How do I make the most of the time I have left?

2018-10-17T21:25:30-04:00

I'm struggling with the thought that the entirety of my service up to now has been a colossal waste of time. What truly concerns me is that the prospect of anything changing. I enlisted with the hope of a combat deployment or at least being able to contribute something meaningful to the service. However, nearly two years in the prospect of a combat deployment is non-existent and I can't think of a single meaningful tasking. My unit will begin a rotation to Kuwait soon and just looking for ways to make the most of the remaining 2 years of my enlistment. I'm already working towards saving money and putting a sizable dent in Master's program while deployed. Are there any special programs, volunteer assignments, or schools I can attend while deployed?

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 17 at 2018 9:27 PM

2018-10-17T21:27:56-04:00

Can you expand on how it was a waste of time? That might give some insights for those here who can offer advice for your situation

Response by SrA John Monette made Oct 17 at 2018 9:32 PM

2018-10-17T21:32:11-04:00

if you enlisted with the hopes of seeing combat, you enlisted for the wrong reason. I'm sure you made a difference in at least one person's life. did you learn anything? try anything new?

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Oct 17 at 2018 9:40 PM

2018-10-17T21:40:50-04:00

Did you already have your undergrad finished when you enlisted? If so, why did you enlist instead of going for a commission? If not, I would say that finishing your undergrad while you served is evidence that it wasn't a waste of time at all. In addition, if you are able to complete a good portion of the program that you have chosen for a Master's you should look forward to being able to jump into high education without worrying about the financial burden due to the benefits that you will have earned.
If you are looking to get 'more' out of your time in the military I will tell you what I told all of my soldiers: reenlist. Perhaps this first enlistment wasn't what you thought it would be and maybe all it will take is a change of scenery and a change of people to improve your outlook of the situation. Maybe moving on to a different kind of unit or into a different MOS will open new doors for you if you allow it to happen. Regardless, you served and that is never a waste of time.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 17 at 2018 9:51 PM

2018-10-17T21:51:19-04:00

I feel like everyday is like the movie Ground Hogs Day. I wake up do PT, clean this, layout that, PMCS this, then sit in the aid station till 1700. Every once in a while I get do some minor patient care but then it's back to the drysweep shuffle. From what I've been told by those who have done a Kuwait tour with our unit it will be much of the same only with worse living conditions. I can't help but look at my buddies on the civilian first responder side and think they do more for their communities in a week than I've done in 2 years active duty while getting paid more at that.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 17 at 2018 9:58 PM

2018-10-17T21:58:33-04:00

Re-enlistment, OCS, SF...various things I would think that one could consider pursuing.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 17 at 2018 10:43 PM

2018-10-17T22:43:48-04:00

If the military is for you, then go green to gold! Nothing wrong with being a junior enlisted since I was the same. I went in as an e-4 and within a year I was in OCS. I was in the National Guard then. I was working a 45 hour a week job and doing the year-and-a-half-long OCS they used to offer back then. Why couldn't you just go into OCS at Fort Benning? You want experience, you will get it! From there, once you graduate, you have so many choices as a second lieutenant. You will make lots more money. You will not have time to get bored because you will be in charge of a platoon. This possibly could be different than the medical service Corps unless you go back in as medical service Corps admin. You could go infantry, armor, military police, artillery and so many other branches to choose from that will be totally different than what you're doing now. I know you can go into civil Affairs directly active duty. That may be a suggestion. Personally, I would go into civil Affairs as a functional area once you've spent 2 or 3 years and whatever Branch you choose and you are a promotable first lieutenant then take it. That's what I did. My Army National Guard Army Reserve training be quite a bit different than what you've done so far. You could even go into the physician's assistant program and be a first lieutenant once you finish that medical school. Ever thought about being a PA? I had a friend who was a chiropractor in the National Guard he was a military intelligence officer and as a captain, he decided to apply for PA program there at Fort Sam Houston. He graduated, and was temporarily demoted to first lieutenant but then he went back up to Captain. So here is a man who had a top secret clearance working MI, got bored and decided to go into the PA program. This is a medical service Corps guy who could actually command troops because his commission was not direct Commission. Just some ideas to kick around. Like the other men and women have said, what you're doing is important. Wanting to go into combat and getting a combat patch is not really something you want. You lose friends in combat. I've gone to 5 ramp ceremonies on one deployment with one guard Brigade and on another deployment, my first sergeant was killed one week before coming back. His death was so gruesome it was a closed casket ceremony. A suicide car bomber had his Convoy and blew up his Humvee. In summary, I would recommend you come back in the military and use the skills you have and learn a whole bunch more and make a hell of a lot more money and I think you would be a good soldier knowing how it is being a junior enlisted. Like I said, I was Junior enlisted myself for a couple years. Just my opinion...

