Prior Service NCO attending BCT, anyone know what I should expect?

2015-08-24T16:13:05-04:00

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 4:42 PM

2015-08-24T16:42:41-04:00

Keep your head down and teeth together at first. The DS should be able to recognize the experience you have. When I was a Drill I had one and he played it cool. After a week or so I began to see it. Just remember all Drills are crazy in Red Phase

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Aug 24 at 2015 5:12 PM

2015-08-24T17:12:22-04:00

Expect the DIs to initially shit a brick. They will wonder if you are CID but once they realize you are not...if you are not...they will have you act as a Student First Sergeant or something similar. Or at least that is what they did to a soldier that I was recruiting who ended up going to BCT as an E-5.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 6:04 PM

2015-08-24T18:04:19-04:00

I would say that you should expect to hear WTF said a lot.......and not in the abridged format either

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 6:25 PM

2015-08-24T18:25:27-04:00

I went thru this about 10 years ago when I came back in the army. I would say expect them to expect a lot out of you. Be a mentor to the ones who have no experience and try not to strangle the ones that don't give a crap about your experience. Depending on your age be prepared for the old timer type comments. Be the leader, and you will enjoy your experience as much as I did. I really did enjoy it. Oh and you just can't fight it out like the old days.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 6:51 PM

2015-08-24T18:51:39-04:00

I went through BCT with a prior E5. He was initially put into a leadership position. From day 1 he established fire guard rotation and was student platoon sergeant. This allowed the DI's to focus on developing the new soldiers.
I expect you will be relied on to assist in a similar manner, while at the same time still learn and re-learn current basic skills.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 24 at 2015 11:42 PM

2015-08-24T23:42:21-04:00

I would go back to BCT right now without pay just to do it. I would love to experience it again with the training I've had up to this point.

Response by 1SG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2015 9:48 AM

2015-08-25T09:48:35-04:00

I think the Drill Sergeants will expect more out of you and may use you as an example at first. However, as long as you keep yourself squared away from Day 1, they will see that and you should be fine. Just don't get cute with any comments. lol

We had a E4 in our BCT. He wasn't prior service but had a Masters Degree. Different situation but they ripped that poor guy senseless. Hahaha

Response by SPC David S. made Aug 25 at 2015 10:07 AM

2015-08-25T10:07:29-04:00

I'm betting they will give you a lot of space as you will look like someone from CID - I would ask tons of questions like "How long have you known SGT X?" or "You guys ever play cards with the recruits for money?" However if they catch on that you're not CID - look out. Also the days of wall to wall are over - don't go adjusting some young bloods attitude. I went from Air Force to Army - but I was in my 20's at Dix. Hats off to you for getting back in the fight and best of luck at basic.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2015 12:26 PM

2015-08-25T12:26:51-04:00

The only thing I gotta say about the drill sergeant side is do not be lazy and let the privates outshine you especially on simple tasks. Do establish a professional line between you and the privates. I had a prior staff sergeant that had the soldiers not stand a parade rest when talking to him or did not address him by his rank instead of his last name. When it was his turn to run things they didn't see him as a leader but as an equal. It was hard for him to lead them. I had to to bring him to the side and explain to him that is why I brief the Soldiers to treat you as an NCO and brief him to maintain it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2015 2:34 PM

2015-08-25T14:34:19-04:00

You will be housed separately from lower enlisted soldiers, but will do everything the Soldiers do in BCT. All requirements are the same as BCT Soldiers. You will be able to wear your ribbons and everything else in ASU. If you need anything seen on your uniform the DS should take you to get that done.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2015 8:21 PM

2015-08-25T20:21:39-04:00

I know it's a bit different from AF, but I would like to hear back from you afterwards with how your experience was compared to going in as a new e1

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 25 at 2015 8:41 PM

2015-08-25T20:41:15-04:00

Please be in shape and don't fall out of runs or rucks... Had a prior service MP with an 82nd combat patch go through 19D OSUT with me in 1997 (I was a reclass PV2... welder reserves). We had a DS who also had an 82nd combat patch that initially loved having this SGT in his platoon. Then he fell out of a couple runs, but it was passed off due to him "getting back on the horse". The final straw was when he fell out of one of our first long rucks, at that point he was put into general population and treated like a private with the title of SGT.

