My Army Career In The 173rd Airborne Brigade

Coming to join the 173rd? Want to join the 173rd? Let's discuss a little bit of what it's like from an enlisted perspective...

[@skysoldier6513]

Hey Sky Soldier! AATW! I can relate to your excitement in getting orders for the HERD! I was stationed in the 82hd Ann Div in 1968, after spending a tour in Korea. Back then one could not do more than one hardship tour in one enlistment. Ft Bragg, the 82nd and North Carolina weren’t my cup of tea. While doing CU duty, I typed out a letter to Harold K Johnson, Army Chief of Staff about why I enlisted and wanted to be sent to Vietnam. I also wanted to be assigned to the 173d. Three weeks later I received a letter telling me they were processing my request. While on a field exercise, the division commander’s Jeep came to our company logger site looking for me. The division commander wanted to see me. I thought for sure I was in big trouble. Upon entering his office and after saluting, he stood up and asked me if I knew the proper chain of command. Gulp! I knew I was in big trouble. I did notice a huge stack of papers sitting on his desk. They turned out to be my orders for Vietnam. The general came around his desk, shook my hand and told me to be careful because it was bad over there. After arriving at Cam Rahn bay, Vietnam, I received orders foe C Co. 1/503rd , 173d Abn Bde (Separate). I was so happy, I think I had an orgasm! Lol! Stay safe and good luck.

[@ezraallie6411]

Thank you for sharing your story, and thank you for your commitment and service!

[@bender9407]

was C co also called MOD back in the day?

[@sissyhinz]

my son is 173 rd first duty station he has been in for 2 years he loves it thank you for your service

[@touchdownsallday4263]

My Dads 173rd airborne and his company commander in Vietnam was Hugh Shelton. Thank you for service brother. AATW!

[@nelsonzambrano5788]

Hugh Shelton? 🤔👏👏👏👏

[@generalkaffenberger8675]

"173rd, the THUNDERING HERD !" Always OUTSTANDING

[@JamesKonzek-xr5zy]

I didn't know the 173rd was still around. It's good to see this.

[@MS-1994]

I was in for 23 years. I can tell that you are the sort of soldier I would've loved to have in my unit.

[@ezraallie6411]

That means a lot! Thank you for the comment.

[@skeletonkey6733]

What a breath of fresh air excuse the pun bless "Air" as so well presented and articulate with your mission statement clear and communicated. in the UK we hear alot about the 82nd and 101 screaming but little if honest of the 173rd which is shocking if honest as are second to none and highly respected in the Airbourne community .Thanks for sharing and hope are well.

[@mac091151]

Good job young man. I served in the HERD 1971-72 in Vietnam and at Ft Campbell Ky when the unit came back to the states. The 173rd was the best unit I was ever in, I was 12B2P combat engineer. Even though we lost a few over the years the friends I made are still my friends 52+ years later. Keep up the tradition and honor of the Herd, proud of you, and I’d be on your six any day.

[@TheRealNoriega7.62]

Great video my Guy 💪🏾 Motivational

[@IvanHernandez-np4se]

Thanks for this video it helped out a lot.

[@willardjohnson3832]

I like your positive attitude! Even though I was a 'leg' and an 11C I had the same feelings being overseas. Make the most of your tour, try and see the culture and learn something, take the good with the bad.

[@gregoryhiers8485]

I was with the 503rd at Ft Campbell, Ky and the 509th in Italy.

[@GiovanniFarinaItaliano]

Thank you for sharing your experience, I want to join the army when I’m done with high school

[@ronaldoalvarado8627]

I was in Chosen Company 2-503rd from 2003 to 2006

[@Out-tha-mud-]

Awesome Video and explained a lot.

[@glennkoch5173]

My son will be there next year as an 11A, after the full Benning pipeline. Looking forward to visiting him there.

[@generalkaffenberger8675]

OUTSTANDING

[@-G26]

hey man, i really loved the videos especially since i’m trying to go 173rd when i enlist! hope you been well and please upload more vids!

[@ezraallie6411]

That’s great to hear! I’ve been thinking about what to make a video on next. What would you like to see?

[@-G26]

@@ezraallie6411 your vlogs in general about life in the army, overseas, with a relationship has been great!

[@ezraallie6411]

@@-G26 Noted! I’m leaving on a rotation tomorrow, but when I get back I’ll start planning out another video.

[@daviddeleon6761]

I was there from 89 to 90. It was 3/325 ABCT at that time. Loved the tour, great video.

[@stanleyedouard377]

I miss Italy so much, I was on Deldin 2/503 2017-2020, can’t wait to land back in Europe, for now leaving Bliss soon and off to Asia that’s exciting too.

