It's been so long since I asked a question here....

[Mac679]

so lemme see if I can remember how http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/smile.gif

Okay for all the Batt Boys ( current & former ) I was at MEPS last Wed. to renegotiate my ship date. The latest I could get was Sept 25, ( higher wouldn't let the MSGT go into Oct for some reason ). To speed the story along, I had to get a new contract. Originally I had an RGV4, now I have an 11X Option 4 ( Infantry & Airborne ) with an Unassigned Ranger clause ( for lack of a better word ), so I still have Ranger Training in writing. On my RGV4 it listed OSUT as 14 weeks and on the new contract it lists 16 weeks ( I'm guessing this means my 11X is gonna turn into 11C or 11H ). Now to get to the actual question, do the 11C & 11H get to do some of the same things the 11B in the Regt. do? Do they train in MOUT, patrolling, etc., like the 11Bs do or do they pretty much stick to mortars and anti armor weapons? I really want to do those things provided, God, the US Army, myself, and the 75th willing, I pass RIP.
The patrolling, fieldcraft and the like are what I want to do. I don't mind being 11C or 11H if I get to do those things. To clarify, is this something I should start pestering the hell out of "Higher" about or will I get an opportunity to change it during OSUT or Reception Battalion?
Thanks in advance!!
Mac"I hope this was coherent"679

[Ranger002]

MacMon,

The only differance bwt 11B's and H's and C's is the fact you hump a bigger ruck most of the time ( as an 11C or 11H). At least that is the way it was back in my day. Make sure you've got a real strong backbone and good luck.
William Hazen

[Ranger002]

In addition,

When I passed RIP/ROP I got to meet my Platoon Sgt for the first time.He took one look at me and said "Ranger Newbie Hazen how would you like to shoot a M60 Machine Gun". I then made one of the biggest mistakes of my young life. I said "hell yes Sgt I LOVE MACHINEGUNS"! The next thing I know I went from being a rifleman to being a AG in the weapons squad LOL. Don't volunteer to do anything ha ha ha ha ha!
William Hazen

[LRSC Grunt]

Im not from a ranger bat. although we all originate from the same place. 11b, 11c,11h,11bc2 all have the same length during ait phase of osut, with the exception of 11m(2 extra weeks, no 11m in the bats though). Your OSUT is probably lengthened due to a change in the training criteria. I know when I went it was 12 weeks, two years later they added 2 weeks of "sensitivity training" for ignorant reasons. Why they found adding "sensitivity training" more important than adding 2 extra weeks of BRM, ARM, weapons training, land nav, ect., I have no clue. Anyways, I wouldnt worry. Im happy to hear they allocated more time for training recruits. I only hope it isnt for wasting our time resources on the new "homosexual hurrassment" policy classes http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/rolleyes.gif

[Sharky]

Maybe things have changed but I don't remember seeing ANY 11 Hotels in Batt when I was there.B's and C's sure but never heard of any H's in battalion. Maybe things have changed.

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F.I.D.O.

[Sharky]

I'll say this again, If I had it to do over again I would go as a 13Fox.

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F.I.D.O.

[Weekend Warrior]

What's with these contracts? What are they/what do they mean?So it sounds as if private soldiers can go in straight as e.g. Mortarmen or Machine Gunners? Over here all our infantrymen have to do a tour or so as a rifleman before they're allowed to specialise.

[1026]

Mac- I'd suspect your inability to negotiate a later ship date is tied to the end of the fiscal year, which is 30 Sep.

[0802]

LRSC,
Not being in Ranger or in Army, but if a 11M is a mortarman, I would think the regt would have them since they have 2 M120s, 2 M252 per Bn and 2 M224 per company.

[Ranger002]

Shark Miester,

There were always a few 11Hs around they are treated as being no differant from 11B's.
Limy WW,
Mortar men and Machine Gunners are the backbone of the Batts who have no organic heavy weapons. Being in a weapons SQD/Plt is considered an honor and there is no time to pay "dues" as the job(s) require intensive training. When I was in, the 2nd Batt had just won the Army's LMG team competition and it seemed like we kept switching the trophy back and forth with First Batt. It has been a awhile but I bet I can still zero an M60 and break it down put it back together in under 3 minutes. All we did was machine gun drill 24/7 365 all over the freaking planet. The mighty Morter Men were of the same caliber and they could do some amazing shooting with those tubes. So don't consider an asssignment to Weapons a curse... It's an honor. I hope this helps you MAC
William Hazen

[Overland]

Hey all,

Should we do the 11 series here so everyone is on the same page?

11B- This is the grunt, the infantryman.
11C- Mortars. These guys hump some weight
11H- Hummers. Ride around shooting TOWs
11M- Mechanized. Ride in a coffin.
11X- Unassigned. Means your ass is going to Korea. http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/smile.gif

I love the 11 series. We all go through the same OSUT, but C, H, and M's go through another two weeks of training. I dont think Mikes or Hotels go into the 75th, but I may be talking out of my ass. Charlies go everywhere. Bravos go to Korea or Hawaii if you are lucky, maybe Alaska. Hotels go everywhere, including 82nd Airborne.

Feel free to correct any mistakes guys.

