Well Im really hoping to get selected for 153A (helicopter pilot) but a slight hearing loss may keep me out of flight school so my backup plan is 19k. My only concern is that if I pick this MOS that I could wind up in a humvee or stryker. Nothing wrong with that but I really want to get into an M1A1 or M1A2. How do they assign you? Do they rank your performance at AIT? Is there a class standing? I consider myself to be fairly intelligent and motivated and I think I could do quite well at AIT but I want to know what I can do to get into an Abrams. What is my best chance other than to excel at AIT (obviously)?

If you enlist for "Tank Crewman - 19K" that's what you end up as, heavy armor, unless you wash out somewhere along the line. If you enlist for "Armored Reconnaissance/Armor crewman - 19D", that is light armor such as bradleys and strykers. When I was in, Heavy Armor was 11E and Light Armor was 11D. A lot more 11Ds were getting killed in Viet Nam than 11E, so the enlistment NCO pulled a "switcharoo" on my contract, and put 11D. I didn't find it out until after Basic - too late. When I went home on a short leave after AIT, I was going to settle his hash, but he was long gone - -

Bottom line - double check the paperwork!!!

We had some washouts from helicopter pilot training show up as 11D trainees. They weren't too happy either!!

The best way to get into a tank is....feet first.

Most folks use one of the hatches. I guess you could try to crawl inside through the barrel.
It would be a tight squeeze.

You know when you ask questions of this significance you run the risk of getting answers like you see here.

quote:

Originally posted by gumbydammit:
Most folks use one of the hatches. I guess you could try to crawl inside through the barrel.
It would be a tight squeeze.

You stole my asnwer.Owell

quote:

Originally posted by deddygetty1:
The best way to get into a tank is....feet first.

Head first will work too, if the sh+++ be flyin'!!!

BELIVE ME YOU GET THE MOS THEY WILL PUT IN YOUR TANK . MOST TANKERS GET IN FROM THE TOP OF THE TURRET . THAT WOULD GO GOOD ON THE TANK GUNNERY SKILLS TEST . ALONG WITH IF THE TOP OF THE TRACK IS DOING 40 MPH HOW FAST IS THE BOTTOM GOING? TC D 22 1/64 AR MAD DOGS , M37ESCORT@ATT.NET

I LOOK FORWARD TO READING ARMY TOPICS .AND REPLYING .I HAVE A BALL. ITS INTERESTING INFORMITIVE ,I MEET PEOPLE THAT HAVE DONE A LOT OF THE SAME THINGS I DID A LIFE TIME AGO. ITS ALMOST AS MUCH FUN AND EXCITING SAS SENDING AFEW DOWN RANGE. M37ESCORT@ATT.NET

They are actualy filling stryker crews with 19k's now. When i went through Ft. Knox, around 14 guys from my company were sent to stryker units.

I really think it is based off of what the army needs and alittle bit of luck. Im glad i have a nice drivers slot on a tank.

quote:

Originally posted by deddygetty1:
The best way to get into a tank is....feet first.

lol thats what i said feet first throught the loaders hatch

quote:

Originally posted by 15864959:
Well Im really hoping to get selected for 153A (helicopter pilot) but a slight hearing loss may keep me out of flight school so my backup plan is 19k. My only concern is that if I pick this MOS that I could wind up in a humvee or stryker. Nothing wrong with that but I really want to get into an M1A1 or M1A2. How do they assign you? Do they rank your performance at AIT? Is there a class standing? I consider myself to be fairly intelligent and motivated and I think I could do quite well at AIT but I want to know what I can do to get into an Abrams. What is my best chance other than to excel at AIT (obviously)?

4th brigade 2 id is short mobile gun system crewman they will take you in a heart beat