How likely is it that a new Army recruit will be sent to Iraq?

Question

My friend is leaving for Army basic training at the end of the month. I'm wondering what the likelihood of him being sent to Iraq is, and what the alternative would be if he's not.

I don't know a lot about this stuff... I'm really freaked out right now because I only just found out he's signing up, and it's coming on really fast. If you could just give me some idea of what he's in for, that would really help... and none of that crap about "he'll be different" and stuff, I don't really care to hear that all over again.

he should be entering into intelligence, as far as i know

Answer 1

Depends on what MOS he signed up for. If he is combat arms, he may go. How soon will depend on the unit he is assigned to and what their deployment schedule is.

Answer 2

Honestly the Marines and the Army seem to be the top ones being sent to Iraq and Afganastan right now. There is also Japan where some are being sent. I know my ex-husband is in charge of helping prepare Marines in California that are shipping out and he said there are new ones going almost every day. With your friend it will depend if he makes it through basic which is hard and most don't make it. Then he will get his orders. When he signed up he was probably told he would most likely end up in someplace like Japan or something, seems to be what they tell most of them, but really it is hard to say where he will end up. They have bases all over the place and can send him anywhere they want to. Once he is in they will send him where they need him. They are usually away for a year at a time with a few chances to come home.

Answer 3

It depends entirely on what his MOS (or job) within the army will be. If he's in an infantry-based MOS, he'll complete basic training then combat training, then will probably have a school to attend after that, for whatever his specialization is. Infantrymen are very likely to be sent to the middle east, for either action we have going on there.

If he's in a non-infantry based MOS, and it sounds like he very may well be in "intelligence", then he'll complete basic and combat training (In the USMC, combat training for non-infantry MOS's is an abbreviated form of combat training), then will be sent to his A-school then C-school. Depending on his specialty, he could be in school for a year or more before being assigned to a permanent duty station (PDS). From his PDS he is deployable... and will be deployed depending on the needs of the Army and his job and skill level.

Sorry... there are no really firm or clear answers, because it's like any corporation... you can't know when someone's being hired if they're going to be reassigned to a specific division of the company... It all depends on the needs of the company and the skills the person has.

Answer 4

To put this nicely 100% he will go to Iraq the record I have seen so far is 2 years in and then he went to Iraq he has since went three times and should be going back again. everyone deploys airforce, navy, marines, army every body with the navy and the airforce he would deploy to better places japan korea things like that but the is no way to be sure you won't go to Iraq still. So the next question you should ask is how many times will he go to Iraq in a 4 year my guess would be 3 times 6 year 4 times.
Don't worry about it he will regret it enough for everyone when he gets off that bus.

Answer 5

I'd say the odds of him being sent to Iraq are about 75/25 for GOING....especially if Uncle George doesn't do some fancy footwork in the next year and 2 months to get our guys OUT OF THERE ....but then again, ANYTHING can happen in a year and 2 months---but I still have VERY bad memories of that LONG and HORRIBLE conflict we used to call the VIET NAM WAR....That was NEVER to be the war IT turned out to be either...... so cross your fingers and do a LOT of hoping that SOMETHING good changes over there real soon so that all our brave men and women can come HOME and your friend won't have to GO...

Answer 6

It depends entirely on timelines and his unit. Don't listen to anyone who says he'll definitely go. They're basing that statement on opinion, and have no idea how the armed forces work. I've known people who didn't deploy in 20 years. I've known others that deployed twice in four years.

They are deploying personnel to Iraq right now, but no one can accurately answer your question. There are too many variables involved.

Answer 7

I'd say he has a good chance, simply because there are a lot of guys who have done multiple tours in Iraq, and there probably is a need for some fresh faces. Whatever happens, I hope he is safe. Oh, and tell him thank you.

Answer 8

Within his first year, he has the following chances of going to the following locations:
90% - Iraq
8% - Afghanistan
2% - Korea.

That's probably it.

The bottom line - you sign up for the Army, you're going to get deployed, no questions asked.

Answer 9

It depends, first and foremost, on the Army's needs. If they need someone like him, they'll ship him right over. After they train him and swear him in, of course.

Answer 10

the percentages are a pair of million in 5 which you will pass to Afghanistan. Very narrow for Iraq as they're redploying the troops from there to Afghanistan. It does rely what Unit you connect, what pastime you're doing and while they final did a rotation, yet distinctive adult adult males have accomplished back to back excursions Iraq - Afghanistan - Iraq and by ability of then they have commonly had sufficient and have been given out.