How will Drill Sergeants treat prior service coming into training ?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 14:35:19 -0400

I got my conditional release approved, and now i go to meps next week. I plan to switch to 11B so i know i have to go to atleast the second half of Osut. I don't really care about how im treated because i know DS have a job to do, but how will they treat/react to someone that's already in the Army ?

Response by SGT Rodrigo Contreras made Oct 11 at 2019 2:38 PM

SGT Rodrigo Contreras — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 14:38:54 -0400

More will be expected of you. You will be expected to be a leader in terms of your conduct and professionalism. Live up to it.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2019 2:39 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 14:39:29 -0400

That is going to depend on the Drill Sergeants you get/have. I've reclassed twice (to 12B and 68S), and both times the Drill Sergeants left us Prior Service alone. They may put you in charge.....they may not. They may send you down the hall away from the IETs or not. Sadly, you will just have to wait and see when you get there and report in.

Response by SGT Dave Tracy made Oct 11 at 2019 3:08 PM

SGT Dave Tracy — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 15:08:27 -0400

We had a couple reclass guys who jumped into Week 7 or 8 of my OSUT. They were treated with a greater measure of respect than the rest of us, and as they were always on their game, they never gave reason for the DS to come down on them, like...ever. The rest of us looked to them for guidance and they were able to help us out a lot. These reclass guys had never left the service, so they weren't the purest form of "prior service" as they never had a period of separation, so I don't know if that difference matters or not.

Good luck!

Response by SFC Michael D. made Oct 11 at 2019 3:21 PM

SFC Michael D. — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 15:21:05 -0400

I went to Drill Sergeant School at Benning. I got promoted to SFC while in the course. I was the only medic in the course. No mercy is what I got. Hopefully you'll have it easier.

Response by CPT Lawrence Cable made Oct 11 at 2019 3:39 PM

CPT Lawrence Cable — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 15:39:01 -0400

If you are in shape and know your stuff, you will get treated with more respect than the rest of the recruits and may get assigned one of the leadership positions if there are some weak ones. Other than avoiding some of the make work stuff while you are in Cantonment, you are going to do everything everyone else is doing, in the field, and usually in the rain. Welcome to the Infantry.
By the way, get Airborne on your contract if you possibly can do it. Air Assault is a lot easier to pick up later.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2019 3:42 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 15:42:04 -0400

Depends on how you perform.
Perform like a Soldier, and you'll be treated just fine.
Be proactive, and help other Soldiers.
Keep in mind that it's not just the DSs, but the entry level Soldiers will have spent a couple of months together, and they will also have some expectations, cliques, etc.
Hopefully, you have been doing some hard physical training, so are at the same level of fitness as they are. If not, both the DSs and other Soldiers are going to take issue with it, even if they say nothing.
You'll do fine, and you'll be treated better, as long as you perform.
Best wishes.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2019 4:55 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 16:55:31 -0400

You’re switching to infantry, you better show up fit and motivated, understand that more will be expected of you, but that you are there to learn as well so don’t deviate from the prescribed standard. Also don’t bring any bad habits as they pertain to Soldier tasks, weapons, etc., because the IET Soldiers will pick up on that and the DS’ laser-focus on you immediately.

Response by SSG Brian G. made Oct 11 at 2019 7:14 PM

SSG Brian G. — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 19:14:38 -0400

It is going to depend on you and also the drills you get. Treat them with the respect the deserve and follow orders, even if you do not agree or like them and you should get treated the same as any other prior service, that is you will not get the lockdown drill that most green recruits fresh out of basic get.

More often than not drills leave prior service alone. But every now and again you get some that ride the piss out of you. Just accept it and roll on. The class is only so long. Suck it up, embrace it, make a game out of it, do what they demand and roll on.

Response by SFC Ralph E Kelley made Oct 11 at 2019 7:17 PM

SFC Ralph E Kelley — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 19:17:34 -0400

They're are going to expect you to be a GOOD influence on the other trainees.\
NO SOUP FOR YOU !!!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 11 at 2019 9:12 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 21:12:57 -0400

I left the guard and reclassified to 11B as a newly promoted SGT and it was the best decision I made. I had it rough when I showed up, they put me in charge of a platoon and gave me hell the entire time. I did what every young naive soldier did, I bitched, complained and kept thinking I made a bad decision but I worked hard and did what I was supposed to as a leader and more. I had some great DS and they shook my hand at the end and told me they were impressed with my performance and said I showed a lot of potential. So my advice is get in there and show them (trainees and DS) you want to work, get your hands dirty and you’re not afraid to make mistakes. You won’t regret it.

Response by CPL Gary Pifer made Oct 11 at 2019 9:35 PM

CPL Gary Pifer — Fri, 11 Oct 2019 21:35:10 -0400

To be honest... get an MOS where you learn a good career skill.. 11B and 19D crippled me.. deaf one side..crosseyed
Bi Polar.. I'd go to the VA hospital and talk to some 11B's... I Laid in bed all day...

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2019 8:26 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 08:26:05 -0400

“Hope for the best, plan for the worst”.

I would go expecting to be treated like every other E-1 there. Listen. Don’t think you know it all. You’re there to learn or else the army wouldn’t be spending the time and money to send you there. Yes it might suck to be treated the same as every E-1 when you have time in the army, but it’s just a short window of time and then you’re through. Keep your head down and listen just like when you did BCT and AIT the first time around and you’ll be fine.

Response by SSG Brian L. made Oct 12 at 2019 9:46 AM

SSG Brian L. — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 09:46:55 -0400

You will get what you give.... act like a dirtbag get treated like a dirbag... simple as that. For me I will lean on you and expect you to help keep trainees in line and if you can give me your best I will treat you better however you act like your one of them then you will get what they get.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 12 at 2019 10:51 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 10:51:35 -0400

From my experience they will treat you somewhat better. When I went though OSUT we had three prior service and they didn’t have to do the bs that the rest of us did like fire gaurd and what not. They still had to do the training stuff but they were treated fairly better and all

Response by SFC Domingo M. made Oct 13 at 2019 5:31 PM

SFC Domingo M. — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 17:31:34 -0400

Hopefully you will get the benefit of the Drills guidance and leadership. Learn your new skills and accept responsibility and you should expect a lot less of the motivational stuff. I did my three years under the Hat and it's the way I dealt with prior service..

When I did my Basic at Ft Bliss in 1969, a prior service member helped me get through my training. You should help you fellow trainees as much as possible. You will be noticed and the benefits will show.

Response by CPL Sheila Lewis made Oct 14 at 2019 3:50 PM

CPL Sheila Lewis — Mon, 14 Oct 2019 15:50:16 -0400

No pedestals here.

Response by SGT Robert Martin made Oct 18 at 2019 12:07 AM

SGT Robert Martin — Fri, 18 Oct 2019 00:07:49 -0400

No different than any other trainee.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 7 at 2019 6:38 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 07 Dec 2019 18:38:23 -0500

Depends on the company. In all honesty they are going g to have to respect that. You will be considered an MOS-T