Big army wants me to deploy

[Volk]

So, my Commander talks to me today and has a request. He was asked to provide a Pashto linguist for an unknown mission in Afghanistan for 9 months. There are two other Pashto trained linguists in my Battalion, but both want to get out of the Army, and I'm the only one that is trying to stay in. I would deploy in July and be a "Green-suiter" in charge of civilian linguists. I don't know whether I would be sitting at a radio intercepting bad guys, or walking the streets and gathering intel in a HumInt fashion, or something else entirely. If I do this, I can demand certain things, such as a refresher course in Pashto in Garmisch, Germany for a month, as well as some other things (I'll try to be promotable before I deploy, for instance). They would send my wife to the States if I asked, probably to wherever my next base is. I might be able to get Ft. Meade, MD, but that's not guarenteed. It's also not known what unit I would be attached to.

If I turn this down, I would probably be going to Ft. Bliss, TX, and probably deployed for a year to Iraq next January, ang again unknown what exactly I would do.

So the choice is, 9 month deployment to Afghanistan this year, or possible 12 month deployment to Iraq next year.

Edit: Let me add that we are leaning towards the nine-month deployment.

[Unnormal]

Tough Call Volk it is a shame they won't be upfront with what you'll be doing in Afghanistan.

[Snackcakes]

that is a rough call. 9 months can be a rough time when you don't know what you are getting into. but writing your own ticket after the 9 months is nice. you were going to be deployed anyway right? at some point?

[Volk]

Well, the unclass version of what I'll be doing is a slightly cushier version of what I'm doing now, but with the chance of going outside the wire from time to time. I'll have a lot more "sham" time than if I went with the Ft. Bliss unit. I was just told this about 30 minutes ago.

[Redbear8]

Volk, thinking long term, I'd probably take what they are offering, especially since that means you get to make demands (even if they are limited) and it may get you a better post when you redeploy back to the states.

If you don't it looks like you'll be making the trip soon anyway, without the extra demands and headed back to Bliss when you redeploy.

I would take what they are offering now.

[Kastil]

Ask for classified material on Area 51 and UFO's.  Leverage!

[JesterDTM]

What rank are you?

I would say,
Volunteer for the 9 months, I've done a year in Iraq, BOOOORING.

Also, PCS Station of Choice, Rank advancement now (frock) with next promotable school enroute to pcs move.

All of these things are in their power (actually very easily done at the battalion commander level.) Then pick FT Lewis. I'm telling you if you like Germany, you need Washington State.

ALSO, VERY Important, no offense to Texas, but Ft. Bliss is the butt hole of the world. Well, next to Fort Knox

[Volk]

What rank are you?

I would say,
Volunteer for the 9 months, I've done a year in Iraq, BOOOORING.

Also, PCS Station of Choice, Rank advancement now (frock) with next promotable school enroute to pcs move.

All of these things are in their power (actually very easily done at the battalion commander level.) Then pick FT Lewis. I'm telling you if you like Germany, you need Washington State.

ALSO, VERY Important, no offense to Texas, but Ft. Bliss is the butt hole of the world. Well, next to Fort Knox

As for rank, I'm an E-5 right now, and my Company Commander said he would sign off on me going to the board before I deployed, so I'll get that much at least. Not sure if they'll just frock me up.

I'll also be going to NSA Georgia for at least 5 weeks for a Pashto Immersion course sometime in May/July before I go.

Ft. Lewis hasn't been mentioned as a place we can go to, but I'll ask what will be available in a year. We really want Ft. Meade, since I'll be able to do my job there, but Ft. Lewis is close to home.

[skeanthu]

Ask for classified material on Area 51 and UFO's.  Leverage!

I am with Kastil, go do your 9 months, and then post the pics and documents of the aliens walking among us in this forum.   We won't tell anyone, promise.

[gr0n]

Sounds like the 9-month is the way to go.  Good luck Volk!

[Volk]

Alright, it's official. I'm deploying in July. Now here's what I'm getting out of it:

NSA Georgia for Pashto Immersion Course.

(Possible) PLTCE Pashto Course in Garmisch, Germany.

BNCOC (Basic Non-Commisioned Officer Course) Phase I before deployment (Possibly before all the language training).

E-6 Promotion Board in March.

That's just for starters. I'm going to try to do my re-enlistment downrange (taxfree, baby!!!), and I should be able to get more if I'm promoted by then, as long as I still get a bonus. Ft. Meade might be available by then, and the Brigade is going to work to get me that station next.

[Liladia]

Work the system! Squeeze out everything you can get 

[JesterDTM]

Sweet... Told you, you could get BNCOC enroute.. Good work!

[Redbear8]

Isn't BNOC called something else now? I know they changed PLDC to some Warrior Leadership blah blah blah right before I left.

[skeanthu]

E-6 equals Staff Sargent, so does that also equal your own secretary?  (cue 70s bow-chicka bow-wow music, with bongos)