Posted on Jun 30, 2022
What are some tips on how to be a good Private?
11.3K
182
54
13
13
0
So I’m at my first duty station, just arrived a week ago. I’m obviously the new private that doesn’t know much. I struggle with retaining information if it’s not hands on learning, I really do try though. Im just frustrated these last few days looking like a jerk because I don’t know anything in front of my team. I don’t wanna look weak, I wanna get bigger and stronger/smarter. I haven’t been home in 7 months and about to go on deployment in a few months, life is crazy right now. Do you have any tips? I really want to be here but these last few days just have been a mental toll more than anything. I know it’s not supposed to be easy.
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 37
First off, I wish your mind and body wellness now and in the future. You cannot effectively do your job if you are not mentally together. Although it may sound contrary, you should seek guidance first from your squad and platoon leaders. If this is not helpful simply be candid about what you need in order to accomplish YOUR mission effectively. Remember, before you are of any use to others, you must take care of yourself. This does not make you look weak, it actually says that you care enough about your unit and it’s mission accomplishment than anything. You are simply trying to be the best you can be by staying engaged in your responsibilities. Again, I wish you wellness. Have a blessed military career!
(2)
(0)
Being a good Private entails using the life skills, courtesy, wisdom and common sense you should have learned from your parents and teachers.
(2)
(0)
The best advise I can give is the same advise I was given as a PV2. Always have pen and paper with you to take notes on any information given to you. Always show up to formations 15 minutes early in the proper uniform and with all required items needed for the training, tasking, and or mission. You should never have to be told you need a haircut. Always ask for clarification on anything you do not understand. And lastly, but most importantly, ALWAYS listen to your NCOs. Your NCOs are there to train you, instill/maintain discipline, supervise the Soldiers assigned to their care, and to implement the the orders of the officers/NCOs in a fair and impartial manner.
Talk to your NCO and let him or her know what issues you are having. You will be surprised by what assistance they can give you.
Talk to your NCO and let him or her know what issues you are having. You will be surprised by what assistance they can give you.
(2)
(0)
Keep a notepad in your shoulder pocket. Write down every acronym and term you don't know. Write down what you are told to do. Write down SOP/process/COA. Write down anything also new to you. Review it in your off time; you have a huge advantage in being able to fill in the blanks with the Internet. Carry a pair of gloves and EARPRO and EYEPRO with you at all times you are in your duty uniform, as well as your tags and ID and barracks key. Memorize your weapon and other equipment serial numbers. Memorize your chain of command up to division. Soak up information like a sponge. Only ask questions on the spot if you NEED to know right then. Speak little other than to acknowledge and to volunteer for every detail.
If you have a POV, arrive fifteen minutes prior to every time you are given (so if you are told ten minutes prior, pretend the requirement is twenty-five minutes instead). If you lack a POV, arrive an additional ten minutes prior.
If you have a POV, keep it squared away and secure. Put USAA renter's insurance on your armor and your brain bucket and your plates and other equipment, as well as your personal electronics, because there is almost always some POS at a barracks low enough to steal from you, and you likely will still have to pay for the lost equipment. Do not try to take charge, but when you know what you are doing, do not try to limit your competence and responsibility to the rank on your chest. If you are an eleven bullet-catcher and a buck private, you need to be able to max your PT test, qualify Expert, and know your tasks and drills. (battle drills, first aid, calling in a nine line, radio operation, weapon capabilities, etc.- stuff you covered in detail in basic). Make those your biggest goals and work on them off duty if you can.
Weekends: Do not blow your paycheck on stuff like clubs, strippers, alcohol or pimping your ride. Every attractive business around a military installation makes its money off dumb privates. If you are under twenty-one, avoid parties altogether. Do not make ANY major decisions (vehicle purchase, big electronics purchases) without requesting advice from your squad leader, who should also talk to your platoon leader. Do not buy a new vehicle, do not buy any vehicle that would require more than twenty percent of your monthly salary. You will be hammered on insurance and on loan rates, and you can't simply add a side job. Remember, everyone who loans you money or uses installments knows they will get their cut from you no matter what- you have a guaranteed government check, they can go to your first sergeant if anything manages to interrupt your payments, and they almost certainly will have the money taken directly out of your paycheck without you even seeing it.
Spend time with your team leader or squad leader on a weekend; someone should be inviting you to some function like a BBQ. Try to befriend the E-3s and E-4s. Get a mentor. If no one is reaching out to you, request a PRIVATE counselling/mentoring session with your squad leader or team leader, and request permission to speak freely. Explain your goals and your concerns and your doubts. Help your fellow privates get better, especially where you are stronger than them, and of course ask their help at improving yourself.