Overland

[Sharky]

Hotel= TOW gunner. Not necessarily on a hummer though. TOW's can be mounted on just about any damn thing.
Mike= Bradley IFV, Mechanized can be anything with tracks or wheels. 11Mikes are specifically trained on the Bradley. When I went through AIT circa 1987, I went as 11X and when AIT was coming up they told me I would be 11H. Thank god for good DI's. I told one of them that I was unassigned Ranger and he raised enough hell that someone called called regiment and they changed me to 11B. When I was there 11H's didn't do two extra weeks. They graduated with the rest of us. They were, however, on the TOW range while us 11B's were doing our thing and the 11C's were in the sawdust pits learning crew drills and zeroing. Like I said, it's been a long time so maybe things have changed. When I was in 3rd batt we still had 90mm RR's and 60mm Mortars only. The Gustaf's arrived toward the end of my stay at batt and at the time there was only one per company because we were just trying them out. Kinda like Hazen said, I was too tall, long-legged and skinny so guess where I went. Weapons squad. I never regretted it. The M-60 is an awesome weapon, and like Hazen said, ten years later I could still give anyone a run for their money on disassembly and re-assembly. As a side note to Hazen, A guy in my squad did it in 71 seconds. His name was schneider. I never did beat him but neither did anyone else that I know of. Unbelievable. RLTW

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F.I.D.O.

[0802]

I stand corrected gents, as I said I'm not in the army. I got your MOS system messed up.

[LRSC Grunt]

Overland,
Since when did they make 11c and 11h two weeks longer than 11b(when did you go?)? When I went, all 11 series were the same, 12 weeks. 11m stayed after graduation and did their 2 week bradly course. I would like to also note that 11h also use the .50 cals and mk 19s as their primary weapons. Ive seen them even hump the damn things on occasions!

0802,
Are you a Marine ANGLO?

[Ranger002]

To Clarify Sharky,

We had the 90 and there were 11H's who volunteered for the Batt and they ended up humping the damn thing around.When you went to Batt you kept your original MOS identifier until you were reassigned as a B. Of course this was twenty years ago so I am sure things have changed.
William fellow gunner Hazen

[Mac679]

thanks for the help guys ( always love the replies here-good, solid info with a twinge of humor )
Ranger Hazen, I'll keep the volunteering thing in mind http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/wink.gif
LRSC, I hope that's why there's a 2 week difference in the listed lengths of training, don't mind if it's stuff that'll help me keep the majority of my body parts ( besides hair ) intact and attached to my body.
Sharky, you're right. I just looked at the 75th section of the SORD site. No 11H's listed, only 11B/C/Z.
1026, yeah makes sense; was thinking that early this morning, my late stepfather worked for Training and Doctrine Command in the finance role and always had the end of Fiscal year crunch around this time of year--I guess great minds think alike :-)
Thanks again all, I'll let ya know how it works out!
Mac

[LRSC Grunt]

Ooops, I mean ANGLICO http://www.specialoperations.com/ubboard/smile.gif

[0802]

ANGLICO is only in the reserves right now, it went away before I could try out for a position while I was in the FMF.

[Overland]

LRSC,

I was in Benning 16 Sept. 98 through 04 Feb 99 (except for Christmas exodus). A Team (always wanted to say that) 2nd squad, 3rd Platoon, E. Co. 1/19th Inf. (candyland). I am almost positive that series other than Bravos had an extra two weeks. Made me glad to be a plain old grunt. This was also right around the time they made basic 9 weeks instead of eight and tacked on an extra week for AIT.

Sharky,

You had to have been really squared away. Our platoon had so many 11-X's that thought they would get a chance to go airborne, RIP, etc. Unfortunately most of 'em went to Korea. I think one of our guys went to Alaska and another went to Schofield Barracks. There were not alot of dry eyes after the parade.

overland

[SECON]

Mac,

Do NOT under ANY circumstances accept an 11H MOS at any point in time. It is fast becoming a dead end CMF. The advent of both the Bradley (the integral TOW system eliminates the nedd for the piece of s**t M901ITV) and the Javelin (so simple even a 71L can use it) have all but eliminated the need for Heavy Anti Armor specialist. In light units, giving the alternate weapons (M2, MK19) and Humvees over to someone else (weapons plt???) is inevitable.

The TOW missle, including 2, 2a and the prototype 2b are no longer in production
and the MOS specific NCOES courses are being phased out.

Good Luck,

SECON
12B20/11H30/19D30

[abaustin]

How do you not accept an MOS? I've been talking to my local recruiter recently and when I asked him about getting an 11B contract, he told me it was impossible, and that he had never heard of anyone not getting an '11X - Infantry Unassigned' contract.

I stood up, thanked him for his time, and walked out. However, one of my freinds who enlisted right after High School told me that he had tried to get an 11B while at MEPS and they wouldn't do it for him either. Granted, he got snowed a bit during the whole enlistment process and is kicking himself now, but it backed up what the recruiter told me.

Can you get an 11B contract? And if you can't (or don't) what can you do so that you don't get an 11C, H, or M MOS assigned?

[Overland]

abaustin,

Your recruiter must be smoking some crack. Some really serious s#!+

Not only can you get an 11B contract, you can also get a guaranteed duty station.

What exactly did your recruiter say? How did you ask the question?

overland

[abaustin]

Well, the recruiters in my area are particularly untrustworthy, which is why I try to cross-check anything I'm told. For example, one of my good friends in High School wanted a Ranger contract. Not only was he told that he couldn't get a Ranger contract, he was told the best contract they could get for him would be as four year Airborne contract (as well as they told him he could only get 11X.. he got lucky and got assigned as a bravo in basic.)

I told him that I was interested in a three-year contract for 11B with Airborne at Ft. Polk (I'm a picky bastard, and I was aware of the Station of Choice) he told me that that I could probably get a 4 year contract for 11X with Airborne at Polk. I told him I wanted bravo only--not charlie, not hotel. He said he had 'never heard of anyone not getting a contract for 11X and that I could request Bravo once I got to basic.' I figured this was bullshit and walked out.

Typical recruiter B.S. And people wonder why recruiting and retention is such a problem?