As an E-5, what should I expect when having to go back to OSUT BCT for the whole 16 weeks just to get MOS qualified?

2017-10-13T10:07:13-04:00

I ETS'd this year and took a few months off to travel. I was in the National Guard for 7 years and spent my last two as an E5. I couldn't keep my 11C MOS, so I took 12B while reenlisting active duty. My liaison told me they just couldn't split OSUT up and send me to just the AIT portion, so I'd have to be there for all 16 weeks. Opinions? Will I be treated as just another Joe or a fellow NCO?

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2017 10:38 AM

2017-10-13T10:38:13-04:00

I'm in the process of reenlisting SGT, and I have been told both sides of it. First that if I'm able to reclass that I will only have to do the AIT portion but at the same time I was told there is a chance that I'd have to go through day 0 again. From what I understand it is up to the installation. I was an 11B and hoping to reclass.

Sorry I couldn't be more help. Good luck SGT.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2017 10:38 AM

2017-10-13T10:38:51-04:00

That seems like an odd situation, but oddities in the Army are the norm. I have no direct experience with your particular situation, but you should probably expect to be treated as a joe and be prepared to embrace the suck! I had a break in service of almost 5 years and was lucky enough not to have to go back thru the refresher. Good luck!

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2017 2:52 PM

2017-10-13T14:52:11-04:00

I was in basic with two ncos and they were treated with respect that's owed to an NCO they had separate barracks and could have there phones and change into civilians and go do what they wanted on the weekends and nights

Response by SGT Jim Ramge, MBA made Oct 13 at 2017 5:03 PM

2017-10-13T17:03:38-04:00

As an NCO, call the school house and request to speak with the BN S1/Unit 1SG - you should be on a gains roster! Let s/he know you are coming back on active duty and would like to know what to expect having already been through it before... The reason you are calling is because you don’t have a CAC card in-hand yet, otherwise you’d look it up online! (Consider doing that now if you haven’t. Not sure if you need to access anymore with the amount of added web security. If you have already been there, and done it, you might even still have the numbers.) Ask what are the standards for an incoming NCO in these types of situations? Is it better to request to live off base singularly, married, in the barracks, is it a PCS move, what are your options, do you have any? Each school house is different, but you are still an NCO! Get back into the habit of acting like one and communicate... Worst case, s/he hangs up the phone... Best case, you have an answer instead of 300 different answers from all of us telling you what “we think”! Just my thoughts...

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 14 at 2017 11:03 AM

2017-10-14T11:03:27-04:00

You'll still experience the standard red phase treatment but for the rest of the cycle you will most likely be put in a leadership position and, I don't want to say special treatment, but you will be treated with more respect. End of the day you'll still be a trainee so just don't get TOO comfortable with it.

Response by SFC James Heath made Oct 15 at 2017 4:06 PM

2017-10-15T16:06:45-04:00

You are called an insert. You are a student, act like one.

Response by SSG Phillip Sivell made Nov 20 at 2017 12:10 AM

2017-11-20T00:10:17-05:00

I was an AIT instructor at FLW until 2010. NCO’s and other reclassified soldiers were kept in separate barracks. The issue is BCT, if they are sending you back through BCT you may have some issues. I know for a fact that you can start at the point BCT is over. Sometimes recruits go to the BCT portion and go to another MOS AIT all to gather. So that may be something you need to contact them about.

Response by SPC Robert Coventry made Nov 20 at 2017 12:17 AM

2017-11-20T00:17:41-05:00

Either way good luck

Response by SPC Jovani Daviu made Mar 6 at 2018 8:25 PM

2018-03-06T20:25:09-05:00

I honestly don't see what the big deal is SGT. In my opinion, I would really enjoy doing basic training again. Especially since I have been sitting on my ass in IRR for the last 5 years after ETSing out of the U.S Army National Guard of New York. I just began processing into active duty and a refresher would do me some justice. If you don't use it you lose it.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2018 8:44 PM

2018-03-06T20:44:18-05:00

One thing for sure Sir, you'll be ahead of the game with your time in service already. It'll be a blessing for those that don't, they'll be seeking your guidance.

Response by MSG John Duchesneau made Oct 11 at 2018 1:47 AM

2018-10-11T01:47:13-04:00

There are no problems - only opportunities. As a seasoned E-5 going through OSUT you will probably have an opportunity to develop your leadership skills like never before. You will also get to share your experience with young soldiers. Your cadre should treat and respect you as an NCO but, of course, you will be expected to act like an NCO and not one of the troops. I don't see why they can't have you skip the basic training portion but you will better for it. How many people can say they went through basic training twice.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2019 6:21 AM

2019-04-28T06:21:27-04:00

What the hell? Lmao

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 15 at 2019 10:19 PM

2019-05-15T22:19:33-04:00

I haven't been on RP in a while, but since so many people saw it, I figured I'd clue people in on how it went.
I got to FLW and 43rd and RHU treated me like garbage. Same for all prior service. The DS often made us do their job of supervising the discharge privates while the fucked off in their offices. That made it difficult to in-process and get to the schoolhouse (took more than three weeks). Then I got to the last week of BCT for OSUT with two other prior service NCO's. They let us B.S. that 1st week while the privates were in the field. We had to be there too, but I just read a bunch of books. When the actual AIT part started, the DS were a little tougher, but mostly on the other two since they came from non-combat MOS's and hadn't deployed yet.
We had our own barracks on the other side of FLW by Specker GYM, we got off at 1700 but we did have to be there at 0430 for PT. We didn't get smoked with the privates, I actually was only smoked once by the Senior DS, just to kill time during health and welfare inspections. It was tense because the DS had never worked with prior service before and some of them wanted to be super hooah, others were respectful and treated us like NCO's. That was 31st EN BN at FLW, I've heard a lot of different things about 35th EN BN, where they make NCO's sleep in the bays with privates etc. Guess I can say that ther only way to find out is to just go and find out.....