I'm set to go to MEPS next week and if all goes well I'll be signing my contract for infantry. How soon should I expect it and what are my chances of going to combat after OSUT?

Well, being infantry you will more than likely deploy, Id say 85% chance, and then there is another good chance (maybe 75% or 80%) that you will see combat if deployed- so Id say 70% chance that you deploy and fight, and the longer your contract is for the higher that chance is.

Meps to OSUT took 3 weeks for me,

Are you trying to dodge combat?
If so, choose a different mos

No sir, I'm not trying to dodge combat. Was just trying to see if I've missed the fight is all.

There is plenty of fighting left to do.
Don't worry.
Your timetable will depend on your first duty assignment.
If the unit just returned and is rebuilding it is going to be a while.
You might get to a unit that is preparing to move out.
Luck of the draw.

In the mean time, go get laid and run, do push-ups and sit-ups.

hooah

quote:

Originally posted by WENDELLKEITHDUNCAN:
There is plenty of fighting left to do.
Don't worry.
Your timetable will depend on your first duty assignment.
If the unit just returned and is rebuilding it is going to be a while.
You might get to a unit that is preparing to move out.
Luck of the draw.

In the mean time, go get laid and run, do push-ups and sit-ups.

one step ahead of you chief out on 20091116 11x. good luck to you steve.

Cool your jets troop. Take some time to live life.

Even after we end the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, another will come along sooner or later.

In prep for the future, read up on jungle warfare. Nam, Phillipines, Burma....

Then study up on history of South America.
Especially, the northern areas.

Jungle warfare scares me more than anything else in the entire world.

Why?

quote:

Jungle warfare scares me more than anything else in the entire world.

what about clowns?

Because of books I read about nam, and because the m4 is prone to jam due to humidity, and because of punji pits, and leeches, and malaria, and hot humid weather. because of NVA, because of booby traps, because of stupid people getting me killed but mostly because of the 25% casualty rate for infantryman in Vietnam.

quote:

Originally posted by 20274112:
Because of books I read about nam, and because the m4 is prone to jam due to humidity, and because of punji pits, and leeches, and malaria, and hot humid weather. because of NVA, because of booby traps, because of stupid people getting me killed but mostly because of the 25% casualty rate for infantryman in Vietnam.

Fire support is more accurate now.
Better first line medical treatment.
Drones for recon.
Better night vision equipment.

And maybe even a schitload of Agent Orange in a warehouse somewhere.

Ok Wendell...

That clown thingy creeps me out...

quote:

Originally posted by 20274112:
Because of books I read about nam, and because the m4 is prone to jam due to humidity, and because of punji pits, and leeches, and malaria, and hot humid weather. because of NVA, because of booby traps, because of stupid people getting me killed but mostly because of the 25% casualty rate for infantryman in Vietnam.

They used to rotate Infantry units from the 101st in and out of Panama for the Jungle Warfare School from what I heard when I was in, it was pretty cool.

I know it's been shut down long ago, then there was that unfortunate incident with Mr. Noriega and the little war down there.

The M16 and jamming in Vietnam was due initially to some of the ammo made by the Olin Corp, then it was due to improper maintenence (you can read up on the old Congressional hearings on this and what they found....it's in most large public libraries).

Those problems were fixed a long time ago and it was only a brief few year period where it was a issue during Vietnam. It was a new rifle back then.

I actually had a phobia about the Jungle when I was in but it was over the size of the damn bugs.

I have the same phobia here in Texas though when I see a 3-4 inch long grasshopper or a chinook sized yellow jacket (that leave a welt the size of a hardball when they sting). Or of course the man eating spiders we get in the fall with the human sized webs between trees and the spider the size of a silver dollar in the middle of the web. Thats just one issue about living down here though. Once you get used to the bugs and learn how to deal with them it isn't so bad. Probably similar with the Jungle.

The bugs is the reason you keep boots bloused tight, sleaves roiled down, top button on blouse buttoned and carry a towel.

The snakes is what got my spine to shiver a few times.

quote:

Originally posted by 20274112:
Because of books I read about nam, and because the m4 is prone to jam due to humidity, and because of punji pits, and leeches, and malaria, and hot humid weather. because of NVA, because of booby traps, because of stupid people getting me killed but mostly because of the 25% casualty rate for infantryman in Vietnam.

Seeing how the M4 was not even in existence during that time frame no wonder it jams. A few factors plagued the M16 in it's early days, to name a few the military's decision to switch from IMR powder to ball powder which runs dirtier, not chrome plating the bore and chamber, not issuing out cleaning equipment (weapon was said to be self-cleaning).