Reservists and Guardsmen, where, when & why: Your Best & Worst Annual Training??

SGT Dave Tracy — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 18:27:23 -0400

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jun 5 at 2016 6:29 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 18:29:32 -0400

Worse is some sort of FEX that leaves you unsatisfied. Best was Cambodia where we'd actually do something worthwhile.

Response by SSG Pete Fleming made Jun 5 at 2016 6:29 PM

SSG Pete Fleming — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 18:29:40 -0400

If you're with the right group of people they can be both... but may be for the wrong reasons...

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2016 6:30 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 18:30:24 -0400

Best annual training was when we filled in for Drill Instructors at a last effort retraining program. I think it was Fort Knox. Our guys got real first hands on training. This was held for guys who agreed to undergo it to keep from getting the boot.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Jun 5 at 2016 6:30 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 18:30:52 -0400

Best was the year we pulled security detail for the pre-olympics in '96.

Response by TSgt Alex Benningfield made Jun 5 at 2016 6:38 PM

TSgt Alex Benningfield — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 18:38:19 -0400

Worst was when I went to Atlanta. I day worst because we didn't really do any productive training. Was also the best because we had so much free time to explore atlanta.

Response by PVT Amos A. made Jun 5 at 2016 6:56 PM

PVT Amos A. — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 18:56:59 -0400

Best AT was 4 weeks at NTC in preparation for a rotation to Afghanistan (20th SFGA). Worked with SEALs and found out for the first time how conventional unit commanders detest special operations units.

Second best, was when I was still Infantry, and for an AT my Rifle Company was assigned to run a range for a support battalion to qualify with their rifles. The soldiers were terrible and required a LOT of remedial training just to get scores of 24. During our 30-60 minute lunch breaks (at the insistence of the support units) we would run ourselves through the range and qualify expert several times in a row. Even our medics were shooting over 36.

One evening our Co Commander told us the support units were complaining that we were being mean to them. One of the best moments of my life, right there.

No worst AT really. Other than having to use a transportation unit as our indigenous personnel for one AT that lasted 3 weeks. We were tasked to train them up for 2 weeks then lead them in missions against a conventional Infantry Unit that was also in the field. They had all kinds of sexual harassment issues ongoing within their unit, APFT failures, and malingerers. One of their soldiers actually stole a military vehicle, drove out of the field then off-post to a civilian emergency room to declare a psychiatric emergency. Then was shocked and filed charges of sexual harassment against her commander when her unit put her up on charges.

The Army was 10 of the most incredible years of my life haha. I could write a freaking book-

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2016 7:03 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 19:03:44 -0400

Best: Clark County, Nevada (Vegas). Worst: Camp Shelby, Mississippi

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made Jun 5 at 2016 7:26 PM

CPT Joseph K Murdock — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 19:26:31 -0400

I was AC with a Southern NG unit that went to AT. The word was spread that POVs were not allowed at the AT site, so I rode with the convoy. When the convoy arrived they put us exclusively in un-air conditioned barracks, because the higher ranking enlisted and most of the officers drove. The heat was consecutive 100+ weather and night time temps in the barracks was 95+. As the highest ranking person I kept informing the CoS about the inequity of the situation and he relented after a few days. I am glad I suffered with the enlisted, so I could mitigate the scenario. A leader needs to suffer to truly understand his troops.

Response by LTC Trent Klug made Jun 5 at 2016 7:28 PM

LTC Trent Klug — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 19:28:54 -0400

Best and worst-Fort Benning, 1994 with A Co, 104th Division (T)
Best because I got to see several old friends from active duty who were, respectively, a training battalion Command Sergeant Major, a Drill Sergeant, and two who were RI's. Worst because the Battalion I was in took control of our return flight plane tickets (we had to turn them in to the BN CSM) as the commander didn't trust his O's and NCO's. Additionally, the CSM travelled home in civvies, we were in B's. (I hate do as I say leadership).

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2016 8:33 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 20:33:13 -0400

Sometimes A.T. orders can be ok:
1. Summer 1999. CA ARNG A.T. to Grafenweor Germany. A couple of platoons went. E-7 and below worked as Garrsion Mps driving around Volkswagen vanagons.. Mps on Guard Mount and Provost Marshall did not need us so the O-1/O-2s were like 5th wheels and not needed..I felt bad for the enlisted and we just were along for the ride. Overseas training ribbon though and NATO orders!

