Posted on Jan 23, 2023
When I go to AIT as a prior service, should I explain the circumstances around my previously being chaptered to every DS/Leader above me?
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Quick history, i joined the army in 2019, passed basic training and became MOSQ. During AIT i had a female drill sgt that was up to no good (cheating on her husband, etc.) And she would constantly compare herself to me in the weirdest ways because my PT scores were better and some other things she was jealous about- she always wanted to prove herself to be better than me. Which is weird for a DS,
Anyways
After becoming MOSQ, receiving my certificate, and about to go home the first sgt and commander decided to chapter me for the stuff my drill sgt lied about. Yes, I tried fighting it. No, it didnt work. I was a PVT and she was a DS it was her word against mine.
I have 18 months of prior service.
I since then rejoined and am leaving for AIT tomorrow, (iv been waiting at reception for 5 days and I am considered prior service here)
My question is do I need to explain my entire situation to every DS/Leader above me.
Reason being, its a lot to explain and I really want to leave that BS in the past. It sounds bad enough being a chapter. And even worse saying “It WaSnT mY FaULt”
But i dont want to withhold information if it’s important.
Thanks for your advice.
Anyways
After becoming MOSQ, receiving my certificate, and about to go home the first sgt and commander decided to chapter me for the stuff my drill sgt lied about. Yes, I tried fighting it. No, it didnt work. I was a PVT and she was a DS it was her word against mine.
I have 18 months of prior service.
I since then rejoined and am leaving for AIT tomorrow, (iv been waiting at reception for 5 days and I am considered prior service here)
My question is do I need to explain my entire situation to every DS/Leader above me.
Reason being, its a lot to explain and I really want to leave that BS in the past. It sounds bad enough being a chapter. And even worse saying “It WaSnT mY FaULt”
But i dont want to withhold information if it’s important.
Thanks for your advice.
Advice
Prior Service
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 14
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Why would you want to explain that to anyone? To what end? If you are shipping out that means that the people that matter and the powers at be are allowing you back in to serve regardless of what happened in the past.
My recommendation is to keep it to yourself. There is no reason to sell your story to anyone at this point. It will only confuse people and poison the proverbial well. You are able to serve and you have been approved/processed to do so. The best thing you can do is put the past behind you and serve honorably.
My recommendation is to keep it to yourself. There is no reason to sell your story to anyone at this point. It will only confuse people and poison the proverbial well. You are able to serve and you have been approved/processed to do so. The best thing you can do is put the past behind you and serve honorably.
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SGT (Join to see)
Thank you ssg, what would you recommend i say when higher ups and drill sgts ask me about my prior service out of curiosity and just being friendly?
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
That is your personal information and releasing it to someone could prove to be self incriminating or harmful in the long run. I strongly recommend keeping it as vague as possible if not keeping it under your hat entirely. Once someone thinks there is a shred of gossip they will keep hounding you and you will be known for what happened in the past instead of you trying to serve in the present. Nobody is trying to "just be friendly". They want you to spill the tea.
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SGT (Join to see)
SSgt Christophe Murphy So if they directly ask how many years i served, what would you respond if you were in my situation?
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
SGT (Join to see) - You said you have 18 months of prior service. That would be the answer. You can continue to be vague. The further you get into the weeds with rehashing your complicated past with a former Drill Sergeant the more you risk creating new friction out of thin air. You don't have to unroll this drama for every single NCO you run into. It won't bring anything good.
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Nobody is going to care about your prior service. You're either with the IET students or with the Prior Service students. The Drill Sergeants absolutely do not care what circumstances brought you to their doorstep, they have a bunch or IET Soldiers to babysit and keep from eating lead paint chips. They just expect you to keep a safe distance from the IETs and stay out of trouble.
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SGM Jeff Mccloud
I know times have changed, but I just can't believe that a DS would want to strike up a casual conversation to hear some trainee's whole backstory.
In my OSUT PLT we had prior service SGTs and SSGs with CIBs and right shoulder scrolls, and the DS did not give an eff.
In my OSUT PLT we had prior service SGTs and SSGs with CIBs and right shoulder scrolls, and the DS did not give an eff.
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PV2 Glen Lewis
I can't say positively but my guess would be that if you did that it would be conceived at an attempt to curry favor, would be resented an cause you more harm than good. I'd say do what you rejoined to do and afterward you know the drill.