Any leader will have seen scores of new privates like you, so your situation is very common. Obviously no one wants to be the weakest link. At the same time, you seem to want to actually succeed, so asking for private mentoring/counselling is important. If you ask questions or discuss personal concerns publicly, there may be circumstances around you that will make the responses less considerate and professional. Asking why and what may be fine privately, but it also may also be misinterpreted as weak or disrespectful by bystanders, and that likely will get a response from your leader that is harsh- he can't allow himself to look weak when dealing with a possibly impertinent private.
If you want career, start by distinguishing yourself physically (PT score), mentally (your tasks and drills), and in marksmanship. Go to the Soldier of the Month Board. Once you redeploy, try to go Air Assault or Airborne (not hard to pass but you will have to get support to go there in the first place). Your future goals should be EIB and possibly Ranger or even Sapper.
If you have a POV, arrive fifteen minutes prior to every time you are given (so if you are told ten minutes prior, pretend the requirement is twenty-five minutes instead). If you lack a POV, arrive an additional ten minutes prior.
If you have a POV, keep it squared away and secure. Put USAA renter's insurance on your armor and your brain bucket and your plates and other equipment, as well as your personal electronics, because there is almost always some POS at a barracks low enough to steal from you, and you likely will still have to pay for the lost equipment. Do not try to take charge, but when you know what you are doing, do not try to limit your competence and responsibility to the rank on your chest. If you are an eleven bullet-catcher and a buck private, you need to be able to max your PT test, qualify Expert, and know your tasks and drills. (battle drills, first aid, calling in a nine line, radio operation, weapon capabilities, etc.- stuff you covered in detail in basic). Make those your biggest goals and work on them off duty if you can.
Weekends: Do not blow your paycheck on stuff like clubs, strippers, alcohol or pimping your ride. Every attractive business around a military installation makes its money off dumb privates. If you are under twenty-one, avoid parties altogether. Do not make ANY major decisions (vehicle purchase, big electronics purchases) without requesting advice from your squad leader, who should also talk to your platoon leader. Do not buy a new vehicle, do not buy any vehicle that would require more than twenty percent of your monthly salary. You will be hammered on insurance and on loan rates, and you can't simply add a side job. Remember, everyone who loans you money or uses installments knows they will get their cut from you no matter what- you have a guaranteed government check, they can go to your first sergeant if anything manages to interrupt your payments, and they almost certainly will have the money taken directly out of your paycheck without you even seeing it.
Spend time with your team leader or squad leader on a weekend; someone should be inviting you to some function like a BBQ. Try to befriend the E-3s and E-4s. Get a mentor. If no one is reaching out to you, request a PRIVATE counselling/mentoring session with your squad leader or team leader, and request permission to speak freely. Explain your goals and your concerns and your doubts. Help your fellow privates get better, especially where you are stronger than them, and of course ask their help at improving yourself.
Any leader will have seen scores of new privates like you, so your situation is very common. Obviously no one wants to be the weakest link. At the same time, you seem to want to actually succeed, so asking for private mentoring/counselling is important. If you ask questions or discuss personal concerns publicly, there may be circumstances around you that will make the responses less considerate and professional. Asking why and what may be fine privately, but it also may also be misinterpreted as weak or disrespectful by bystanders, and that likely will get a response from your leader that is harsh- he can't allow himself to look weak when dealing with a possibly impertinent private.
If you want career, start by distinguishing yourself physically (PT score), mentally (your tasks and drills), and in marksmanship. Go to the Soldier of the Month Board. Once you redeploy, try to go Air Assault or Airborne (not hard to pass but you will have to get support to go there in the first place). Your future goals should be EIB and possibly Ranger or even Sapper.
(1)
(0)
Shut up, listen to those with the most experience, study your job, and do your best. Stay away from braggers, troublemakers, and shitbirds.
(1)
(0)
Follow orders! If it is an unlawful order and will not cost harm or loss for someone - follow the order and then go see your chaplain. A soldier is only as good as his/her chain of command allow them to be but you have to stay in your lane and concentrate on each task step by step. Take notes that will help you to retain the information that you may not be able to fully remember...
(1)
(0)
SFC Charles Dennis
CPL T.A. Nelson Sorry you had bad leadership that taught you. However, I did have some terrible leaders as well, and would never follow an unlawful order to get along. That may be why I was able to make it to SFC
(0)
(0)
CPL T.A. Nelson
SFC Charles Dennis I made it to CPL and then didn't follow a unlawful order and they demoted me and tried to give an Article 15. Only because I went to JAG did the Article 15 not stick. I learned from them the statement that I gave as advice. They specifically stated that unless the order will cause harm to yourself or others, follow the order and report it up the chain, your chaplain, the unit rep for the particular violation or JAG itself. Only by following this path do you protect yourself and others from punitive actions. That is from JAG. I give the advice of those specialized in the subject...
