Does anyone have any advice for an enlisted soldier PCSing to the Pentagon?

2016-07-04T10:54:58-04:00

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Jul 4 at 2016 10:59 AM

2016-07-04T10:59:41-04:00

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member I have never been there, however I would sign up for a sponsor to help the transition.Best of luck!

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Jul 4 at 2016 11:13 AM

2016-07-04T11:13:01-04:00

Learn how to make coffee?
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Advice? Don't be that SSG I had to teach in DS school how to load, fire, clear a basic individual weapon because she had not touched a rifle since she entered the service. Having spent 9 years in a comms room in the pentagon basement. IOW, don't forget your basic responsibilities as a Soldier. The core tasks required of your rank and MOS, not just the tasks required of your current assignment.

Response by Capt Tom Brown made Jul 4 at 2016 1:08 PM

2016-07-04T13:08:51-04:00

Best of luck and best of wishes in this new and challenging assignment.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jul 4 at 2016 2:16 PM

2016-07-04T14:16:52-04:00

Welcome to the 5 sided Funny Farm. Welcome to living in a Dress Uniform. My guys used to do installations in the Pentagon. we had to wear a dress uniform but we all had Coveralls that we used when we were running cables in PDS and under floors.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 4 at 2016 3:20 PM

2016-07-04T15:20:25-04:00

You are a hot commodity. You are truly what makes the pentagon run. I recommend that you focus on the needs of the people "operating" in the pentagon and not the bureaucratic processes.

Response by 1LT Susan Bailey made Jul 4 at 2016 6:15 PM

2016-07-04T18:15:06-04:00

Going to the Pentagon is a whole different world than a lot of other assignments for the military! I worked there for 7 years from 1999-2006 in the "Army" Clinic (later the DiLotenzo TriCare Health Clinic) mostly under COL Block.

You will see a surprising amount of things there, be prepared to get lost, the building is constantly changing with construction.

I don't know if the purple water fountain is still there or not, but it is a bit odd. (Basement)

Check out the 9/11 memorial, it is pretty impressive.

You can watch the fireworks from the River entrance.

If you have to go to DTHC (health clinic) be nice to the NOD (nurse of the day) it's a tough job sometimes.

Know your evacuation routes. Review them occasionally, as I mentioned the building is always changing. One day your usual route is good and the next there is a wall.

If you are working in an office with a Cypher lock make sure you can operate it with your eyes shut. We lost people in at least one of those because we couldn't, and they couldn't get the door open, during 9/11.

And for God's sake, if you see one of the golf cart ambulances coming down the hall, get out of the way! Those are not deployed for shits and grins. They are usually there for bonafide emergencies like someone having a heart attack or something. I can't tell you how many times we nearly made speed bumps out of people on the way to someone's emergency.

If you don't already know, learn how to effectively manage stress. As a nurse I saw many people come through the clinic who didn't know how to.

There are some great and unique programs in the clinic too. Check out Fit to Win. I'm not sure if it's still being done, but they can help you figure out what sneaker to wear to run in by videotaping your gait, plus much more!

It really can be interesting. You can meet many leaders- the good ones are really cool people to everyone. It's usually not the GOs or the other Big Cheeses who are rude. It's their Aides who can be a little rough sometimes.

I know this last suggestion should be a given, but always act with integrity. Make the hard right choices. And being able to be flexible, and open minded will be paramount here. If you can do that, you will get noticed, and maybe find yourself being mentored by one of the greats!

Response by SSG Roger Ayscue made Jul 4 at 2016 10:33 PM

2016-07-04T22:33:16-04:00

As a Staff Sergeant, learn to make sammiches.

Response by Sgt Christopher Wenzel made Jul 5 at 2016 8:30 AM

2016-07-05T08:30:17-04:00

I currently work there as a contractor and will be transitioning here as GS in the next few weeks.

Advice? Relax. There's a lot of civilians here, you will be outnumbered. Can't be going old-school on a boot here. Have a map on you at all times, because this place is huge. You're going to get lost. If you have any other questions, PM me. I'll try to help any way I can.

Response by SGT Brian Wall made Jul 5 at 2016 11:13 AM

2016-07-05T11:13:48-04:00

Have a steady supply of suits and ASU's. I had a friend that worked there and said if they weren't in ASU's or dress greens then they were in suits all the time. Other then that i have no idea.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 6 at 2016 1:02 AM

2016-07-06T01:02:40-04:00

Where you work will determine a lot of what you need to know. I worked in the NMCC for 3 years. Message me for advice other than "don't forget you're a Soldier" and "learn to make sandwiches or coffee". The COL will be the one getting the GEN his coffee, not the SSG.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2016 10:28 AM

2016-07-10T10:28:33-04:00

I work at the Pentagon as a civilian. I'm the sponsor for an incoming E-6. I would reach out to your new chain of command. Ask for good areas to live, recommended mode of transportation (metro, bus, drive), and expectations of the job. Commuting into the Pentagon will probably one of your hardest decisions you will have to make. Lastly, prep your class B's since you will have to wear them every Friday at the Pentagon.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2016 12:56 PM

2016-07-12T12:56:28-04:00

Get those Class Bs ready!!! O yeah, the traffic is horrendous; take advantage of public transportation.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 12 at 2016 2:09 PM

2016-07-12T14:09:00-04:00

Don't forget what it was like being out in the real world. It is easy to do. Remember why you are there. It's for the Soldier, the Private. That gets lost in that building