To new junior enlisted with less than 3 yrs on, what are you enjoying about your service & what would you change?

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 01:52:54 -0400

I apologize to the other services but RP only gave me five options for the ranks so I went all Army. Just looking for a gauge on the take from the new batch of young guns.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2017 2:51 AM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 02:51:07 -0400

I just wish I went active duty right out of high school.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2017 4:45 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 04:45:13 -0400

I would change promotion requirements. Make them more MOS specific.. as a junior enlisted we look to our 5s and 6s for knowledge and experience and when it's not there were lost in the sauce. Keep the whole process there is now but implement more job knowledge. You shouldn't be able to lead a young soldier if you don't know what Joe is supposed to be doing on a day to day.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2017 9:15 AM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 09:15:15 -0400

Same I wish I had went Active Duty especially since my MOS Is INFANTRY I am In the ARMY GUARD and I am hoping after my AIT I can go Active.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2017 1:51 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 13:51:24 -0400

I keep seeing all the guardsmen saying "I should've went Active, and all the Active guys saying "I should've went guard." I'm guard myself and, yes, I've had thoughts about going Active but I'm actually more happy with the guard in that I get to go to school and start my civilian career sooner. So just embrace what you've got honestly.

Response by SPC Jordan Brown made Jun 8 at 2017 4:37 PM

SPC Jordan Brown — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 16:37:18 -0400

I almost wish there was a way to chose your component AFTER completing BCT and AIT because now I want to go Active Duty but i already signed for National Guard.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2017 11:13 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 23:13:08 -0400

I'm currently A reservist infatrymen it's so far is an good experience I went from Navy active to Army Reserve and I like the flexibility in the Reserves because I can pursue school and get my commission through ROTC I would not have had the time in the Active force otherwise I do want to go Active at a later date though but I'm loving my Reserve time so far just glad to be back in uniform.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2017 3:24 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 03:24:36 -0400

I tell all my family members and friends that enlisting was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. Could be my naivety, or the private in me talking, but I never realized how much I would enjoy the military. TRADOC wasn't necessarily enjoyable, but overall my experience was positive and memorable. If I could change anything, I would change the shitty infidelity that blatantly took place during BCT and AIT. Other than that, I echo what others have said, I wish I had enlisted sooner. I'm currently in the reserves, and I really wish I had just gone active duty as well. It just seems like an entirely different pace being on the reserve end. It's been really difficult trying to balance out family life, a civilian career, and education while still trying to achieve and exceed in the military. I felt like I had a lot of opportunities that were lost to me purely because I was in the reserve component. I understand why. Fortunately, my unit is currently about to deploy. My plan is to fill out my release forms to join the active component after deployment. I know the grass is always greener on the other side, but for the sake of financial, and hopefully, family life stability... I'm hoping the active component will be better. Can anyone weigh in on this?

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2017 10:35 AM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 10:35:03 -0400

I've been in for a little over a year now... if o could change anything it would be my mos... while I see the importance of having the mos of 14E, I often times wish I had a more meaningful Mos, such as 11b or 13b... I feel like 14 series doesn't necessarily contribute nearly as much as other military occupational specialties..

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 9 at 2017 5:48 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 09 Jun 2017 17:48:52 -0400

All in all I am enjoying my time thus far. Most of the things that I find I want changed are seemingly results of my attitude. I entered service in my mid twenties and as such I end up very annoyed with personnel around me. Unfortunately I then gravitate to personel that out rank me significantly which causes problems when I share opinions. One thing that I would like changed is housing policy. Currently to get out of the barracks you either have to get married or be a single E-6. Based in life experience and age would be good additions to the existing policy. Changes to the promotion system would be nice. It seems rather archaic. However I don't have any ideas to make improvements.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2017 7:04 AM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 10 Jun 2017 07:04:09 -0400