(0)
(0)
SFC Charles Dennis
CPL T.A. Nelson Makes since and I was thinking something like that happened to you.
(0)
(0)
CPL T.A. Nelson
SFC Charles Dennis I got my rank back but that was because my Spec. Ops unit ensured that I did. It was my home unit that had horrible leadership, which was known throughout Fort Bragg...
(0)
(0)
I would say to you as my friend, everyone has been where you’re standing. Not everything comes easy, it can be a struggle. Don’t give up, and don’t give in either. You are just starting out on your career. Things will come with time. If you’re truly in doubt, talk to your Fist Sergeant privately, talk to your Chaplin privately. Most of all I will tell you to believe in yourself. You didn’t get this far by chance. You worked hard, did what you were told. You can do this! Have faith in yourself.
(1)
(0)
Listen intently, Private. Remind yourself you are doing this for your country, not to get a paycheck. When you’re in class and it’s something you e never heard about before like guns, tanks, planes from another country, relate it in some way to something you know back home. Hold your head up, be courageous, and listen to the drill sergeants/cadre. Jump when they say jump. No questions.
(1)
(0)
I'll add that don't worry about getting laughed at, or poked fun of or intimidated for asking questions.
Sometimes the quickest way to getting information is allowing someone to lord their superiority over you.
That said.............. as a PVT don't over think it.
There are three kinds of soldiers in a Commander's computer.
1) Those with individual file folders with their name on it for disciplinary administrative action, and flag actions.
2) Those with individual file folders with their name on it for promotions and awards filled with DA 638's.
3) Those without individual file folders at all that disappear into administrative clutter of just running a company. These soldiers aren't flagged, aren't late on training or medical appointments, and are lining up their ducks for the next promotion or advancement.
#3 should be your first goal.
Here's a little simple recommendation. Print out your Clothing Record, and check off all the equipment you have been issued to make sure you have it.
If every PVT passed PT, wasn't late on medical, kept up to date on annual training and had accountability over all their issued equipment, and showed up in the right place, right time, right uniform then we almost wouldn't need squad leaders.
Sometimes the quickest way to getting information is allowing someone to lord their superiority over you.
That said.............. as a PVT don't over think it.
There are three kinds of soldiers in a Commander's computer.
1) Those with individual file folders with their name on it for disciplinary administrative action, and flag actions.
2) Those with individual file folders with their name on it for promotions and awards filled with DA 638's.
3) Those without individual file folders at all that disappear into administrative clutter of just running a company. These soldiers aren't flagged, aren't late on training or medical appointments, and are lining up their ducks for the next promotion or advancement.
#3 should be your first goal.
Here's a little simple recommendation. Print out your Clothing Record, and check off all the equipment you have been issued to make sure you have it.
If every PVT passed PT, wasn't late on medical, kept up to date on annual training and had accountability over all their issued equipment, and showed up in the right place, right time, right uniform then we almost wouldn't need squad leaders.
(1)
(0)
So much great advice from the SNCO community. I've started from scratch several times in my life, the second time as an E-1. With everything said, don't forget the perspective piece. You are in a period of drinking from a firehose. It's tough to swallow only the good stuff. But your eyes and ears work. Observe the quality and ineptness out there. Focus on becoming the former and not the later. You will see things you don't understand. You can't process all of it, but you can be selective on what you do. Good NCOs will keep their eye out for you and steer you in the right direction. BTW, don't wait. Focus on the task at hand and step forward ready to do the next one. Don't sit and wait. Get up and seek. Always report task completion immediately. There is an old saying that no good deed goes unpunished. It's true, but everything else gets punished more. If you get a larger and more independant task, that's a sign that your competence is being noticed. Not a bad thing.
(1)
(0)
Yes. First thing you want to find for yourself is some map grids. The more you collect and give to your sergeant the more likely he will think you've got it going on.
(1)
(0)
The biggest thing is breath ! Like everyone is saying ask questions watch what others do. Be yourself. If you get overwhelmed tell somebody we all were there at one time
(0)
(0)
Like others have said keep your eyes and ears open, mouth shut (unless it's to ask questions). Learn as much as you can. 15 minutes early is on time, on time is late, if a formation is at 0900 be there in the right uniform and squared away at 0845. Pick and choose your friends carefully. Just as there are E-1 though E-4 that would stab you in the back, there are some NCO's that will also. Don't go out and buy a car with your first pay check. Don't be a barracks Rat. Yes you have a lot to learn and it'll seem like you are getting hit from all sides at once, but you need to have some down time to unwind, relax & recharge your batteries. Have your uniform for the next day ready before you go to bed.
(0)
(0)

Suspended Profile
For religious bullying email [login to see]
IS this an obvious answer to the question the way it was worded? Obedience really would help the private in question. When I was in the Army they only asked me to do what I was supposed to do, anyhow.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next