Posted on Jan 17, 2016
SGT(P) Practical/Vocational Nursing
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I am graduating from the 68C AIT program. I have earned many COAs, am on the student leadership board, have maxed out on civilian education and correspondence courses, am about to complete SSD1, and have a 230 PT score. How do I prove to my first unit at my first duty station that I am ready for WLC?
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SGT Justin Lamb
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You will impress them by showing that you are a Soldier. Not only knowing your Creeds but living them. It's not about maxing points by fast tracking easy classes, get the point out of those classes and train others so they can have the knowledge to make the team better. Know the traditions of the army and preach them. Know D/C, get out and sing cadence! Be that mentor for not just lower Soldiers but for NCOs alike. We all come from different walks of life and just because you are of lower rank than someone doesn't mean they can't learn from you! Strive for not only 40/40 with your weapon but help train those that struggle with BRM. Get down with them and figure out why that Soldier can't seem to zero his/her weapon. 230 pt score is great but how can you tell your Soldiers to get over a 230 if you haven't yet? Come up with training plans for you and your battle buddy's pt outside of your units pt times. Motivate them to work out with you. Learn to be the best at your MOS, to do this you must understand that no matter how smart you get, you can Always something new to learn and chances are you will learn that lesson from a Private so swallow your pride and say thank you.

Live the Army Values, they are not just words on a page they are life lessons! You will carry them with you even when you hang up your boots. Never stop learning outside your MOS! Volunteer for details! Volunteer in the local community! Get your name out there not for wanting to take the next step but get it out there so people know you are dependable and willing to lend a helping hand. Be the go to guy everyone always calls on to get the mission not only done but done right!

It's always easy to say "I'm a Soldier" but to live as one 24/7 is a different story and when you stop to look at the whole picture of what I just explained you would have already proved enough. Your time will come, sit back and enjoy the Army ride.
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SGT(P) Practical/Vocational Nursing
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Thank you, SPC.
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SGT Justin Lamb
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No prob SPC. Just go with it. It will fall into place
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SGT Roberto Mendoza-Diaz
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*and asked us
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SPC Treatment Medic
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You got a lot of great responses from some fine knowledgable NCOs, but I'm going to let you know how it is in a way only a old salty senior specialist can.. Also probably a little extra too

Also going to toss a disclaimer here before; I don't sugar coat things for feelings instead I'll give you the truth you need.

WLC(Now BLC) is good goal to have set for yourself. we'll file that as a medium range goal for now. You've a lot to do in between.

Firstly; you're off to a good start as you mention. Having COAs is good. Arriving to your unit with them on your ERB will look good too. Truthfully no one will really care about them. Same goes for your student leadership board. Great experience for you to be doing it and I'm not trying to discourage you from continuing to do it. Learn from the role and develop your leadership style that much more but still it isn't going to count for very much at your receiving unit. SSD1 is mandatory. It's expected of you to have it complete. so finish that up pronto. Up side is you get it out of the way and don't have to worry about it.
One thing that's gonna stand out is having completed your correspondence courses. I'm sure there are many E4s when you get to your new unit that haven't done that much so it stick it out. Maxing out your civilian ed a plus but consider your field. You're a 68C so most you'll see are going to be as well. What you need to look at is continuing that education and taking it to the next level.

Now time for the not so nice stuff.
PT is huge in the army that's probably going to be the first thing your new NCO, PSG, and 1SG will ask you about also with SMA Daily at the helm it's only going to become that much more important. 230 PT score... you're passing? Not in my eyes you're not. I don't consider that 230 a passing score ... not even close. To me I see that and say "well... she made it to the PT track and took the test, but didn't put any effort into it". It's ok though, I don't make army policy. Here is the deal though you're probably going to be put to work in a hospital or a satellite clinic and because of that regular bright and early PT, you won't be attending. Instead you'll be treating those that are sick during sick call hours and those that diligently working on their sick call ranger tab. So you need to develop good exercise habits and develop a routine for yourself to make yourself better and make that score increase.
You're over eager. Eagerness is a good thing. I love getting a new soldier with a hunger and a passion to learn. What I'm worried about here is what I've seen time and again with newly arriving 68C (not saying you'll do it, just giving you the heads up) but they arrive as E4s with their freshly printed NCLEX-PN and they get around the 68W pvts and start acting a fool. Which may work for a short while until they've crossed paths with someone like myself who'll promptly and happily knock you on your ass.
You listed a lot of things there in your initial question but failed to bring to state a couple important things. First, you've not in the army yet. I understand 68C school is long, but you haven't even gotten your toes wet yet. AIT and Tradoc is a completely different animal than the regular army. furthermore FT.Sam AIT and and the regular army. well now we're on two very separate spectrum. Remember that fact when you arrive at your unit. The e2 or e3 you meet thats been with the unit 6 months or whatever has more experience than you. Sit back, keep your mouth shut, and observe your surroundings. Secondly... this one will be hard to wrap your head around as well(but it is very very important to grasp) ... but you don't know your job. You can tell me you do all day, I'm still going to tell you that you don't have a clue... Because you don't. You know the textbook sure and the right answers to put on that NCLEX-PN (I hope) you've done some clinical time that kinda gives you a taste but still don't have any idea. This plays again into the point I just made observe and learn. If someone asks something of you and you don't know, for the love of god, just say you don't know. Be blunt about it. Say "I don't know, but can you teach me." and that is vital before you even begin to think about taking that next step. You need to learn your job at your level inside and out, then learn the jobs of everyone around until you can do those, then learn the jobs of those above you.

and now back to your question. I'm going to give you the keys to success here too.