DO YOU HAVE A ACTIVE USAA ACCOUNT AND WANTS TO MAKE EASY

Response by PFC Jesse Kiepke made Jun 12 at 2017 11:16 AM

PFC Jesse Kiepke — Mon, 12 Jun 2017 11:16:01 -0400

Now granted, I ETS'd almost ten years ago, I only did four years active and only made PFC. I always thought for lower enlisted that the weight/fat requirements (and getting flaged for it) were a little ridiculous. In my experience I've know a whole lot of amazing soldiers, male and female, who were flagged for weight and put on remedial, denied advancement/promotion/schools/reclass/awards, and generally treated like a retarded child during morning PT. IMO, If you can pass your APFT, especially above the minimum 180, do your job, and conduct yourself like a professional member of the Armed Forces then you should never be flagged for weight.

Response by SPC Cody Ward made Jun 13 at 2017 11:09 PM

SPC Cody Ward — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 23:09:53 -0400

I would change pt and height and weight requirements. I get that everyone is a soldier first, but you can't argue that an infantrymans job is inherently more physical than an s1 clerks. Therefore, the requirements shouldn't be the same. I also think that if you have a good pt score, height and weight shouldn't be that important. If I can shoot a 300 9/10 times, who cares how much I weigh? I'm naturally a big guy, and would have to starve myself to get down to the "desired" weight. I pass tape every time with around 12-13% and have no issues with pt, so why do I still need to jump through the hoops?

Response by SGT(P) Jazmin Johnson made Jun 20 at 2017 9:08 PM

SGT(P) Jazmin Johnson — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 21:08:24 -0400

I enjoy everyday that I put on my uniform. I enjoy surviving the shit storms, going through tough shit and making it through unscathed. I love my job (15R) and how we're able to interact with ground forces in training exercises. I truly love being in the army, but it has been my dream since I was 6yo.
What am I not enjoying? It's not the army that raised me, I've witnessed a PFC yell at a SSG's without reprimand, I've witnessed our CSM have to apologize for using foul language in his motivating speech because someone didnt appreciate those types of words. Special treatment is okay, but corrective action isn't not. Not my daddy's army unfortunately.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 21 at 2017 2:23 AM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 21 Jun 2017 02:23:44 -0400

More disciple. I'm currently in AIT as a 25U in the army (NG) and I'm not sure how it used to be, but its definitely portrayed as being very disciplined and professional. Where as my AIT platoon sergeants really don't seem to care when people sham out or skip pt or just do trashbag things in general breaking rules. Not to mention how embarrassing it is being a part of our ate up formations marching to school/chow/etc. The discipline is definitely lacking.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2017 8:51 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 08:51:55 -0400

I like some of the training and the PT (I'm in an infantry unit so it's a lot different than what I did in AIT). It's not too bad but I don't really like how my unit handles things. It seems as if they don't plan ahead and just does stuff randomly at the spur of the moment. I do like that there is a lot of school oppurtunities. They push for Air Assault and there are oppurtunities for Ranger School as well. I already signed up for Air Assault (not sure when I'll go due to mandatory training), I want to do Ranger School in the future and eventually Pathfinder School if it's available.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 9 at 2017 10:42 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 22:42:14 -0400

I just graduated from airborne school a couple of weeks ago and I absolutely loved it and I'd recommend to all other lower enlisted to seize the opportunity if it's presented to them

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2017 9:48 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 21:48:27 -0400

I would love to see TRADOC policies for MOS training lasting more than a year be more lenient after a year.

Response by CPL Cory Bigos made Jul 11 at 2017 11:21 AM

CPL Cory Bigos — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 11:21:11 -0400

Get rid of SPC rank and only have Corporal, no automatic time in grade time in service promotions for E4 and below. Have MOS specific testing as well as basic soldier skill testing to promote. Fix semi centralized promotions for E5 and E6 so we don't have incompetent shitbags for NCOs. Bring back SGTs time and hip pocket training instead of having E4 and below clean all the time while NCOs play on their phones. Allow NCOs to smoke their Joe's instead of doing paperwork on them. Keep officers in their lane and let NCOs do their job.