[@ezraallie6411]

That’s great! I have friends there and they love it.

[@Jabarikjay]

Nice video! Been thinking about Italy as a future assignment option

[@rubyross1031]

My grandson is over their in Italy in 173 airborne

[@josephgonzalez1155]

Hey Ezra, thanks for your service! I'm currently enlisting as a 13Fox, my recruiter says he can guarantee me airborne in my contract but we'll have to see once I actually get my contract hopefully in a couple of weeks. Got MEPS to go to next week. My question to you is, besides getting airborne in my contract, what else can I or my recruiter do to help me be assigned to the 173rd?

[@ezraallie6411]

Hey brother, unfortunately it’s really just up to the system. Once your active duty Airborne slot is confirmed your chances for Europe rise considerably, since Italy and Germany are (largely) 173rd... ((especially for a combat MOS since we are all combat.)) Once you get to reception and they hand you the paper that asks for your top options, just list any state/country with an Airborne unit. North Carolina, Italy, Germany, Kentucky, etc. If you’re Airborne then they’ll most likely send you to an Airborne unit.

[@thekitchenvillain]

Option 19!!!

[@genebanovatz8113]

3/319 FA LZ English RVN-good,bad, ugly- never forget it. All the way.

[@hgibson3869]

I was in the 173 AB in 2006 when we deployed to Afghanistan. stay in Europe as long as you can. Out of 22years of service 15 were spent in Europe. Sky Soldiers! Retired CW 4 Gibson.

[@mikefinley4367]

You got Italy, wow!

[@iztdm]

Glad I finally got around to watching - awesome vid! It's so fascinating to me to see what it's like over there. Also, something you said got me a little curious. At about 2:00 you mentioned your airborne contract being helpful when you got to AIT (I think I heard that right? Sorry if I didn't) and how they "couldn't get slots for anybody." What's AIT? Is that a military acronym I'm unfamiliar with?

[@itcamefromthe90s89]

Thanks for watching Stan!! AIT is Advanced Individual Training, where you learn how to do your job/MOS. They couldn’t get Airborne slots for soldiers while in AIT because of covid, which complicated a lot of things, like soldiers getting sick mid-cycle and having to re-train, and soldiers in Airborne school becoming holdovers due to covid. Thankfully I had it in my contract, which meant my airborne slot was secured for me, which is what the Army was doing; sending the soldiers that already had contracted slots.

[@iztdm]

@@itcamefromthe90s89 ahh I see! Thanks for clarifying

[@itcamefromthe90s89]

@@iztdm This is Ezra btw. I used my other channel by mistake.

[@iztdm]

@@itcamefromthe90s89 lol I figured it was you from the name 😆

[@ajsoccer0369]

Great vid. Curious what the covid restrictions are currently like? Do y’all get to travel off base? I’ve heard rumors that it’s not looking good right now

[@ezraallie6411]

There are currently no restrictions here at all besides wearing a mask if you're taking public transportation.

[@ajsoccer0369]

@@ezraallie6411 okay cool. I’ve just been told that it’s like a prison there rn and no one’s really allowed to travel anywhere on the weekends. But thanks for the update

[@supportcarriesu7604]

Going to Italy as a 17e can't wait, have you worked with them?

[@ezraallie6411]

No I haven't, but that's cool! It sounds really solid.

[@nicholasdcolvin]

great vid! if your'e stationed out there can you bring your wife like other bases in the US?

[@ezraallie6411]

Absolutely!

[@Alexander-yj2pi]

Any insight into the 207th? I head there in a month as my first duty station as a 35g.

[@ezraallie6411]

@@Alexander-yj2pi They’re good guys. Don’t know many of them but they seem to be laid back, doing BBQs and things.

[@alexnieves2145]

I’m thinking of reenlisting and going to 173rd! Can we have our POV out there and drive ??

[@whatman7794]

You can, however be aware that Italy (and europe as a whole) has very small roads. So it's recommended that if you have a large POV (Truck etc.) that you leave it back in the states, cause trust me it's a pain driving here. However, there are some guys here who said screw it and brought their trucks over, so go ahead if you want to risk it for the biscuit. Don't worry about gas, there's a special card that service members get that will cut the prices in almost half. So it's just like buying gas in the states.

[@digiorn6659]

Just curious cause I’m an airborne contract in ait with 11 more weeks left and only got a vague projection and my drills have told me different stuff. My projection is in Germany and I heard there’s a battalion of 173rd out there but I’ve been told my projection will change once I’m in airborne school, just curious what your experience was with your projection if you see this.