First what I said about "sit back, keep your mouth shut, and observe your surroundings" was the gods honest truth. I'm not saying be a recluse, get to know your people and all that jazz. Mainly watch how the clinic/hospital/wherever operates on the day to day. Look at your fellow jr enlisted and identify who among them are overall squared away soldier and who the dirtbags are. Stay away from dirtbags... misery loves company and perceptions are a bit of a bitch. stick around them and people will just associate you with that. Next observe your NCOs your good NCOs and your bad(you're going to meet a lot of both). Learn from both. Whats makes the good NCO good? find out and add it to your bag of tools. same goes for the bad NCO. Why is he/she a bad NCO? Note the reasons and avoid doing that.
Being a fresh out of AIT soldier, no body is going to be expecting much out of you initially. This is a good thing, gives you the ability start on the right foot and make that good impression. Just not with your words. Let your actions do it. which takes me to the most important quality you have to know.... I know you've heard and it's really simple. "right place, right time, right uniform." As a jr enlisted that's about it. hit those three and be ready to work. Actually if you pull that off you'll stand out immediately.
Next... a big one that is missed everywhere(especially in a hospital)... military bearing, don't lose it. You'll notice off that bat probably that people you work with (other e4s/e3) probably have a relaxed posture around other NCOs or Officers. Don't take that as the standard, that comes with developing a strong working relationship. Do stand at attention for my docs every time I'm handing off a patient? No. but if they come talk to me in an "official" capacity you bet I do. Same goes for NCOs. Upon arrival though, do it every time until you're told to relax.
I already mentioned the PT, so just get hot on that.
and another thing you can start doing now and preparing for are boards. Not promotion boards but soldier of the month boards.
Soldier of the Month Boards is something you can start studying for now and when you get settled in your new unit you can tell your NCO that you want to go to one. SOM is a great way to get your face and name in front of your senior enlisted in a positive light. Your first time your might kill or get nervous and brain dump. It doesn't matter, don't get discouraged and keep studying and working at it and going back until you win. Boards are all about (knowing the knowledge obviously) but having confidence in yourself and your decisions.. I've been through company soldier of the month all the way up through qtr SOM.. your board members will probably try to mess with you, try to get you to change an answer... just have that confidence. You'll get that with just getting up there and doing em.
Start with your Soldier and NCO Creed and ... Army History.. that's an easy topic.

http://www.armystudyguide.com/content/army_board_study_guide_topics/index.shtml

Good Luck.
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SGT(P) Practical/Vocational Nursing
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Thank you.
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SSG(P) Battalion S6 Communications Ncoic
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SPC Joyner, everyone that commented gave you great advice a d you should take it and continue to get better everyday. With that being said I will now add my two cents. For someone as early in their career as you are, it is worth something that you are are already thinking about being a leader. You should continue to do so. Throughout my career, I have heard that you should be thinking two ranks ahead. As a PFC, I already knew what my NCOs were supposed to be doing by reading and studying and asking questions. I also had to be patient and wait my turn and my leaders saw my potential. I will also suggest you get to your unit, and get enrolled in correspondence courses and college. Do everything you can to make yourself more marketable so when the time comes for your leadership to send you to the promotion board, it is impossible for them to say no.
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SGT(P) Practical/Vocational Nursing
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Thank you, SGT.
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MSG Intermediate Care Technician
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Cakes and pie you got your name updated and proper. Outstanding.
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PFC Aaron Hyatt
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You could just ETS instead.
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SGT(P) Practical/Vocational Nursing
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Thank you, SPC.
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SPC Infantryman
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Score a 300, great job on all your schooling. But 230 isn't that high once you're out of TRADOC. It may seem like it because you only need a 180 to graduate, but once at your unit everything is competitive and guys are coughing 300s. I would advise you hop on the train. Good luck and Godspeed
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SGT(P) Practical/Vocational Nursing
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Thank you, SPC.
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SPC Infantryman
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No problem, initiative goes a long ways. Keep it up
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MAJ Ken Landgren
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You need to be a stud in every facet of the game. APFT score is not good.
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SGT(P) Practical/Vocational Nursing
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Thank you, MAJ. I will continue to work on my PT score.
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MAJ Ken Landgren
MAJ Ken Landgren
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I was in AIT and was applying for OCS. Every afternoon I ran, did sit ups, and push ups to get me close to 300. If you want to be a stud, be a complete stud. Show them you are NCO timber. Give them no choice to send you to school. This philosophy will take you far.
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CPT Pedro Meza
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SPC , you need to do what is called time in service, were your leadership see how you deal with lower enlisted and how you do your work, plus how you handle challenges, your assumption that just because you acquire points is justification to qualify for WLC is short sighted.
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1SG Civil Affairs Specialist
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Master your craft at the Specialist level. You absolutely MUST do that to prepare to be an NCO. You also must assimilate the lessons that the "real world" has to teach about getting things done that the academic world of TRADOC just can't give you.
You are doing a lot of things right and have accomplished quite a bit at this early stage in your career. No go out there and put it into practice. Keep going as you have, and your leaders will notice.

WLC is a gate through which we all pass. I'd say give it about six months or a year in your unit and then reopen this dialogue with your FLL. Let him/her know that you are interested in going to the school.
In the meantime, prepare for the course by getting good at some of the things in it that you likely haven't seen, like giving a class, marching a formation, and troop leading procedures.
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SGT(P) Practical/Vocational Nursing
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Thank you, 1SG.
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