Forum: Air Force Life

Alright, it's bound to happen sooner or later (ideally I'd like a state side job first, but if that doesn't happen, oh well, I didn't sign up to sit on my ace all day, I'm here to do a service!!!.) But those who have experienced deployment can I hear about your experiences (the good, the bad, the ugly.).

I understand that just because you get deployed, does not mean you will have to fire your weapon (however just wondering how many of you have had to fire your weapon based on a combat situation? If you do not wish to give specifics that is understandable, and obvaiously it will depend on if the deployment was in a hot zone or not, etc.)

Personally I don't mind getting deployed and like many of you have said before it's all a matter of attitude and trying to remain positive even in a bad situation.

Any advice for if and when I get deployed, things you wish you would have done differently, things you wish you would have done/wouldn't have done/etc.

Thanks for the advice.

Rob

F-16.net Sponsor

What's your AFSC? That will determine a lot of how deployment will go for you. I deployed to Qatar (Al Udeid) to support OEF/OIF. Best way to describe it would be a "cakewalk". Worked some long hours, but besides that Qatar was about as dull as it could get. Afghanistan was a little different. If you never leave Bagram you won't ever see anything worth while. On the other hand, if you get to Kandahar, or out to any of the FOB's you will see some more interesting things.

People's experience on deployments vary greatly with the specific job you have. (as nam11b mentioned) As you likely already know, it's best to not go into too many details on this forum. Just take the fulfillment and commitment that you are doing the nation's work firsthand. Learn from those in your unit that have already deployed and who you consider a good mentor. They are by far your best source. Do all you can now to keep you from being distracted stateside (set up automatic billing, submit tax returns now...etc). After a couple months along, you'll feel like home is a long way off. It will pass faster than you think when you look back. Rely (and be relied) on those that are with you. They are in the same boat with you and are your family while you're there.
You are hitting the ground running, but that is a good thing. If your deployment is like mine, you will gain a lot of experience and friendship from this. You'll also probably gain appreciation of what we have here back at home as well as the satisfaction that you took a small (but very direct) part in defending it.
Bottom line...remember what you've learned, learn, and stay focused. I wish you well.

Rob, since you haven't gone to BMT yet, the best advice I can offer you, is focus on getting through BMT one day at a time. Your deployment won't come for quite awhile yet. Your unit will likely try to knock out all of your training first (CDCs, OJT, etc.) before you are ever considered for a deployment.

As for firing a weapon? You're going into an Aircraft Maintenance field, right? Your weapon will remain where it always does...in the Security Forces armory. Laughing

Seriously dude, we aren't the Marine Corps. We don't run around in full battle rattle, shouting "Oorah!", & humping a full pack and rifle, like we're in "Full Metal Jacket".

Your biggest concerns at "The Dirty Deid, Done Dirt Cheap" are:

1) Finding a toilet that looks like it might've been cleaned sometime within the Bush Administration.

2) Finding a shower that has been cleaned sometime in the 2000s.

3) Having enough PT gear to walk around in off duty, work out in, and still have a couple extras for the 3 day laundry wait.

4) Having enough DVDs, so's you won't die from boredom...(sometimes the free movie theaters will show about 3 consecutive weeks worth of $h!tty movies, so beware).

5) Not forgetting your reflective belt, lest the Deid Uniform Nazis are out in full force.

6) Finding something in the D-Fac that looks like it MIGHT be edible.

7) Finding a way to keep cool...(your 3 beers a day will not be much help).

8 ) Finding as many opportunities as possible to go to Doha.

Other than that, the biggest enemies at The Deid, are the heat and humidity. Find every way possible to stay cool. But again, for now, focus on getting through BMT one day at a time. When your time to deploy finally comes (and it shouldn't be for quite awhile), you'll receive plenty of briefings on what to expect. Also, talk to the guys who've been there. They'll give you the scoop.

+1 to what TC said, you have so many obstacles ahead of you before you even get to the point where you are deployable it's really not even worth worrying about. For me the worst part of a deployment is inprocessing. I have been at this for almost 18 years now, and the only thing that seems to change is the number of mind numbing briefings that you have to sit through after spending 2 days and 17 hours on a jet getting there. Once you are there for a few days and get into a routine it's really not that bad.

Firing weapons is a non-issue, you do not even carry a weapon, have a weapon assigned to you, or even know where the weapons are stored. The best thing about a deployment for a new guy are that you will get plenty of oppurtunities to get good at your job, either that or find ways to skirt out of doing the actual work and just do enought to get by.

My main point is relax, go to BMT and play their little games, get through ti then go to Sheppard and study your as* off, that's what you job is right now, not worrying about deployments. Besdies once barry Obama takes over the war will end anyway, at least that's what all of his brain dead voters seems to think.

You guys are a bit off on the not carrying weapons portion.

He is going into aircraft maintenance (electronics). I have never seen a Comm/Nav guy carrying a weapon anywhere I have ever been.

akruse21 wrote:

You guys are a bit off on the not carrying weapons portion.

I agree on this one, been "in country" 3 times, all 3 we i.e. everyone on base to include Crew Dawgs had to carry one at some point in the AEF. I'll keep it to that.

I'll simply say, that out of all of my maintainers, anywhere I've gone, a whopping ZILCH were carrying, and that was OEF, OIF, and out of theater AOR bases.

At that, fighter guys most likely play by a different set of rules from us airlift types, as to who carries.

