My Brother -in-Law deploys for Iraq in 17 days

[greenbriar]

he has been home from Washington state for about 2 weeks and has been making the rounds of friends and family.

He already has things packed and his company has already shipped a load of supplies ect.


This is a really scary time for he and us


He does communications so he doesn't think he will be front lines but he is going

[michreject]

1. I was in Signal when I was in the Army

Who do you think send the communications from the point of attack to the command center?

[Statistical]

2. A Sgt with a radio.

Commo is today usually refer to battalion level of higher.

Hell every HMMWV has a radio, by the time we left every crew has need tiny man portable radios that could securely link with the truck radio.
Got a 3 man crew (driver, gunner, commander) on a HMMWV everyone knows how to use the radio and nobody is commo.

To the OP If he is communications likely he is in the "safer" parts of Iraq assigned to a FOB and should only go outside the wire when convoying to another FOB or going home on leave.

[michreject]

6. I imagine it's all changed

I got out in 72. My MOS is obsolete.

[Statistical]

8. Oh yeah. commo is everywhere now and it soldier level but commo isn't obsolete.

Blue force tracker (realtime sat linked navigation system w/ 2 way digital commo, and notification of friendly and enemy units)
Broad Spectrum Scan & Jam Electronic Countermeasure Suite (montitors electronic spectrum, locates threat signals and dumps power into it to disrupt signal)
Dual Net Frequency Hopping RadioSet (SINCGARS) with time synced encryption & decryption
Portable manpack the size of a "walkie talker" which slaves to the SINCGARS radio allowing coms outside the vehicle
Vehicle Intercom System (made by bose :) ) with external mikes with sound amplification and frequency cut off (isolates speaking frequencies, and damps gunfire)

Of course the more they put in the soldier there is even more for commo at a higher level.
Commo keeps the whole network running.

When we would go on long range convoys we would often pass through a dozen or so "landowners" and each area had a "sheriff" unit. Landowner is the unit responsible for local security and they often know "whats up". Sheriff was a unit on standby to bring firepower when something goes really bad.

Battalion (or brigade if you are going really far) can assist you with changing your landowner & sheriff freqs so you constantly have the nearest information and security numbers.
Kinda like 411 and 911 always goes to the right city based on where you are. Commo would track us on the Blue Force and lets us and both landowners and both sherriffs know when we passed through "borders".
They need to keep all that straight because often there is a lot to be watching on the route. Plus they when route go "black" (no traffic due to threat) they can find you an alternate route.

So commo is useful but they are too valuable to put on the line anymore. Our company had 150 guys and a 3 man commo team to keep all that junk running. Way to valuable to risk on patrol.

[michreject]

10. I was on the cutting edge

Radar Tech. Took AIT at Ft. Huachuca. Hop down to Nogales on week-ends.:evilgrin:

[gleaner]

3. I can see why you are scared ....

I hope he returns safe and unhurt. I will keep him in my thoughts and hope for his safety and well being.

Not all communications people are in the front lines. My brother was well out of harms way when he was in the signal corps. They needed them alive and well to keep the fighting troops on point.

I wish your brother in law a speedy return, as well. My best to you and your family.

[greenbriar]

4. I believe that is what he is...signal corps

he is big in computers

[gleaner]

25. Yeah.....

I doesn't sound like he will be near the front lines. Take care of yourself and try not to worry too much. Write to him often and send lots of pictures from home. It will make his time away easier.

I'll keep wishing the best for all of you.:hug:

[applegrove]

5. Vibes to him to make him safe.

[Statistical]

7. I know you are afraid and it is normal but..

From someone who was there Iraq isn't nearly as bad as people make it out to be. I ran 208 combat missions outside the wire in my year in the sand. Most of that was doing route reconnaissance which we jokingly called IED magnets.

Even still Iraq wasn't that bad. I mean don't get me wrong I don't want to ever go back. :)
For what is worth most soldiers come home from Iraq in one piece.

[greenbriar]

9. we are grateful he is not going to Afganistan

but his orders could change at any time

[Statistical]

14. The (sad) irony is that when I deployed Afghanistan was considered the "easy war". Not so much now.

[Selatius]

20. Fighting in the mountains, at any rate, is difficult at best. Afghanistan has broken many armies. nt

[subcomhd]

12. Glad you made it, dude

Get your point, but glad you made it and are here with us!

[Statistical]

13. Well me too

:)

Ironically our only real close call was December 6th, 5 days before we stopped doing combat missions (having completed our battlefield handover to our replacements) and 2 weeks before arriving back in the US.

Complacency kills. By my own admission we got slow and took things for granted, hell we were going home in less than 2 weeks. "Stay Alert, Stay Alive. & Have a plan to kill everyone you meet today."

[subcomhd]

16. Uh, what happened? nt

[Brooklyns_Finest]

24. Iraq

My infantry unit deployed to Iraq in April of 2003. Yes, you are correct, it really wasn't as bad as some people make it out to be. Our squad would do 2 patrols a day around our area of operations. We were lucky, we never had to even shoot our weapons. War is all about luck and chance. More than likely, the OPs brother in law will spend the next 6-12 months bored out of his life, but happy that he is collecting all that extra pay that one gets when they are deployed.

My best friend deployed to afghanistan last year. His time was a lot tougher than mine. One of the guys in his platoon was killed by an IED. Like I said, it is all about chance and luck. I say that if you are not in the infantry (the best job in the CORP!) then you will probably be safe.

[subcomhd]

11. I wish him luck and God's speed. He'll be fine. nt

[Rocky Sullivan]

15. I wish your BIL luck and please thank him for his service,,,

[sicksicksick_N_tired]

17. I remember the experience.

It's difficult,...scary as hell.

Those "care" packages mean A LOT!!! Send them,...often.

Meanwhile, (((HUG))) make a commitment to stay in touch with one another. That communication makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE, and, know you all will make it through the experience,...YOU WILL!!!

[Dinger]

18. Hi greenbriar

Sent you a pm.

[TiredOldMan]

19. Prayers for a safe return. Please thank him for his service!

[greenbriar]

21. will do

thank you

[Odin2005]

22. My cousin will be deploying with your BIL.

He has a wife and a year-old kid. I'm worried sick about him.

[greenbriar]

23. I can relate...my BIL has an ex wife and two young kids and a fiance with a 3 month old

the 3 month old is not my BIL's but he claims it