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Oct 17 at 2018 11:11 PM

2018-10-17T23:11:29-04:00

PFC Yahya Vieux you may find yourself with a change of mission in Iraq. A number of people indicated they deployed on an operational deployment in Kuwait then ended up in Iraq supporting combat operations

Response by SSG Mark Franzen made Oct 17 at 2018 11:57 PM

2018-10-17T23:57:10-04:00

I spent 16.5 years of my life serving my country and not once did I go to combat but you Know what I trained Every day thinking maybe this but it never come. so if you think it's complete waste of time than think about getting out of The army I never cared so much for being In the US ARMY but I got screwed and never retired that really bother me today 34 yrs later. SSG MARK FRANZEN COLD WAR VET

Response by MAJ Raymond Haynes made Oct 18 at 2018 12:58 AM

2018-10-18T00:58:06-04:00

Yahya,
I think down the road, if you get out or decide to stay in, you will be surprised how much you have grown and matured. It may not seem like it right now, but your service has not been a waste of time. Think of the veteran benefits, the training you have received, the addition to your resume. When I finished my 4 year enlistment, I did not realize how much of an edge I had on my peers until I returned to civilian life. As far as your remaining 2 years, the Army decides if your service is meaningful, do every task, no matter how mundane, to the best of your ability. That itself is providing something meaningful to the service. Meanwhile talk to your 1st Sgt about different options that you can explore. Deployment overseas often opens all kinds of "Special Duty" TDY assignments, make it well known that you are looking for such duty. Talk to the career planner about an OCS slot if that is a possibility. If you want to get out start making contacts and networking with first-responder units in the area you want to live. Check into any civilian ratings common to those type of units that you can complete while deployed. Take full advantage of the Army's correspondence program to complete courses that will help in your civilian job search. Check into the possibility of a reserve commission so you can have the best of both worlds. What ever you choose, good luck, you sound like a smart solder, you will do fine what ever road you follow.

Response by SSG Chris Allsopp made Oct 18 at 2018 2:14 AM

2018-10-18T02:14:23-04:00

Deployment is not going to guarantee a "quality" to your service. Your actions during your entirety of service will determine your quality of you. Going to war isn't going to prove to anyone that you are a better service member. If you're not broken, you're not out of the fight. You have every opportunity to make a difference in your own career, and others. Stop looking for pity.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2018 3:47 AM

2018-10-18T03:47:54-04:00

I only did a short deployment because the Operation Desert Storm ended quickly. But having talked to many of my peers and subordinates over the years, I can all but guarantee that your days during a deployment will have a similar "groundhog's day" feel to it. You will be sitting around in an aid station, doing PT, pulling guard duty rotations, maintaining your vehicle, etc, over and over again. I am not sure what you might be hoping to accomplish.

You may have more opportunities to provide general first aid while deployed, but you can't really compare your mission to civilian first responders. This is not Vietnam or WW1/2.

US Fatalities in Afghanistan:

2014:55
2015:21
2016:13
2017:15
2018:8

I don't know casualties, but you can extrapolate from the downward fatality trend.

I guess what I am trying to say is you need to find another way to seek out your important contribution. Unfortunately you had the wrong expectations when you enlisted. I don't know if it came from popular culture, or family culture, or what, but you do yourself a disservice by thinking that you don't contribute. You are doing what EVERY OTHER PRIVATE DOES during their initial period. Re-enlist, work on things you need to get promoted and gain responsibility and you may find you like it. Or, try a different MOS that may offer new and different challenges.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Oct 18 at 2018 4:09 AM

2018-10-18T04:09:19-04:00

You've been in the Army twenty minutes, have some patience.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2018 5:06 AM

2018-10-18T05:06:02-04:00

It appears you only enlisted for citizenship status, which has been a problem with the MAVNI program.