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I doubt your higher up folks are going to care enough to want to walk into those weeds.
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SGT (Join to see)
Unfortunately Iv come across a few curious drill sgts in my 5 days here so far… each time they ask how long i served i just joke and say “not long enough, i missed it” they usually never ask further after that. But im nervous for what to say once i say this and they ask again “how long”
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MSG (Join to see)
SGT (Join to see) - When I came back into the Army after a 5.5 year break, I was Prior Service status for my new MOS at AIT. At that time, I was wearing SPC for a grand total time of 9 years. No one cared that I was a 9 year SPC. Cadre didn't want to know nor cared to know.
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GySgt Kenneth Pepper
SGT (Join to see) - Continue what you have been doing. I would definitely refrain from saying my former DS lied about about me and I got sent home. It will not sit well.
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I had prior service guys in, unless you're an NCO they didn't care. They were allowed to wear prior earned ribbons so they looked "cooler" than all the new shiny boots.
Don't volunteer information to make IET worse than living under TRADOC already is.
You're prior service sure, but you're a PFC. Make it through IET and everyone afterward is not really going to care or even know any better. Soon you'll be a SPC and it's in the past.
Don't volunteer information to make IET worse than living under TRADOC already is.
You're prior service sure, but you're a PFC. Make it through IET and everyone afterward is not really going to care or even know any better. Soon you'll be a SPC and it's in the past.
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SGT (Join to see)
I was a SPC when i got out, since i was out for a bit they had to take my rank down one. Hoping to get a waiver back up lol
I just ask because iv had a lot of drill sgts asking me about my prior service just trying to be friendly and stuff.
Thank you
I just ask because iv had a lot of drill sgts asking me about my prior service just trying to be friendly and stuff.
Thank you
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Do not bring any from your past. It is a small Army. I would just show them who you by performing. I would just act like a PFC that is happy to be there.
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No. Just No.
Don't mention it, bring it up or refer to it.
You got a chance for a fresh start, take it and be the best soldier you can be
Don't mention it, bring it up or refer to it.
You got a chance for a fresh start, take it and be the best soldier you can be
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I wouldn't volunteer anything. If asked conversationally I would smile and say something like "Anything you can think up is way more interesting than what actually happened." If asked officially I would politely say "I wouldn't want to get the details wrong. it's all in my files"
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First let me say that some of the details make the entire story feel questionable -- I don't think you are lying, but the story is what anyone would call "complicated" and that makes it hard to explain and hard for anyone to accept without getting way down in the weeds.
Regardless of the validity of your story, there is simply no reason you should try to explain yourself to anyone UNLESS THEY ASK -- the bottom line is simple enough: If anyone asks, you have two possible answers to choose from (1) That's None Of Your Business; or (2) The Truth. Those are the only two answers to consider, and in both cases they apply only if someone asks specific questions. Yes, "I'd rather not discuss it" is a perfectly acceptable answer to most nosy personal questions, especially from anyone not directly in your chain of command.
There is perhaps a 1% chance that anyone might ask about your chapter or other personal questions unless you bring it up yourself. The most anyone is likely to ask about are things like your previous MOS, your rank, where you were stationed, and what job you actually had. Those all call for simple direct answers that you should be prepared to give without embellishment or additional commentary.
If you are coming back as a 56M, you can (and probably should) explain your whole life story to the Chaplain once you reach your unit, but it's not relevant until then.
Regardless of the validity of your story, there is simply no reason you should try to explain yourself to anyone UNLESS THEY ASK -- the bottom line is simple enough: If anyone asks, you have two possible answers to choose from (1) That's None Of Your Business; or (2) The Truth. Those are the only two answers to consider, and in both cases they apply only if someone asks specific questions. Yes, "I'd rather not discuss it" is a perfectly acceptable answer to most nosy personal questions, especially from anyone not directly in your chain of command.
There is perhaps a 1% chance that anyone might ask about your chapter or other personal questions unless you bring it up yourself. The most anyone is likely to ask about are things like your previous MOS, your rank, where you were stationed, and what job you actually had. Those all call for simple direct answers that you should be prepared to give without embellishment or additional commentary.
If you are coming back as a 56M, you can (and probably should) explain your whole life story to the Chaplain once you reach your unit, but it's not relevant until then.
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Unless asked, let it be/ You have been accepted, so if Recruiting in happy, then it wasn't a problem.
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