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What's daily life as a 12B like on Active Duty? I've heard many different things, some good, some not so good. It seems like something I'd be okay with doing. Being a Reservist, maybe it just seems that way because I'm not Active, but I'd like to know other experiences. Bonus if there's any Sappers that want to share their stories. I'm studying and training to hopefully go to SLC one day. Thanks!
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12B: Combat Engineer
Sapper Leader Course
12B: Combat Engineer Sapper Leader Course
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 10
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Regular Army, 65th Engineers, 25th Infantry Division Vietnam, '66-'67. Most time in field with Infantry units as a "demo man." Mine field extraction, neutralize booby traps, eliminate dud artillery, blow-up tunnel complexes, sweep roads for mines, side-by-side with Infantry fire fights and ambushes. Most important work I ever performed in my entire life.
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I was with the 1st Armor Division out of Germany and the 1st Infantry Division out of Ft. Riley. We spent the vast majority of our time in the motor pool working on vehicles & equipment, with typically 1-2 days at most of an average week working on MOS training.
Field problems were a couple times per year and typically 1-2 weeks; while I was at Riley we went to JRTC and NTC for a little over a month each.
I missed the big Graf/Hoehnfels training center rotations by about a month between when I PCS'd in and out due to 3/4 of my Germany time spent in Iraq.
My first deployment (2003) we did a little bit of everything from sector security to checkpoints to fortifying culverts & bridges along supply routes. The second time (2006) we were exclusively route clearance.
Field problems were a couple times per year and typically 1-2 weeks; while I was at Riley we went to JRTC and NTC for a little over a month each.
I missed the big Graf/Hoehnfels training center rotations by about a month between when I PCS'd in and out due to 3/4 of my Germany time spent in Iraq.
My first deployment (2003) we did a little bit of everything from sector security to checkpoints to fortifying culverts & bridges along supply routes. The second time (2006) we were exclusively route clearance.
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SGT (Join to see)
Thank you for sharing. I've always been under the impression that Active Duty was always overseas. I've since learned this is not always the case. How much time do you spend stateside? How much deployed? And does the state that you live in have any affect on where you're stationed stateside? Or is it just whatever Big Army says?
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SGT Matthew S.
There are a number of Active bases & posts overseas, but more so here in the U.S., as I'm sure you've learned. Your deployed/garrison time all depends on the unit and when they come up for deployment; some people are almost constantly deployed and some rarely if ever.
Your home state doesn't matter much; Big Army sends you where they need numbers although sometimes you can request certain locations when you enlist or re-enlist. One Soldier I was stationed with at Ft. Riley was originally from Kansas & joined the Army to see the world - didn't work out near as well as he had planned.
Your home state doesn't matter much; Big Army sends you where they need numbers although sometimes you can request certain locations when you enlist or re-enlist. One Soldier I was stationed with at Ft. Riley was originally from Kansas & joined the Army to see the world - didn't work out near as well as he had planned.
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My time as a 12B while on Active Duty consisted of the Motor Pool most of the month (we were mechanized at part of the 11th ACR at FT Irwin) and in the field for 1 week a month. We did Demolitions Ranges about every 3-4 months. So, I think the answer(s) to your question will vary from base to base.
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MSG (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) - I didn't deploy as a 12B. I deployed as a 68S. The 12Bs that I did know tha that deployed, their job mainly was Route Clearance.
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SGT (Join to see)
MSG (Join to see) Thank you for the information. I've seen that's a very large part of what 12Bs do when deployed. I think it's a very important part of the job.
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