Have you ever been so fresh out of basic training/boot camp that....

SSG Philip Cotton — Sun, 27 Apr 2014 22:13:18 -0400

You initially don't realize how much you don't know what you're doing when you are fresh out of basic training/boot camp until you spend a little time in the Military, look back at the things you did and go...WOW...I was so boot.

I can remember when I was a PFC fresh out of basic training and AIT and it was my first drill at my unit. A SGT walks into the room me and a few other PFC's and SPC's were jaw jacking and I yell out AT EASE!!!!!

Everyone looked at me like what the hell is wrong with this guy. The SGT start laughing and says, "Carry on Private."

I look back at it now and can laugh at it.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Apr 27 at 2014 10:24 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sun, 27 Apr 2014 22:24:44 -0400

Yep. Went straight from Boot Camp in Orlando and flew to Pensacola for A School. Couple of Master at Arms there hanging around the terminal asked if I would like a Ride. "Yes Sir" "Don't call us Sir our Parents were married". They were E-5 Petty Officers.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 27 at 2014 10:55 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 27 Apr 2014 22:55:39 -0400

I was home for two weeks during Christmas Exodus from basic training when I did a couple of things:
1. I stood at Parade Rest when talking to my father.
2. I was cutting my steak with just a Tablespoon during Christmas dinner with my family. That's the only utensil we were able to eat with during Basic Training. I remember my family members just stopped eating and stared at me in amazement.

Response by SFC Stephen Carden made Apr 28 at 2014 3:09 PM

SFC Stephen Carden — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 15:09:57 -0400

...that I actually wore the stupid nylon jacket with my basic training unit and mascot and my N.C. state flag on the sleeve. Do they even sell those things at BCT anymore?

Response by SGT Andrew Chapman made Apr 28 at 2014 3:36 PM

SGT Andrew Chapman — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 15:36:56 -0400

I think my biggest issue was being in commo and when someone asked what do yo do? It was hard to tell anyone what my job was or is now that I am in civilian telecom. Between code words and acronyms an the things you just couldn't talk about. My family and friends think I am crazy.

Response by PO1 Julio G. made Apr 28 at 2014 3:47 PM

PO1 Julio G. — Mon, 28 Apr 2014 15:47:40 -0400

While on leave after boot camp, my then girlfriend decided to yell "ATTENTION ON DECK" while I was taking a nap. Yep, I popped up like a spring off that couch and felt like a total dumbass 1.67 seconds later.

No, that's not the reason she is an ex.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2014 11:37 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 25 Oct 2014 11:37:13 -0400

I remember getting home and jumping out of bed at 0430 to get ready for formation and PT. I also still make my bed with the corners like we were taught, and roll my socks, underwear, and shirts. I also found I have a habit of using military radio protocol when at work, which most of my co-workers laugh at.

Response by LCpl Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2014 4:00 PM

LCpl Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 16:00:42 -0400

Standing at parade rest for an admin LCpl at the school house
Wearing tucked in green-on-green to bed
Using any number of DI talk..."You motherfuckers, man", "Bitch!", "Get the fuck back" etc.

Pretty bad, in retrospect.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 4 at 2015 9:20 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 21:20:17 -0400

I love this saying: you don't know what you don't know.

Response by SPC William Weedman made Jun 6 at 2015 10:18 PM

SPC William Weedman — Sat, 06 Jun 2015 22:18:52 -0400

I went home on Christmas leave just a few weeks out of basic and went out to eat with the family. As we are walking through a long queue to the register I notice this strange smile on my Dad's face (prior service Navy) by the time we are at the register he starts to laugh. As I was walking through the line, I would come to attention, take a couple of steps, then go to parade rest & repeat....

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 1:29 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 10 Sep 2015 13:29:54 -0400

You stand at parade rest by the dinner table, waiting on your mom to take the last 4 of your SSN so you can sit down for chow!

Response by SP5 Dennis Loberger made May 13 at 2018 10:18 PM

SP5 Dennis Loberger — Sun, 13 May 2018 22:18:29 -0400

I was deployed overseas as an E2 straight out of AIT. My MOS was 71H. Originally I was to go to Vietnam but that was changed to Japan. I was a force fill to my unit (they had no slot for me). The company cletk had gotten in a little trouble so they sent him off and gave me the job. I had no clue what all a company clerk did. Changing my MOS to 75B didn't change that. Fortunately being a 71H prepared me some and most importantly I had a great First Sergeant.