Response by CPL Eric Escasio made Jul 25 at 2017 9:40 AM

CPL Eric Escasio — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 09:40:28 -0400

Thank you for your service and dedication

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 15 at 2017 1:20 PM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 13:20:31 -0400

N/A

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 18 at 2017 3:40 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Aug 2017 03:40:02 -0400

Something I would change is the type of food they serve at the defac. Our leaders preach to us about eating healthy but to us meal card holders we are limited to the food they serve at the defac, not that it's a bad thing but when I go to the defac there's nothing but red labeled foods and maybe one or two green labels

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 21 at 2017 11:29 AM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 11:29:22 -0400

Pay us more

Response by PFC Matthew Shoemaker made Sep 13 at 2017 5:19 AM

PFC Matthew Shoemaker — Wed, 13 Sep 2017 05:19:23 -0400

Be a government contractor

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 20 at 2017 12:40 PM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 12:40:18 -0400

Honestly I wish that they would take the training back to the 70s and 80s. I'm seeing a lot of undisciplined new guys that just don't care about their service or battles. They need to bring drill sergeants back to AIT and let them have free reign in AIT as well as basic.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 1 at 2017 7:36 PM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 01 Dec 2017 19:36:08 -0500

I wish I would have done 42A, I realized I love being in a office and doing paper work and organizing things

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 16 at 2017 5:18 PM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 16 Dec 2017 17:18:10 -0500

Enjoy:

-Comraderie
-Saying "Hooah" all the time and people echoing it
-Having a battle buddy and squadron whereas in Civillian Life, wandering aimlessly happens often to a lot of people
-Mandatory PT that inspires me to try even harder after cooldown
-NCOs that make me want to go downrange and bleed for them because they inspire me to bring my top performance without acting like condescending a-holes

Dislike:
-Hurry Up and Wait (If the manpower is there to do something or we can sleep, I'd much rather those options than standing in formation for an hr waiting for some event)
- Counselings only stay with your Unit
- Mass Punishment (We can't beat our Battle Buddies when they tell us to, "F*ck off" or "Play in Traffic" and NCOs don't want to hear about us complaining, "PVT Joe Tw@t won't wake up on time ever and refuses to clean." because we need to 'handle it at the lowest level'. So when PVT Tw@t is inevitably late and I have to be his battle buddy, we all end up in the Front-Leaning Rest. No issue since I can do push-ups and I thouroughly enjoy them, but being called undisciplined merely because other people don't get the memo is teeth-grating).
-Volunteering and enthusiasm/respect being seeing as "Cheese dogging or Brown-Nosing".

No regrets in joining however, and ready to do 30+.
"This We'll Defend."

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 24 at 2018 3:52 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Feb 2018 15:52:23 -0500

Marines that live in town should not be allowed to inspect rooms for feild day.

Response by Cpl Eric Honomichl made Mar 12 at 2018 3:12 AM

Cpl Eric Honomichl — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 03:12:11 -0400

I would of looked beyond the military as far as choosing a career path. I was Motor T it really it didn't really help me out in the civilian life.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 23 at 2018 8:54 AM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 08:54:32 -0400

I’m active duty and if there’s anything I’d suggest it would be the height and weight, I have a buddy rn that’s in process of being chartered and that’s crazy because he scores a 270 and the only thing is that he doesn’t meet tape requirements... also if there was an alternate way to promotion, instead of being questioned on the past they could ask us about what we work on and how it operates. I know that the history of the army and unit is important but that should be something most people should know, matter of opinion but that’s where I’m at.

Response by SGT Tim Finnell made Oct 25 at 2020 5:45 PM

SGT Tim Finnell — Sun, 25 Oct 2020 17:45:16 -0400

Newer members of all branches need to quit being so soft.