Should I contact a unit myself in order to get assigned to it?

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 12:43:26 -0400

So, I've received an email giving me assignment ''instructions'' that to report to Fort Hood this coming February, and I'm aware that SSGs and below do not usually receive pinpoint orders until arrival at replacement BN. Have any of you ever contacted a unit yourself in order to see if there is a billet, and have gotten assignment orders for that unit. My goal of becoming a Drill Sergeant did not happen because my branch manager said she doesn't assign OCONUS soldiers for Drill Sergeant duty. I have an itch to be an instructor of some kind and I found out that III Corps at Hood has an NCO Academy. Would be cool to see if I can get an assignment as an SGL. Any advice?

Response by SSG Brian L. made Jul 23 at 2017 2:06 PM

SSG Brian L. — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 14:06:53 -0400

I always try to call to find out Battalion at least if not company or smaller.... the sponsorship program tends to be a joke but maybe you can find someone on the inside if you know who you are going to to help you out. Call Brigade S1 and start asking them.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Jul 23 at 2017 3:08 PM

SGM Erik Marquez — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 15:08:14 -0400

It doesn't really work that way replacement and the G1 will put you where they believe your needed most by MOS and rank

That said if a brigade CSM where to contact G1 and plead a case with justification and an open slot you might get to that specific unit sometimes with that brigade CSM doesn't know is that a different unit is more critically short and even though A single unit slot might exist for the requesting CSM some other unit has four empty slot and you'll be going there because of that

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2017 4:17 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 16:17:16 -0400

Have you dropped a DS packet to DS branch they can delete your orders and give you DS orders sometimes. I would give them a call and see what they say.

Response by CPT Aaron Kletzing made Jul 23 at 2017 6:39 PM

CPT Aaron Kletzing — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 18:39:17 -0400

It can't hurt to try. But usually the Replacement Battalion/Co assigns you based on needs, if you don't otherwise have pinpoint orders

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2017 9:55 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Jul 2017 21:55:01 -0400

Unless things have changed you won't get pinpoint orders unless you are a SFC or above. Don't worry because NCO academies are always looking for instructors. Within a year or less your BN CSM will be asking for volunteers

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2017 8:30 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 08:30:31 -0400

To my understanding Pvt-SSG normally don't receive pin point orders. You get order to replacement BN.

Response by CSM Richard StCyr made Jul 24 at 2017 10:09 AM

CSM Richard StCyr — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 10:09:17 -0400

I did at Fort Lewis as a SSG, my orders had me reporting to a heavy material supply unit's construction section. I had already served in one in Germany and was familiar with the mission (thought someone else could benefit from the exposure to a logistics unit).
I went to the 864th before signing in; asked for an appointment with the CSM, left him my I love me book for a read ahead and when I met him asked if he thought I could contribute to his unit. He raked me over the coals for about an hour, like going to a fricken board and before I left his office he was on the phone with the post reception station assignment section and had me diverted to B co. 864th to serve as a Squad Leader.
So in my opinion it's your career, if you have an assignment that you need for career progression and know where the slots are, go for it. The worst that can happen is that you get turned down and have to go where they send you.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2017 8:44 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 20:44:05 -0400

I actually recently did this when I came back to hood. It's a 4187 requesting assignment and a letter of acceptance from csm. However once put on pin point you now have to get approval from gaining csm and losing csm all the way up to brigade. If they all sign it it then goes to 3 corps to review and sign. It took mine about a month to finally get signed at 3 corps

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2017 10:47 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 22:47:02 -0400

Literally walked into the batallion I wanted to go to and asked if they needed snipers. Boom hired on the spot. Showing initiative doesn't hurt.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 28 at 2017 2:21 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 28 Jul 2017 14:21:54 -0400

Unfortunately contacting an unit will not get you to the Brigade you want to be assigned too. More than likely you're already on someone's projected gains roster to fill a position of a Soldier that unit is losing.