Response by Ken Kraetzer made Oct 18 at 2018 6:17 AM

2018-10-18T06:17:08-04:00

Deployment to Kuwait is important overseas service, have heard it is very hot there in summer. Yes go for all the spec and al training and education you have time for, you sound like soldier Army will hope to retain.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2018 7:51 AM

2018-10-18T07:51:39-04:00

Ok first off I hate hearing about someone who feels they wasted their time joining. Somewhere some how you helped someone and made a difference. What is your day to day job? Where are you stationed? That can help some of us explain more to you. The Army has more programs available to the soldiers than ever before and there are opportunities for all to expand. Give us a bit of insight and you will be surprised by what all you can do.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Oct 18 at 2018 10:46 AM

2018-10-18T10:46:48-04:00

I can "feel your pain." I was a Cold Warrior, meaning I spent 22 years in the Air Force and was never shot at by anybody. No combat flying hours. No overseas tours to places that suck swamp water. I missed the last war of my generation, Vietnam, and was too senior to get sand in my boots on the next one, DESERT STORM. I don't think my time in the military was wasted, but I can't say that some of my service wasn't boring or uninspiring. As a pilot training instructor, I flew the same traffic pattern to the same runway what must have been a thousand times in 3 years. Even with a student pilot in the other seat trying to kill me, it was sometimes difficult to maintain focus and motivation.

The saving grace of my service was making the best of every job I had. I went for the maximum number of qualifications and schools I could on every assignment. As a C-130 pilot I was qualified in air-land, airdrop, low-altitude parachute extraction, high-altitude low-opening drop, functional test flight, and later in my career, instructor pilot. I took on additional duties that required I attend training expanding my experience base including aircrew life support and flight safety officer. All the while I maintained combat readiness.

As a PFC, some variation of my approach may be possible. I see you're in the medical career field. Have you qualified as a combat medic? Certainly a challenge worth going after. You appear to have a bachelors degree and are working on a masters. Continue on that track aggressively. Look into your Service's programs for enlisted personnel to transition to officers, "green-to-gold" for example. Your profile doesn't show your academic information, so I can't advise you on what direction to take in this area. Also, are you working to be the very best at your MOS? Have you disciplined yourself to study the doctrine, regulations, directives, and technical information related to your MOS? You need to do this intensive study to ensure your own readiness. Finally, look for opportunities for community service. If you're bored with your job, then develop your interests through volunteerism. If you have real free time in your week, consider joining a community service group on Post or in town. Ask around, other people you work with may be part of Scouting, Optimists, the Grange, Masons, etc., but keep the mission first in your mind and actions.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 18 at 2018 1:30 PM

2018-10-18T13:30:43-04:00

Here’s an idea.....Flight Paramedic Course.

Response by SPC Henry Francis made Oct 18 at 2018 8:50 PM

2018-10-18T20:50:58-04:00

Several good suggestions here already.
Don’t let your attitude damage what you have built. You are probably on the list for E-4 already and if you pay careful attention to your mundane duties you could be an E-5 before your four years are up. Learn your MOS inside and out so you can teach it. You will be promoted for your trouble. Be a blessing (a pleasure, valuable, etc.) to your command structure and they will reward you for it. Being good, faithful and pleasant in a mundane job is a skill that few have. Those that do have it are usually well rewarded with greater opportunities.

Response by SGT David T. made Oct 19 at 2018 12:31 PM

2018-10-19T12:31:22-04:00

You aren't the first to realize that the idea of the military doesn't quite live up to reality. My biggest suggestion is gear yourself for the transition to civilian life (assuming that's what you want to do). Save as much money as you can because it goes quick once you get out if you don't have a job lined up. I had $13k when I ETSed and that was just enough to get started and didn't last long. Also, have a couple of back up plans. Things don't always pan out the way you envision them. I have no doubt that some of your leaders will attempt to scare you into reenlistment (seen and heard it countless times). Don't let them influence your decision. Millions of Americans get along just fine not being in the service. That is not to say it is all rainbows and unicorns. Civilian life can be hard and unforgiving at times. As long as you have a good head on your shoulders, you can work through the challenges that come.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 20 at 2018 1:30 PM

2018-10-20T13:30:09-04:00

I would just like to thank you all for the wise words of wisdom. It's given me a lot perspective on my current situation. I guess I just need to soldier on a develop the situation as it unfolds while being the best soldier I can.