[@ezraallie6411]

Do you mean your official orders? I got my orders for Italy when I was in in AIT, and they never changed. If the Army has told you that you're going to Germany, then you probably are, and your drills are just trying to scare you because they're jealous, haha.

[@digiorn6659]

@@ezraallie6411 it’s just a projection for now but thanks man

[@ezraallie6411]

@@morganna3414 I’m tracking that, Italy is where I am. Maybe jealous is too strong, be definitely a little miffed. I only say that because they said so.

[@ericbrewer7734]

@@ezraallie6411 0

[@duck5336]

You at Jailed in, or Ederle?

[@ezraallie6411]

Haha, Ederle. But I don’t think I’d mind going over there. It’s pretty laid back, and a lot of the guys over there get lots of recognition from B6. Ederle guys get the shaft.

[@dirkbogarde7796]

How does it show when a comrade doesn’t want to be in Italy? And why don’t they want to be in Italy? Please Make an effort to visit the island of Elba. Great hiking, swimming, food, nature 🌹🇮🇹☕️🌊🌳 chilled place.

[@ezraallie6411]

I’ll look into it! Always looking for new places. To answer your question.. A lot of soldiers are sent here and they would rather be on a base in America. A lot of soldiers just struggle with not having many of the conveniences they’d have in the states, like being able to see family and friends on the weekend.

[@ethanszczygiel4341]

i’m new to the military and i’m greatful to say that i got 11b with airborne and after i am getting sent to italy for 4 years, do you have any recommendations for me ?

[@ezraallie6411]

If you are excited to come, and glad to be coming here, don’t let anyone discourage you. Some will say that it’s not good, or you’ll hate it, but those are only people who hate it themselves because they’d rather be back in Bragg drinking bud light. Italy is a cool place and the 173rd is a good unit. You’ll have the chance to see and do things some people have wanted their whole life. Don’t get stuck in a rut drinking your weekends away like many guys do. Go out, culture yourself and have fun.

[@phillipgonzales1705]

Hey I was 11C in the 173rd. The culture is "work hard, play hard." So be prepared for a lot of senior E4's and E5's fucking you up for minor things, but being really cool on the weekends. 1st and 2nd Batts have different haunts. Verona is super underrated. There was also a large airsofting group of American soldiers, Italian soldiers, and local police when I was there a few years ago. It was a fun experience and we also went out to eat meals together, their way. Also hit up Bar Sport, outside of chapel gate from Caserma Ederle. You go out the gate, take a right at the y intersection and it'll be on your left side, right past the church on your right side. It's a great restaurant that has an all you can eat of Italian, Japanese, and Chinese food. Plus they pour the drinks heavy lol

[@realSaintJules]

Any advice on increasing your chances in getting in the 173rd?

[@potatoereach]

be airborne

[@realSaintJules]

@@potatoereach no duh

[@JandoJV]

im pretty sure new recruits can choose there first duty stations since they having recruiting problems. idk if 173rd is on the list tho

[@ezraallie6411]

To be honest, I just got lucky. I had Italy on my list of duty stations i'd like to go when I was processing into the Army, but I don't know how heavily the selection process actually weighs on that, if at all.

[@carloschavez39]

Option 19 contract bro

[@averagejoe5763]

Hey man I’m a SPC and I report September 20th.

[@ezraallie6411]

Cool! Welcome.

[@boltgamer7]

Is the 173rd Airborne Brigade the only Airborne unit that's overseas?

[@ezraallie6411]

Yes, we're the only Airborne unit permanently stationed here.

[@boltgamer7]

@@ezraallie6411 welp, now I know where I want to be stationed at when I join the Army with Airborne 😎

[@aodagroup7759]

The 173rd ABN? I don't think so. I served in the 173rd back in 1972. That was the last year they were ABN. Now, air assault. Because I was guaranteed airborne status I went to the 75th ranger battalion at ft. Stewart.

[@ezraallie6411]

I’m not quite sure why you mean. I can assure you the 173rd is Airborne. Thank you for your service.

[@Keiths_Answer_Box]

Some but ass shit man. Do this when u get to SFC and up man. I mean u do u but I for your protection don't do this to yo self. I know you had a long week if u is combat mos. And that's definitely a del din room so you likely not combat mos so maybe it wasn't too bad but still.

[@ezraallie6411]

I'm in 1st Batt with combat support. Part of the reason I wanted to make this video is to create a relatable perspective for brand new soldiers coming to the unit, something a SFC wouldn't be able to do. I appreciate the concern, but all is well. Take care!

[@Keiths_Answer_Box]

@@ezraallie6411 ahh. I was hhc mortars in 170