Germany Duty Station: Duration, Job, Training

[javaman1]

Three part question:

My son went from reserve MPs in Arlington Hts. IL to Regular Army. He's in Fort Jackson getting ready to move to his selected duty station in Germany. No specific orders yet.

The answers I receive are for me, he will have to learn by doing like I did years ago. No meddling from Dad but I'm curious.

1.) By signing up for RA my son was allowed to pick his duty station, Germany. How long will he be there before he is probably deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, etc?

2.) Will he be allowed any leave time to see some sights while in Germany?

3.) Will his job assignment have a large training component for future deployments to a combat zone?

I believe he is now 31B but the reserve unit component his was in was confinement oriented.

Thanks,

Don

[That Guy]

Three part question:

My son went from reserve MPs in Arlington Hts. IL to Regular Army. He's in Fort Jackson getting ready to move to his selected duty station in Germany. No specific orders yet.

The answers I receive are for me, he will have to learn by doing like I did years ago. No meddling from Dad but I'm curious.

1.) By signing up for RA my son was allowed to pick his duty station, Germany. How long will he be there before he is probably deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, etc?

2.) Will he be allowed any leave time to see some sights while in Germany?

3.) Will his job assignment have a large training component for future deployments to a combat zone?

I believe he is now 31B but the reserve unit component his was in was confinement oriented.

Thanks,

Don

1: Hopefully he got that in his contract that he is definatly going to germany, Tell him to log onto AKO then go to ASK ("assignment satisfaction key") it should show his orders if they have been placed to exactly where he is going. As for how long he will stay there before a deployment depends on what unit he is going to and when they are projected to deploy. There is no way to tell that until he gets there and asks around if they are projected for an upcoming deployment.

2: Yes on his off duty time he will be allowed to leave the base to go around and see parts of germany. He will have to take leave or a pass if he wants to go far away from the base. But then again the unit governs where or where the soldier can and cant go, depending on training and for thier saftey.

3: Yes he will get a lot of field combat training. Depending on what unit he gets assigned to that might be all that he will be doing while there. Unless he gets assigned to a unit working garrison then He will be working the roads and checking ID's and such.

Sounds like he was a 31E (internment/ressetlement specialist) as a reservist, Thier man job is corrections and detainee operations. 31E Does the patrols, clearing buildings etc while deployed and Most of the time working garrison the 31B's work the roads doing law and order. Unless his unit stricly does field work then all he will be doing is training for deployment.

Hope that helped you a little bit, If you have anymore questions feel free to ask.

[javaman1]

My son claims he has a contract for 3 years in Germany.

I didn't ellaborate the consequences and don't intend to. There is a part of responsiblity attached to growing up. Limited advice is what he seeks.

I have investigated on the internet, gone to GlobalSecurity.org and to the 18th Military Police Brigade, which both provide limited information but enough to understand MP's are in very dangerous occupations when it comes to deployment in the Middle East.

I'm glad to hear about the training, he probably needs all he can get. However, clearing or siting IED's and EFP's is limited on what you can train for, as well as suidcide bombers.

I'm not trying to be negative just realistic and his bonus was huge, which goes with risk. Iraqi police are huge targets.

Thanks again,

Don

[That Guy]

I Highly doubt he will get 3 years in germany, one year oconus deployment to there is usually the longest they stay there anymore. One good thing about MP's is we could go to any military base unlike other mos's that only have a select few forts. Every military installation has atleast one MP batallion.

[javaman1]

OK! My son arrived in his duty station in Baumholder, Germany, the 92nd MP Co. under the 18th Military Police Brigade, 709 Military Bn.

From what I have gleaned so far these groups, particularly the 709th, have not deployed anywhere except Kosovo, and typically support NATO.

I talked to my son today and it seems he wil be in his unit in Baumholder for at least 2 years without deployment, maybe 3.

What surprised me was he has been given a one person room with full bed, full refrigerator, desk, internet access and some furniture. He shares a bathroom with another single room resident.

This all comes as a surprise to me as far as room asignment, of course it's been some time since I was serving.

Any further info, or comments are welcome.

[Mrs.Wills]

your an MP and that is TOTALLY awsome (my husband is to and I LOVE HIS JOB it is so interesting) anyways I NEED YOUR HELP!!!!!! you OBVISOLY know what your talking about in Germany!! well my husband is there and he has NOT called me in a month (well saturday 9/1/07 will be a month) and i DO NOT know why!!! What do i do??? i do not know his unit but i figured you could HELP ME!?!?!?!?!?!

[Mrs.Wills]

i read what you said about the most an MP stays in germany for is like a year and my husband said in his orders he is also there for 3 years :confused: i am SO confused

[Kitika]

i read what you said about the most an MP stays in germany for is like a year and my husband said in his orders he is also there for 3 years :confused: i am SO confused

My dad was an MP(before I was born I'm 23 now, so it's been a while) but he there for three years, so I'm going to go out on a limb and say it might be different for everyone? But it's been a while..so things might have changed, that and I hear that they are closing some military posts in Germany, am I right on that one?

[Fireball]

i read what you said about the most an MP stays in germany for is like a year and my husband said in his orders he is also there for 3 years :confused: i am SO confused

Everyone's unit is assigned differently. For three years... I am surprised they didn't send family though... at least in the airforce if it was longer than a year they could choose to take their family (to family friendly bases).

Crazy times... it will all be sorted out. So don't worry...

[Nightflyer]

Donnie.....

Hook up with your son in Germany. Go to a beer cellar. And reflect.That would be too cool. Life is to short to do otherwise.....In the end. Your Family and your son..... is all that really matters.....You can do it.....Again. Good luck.


Nightflyer. Highspeed.
Army Aviation. Air Assualt.
Black berets forever.

[MSG Glenn]

Java,

I've found that duty in Germany can be longer than "hardship" assignments. He'll probably be there for the length of time he was told.

Having said that the needs of the Army come 1st. If the unit he's with get deployed to a combat area then that's where he'll go.
If he plans on making the Army a career any combat assignment is a plus. If he's awarded the Combat Action Badge & service ribbons that all counts for promotion points.

In other words don't worry needlessly about him.

My son was in Iraq 3 times & going back soon & Afghanistan once. Of course his mom & I worried but we know that as a U.S Soldier he received the best trainiing possible.

We also found that prayer has a great calming affect.

MSG Glenn.