Response by SSgt Boyd Herrst made May 14 at 2018 12:16 AM

SSgt Boyd Herrst — Mon, 14 May 2018 00:16:52 -0400

I’m AF and we didn’t have AIT.. I did have
AFJROTC in high school. Went to s Catholic academy for3 years that had AFJROTC so that was like getting AIT before basic (putting the cart before the horse)... In Basic I was one of the youngest ..(17) and after 3 ahead of me being fired as flightleader (Dorm Chief)
I got the job.. I could see I had a tough row to plow with guys in the flight who were 10. Years older.. ..a t the end we’d all come together and made it work.. I left Lackland and reported to my Reserve group in Mi. While in BMT I’d taken the
Bypass test for a skill level . I’d worked previous to entering at my Aunt’s Restaurant.. She had been a Chef.. sent to school in Europe by my Uncle a retired Marine Mess Sgt. Who’d also been a General’s Aide.. So he knew the ins and outs. His restaurant kitchen put a lot to shame. It shined top to bottom.. anyway.. back to the AF Reserve Wing/Group Airmen’s Dining Facility I got assigned to...
I had got my Cook uniforms and nsmetspes and group patches and chevrons and took them all to the parachute shop and they got me all set up. I waited half a day for it to get done.
When I showed up for drill at the facility ,
I had my uniform nice and pressed all the creases in the right places.. boots blacked and brushed.. The SSGT. that would be my shift-leader couldn’t get over my uniform being all neat and pressed ... “first question A1C Herrst, can you cook?”
“What’s on the menu, SSGT. D_____?”
He told me and I asked how was he preparing it.. He told me and I told him it was all wrong.. The AF wasn’t cooking like that anymore.. “you’re telling me how I’m supposed to be cooking the beef?” Look in your AFM xx-xx.. Page 24, chap xx
He went to the cabinet and got the book out and there it was: In accordance with
AFM ..... Depending on what is to be cooked .. see chap xx, pg xxx .. “Well, I’ll be a .... so we corrected the Cook method.. transferred the roasts into roast pans about 4 to 5 depending on size, some stock to help them along.. Others were doing their assigned duties.. the SSGT. Kept me with him.. he said them others might possibly murder me if I told them how to cook.. I passed it through my leader.. it was much safer that way . I also was able to do my work and not be sloppy at it... keeping my work area clean as I went. I got done and helped others get their A.O. In accordance to standards depicted in the Food Service manual... I had a lot to learn myself and I was still able to help my fellow Airmen to be better
at their assigned position.. Some got a little p.o.’d at me. .. “I’d ssy “Yes, I know that.. let me show you how to use that utensil.. I don’t think fingers or knuckles are on the ingredient list.. so hold your meat item like so...moving your hand back in it’s same way.. guiding the knife down...
I’m surprised how you managed to keep as many digits as you have..”. I knew how to do my job and some of them couldn’t handle that just because they been in longer.. When I got there.. my next level CDCs (Career Development Course) was wait’g for me.. (the Train’g NCO lived only a few blocks from my folks.. so my books came to me at home instead of the unit..
later we had a Cmdr’s call.. “The following Personnel have completed their ..1st 2 volumes of their CDCs... A1C Grajek, Richard K, A1C Herrst BOYD T. ..
the following Airmen are lagging behind
and she called some names.. warning them they’d be placed in remedial training
and possibly lose a stripe .. a position, or a suspended bust.. Them guys didn’t like that.. what got them is I already got a 2d volume completed and tested and got the
answer back.. I didn’t tell them anything..
I was through half my 3d volume.. of my 5 skill level course.. when I was going through.. my volumes were all closed book tests.... we had pics ... but not like
a comic book the way it is presently...
we had real questions... scattered at the end of chapters.. I’d made up cards with questions and answers but set up like the game show; Jeopardy where the answer is asked and the person responds with
“What is...”. I had my 5 skill level by December of ‘70 ... I got rewarded with
Getting to go on extra drills at other Wings/Groups.. that was extra $$ , increased other factors.. I knew how to do my job in accordance with AF standards.. and that’s what my unit
Required and expected of me.. “Why does A1C Herrst get to go to Grissom and get an extra drilll?” The others ask.. “ well, are your CDCs done? Have you completed your......? No? Then you can’t go ! Read AFM xxx-zzz all the chapters!
Then maybe you can go! I had to be careful ... I could go pull a extra drill if s’body in my unit missed a drill.. that’s how they could afford to pay me quicker..
I was still in school .. not college but HS.
A drill was credited at 36 hrs. 3 12 hr. Shifts although we only worked two shifts.. I had my job at my Aunt’s restaurant .. I could only work so many hours a week. Being in school snd sll..
I couldn’t pull double drills every month..
Dept of labor got nosy.. they found out about the Reserves.. they said if I did that
I had to miss work at the restaurant job
To even out the hours.. so my aunt showed them a blank time card.. she kept another locked up.. paid me cash.. took out taxes.. Dept of labor only knew what they seen.. I was glad that year was almost over .... in Spting I was rewarded..
I got referred to go Active AF.. 3 others and myself .. I took that opportunity.. I lost no rank .. answering the needs. Of the
AF.. a auditor at board of Ed added up my hours of school.. it seems I didn’t have 180 hrs .. the Superintendent waived the missed hours/days.. saying I answered my Nations call of duty.. and he explained it..
My being in Reserves.. he had good rapport with state board of Ed and the State Superintendent.. Some of my teachers smelled collusion between both Superintendents... (both were retired Military.. one a full Colonel and the other a
Lt. Colonel) So I was set.. I had my diploma and I had my Activation to the Regular AF. Two teachers seemed to had it in for me.. didn’t work. I even had our congressman and State Rep on my side .. those two troublemakers finally
Retired a couple years later.. So I stayed away from visiting but every once in a while when they were there.... At least I’m glad they didn’t accuse me of fraudulent enlistment.. the two Supers vouched for me and thst was as good as Gold !

