate from the New Mexico school for the Deaf and fluent in sign language, I made a presentation to the student body and staff on career day as Recruiter-in-Charge in Santa Fe, NM. I truly felt proud to see the look on the kids faces when they saw a U.S. Navy Chief communicating to them in sign language.

Response by SSG Ralph Watkins made May 10 at 2014 12:55 PM

2014-05-10T12:55:11-04:00

I had one I can't talk about but I got another, pretty cool special duty. I was stationed at a tiny base in Virginia. They asked me if I wanted to volunteer for a detail the following week but they could say anything more. I volunteered. Here they took us to the Federal Reserve in Charlotsville, VA to unload a money shipment. It was about 1982 & they were decommissioning the Susan B. Anthony silver dollars. We unloaded 3.5 million silver dollars. After the 15,000th bag, it was no longer exciting. We did get to see the inside of the place & how much money was stored there. We asked if they could tip us 1% of what the 10 of us just unloaded. That was a no go.

Response by PO2 Rocky Kleeger made May 10 at 2014 2:03 PM

2014-05-10T14:03:21-04:00

Two really stick out in my mind. One was having to go up to Norfolk, in the 80's to do a local cable show there on how the Marines and Sailors really get along. I brought an overnight bag and my Dress Blues on a hanger. They made me check my Blues, put them in a box, and then lost them. I had to go on the show in civvies.

The second was for an opening for a children's hospital in Florida, we were there for a dog and pony show. President Ronald Reagan was there to make a speech. Now, the wind is blowing 25 MPH...not one hair on Reagan's head moved. PALM TREES ARE BENDING IN THE WIND AND NOTHING MOVED. I can't pay attention to what he's saying, I'm fascinated by his hair. But...his neck kept swaying in the breeze.

Response by SCPO Max Sanchez made May 11 at 2014 10:51 AM

2014-05-11T10:51:42-04:00

Coordinated a multiple units actual 'Man Overboard' with successful recovery.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2014 8:45 AM

2014-05-14T08:45:32-04:00

One of the most rewarding experiences I ever had was the month I spent at West Point last spring training Cadets. I was part of the unit and served as an OC/T for incoming seniors during their CLDT. What a great group of young adults. A little rough and undisiplined in the begining, but eager to learn and smart as a whip.

Response by LTC Martin Metz made May 14 at 2014 11:16 AM

2014-05-14T11:16:11-04:00

Working as Operations Officer in the CFLCC C9 when I was deployed to Kuwait in 2006-2007. Very fulfilling and one of my best deployment experiences in 37+ years in the Army.

Response by MSG Floyd Williams made May 14 at 2014 1:42 PM

2014-05-14T13:42:43-04:00

My special assignments was being in the Berlin Brigade in Berlin, Germany and Embassy duty.

Response by SSG William Patton made May 14 at 2014 2:15 PM

2014-05-14T14:15:08-04:00

I was very fortunate to pull a civilian status TDY my second year in the Army. I was stationed at the Dugway Proving Ground in a meteorological detachment and was issued orders for a study being convened on Lake Superior on the UP of Michigan. We supported the US Lake Survey Team trying to devise a way to keep the Great Lakes open to shipping year round. THe duty lasted just shy of six months and I lived with six other GIs in a house we rented. We had three vehicles at our disposal and two snow mobiles we used to check our remote data collection sites on different places on the shore of Lake Superior on the US and Canadian sides. I earned my E-4 pay plus $25/day per diem. In 1968 that was big money for an 18 year old. I managed to save enough money to buy a new car, but did not since I was on orders for Viet Nam at the end of the TDY. Great duty.

Response by Sgt Packy Flickinger made May 14 at 2014 11:53 PM

2014-05-14T23:53:39-04:00

While I was in I participated in hurricane cleanup in NC, an outing for orphans in NC, and a refugee mission to Slovenia while in Aviano, Italy. Thats about the most interesting I did outside the norm.

I did, however, participate in an honor guard ceremony. Not for any one funeral in particular, but a general one on memorial day. It was a last minute thing they asked for volunteers while hanging around the barracks. So after about 10 minutes of training on what to do, and the M4 (had never seen one before) they started. 6 of the 7 4's jammed. We got off less than a dozen rounds. It was disturbing. You can't drop to a knee and tap, rack, bang in that situation.

Response by SSG Mike Angelo made Jun 28 at 2014 4:22 PM

2014-06-28T16:22:46-04:00

On my dream sheet, I put Hawaii as my all time dream assignment in 1976. It was never meant to be. Looking back, my dream assignment would be as member of a mobile training team, MTT, Office of Military Cooperation, US Embassy, Cairo, Egypt 1992.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jul 15 at 2015 3:50 PM

2015-07-15T15:50:26-04:00

Col Private RallyPoint Member, for me that would have been my detailed assignment as a Deputy Inspector General. It's incredibly unusual in that you must swear a special oath before your commanding general. There may be other such positions, but none of which I'm aware.

I think most do know that it's a tenured position, generally for no more than three years. I would think, though, that most think the tenure requirement is there to prevent usurpation of office. In my experience, I found it be something quite different. Although a detailed IG can make good things happen, you also get to see the worst of the worst. Over time, it's possible to become so inured to similarly repetitive events that it's simply not healthy to stay there indefinitely. It was an eye opening experience, but no service member needs that detail more than once!

Response by SPC Alpheus Harmon made Aug 15 at 2018 3:52 PM

2018-08-15T15:52:01-04:00

Is there a badge or a patch denoting a special assignment?

Response by LTC John Griscom made Aug 16 at 2018 9:19 AM

2018-08-16T09:19:48-04:00

As a reserve officer, duty as a liaison officer with Northern Army Group (NORTHAG) during a WINTEX exercise in a cave in The Netherlands.
Also, participating in a NATO Reserve Officer marksmanship competition in Belgium. Only time I ever saw a bar at the end of a military range.