What is it like at the school house for prior service NCOs who are reclassifying to 35F?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 18:25:35 -0400

Hey guys, coming out of the reserves and back into active duty as a 35F (E-5/SGT). After MEPS, they told me I had to fly and couldn’t drive (idk why, if someone could answer that for me) but I’m curious if what to expect and how I will be treated amongst the other soldiers. Not looking for favoritism but just how it goes for prior service NCO’s coming to the school house. Thank you!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 22 at 2021 7:41 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 19:41:11 -0400

You are not going to experience favoritism at the school house. You are going to be treated like every other 35F trainee that we get. You will be counseled as an MOS-T as what you can and cant do. As far as driving, it depends on from which side of the country you are coming from, but you should be able to drive regardless. If they give you an issue, contact the number on your orders assigning you to the 305th. The only thing that you get is a little extra freedom in terms of study hall, how you get to class, and what you do after class.

Also, don't believe that your prior service will give you some sort of leg up on the others as we have kicked out and recycled plenty of prior service students who think they know everything

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2021 2:00 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Oct 2021 02:00:45 -0400

You have to fly because authorized travel is one day. Travel for TDY is ALWAYS one single day. If you're going TDY and you take your car the additional days have to be covered by your leave, which you have none of. You could leave early on your own dime and time but if something happens to you, or you're in an accident you weren't actually traveling on official orders and you weren't on active duty yet, so you've just screwed yourself.

The other reason is that MEPS doesn't know if you'll be authorized to have a car as an IET Soldier. Sure, you're a reclass, but you're not an in-service reclass so you're still regarded as an IET by big Army, but usually treated like prior service at most AITs

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2021 2:13 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Oct 2021 14:13:20 -0400

Bring your car- the DFAC, barracks, and training location are not walking distance from each other.
When s your report date? I'm an instructor here right now.