Elements of the 4/325 AIR (82nd ABN) arrive in Saudi Arabia to kick off the Desert Shield Party. Those 500 paratroopers were on standby as the US global response force. When Bush the elder said that 5000 paratroopers drew a line in the sand, they had to spread out a little so 500 would look like 5000.
Most times you get that duty you sit in the barracks (at night) waiting for the call. Often we would camo up and watch Apocalypse Now, and scare the FNGs.
Sometimes you go to Green Ramp to prep for immediate deployment. On rare occasions you go- to anywhere in the world within 18 hours.