I'm a high speed soldier, in a low drag unit. What should I do?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 10:39:33 -0500

I was in the infantry while in the Florida army national guard, put in a conditional release to active duty, and let's say I was a forced reclass, and now I'm a 88m, im with this unit in ft stewart
They are low speed, low drag a complete shit show and motivation killing, non career progression unit... I feel like I'm a dieing breed and I'm trying to stay gun ho and high speed but
The more I do me....the more I'm rejected... how to escape this shit. We go to Poland in may and I cant pcs till 2021 ...need some advice

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2019 10:55 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 10:55:53 -0500

How were you forced to reclass? How long have you been in this unit at Stewart?

Response by MSG Danny Mathers made Jan 12 at 2019 12:50 PM

MSG Danny Mathers — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 12:50:11 -0500

Who did you piss off? Going from Infantry to truck driver is a dead end. Were you an 11B or 11C? This does not pass the smell test.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Jan 12 at 2019 12:59 PM

LTC Kevin B. — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 12:59:51 -0500

You mean they are a high-drag unit. High-speed and low-drag mean good; low-speed and high-drag mean bad.

You should lead by example and try to improve the attitudes and performance of those around you, rather than looking to flee the unit. I've seen unit flip in an instant (from good to bad and from bad to good) due to people in formal and informal leadership positions.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Jan 12 at 2019 3:44 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 15:44:06 -0500

Get off the Net! Not good for careers to bash your current unit!

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 12 at 2019 5:11 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 12 Jan 2019 17:11:38 -0500

Sorry. HIGH SPEED in a HIGH DRAG unit

Response by COL William Oseles made Jan 19 at 2019 2:19 PM

COL William Oseles — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 14:19:30 -0500

When you go from NG to Active duty it is to meet the Needs of the Army.
From your post it sounds like you joined the unit with a bad attitude over being reclassed and 'I am Hot Shit'.
Given your attitude, if you do not get it under control you may get a PCS earlier to all the way out.
What you need to do is continue to do you best and shut down the attitude.

Response by SPC Christopher Benson made Jan 19 at 2019 4:34 PM

SPC Christopher Benson — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 16:34:49 -0500

Wow. Just wow. Seems like you’re the one holding you back. So you reclassed, you knew what you were getting into. You’re not IN THE NG anymore you serve when & where Big Army tells you to. For F@&# sake stop “doing you” & start meeting the requirements set out by your superiors & the Army. The Army is NOT the place to “do you”. Face it, you’re Jr enlisted, nobody is changing for YOU. Get a couple more stripes & some experience & then maybe somebody will take you seriously. Right now, with that attitude, you’re not doing anything to help yourself.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2019 5:36 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 17:36:01 -0500

Good attitude is contagious, same as having a bad attitude. Do your time, improve the unit, improve yourself, MATURE. If you’re really “gun ho”, SF and RB are always looking for new people.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 19 at 2019 8:22 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 19 Jan 2019 20:22:26 -0500

Put in your RASP packet to [login to see]

Response by SPC James Neidig made Jan 21 at 2019 2:45 PM

SPC James Neidig — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 14:45:27 -0500

First do your job / second volunteer for any extra detail you can get / third go to soldier of the month boards and promotion boards get promoted fourth do pt on your own , I did 6 years as an 88 m got medical out due to an accident got a job driving a big truck making $60.000 a year I am now retired at 58 years old with a good retirement

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 1 at 2019 11:52 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 01 Feb 2019 11:52:11 -0500

Did you out on your request to go the Ranger Regiment yet?

Response by MSG Louis Alexander made Feb 2 at 2019 8:44 PM

MSG Louis Alexander — Sat, 02 Feb 2019 20:44:28 -0500

Wait till reenlistment, than request Infantry, Airborne, Ranger than Special Forces that'll slow you down. If not, well you're be one hard charging individuals in the military today.

Response by COL Lars Braun made Apr 25 at 2020 6:21 PM

COL Lars Braun — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 18:21:19 -0400

If you are that high speed and those around you are not, you should shine and rise to the top. If you’re a lot of bluster, avoid real work, need a lot of supervision and validation you will not be happy as an 88M.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Apr 25 at 2020 6:23 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 18:23:09 -0400

Im so glad I never experienced this crap. It’s a reflection on the Sr Ncos who accept this and foster this toxic environment. The Commanders are so far removed they’re invisible, never ever saw the guy, so it’s not an officer issue. . Our 1st Sgt was legit, the Company Gunny legit, hence he expected his NCOS to be just that. He settled for nothing less, and he wasn’t a hard ass, he was honest and straightforward. I don’t understand this stuff is there a difference between the Marines and Army? Most of this stuff seems to be Army issues, maybe it’s more political, maybe it’s the size , with Marines there’s not many of us and we stuck together.

Response by SSG Stephen Arnold made Apr 25 at 2020 6:57 PM

SSG Stephen Arnold — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 18:57:18 -0400

Having serving in both active and ARNG units, I have trouble believing that you find the active unit to be a step down.

My experience was the opposite.

Response by PFC Shawn West made Apr 25 at 2020 8:02 PM

PFC Shawn West — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 20:02:55 -0400

Did no one ever use the phrase, "needs of the Army," with you? You're a soldier and you go where they tell you to go and do what they tell you to do. It sounds to me like you're upset with being reclassed. This post is a year old and if you were still at Stewart, you're likely in Europe now with no idea when you'll be coming back. It's part of being in the military. Nothing is for sure. Why not just do the work and eventually come home knowing you did your job?

Response by PFC Adam Murray made Apr 25 at 2020 11:26 PM

PFC Adam Murray — Sat, 25 Apr 2020 23:26:39 -0400

Dont do "you": do "Army".
That's your whole problem.
What are you, an induvidual?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2020 2:13 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 02:13:04 -0400

I was an 88m in my first unit and I remember we had a former 11B reclass join us. Man lemme tell you, his gung ho attitude was annoying as fuck. We were truck drivers and we knew our mission, and it wasn’t to “close with and destroy”. In my experience... well the reality is, your motivation might not be enough to push and engage those around you... Without the support of your leadership, your unit will continue to do as they’ve always done. That’s not to say they haven’t done any good things in the past or present... Your post sounds like you’re not where you want to be. Good thing for you is that there are highly capable, high speed units out there that do want motivated individuals such as yourself if I were in your shoes, I’d look at what other opportunities are available. Be it SOF, or maybe you just wanna 4187 to your (secondary?) MOS as a bang bang... Go see your career counselor. If you absolutely want to stay as a 88m, don’t let your those guys drag you down. I’d take the advice of some of these seasoned guys on here and seek ways to improve yourself as well as set you apart from your peers. IE boards (NCO of the month/ quarter, SGT Audie Murphy, schools, classes, duties (additional & voluntary), PT, etc. All while continuing to be a contributing and positive asset to your unit of course. Do the same for your joes who don’t know any better too. Remember, their success is your success. This quote is corny as shit but ”be the change you wish to see“ lol. Good luck.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2020 7:22 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 07:22:00 -0400

If you're as high speed as you think you are then find your way to RASP or SFAS. Surely an exceptional soldier like yourself will easily pass and all your problems will disappear! Absolutely nothing can go wrong with this plan.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 26 at 2020 3:39 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 15:39:25 -0400

"Low drag" is good, so you should call them "high drag"

Response by SSG Earl Corp made Apr 28 at 2020 7:09 AM

SSG Earl Corp — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 07:09:47 -0400

Suck it up buttercup