As a prior service Marine, when I head to OSUT, will I have to attend BCT or will I just jump in at the AIT portion?

SGT James Nickle — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 14:38:20 -0500

Hello all,
I am leaving for OSUT in Ft. Benning this coming January 2021. I am prior service marine (E5), and I am trying to find more info about OSUT and all that. I have just over a 3 year break in service. So far, i have found:
Army DIR 2019-31 says that, "PS personnel entering the Army, except those who have completed...U.S. Marine Corps Basic Training...will be
required to attend one of these three courses to satisfy..." So I do not need to attend any refreshers. Also in that pub, paragraph 7 says, "PS personnel with less than a 5-year break in service
who have completed...Marine Corps Basic Training...are exempt
from attending PS-AIC, BCT, or OSUT.
So according to this one, which is very recent, I do not even have to attend BCT or OSUT.
However, TR350-6, Section 4-15 states, " Prior service personnel entering the Active Army are not required to attend BCT if they
completed Army or U.S. Marine Corps basic training...and have less than a 3-
year break in service.

I have just over a 3 year break in service, but these Army pubs contradict each other. They are both very recently published or updated too.
If anyone could please help me, I would really appreciate some clarity. I just wanna know if I have to attend BCT or if I just jump in at the AIT portion.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2020 3:13 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 15:13:00 -0500

its been awhile but I was PS USAF and had nearly an 8 year break in service and I didn't have to go thru BCT or AIT because my air force specialty code translated directly to an army MOS. I just showed up at my new unit and was MOSQ.

Response by SP5 Peter Keane made Nov 17 at 2020 3:15 PM

SP5 Peter Keane — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 15:15:04 -0500

2019-31 is the lastest. And is in effect until the Regs are updated. With that said and holding that it is accurate, you will be dropped in at the AIT phase.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2020 3:18 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 15:18:09 -0500

I was in the same situation. They'll probably just stick you in Week 7 of OSUT, which is after BCT. You'll just do the AIT portion, which is really long. Have fun

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2020 3:25 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 15:25:30 -0500

Army regs contradict each other because it takes so long to update them. Certain things like Recruiting and Retention operate more off of policy messages than regulations, so it's whatever the current policy is in place at that time. In other words, only your recruiter or the MEPS can tell you what policy they are following right now

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 17 at 2020 9:52 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 21:52:32 -0500

SGT James Nickle … I think they changed the rules a while back. if you've been out for 3 years or longer- then they make you do Basic again. Their was a 50+ year old E5-prior service Soldier that went back through Basic again. They had the article in the Army Times that said he had to repeat the Army Basic school since he'd been out so long.

I'm not sure if you'll be treated differently since you're a non-IET Soldier. I had some reclassifying NCOs in my AIT and although they had to show up for PT & all classes- they lived in a separate dorm & weren't harassed by Drill Sergeants 24/7.

Response by MSG John Duchesneau made Nov 17 at 2020 11:28 PM

MSG John Duchesneau — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 23:28:57 -0500

It sounds like the "law" is on your side. You should be able to "insert" into the AIT portion of the Infantry OSUT. Ask your recruiter to make sure.

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 18 at 2020 6:02 PM

LCpl Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 18 Nov 2020 18:02:18 -0500

I’m a PS Marine shipping in January to OSUT as well. Probably see you there

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 23 at 2020 1:20 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 13:20:36 -0500

I feel terrible for you. I went there as prior service also, and they inserted me in week 8, so I only had to do the last 8 weeks. Some of the other prior service guys were inserted into other companies or battalions at week 3-5.

You’re going to go nuts. Especially coming from the USMC to the new “soft” basic training of 20 weeks for 11B. No shark attack, COVID, etc.

Not to mention, you’ll have to deal with a bunch of kids again.

Have fun.

Response by SFC Chuck Martinez made Nov 23 at 2020 9:33 PM

SFC Chuck Martinez — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 21:33:28 -0500

Last time I checked you have 5 years from the time you left the service. You don't have to take BCT but you do have to go through AIT!!