Response by SFC Bruce Pettengill made Aug 25 at 2015 9:29 PM

2015-08-25T21:29:19-04:00

Reading through the comments it appears that you are going into the Army as a former Airman? As a Drill Sergeant then a 1SG in a BCTunit I would encourage you to do two things, first remember you are there to learn also and the biggest problem I would come across with PS from another service I would hear "that's not the way we did it in the Air Force"lead by example and develope the other leaders around you, I disagree with the other that said for you to make the other trainees stand at parade reet when speaking to you, although it normally works out that you will be a leader, but the time will come that another trainee of a lower rank could be in charge of you, you will not be able to be part of the team if you put your rank at the same level as the DS. Many times I would not put PS in a leadership position, but I would tell them to take a mentor role, the reason for this was simple, when you mess up, like a no go or you move in the wrong direction, I never wanted the others to get confused with the NCO and trainee. I would never care if someone was a plant (there never was in my units) most DS do the rights thing and they have worked to hard to do something that would mess up their careers. Secondjust be a mentor pay attention to the training and teach the others to pay attention to detail, and when it comes to details or duties, take the less desirable jobs first and show that you will do anything they will do. Do not ever complain about anything you have to look at the endangered get the trainees to do the same. remember you will go through impossible situations, undue stress and perhaps punishments to get the group to work as a team, I would spend as much time working with the recruiters and get to the PT standardsas the rest of the trainees, yes your pt tests point will be higher cause of your age, but you have to keep up with the rest of the platoon especially during runs or mass push ups, so if you are not in the shape of a 20 yr old get there before you go. Hope this helps

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2015 8:37 AM

2015-08-26T08:37:47-04:00

You should consider yourself way behind the knowledge curve. You should have a head start on leadership and military bearing. Your mos proficiency will be expected to be at the level of everyone else with the same rank as you when you arrive at your unit. You have to be motivated to learn. You will be in charge. If you are messed up then new privates will not take you seriously. Consider yourself as the model trainee that all other soldiers should emulate. Good luck and catch up.

Response by SGT Brandon Bergeron made Aug 29 at 2015 11:28 AM

2015-08-29T11:28:24-04:00

You'll be treated as prior service. And your duty day ends at 1700 but i do say do not mess with the recruits cause the DS will come down on you regardless of rank. I have seen it happen in my rotation back in 07 OSUT at FT.Knox.

Response by MSG Don Burt made Aug 30 at 2015 9:44 AM

2015-08-30T09:44:52-04:00

What to expect would depend on how long you have been away from active duty.
I would expect a lot of tip toeing over the egg shell of Political Correctness these days.
If you’ve been out say, for ten years then you’ll be treated ‘almost’ the same as the
recruits you’re surrounded by. You will ‘probably’ be given some respect as far as
details go, but that’s about it. Just be open to re-learning the basics and you can help
the other recruits by setting the standard and lead by example. The Drill Sgt’s will take
note of it and they will probably see just how much of a leader you think you are and if
you can, then you’ll have an edge from there on out.

Response by TSgt Gerardo Juarez made Jun 12 at 2017 10:28 AM

2017-06-12T10:28:12-04:00

Any more recent input on NCOs at BCT?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 15 at 2017 1:56 PM

2017-06-15T13:56:09-04:00

Since you were prior service air force, did the Army do away with the course for just prior service AF/Navy. I know back in the 90's when I was at Knox they had a 6 week course just for AF/Navy that wanted to transfer to Army. One guy came over from the Navy was 54. I went thru basic at 32 but was not prior service. Got called "pops" allot at Leonardwood.

Response by SGT Tj Wilder made Aug 26 at 2017 6:08 AM

2017-08-26T06:08:43-04:00

I'm reclassing from 91A to 19K as an E5 with one year break in service but was told I have to go back to day 1 bct since tanker is OSUT. My question is how did they treat you as aprior service NCO going back through bct?

Response by MAJ Richard Cheek made Dec 13 at 2018 8:57 PM

2018-12-13T20:57:03-05:00

As a former drill sgt I’ll tell you this.Act like a private get treated like a private. Show leadership, help your fellow soldiers, train like you need to learn something, you do but what you’ll learn will be a level above the other soldiers. I had some great prior service guys that were “force multipliers” and made my job easier. I had some that were worse than private’s their little noses were out of joint.

Response by TSgt Michael Baumann made Sep 10 at 2019 1:01 PM

2019-09-10T13:01:21-04:00

No, but would love to get some information from recent attendees. I should be going this fall as a prior service AF meteorologist. I spent 8 years providing met support to the 34th ID, so I have some field experience with the Army.