However, my point is, that you won't walk around base at The Deid carrying a weapon. The Army and Marines play their games. The AF plays ours. It's a different world between us and them, and we aren't running around playing "Full Metal Jacket".

Elliboom and I both carry as part of our jobs, but that's a rag-assed Beretta, which would probably be more lethal if I pistol whipped you than actually squeezed the trigger. In fact, if I ever do get a hijacker, I could see it all going down something like this... Laughing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZfIkew9HCM&feature=related

The last couple places we have been have required maintainers to carry.

Way back during Desert Storm I carried my old triangle handled M16A1 (as I recall, it had a 1969 build date) with 4 30 round mags (was told "come back if you need more") when ever we were out at our end-of-runway decon position. There was once instance when I thought that there was a possibility that I might have to use the gun, but that's another story...

Even more interestingly we were also issued sealed 1969-printed copies of Will Eisner's M16 "Comic Book" manual: http://www.ep.tc/problems/25/

When we weren't out at EOR all of our maintenance groups weapons were stored in a converted closet in the hangar, where they were immediately accessable (only about 100 feet from our Phase Dock).

But I would have to agree with everyone else - it would be rare to even see your weapon. We're mechanics, not infantry. I'm not even all that sure that I'd want some of the people I worked with to have ready access to weapons...

Mike

MKopack wrote:

I'm not even all that sure that I'd want some of the people I worked with to have ready access to weapons...

Amen to that! Laughing

VPRFIXER wrote:

akruse21 wrote:

You guys are a bit off on the not carrying weapons portion.

I agree on this one, been "in country" 3 times, all 3 we i.e. everyone on base to include Crew Dawgs had to carry one at some point in the AEF. I'll keep it to that.

It doesn't count if they're not giving you bullets.... Slap

During the last 3 times you've "carried" a weapon with "everyone else on base", how many times did YOU have ammunition as a aviation maintenance person? (...or anyone else who wasn't with security?)

You have a far greater chance of being hit by a car, truck, bus, or aircraft than enemy fire. (Either direct or indirect) Think of it this way; every night at work you are required to wear a reflective belt; but you only carry an unloaded gun a few days out of every 120, during deployments only, every other year or so on average?

Do the math!?! LMAO

Cross each bridge in your career as you come to them. Concentrate and master the task immediately at hand before you move to the next, but don't neglect the future at the expense of today. Far too many "new guys" get wound up about "this or that" before they ever get through the basics needed to properly engage their career.

In short; if you can MASTER your specialty as an aviation maintenance technician, everything else should seem relatively easy in comparison.

(Like carrying around an empty M-16 or wearing a helmet in the bus on the way to the line... )

If you were one of my guys/gals you wouldn't even be going on an AEF until you could tell me the basic operation theory of the engine's major systems and what each component in that system does. I think this is where the USAF is loosing it's level of maintenance proficiency; they're more worried about PT gear, "Fit-to-Fight", ATSO exercises, and what you can/can't accessorize with ABUs!?!
WTF

FLY, FIGHT, WIN should be the number one priority, especially during an AEF deployment!

...okay, I'll get off the soap-box now... ...I can't reach my beer from up here...

Good luck Rob!
Keep 'em flyin'
TEG

(EDIT - Forgot to give Rob "the thumb" Thumb

)

That_Engine_Guy wrote:

VPRFIXER wrote:

akruse21 wrote:

You guys are a bit off on the not carrying weapons portion.

I agree on this one, been "in country" 3 times, all 3 we i.e. everyone on base to include Crew Dawgs had to carry one at some point in the AEF. I'll keep it to that.

It doesn't count if they're not giving you bullets.... Slap

(EDIT - Forgot to give Rob "the thumb" Thumb

)

Bullets, gun, vest, helmet.

[quote=

Cross each bridge in your career as you come to them. Concentrate and master the task immediately at hand before you move to the next, but don't neglect the future at the expense of today. Far too many "new guys" get wound up about "this or that" before they ever get through the basics needed to properly engage their career.

In short; if you can MASTER your specialty as an aviation maintenance technician, everything else should seem relatively easy in comparison.

(Like carrying around an empty M-16 or wearing a helmet in the bus on the way to the line... )

If you were one of my guys/gals you wouldn't even be going on an AEF until you could tell me the basic operation theory of the engine's major systems and what each component in that system does. I think this is where the USAF is loosing it's level of maintenance proficiency; they're more worried about PT gear, "Fit-to-Fight", ATSO exercises, and what you can/can't accessorize with ABUs!?!
WTF

FLY, FIGHT, WIN should be the number one priority, especially during an AEF deployment!

...okay, I'll get off the soap-box now... ...I can't reach my beer from up here...

Good luck Rob!
Keep 'em flyin'
TEG

(EDIT - Forgot to give Rob "the thumb" Thumb

)[/quote]

Ah-frickin-men. I couldn't haven't have written it better myself if Hunter S Thompson was telling me what to type. I am so sick of the AF worrying more about what uniform combos are authorized or "OH MY GOD WE GAB'D A JET TODAY!!!! Our numbers are gonna suck!!!" No matter the broke a$$ jet that sits out on the flight line. We should be concentrating on fixing jets and bombing the s*it out of anyone that threatens our way of life. Not politics. I wish there were more like you in the AF TEG! Keep it up! Thumb

Forum: Air Force Life

Deployment experiences