Ranger MOSs

[nated88]

I am a 17 year old highschool student who has recently enlisted in the Army on the DEP program. My MOS is 96R which is ground surveillance systems operator. I've been to one web site that has a list of all ranger accepted MOSs. 96R is not one of them. I was just wondering if this is accurate. I was hoping that 96R was a fairly new MOS and just was overlooked or not yet added. I would appreciate it if any of you guys on the inside could help me out.

[Dark Helmet]

The only GSR a ranger has are his eyes and his gut. Sorry, bud.

[Ler]

Nated88,
96R is not a new MOS, it was around when I first came into the Army in 1994. I don't think Ranger Rgt or the Bn have a use for 96R. Although they will take you as a 96B or as an imagery analyst(I belive this is a 96D). See if you can get it changed, Good Luck,,Ler..

[SECON]

nated88,

If you can't reclass to an MOS that is needed by the Ranger Reg't, push for a slot in the GSR plt. in the Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition Squadron of one of the Initial Brigade Combat Teams at Ft. Lewis. This is the latest "Force after Next" concept and will involve new technology, equipment, intense training and more training focused on doctorine development than most conventional warfare troops see in an entire lifetime. In today's military, budgets being what they are (or aren't *lol*), the opportunity to apply your skills and participate in constructive training are SEVERELY limited. Take whatever chance you may have and capitalize on it.

And one more thing; Vote Republican!

[Redneck Baron]

I'm reaching here, but I think what is now the 173rd Airborne Brigade has some slots. This used to be a high speed unit (10 years ago) I'm not sure now now.

[WS-G]

Sorry, RB, but the 173d Abn Bde hasn't been around since the 'Nam era. It was one bad-assed unit back then, but alas is no more. Some of the "old relics" that trained me proudly wore 173d Bde patches on the right shoulder (one of them is still around and merrily soldiering away!), but the Brigade itself went the way of the dinosaur before you were even born.

I hate to be the one to bear the bad news, but there's no sugar-coating it: your recruiter screwed you. If you want to be "high-speed, low-drag", then it would behoove you to take the advice everyone else has offered in this thread so far: get your MOS changed while you still can!

Good luck.

------------------
Co. G (-)(Abn/Rgr), 143d INF (LRRP), TXARNG — 1981-1985

433MAW (AFRES) — 1985-1991

Co. G, 143d Inf (LRS), TXARNG — 2000-present

State of Texas certified Peace Officer

FAA-certificated pilot and Advanced Ground Instructor

[E19]

Mr Salter,

"The Herd" is infact an active unit right now. Below is a brief history of the 173rd.


The 173D Airborne Brigade was activated on the island of Okinawa on March 26, 1963. From its beginning, it proved to be an aggressive and unique unit led by (then) Brigadier General Ellis W. Williamson who established realistic training throughout the Pacific Region.
The "SKY SOLDIERS," as the Nationalist Chinese paratroopers called the 173d, made thousands of parachute jumps in a dozen different Pacific area countries. The Brigade was the first Army Unit sent to the Republic of South Vietnam in May, 1965. The major portion of the brigade landed at Bien Hoa Airfield and found an area that had been battered frequently by enemy raids and shelling attacks.

In the combat operations to follow, the paratroopers made their superb training payoff. They were the first to go into War Zone D to destroy enemy base camps. They introduced the use of small, long range patrols. They fought the battles of the Iron Triangle, conducted the only major combat parachute jump in the Tay Ninh area, and blocked NVA incursions during some of the bloodiest fighting of the war at Dak To during the summer and fall of 1967, culminating in the capture of Hill 875. Elements of the brigade conducted an amphibious assault against NVA and VC forces as part of an operation to clear the rice-growing lowlands along the Bong Song littoral.

The 1st and 2nd Battalion of the 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment were the 1st Army Unit sent to the Republic of South Vietnam along with the 3rd Battalion of the 319th Artillery. They were well supported by their own Support Battalion and Troop E, 17th Cavalry, D Company, 16th Armour. The First Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, and the 161st Field Battery of the Royal New Zealand Army were later attached to the Brigade during the first year. In Late August, 1966, the 173d received another Infantry Battalion, the 4th, 503rd which arrived from Ft. Campbell, Kentucky.

The troopers of the 173D Airborne Brigade (Sep) wear their combat badges and decorations with pride. During more than six years of nearly continuous combat, the brigade earned 14 campaign streamers and four unit citations. 13 Medals of Honor and over 6,000 Purple Hearts were awarded; The Herd conducted the only combat parachute assault of the war; over 1700 names of Sky Soldiers are on THE WALL. The Brigade was deactivated on January 14, 1972 at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky. The 173d Airborne Brigade was then reactivated on June 12, 2000 on Caserma Ederle in Vicenza, Italy.

[LRSC Grunt]

Holy MOTHERFUCKING SHIT BATMAN!!!

[WS-G]

It's about time! Thanks for the update, E19.

[Shadow45]

Quote from my father
TROOP-E/17th CAV/173ABN

"man those damn boots would hurt after a
15-mile run you look over and see people throwing up, falling out and the reeds
shaking from Rangers shivering in the ice water"