Posted on Nov 9, 2013
SFC(P) Counterintelligence (CI) Agent
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I'm about to go to my first unit after being in training for over two years, what advice would you give to a new Soldier going to his first unit, to make a positive impression on the leadership?&nbsp; Or any "what I wish I would've known/done" type advice?&nbsp; Thanks<br>
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Responses: 11
SFC Ammunition Manager
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To be honest with you, if you are wanting to make a positive impression on the leadership, keep your nose clean, don't be "that guy" who has to be picked up on the weekends at the MP station all the time. Don't act like you know it all, even as a SFC, I don't know it all, be willing to look up the answers, or ask your supervisors where you can find it, don't have them feed you the answers. This shows that you have the initiative to learn. Talk to your Section Chiefs and ask them their honest opinion on the assignment, and how they would make it different, and try and implement it. Learn your job one up, meaning learn your NCO's job as much as you can. Some NCO's don't like to teach their Soldiers everything they know, because they don't want to be "one upped", but when they want to go on leave, and cant, because no one else can do it, it comes back to bite them. Don't hang with the wrong crowd, look around, and see who does what, or who says everything negative about everything.. That's just the first day.. lol, no seriously, take what you want and run with it.. I am sure you will do fine. And good luck.

 

 

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SSG Sigint Sergeant
SSG (Join to see)
10 y
To piggyback on this, not being "that guy" also means not being "that Specialist". Since you are going in with a degree, work hard and prove to everyone that you deserve the rank.
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SFC(P) Counterintelligence (CI) Agent
SFC(P) (Join to see)
10 y
Actually SGT, I don't have a degree, 35P AIT is THAT long. Started out as a PFC.
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MSgt Aircrew Controller Ii
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Shut your mouth and open your eyes and ears.  Look and Listen to the soldiers around you.  Get a feel for the climate of the unit.  Seek out increased responsibilities and leadership opportunities.  Integrate into the unit versus trying to force your way into being accepted.
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CPT Executive Officer
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1) Show up ready to crush a PT test.  A high PT school will be a great first impression.
2) Try to get to a Soldier of the Month board and kill it.
3) Don't show up asking for a promotion to SGT despite having met the 18 month minimum.  Show up seeking out responsibility and demonstrate your potential.  Try your best to be a "fire and forget" soldier. The rank will come.  
4) Don't lose your language skills.  Just because you are out of the school house doesn't mean you are done studying.
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SFC(P) Counterintelligence (CI) Agent
SFC(P) (Join to see)
>1 y
baley ho, Ustad Rahmanyar zma malim wuh
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CPT Executive Officer
CPT (Join to see)
>1 y
My class name was "Prong" (Aka: Tiger) because I thought it was awesome.  When a test didn't go my way, he'd call me "koochney pshey" (Aka: kitten).  I miss that guy.
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SFC(P) Counterintelligence (CI) Agent
SFC(P) (Join to see)
>1 y
That's cool, they called me "Malang Palang" which in English doesn't make any sense, but the whole rhyming thing with Pashtuns right?  Malang means poor guy, and Palang is tiger in Farsi.
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SSG Senior Maintenance Supervisor
SSG (Join to see)
8 y
5. remove the (P) it doesn't exist until you are a selected E6 or higher.
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