2. Our Civil Affairs Battalion sent elements to Operation Key Resolve fragod from South Korea to Hawaii. We worked a scenario where South Korea was under Attack from Kim Jong Un and we had a notional typhoon hit Tonga and we were working for USARPAC. We did a Simex from Schofield Barracks. It was interesting. The best part was getting a day off before the exercise to go see the USS Missouri, The USS Arizona Memorial and the USS Bowfin submarine in Pearl Harbor. We stayed in a hotel and our work station was those new Drash tents that you can put up in about an hour and tear down just as fast. I was a CPT then and it was interesting. I had not been to Hawaii since 1978. Our HHC Commander promoted an NCO TO E-7 at the rear turret of the USS Missouri as an attack sub was coming back to port with the sailors on deck. Very Surreal. PFC Talal Al-Tunsi

Response by LTC John Mohor made Jun 5 at 2016 8:49 PM

LTC John Mohor — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 20:49:27 -0400

Home Station AT to me was the worst, needed but no sense of travel or adventure. Best AT was for me the was CSTX at Fort McCoy, WI. It had a good real world feel too it and the airconditioned tents in July made it comfortable during off duty hours.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2016 8:49 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 20:49:52 -0400

the worst...........3 Words: FT Hunter Liggett

the best.............FT Lewis

Response by SPC Casey Ashfield made Jun 5 at 2016 8:50 PM

SPC Casey Ashfield — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 20:50:31 -0400

Can't say I have ever had a really great AT site. Being infantry, there is usually a way for good sites to be rather unpleasant. But that is what "Embracing the suck" is all about.

Although I will say the worst AT site was my last one. At the lovely Camp Shelby, Mississippi. The year before AT was at Fort McClellan in Alabama, and I thought that was bad.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2016 8:50 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 20:50:47 -0400

First one for me so far has been Grafenwoehr, Germany. And it was more good than bad.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2016 8:56 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 20:56:53 -0400

Worst has to be at Camp Pickett, VA (Wood tick capital of the world) in 1976. C Bat., 201st FA. (M109 SP 155 mm)
Best was in Camp Williams, UT w/ C/2/19th SF Gp

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2016 9:12 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 21:12:57 -0400

I was going to ask something just like this. I just came back from WA. I was able to be part of the training team that put on a Light Leaders Course for the WA ARNG. It was a pretty tough course. They really enjoyed it. Many said it was the best training they have received ever during an Annual Training. I wish I would have seen this in a unit I was in when I was enlisted.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2016 9:26 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 21:26:51 -0400

Best: Haven't experienced that yet
Worst: Evaluating Junior Promotion Board packets

Response by SGT Robert Cupp made Jun 5 at 2016 9:27 PM

SGT Robert Cupp — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 21:27:49 -0400

Worst AT was at Fort Chaffee Arkansas. The humidity, the thick vegetation and the bugs made it pretty miserable. Oh wait, I'm there again right now.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jun 5 at 2016 9:40 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 21:40:35 -0400

SGT Dave Tracy Ft Irwin, CA. 1966, I was the new 1SG, B, 160 Inf, (Mech). After off-loading from the 2 1/2s we traveled on, I formed the company. One Soldier face-planted as I was giving directions! That was my intro to Ft Irwin.

SGT James Reese had been working excessive hours on his civilian job, was exhausted and the heat got him! And scared the blazes out of me!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2016 11:20 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 23:20:04 -0400

Best - Shy of DMZ Korea and Seoul Korea
Worst - Camp Atterburry Indiana rained 12 days

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2016 11:32 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Jun 2016 23:32:07 -0400

Best: Central Paraguay 2004. Group DS. Worst: JRTC 2015.

Response by 1st Lt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2016 12:24 AM

1st Lt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 00:24:40 -0400

Worst I ever had was 14 days in the field at Camp Guernsey, WY. Absolutely miserable place. If I never go back to WY, it'll be too soon.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 6 at 2016 9:20 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 06 Jun 2016 09:20:28 -0400

I had an AT out at Sierra Army Depot in 2007. That place is creepy. It's like the Hill's Have Eyes out there. There's also a Federal Prison right there. Tons of old Abrams tanks. It's like a graveyard for old vehicles now, also very old ordnance storage. We were hauling old WW2 500lb bombs. We slept in tents and we froze to death every night. It was June and it was snowing in those hills.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2016 6:44 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 18:44:43 -0400

Best: 2007; MTACS 48 in Great Lakes Naval Station, Chicago, IL. Great because I essentially didn't have a chain of command- I worked in my MOS field, alone, with little interaction for two weeks. Great way to really get to be MOS proficient and reflect on my career.

Worst: 2011, 60 miles north of Fairbanks, AK. Although one might imagine this would be a great AT, and parts of it could have been, it fell short in many categories. First, the unit unbeknownst to us was on the chopping block. So funding was scarce; not to mention command kept wanting us to be training... Didn't matter what kind of training, but it just isn't always logical to fap a bunch of maintainers out to do IED training because they are not doing anything, and then complain when the gear breaks down and no one is around to fix it... Not only that, but the sun never set up there, which command took that as a way of thinking "well, it might be 2300, but it's broad daylight! Let's go PT!" On top of all that, the one day of liberty got canked because the SNCOs got trashed and started bashing officers within an earshot of them, and one SSgt pulled the barracks fire alarm- keep in mind all Sergeants and below were in bed when this happened.