How common are exercises

[JoeyTheHoser]

Just wondering how often reg infantry go on multi night exercises where they sleep in the field

 

[Jarnhamar]

Just wondering how often reg infantry go on multi night exercises where they sleep in the field

Now that field pay will be tied with actually going to the field? I'd expect a lot camping trips.

 

[JoeyTheHoser]

Now that field pay will be tied with actually going to the field? I'd expect a lot camping trips.

Got an idea how often that would be

 

[Jarnhamar]

Got an idea how often that would be

No. You could be gone for a week or two weeks a month for 3 months. Then nothing for 3 months. Then gone to the field for a month or two straight.

One unit I recall recently spent Monday to Friday sleeping in the field for close to two months. It's always variable.

 

[JoeyTheHoser]

Now that field pay will be tied with actually going to the field? I'd expect a lot camping trips.

Also what is living conditions like in the field (as in is it just sleeping in a fox hole or is it better, and is there phone reception/data)

 

[JoeyTheHoser]

No. You could be gone for a week or two weeks a month for 3 months. Then nothing for 3 months. Then gone to the field for a month or two straight.

One unit I recall recently spent Monday to Friday sleeping in the field for close to two months. It's always variable.

Good to know

 

[daftandbarmy]

Got an idea how often that would be

You'll be out overnight alot, especially in the combat arms and especially the Infantry.

It will vary depending on what training cycle your unit is in, but you'll probably be seeing alot of your rucksack over the course of a couple of years.

Shorter exercises, of a day or two, will gradually get longer and more complex as your competencies increase. At some point you'll then find yourself on a larger concentration where you might be spending two or three weeks or more in the field. Not all this time will be in a trench or under a hootichie though, and the good ol' Mod Tents will make an appearance at some point.

And then there are operational deployments, and there will be people on here who didn't see the inside of a 'real building' for months...

... which is why the Infantry is so awesome, of course

 

[Jarnhamar]

Also what is living conditions like in the field (as in is it just sleeping in a fox hole or is it better, and is there phone reception/data)

You might have your phone. You might have no date with your phone and go a week or two without being able to message anyone. You might be ordered to lock your phone away somewhere and not bring it with you.

Sleeping in the field ranges from sleeping in a large tent with a heater and a cot to sleeping in the snow with a sleeping bag, air mattress and little tarp over you. Or sleeping in the pouring rain wth a tarp over you where you wake up and half your stuff is under water.

 

[JoeyTheHoser]

You'll be out overnight alot, especially in the combat arms and especially the Infantry.

It will vary depending on what training cycle your unit is in, but you'll probably be seeing alot of your rucksack over the course of a couple of years.

Shorter exercises, of a day or two, will gradually get longer and more complex as your competencies increase. At some point you'll then find yourself on a larger concentration where you might be spending two or three weeks or more in the field. Not all this time will be in a trench or under a hootichie though, and the good ol' Mod Tents will make an appearance at some point.

And then there are operational deployments, and there will be people on here who didn't see the inside of a 'real building' for months...

... which is why the Infantry is so awesome, of course

What's the living conditions like on these exercises like

 

[JoeyTheHoser]

You might have your phone. You might have no date with your phone and go a week or two without being able to message anyone. You might be ordered to lock your phone away somewhere and not bring it with you.

Sleeping in the field ranges from sleeping in a large tent with a heater and a cot to sleeping in the snow with a sleeping bag, air mattress and little tarp over you. Or sleeping in the pouring rain wth a tarp over you where you wake up and half your stuff is under water.

Good to know thanks

 

[Lumber]

Conversely, in the, during the ramp up to deployment (usually for about a year before you deploy), you can expect to spend at minimum, 6 weeks at sea for Work Ups, but more likely you'll spending closer to 12-18 weeks at-sea when you add in various sea trials, and other exercises you've been tasked to support in the lead up to your formal deployment. The longest of these exercises is likely to be your 3-4 week Work-Ups, though some of those sea trials and minor exercises could be tacked onto the end of that, extending that sail to up to 2 months.

However, for ALL of that sailing, you'll have a soft bed that is usually (but not always) warm, access to your phone almost all the time, and lots of dessert.

 

[lenaitch]

You might have your phone. You might have no date with your phone and go a week or two without being able to message anyone. You might be ordered to lock your phone away somewhere and not bring it with you.

Sleeping in the field ranges from sleeping in a large tent with a heater and a cot to sleeping in the snow with a sleeping bag, air mattress and little tarp over you. Or sleeping in the pouring rain wth a tarp over you where you wake up and half your stuff is under water.

And maybe no ability to charge said phone?

 

[Jarnhamar]

However, for ALL of that sailing, you'll have a soft bed that is usually (but not always) warm, access to your phone almost all the time, and lots of dessert.

And sometimes your dessert.

 

[brihard]

You might have your phone. You might have no date with your phone and go a week or two without being able to message anyone. You might be ordered to lock your phone away somewhere and not bring it with you.

Sleeping in the field ranges from sleeping in a large tent with a heater and a cot to sleeping in the snow with a sleeping bag, air mattress and little tarp over you. Or sleeping in the pouring rain wth a tarp over you where you wake up and half your stuff is under water.

The real reason for the WO’s Obligatory Beans: a bit of extra warmth in your bivvy bag.