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 14 at 2018 12:37 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 14 May 2018 00:37:09 -0400

After Basic, I thought I was so developed for PT, until I got into Jump School.
Three days in Jump School, I could hardly walk up the stairs, every muscle in my body hurt. Lol

Response by SSG James Pearson made Jun 8 at 2018 12:46 PM

SSG James Pearson — Fri, 08 Jun 2018 12:46:35 -0400

I arrived at my first unit, 78th FA in 2nd Armored Div as a newly trained track mechanic (63D)
My motor SGT handed me a 2404 and told me to take care of the fault.
I looked at the form, saw that it was for a deuce, and told him that I was a track mechanic, not a wheel mechanic, so not really my job.
So, I got a quick lesson that no matter what your MOS is, you work on whatever vehicle you're told to, and went and repaired the truck.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Jun 16 at 2018 2:02 PM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Sat, 16 Jun 2018 14:02:20 -0400

Well you know what, you weren’t necessarily wrong. The term is not reserved for the most senior in the unit, it is reserved for the most senior present. It is the same with officers. Anyway, your unit can set whatever tone they chose. I personally believe a little discipline showing respect goes a long ways. Thank you for your service.

Response by SPC Nancy Greene made Feb 10 at 2020 12:01 AM

SPC Nancy Greene — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 00:01:47 -0500

SSG Philip Cotton, You were a Squared Away, highly-trained Soldier! The SGT recognized that & acknowledged You!
The other Soldiers were ‘confused’ due to their ‘lack of Military Training’!
OUTSTANDING SOLDIER!
You had what it takes to be a Real Soldier and obtain the rank of SSG!
Great story & Congratulations on Your Military Career!
(I would venture to say, the ones who didn’t understand your actions as a PFC, probably didn’t last long in the Army. LMAO)

Response by Sgt David Brose made Nov 5 at 2021 5:09 PM

Sgt David Brose — Fri, 05 Nov 2021 17:09:34 -0400

used the word motherf####r at my gradma's welcome home supper . she wasn't impressed grandpa a wwll vet had to leave the table so his wife wouldn't see him laughing