As an Iraqi vet re-enlisting as 11B, what should I expect at Fort Benning reception/BCT? Will I be allowed to wear my 1st Cav combat patch?

SPC Cody Guyon I would be surprised if they had you call cadence. If anything you would be PG and such so standing in front and giving accountability numbers and rallying the troops. Welcome back!

lol well thanks for that tip. Cadence is not my strong point. I tried during the DOC academy and sounded like a cat getting ran over by a lawn mower

SPC Cody Guyon unless you have a memorandum stating you're authorized the 1st Cav patch, then you're only authorized the patch of whatever unit you were in. Saying that you fell under multiple commands and should be authorized multiple patches is not a discussion you want to have with a DS.

That’s completely understandable and I won’t argue with them. How would I get a memorandum?

In a bad way? I have no problem taking on a leadership roll or even being pushed harder bc of my experience. But I’ll take that into consideration definitely. I won’t mention it but if they ask for prior service I will raise my hand. I earned that patch and went through hell while wearing it. Earned two arcoms and a few other awards. Just would kind feel guilty “hiding it”

Don't think of it as "hiding it" vice preventing unwanted attention. Your goal is to re-integrate into the Army. Along the way, your leadership abilities will come out. Pretty sure the drills will know you are prior service before they ask and will have an idea as to what awards/decs you will have earned.

SPC Cody Guyon - Not in a bad way. Ultimately, being a class leader at any school is a relatively low impact job. I've found that if I go to schools wearing a lot of bling, that instructors and fellow students tend not to teach to me or feel like I'm approachable for correction. I think people have a tendency not to offer those pearls of wisdom to others with a certain amount of experience, because they assume that the experienced party already has the same knowledge they do. But we all have gaps in our knowledge, and I would rather get a good correction or learn something twice than to potentially miss out on some good information because another soldier thinks I already know that based on my experience. Just my opinion though... you do you. You're definitely authorized to wear anything you've earned.

Last thing I want them thinking is I’m coming in there w a big head thinking I’m better than everyone, but then again that’s my goal. To be the best

Msg? No offense but I imagine w that tank your basic was quite a few years ago?