What are some good, helpful tips or information for soldiers that aren’t typically known by leaders?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 19:54:37 -0400

For examples:

With credit cards, you can ask about the SCRA and Discover will change your interest to 5% for life and USAA will do 0% for deployment and 5% a year after deployment or PCS.

Another good one is transferring your Army Education for college credits and thus, also promotion points.

I’m just looking for other useful tips like the above for soldiers. All tips are welcome. Thank you in advance!

Response by CW3 Matt Hutchason made Apr 7 at 2019 7:58 PM

CW3 Matt Hutchason — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 19:58:43 -0400

The One Stop at pretty much all posts can give you information on those subjects and more. It is a vast resource for everybody. Check out the post website and see if they have any info on their one stop. Happy hunting.

Response by SFC Josh Weatherbie made Apr 7 at 2019 8:01 PM

SFC Josh Weatherbie — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 20:01:49 -0400

This is a great question.....
One piece of advice I’ll never forget:
Always use two-ply toilet paper or else you may get a piece of ass you weren’t looking to get.

You’re welcome!

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Apr 7 at 2019 8:03 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 20:03:49 -0400

If you plan on sharing GI Bill with family, you have to allocate at least 1 month to each dependent , accept the ADSO, then rearrange as needed. Use TA first!

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Apr 7 at 2019 8:06 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 20:06:27 -0400

AER changed direction a few years ago. They really just want soldiers to avoid predatory loans. For a one time life event, look at AER. Also you may be surprised that they will tell you to ask for more because requesters don’t ask for enough to get them out of a hole.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2019 8:09 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 20:09:25 -0400

Another one: ACS has a program now to pay for your soldiers car seat and they can even get the one that they choose.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Apr 7 at 2019 8:10 PM

LTC Jason Mackay — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 20:10:29 -0400

Multiple posts on here about finding lost awards, certificates, paperwork etc. hold on to your stuff! Keep a three ring binder in a safe place. Hand carry station to station. Cloud store PDFs. If it never made it to iPerms, it’s likely gone, and no amount of NPRC vertec requests will fix it. Permanent awards orders may be recoverable from the issuing HQ or surviving installation.

Response by CW5 Jack Cardwell made Apr 7 at 2019 8:11 PM

CW5 Jack Cardwell — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 20:11:14 -0400

Invest as much as you can in the new Blended Retirement System.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2019 8:42 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 20:42:14 -0400

Dude. Quit shilling for companies. Not cool.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 7 at 2019 9:05 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 21:05:42 -0400

If deployed and insured by USAA, you can get very low rates on the car you drive.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 7 at 2019 9:08 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 21:08:57 -0400

You can use your TSP for a personal loan at a low interest rate. It's not withdrawal so there's no penalty.
Enroll in college immediately, don't wait and don't let your TA go to waste. (this is the #1 most repeated advice I've heard from senior NCOS).
You don't have to be in your re-enlistment window in order to reclass.
Your DEROS isn't the day you get kicked out of country. It's used to determine your next report date.
If you're Infantry, you're in the fastest promoting MOS in the Army. I know it sucks the first few years, but you'll be bouncing back and forth between force generating assignments and operational assignments every three years.
Most people don't do in the civilian world what they did in the military. Looking for a job that gives you civilian skills is a red herring. The most important skill you walk out of the military with is leadership. It's worth more than a certificate as a lab tech or whatever other thing you like.
If you're going to reclass, go for something you like, not something you think will benefit you. Reasons, see above.
You can transfer your GI Bill at 6 years of service.
If you don't have 6 years of service, your spouse may qualify for MyCAA
When you Reclass and the course is less than 20 weeks, you're going TDY enroute. It doesn't matter if you're returning to clear and take your family, it's still TDY enroute.
Your unit can't get you Airborne school, but your branch manager can.
Ranger School is not about being tough.
Ranger School is a school, Ranger Regiment is a unit within USASOC and they have their own selection.
Special Forces are not Direct Action forces. They are not designed to kick down doors and be badasses, their job is to train foreign armies and many other things.
Delta force is still called Special Forces Operational Detachment - Delta once you leave. It's super secret when you're going there, but once you leave your ERB says SFOD-DELTA
If you want to be an officer, don't wait, there are age limits.
AGR is probably not an option for you. It's much more competitive than your Reserve Component Career Counselor made it seem. Lots of people leave active duty with the promise of an AGR job waiting and it dries up when they separate.
You need to start saving at least a year prior to separation.
IG is not a hammer you can smack your command with. They evaluate and advise on policy.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 7 at 2019 9:12 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 07 Apr 2019 21:12:48 -0400

How to price a car and run the numbers by USAA.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 8 at 2019 4:41 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 04:41:20 -0400

I was surprised how many guys didn’t know about Tuition Assistance

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 8 at 2019 10:33 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 10:33:40 -0400

- You can invest up to $10,000 with Finance and get 10% return after a year.
- You might be able to store a car at government expense upon deployment.
- A military family that is below the official poverty line should go to Finance to increase pay.
- You can google DTS Smart Book to help you with TDY funds.
- Play football on Fridays. When a team is scored upon, they have to do sit ups or push ups. Lots of cardio is involved.
- Find innovating ways to have fun. I got with the MEDEVAC pilots to fly my soldiers. We did a 4 mile run and a hot breakfast was waiting at the end. Then be bused them back. Pass down gift certificates for those who are studs.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Apr 8 at 2019 11:34 AM

SSG Carlos Madden — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 11:34:13 -0400

Check with your cell phone providers. Lots of companies offer better rates for service members and veterans.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Apr 8 at 2019 1:09 PM

SFC Casey O'Mally — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 13:09:30 -0400

All leaders know this, but no one says it to junior Soldiers until it is too late....

Don't buy the danged 2019 mustang convertible with leather trim and custom wheels.

Seriously.... One of the best things a leader can do for a new Soldier fresh out of AIT (or even in AIT if they can swing it!) is to sit them down for an entire day of financial planning. Talk about insurance rates, interest rates, the magic of compound interest, how the new BRS works, and why they should invest it. Return on investment, how to budget, whatever you would term the modern day equivalent of balancing a checkbook (calculate current balance, project current debits and scheduled debits, make sure number is still positive), benefits of renting vs. buying, benefits of buying vs. renting, how to calculate a good car / mortgage payment, how to shop for lenders, and plenty of other topics abound. Also part of this, for the married Soldiers, is fiscal responsibility to the family, and how to ensure that spouse and kids can still eat on the 30th (part of budgeting, but with a specific focus).

If there is still time left over, a quick class on alcohol, how it is consumed by the body, and the effects it has are not a waste of time.

I spent a lot of time with junior Soldiers going over this stuff piecemeal, and looking back it is something I REALLY wish I had formalized and created a PoI for, then pushed at every BN I was in. One day a month for all newcomers, consolidated across the BN - I feel it would have been exceptionally do-able both training schedule-wise participation-wise.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2019 11:51 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 22 Apr 2019 23:51:13 -0400

“I love me books”.. often times Soldiers are handed documents, certificates, records ext. and it is not impressed on them the importance of having a analog record of these things outside of OMPF. Simple, but a thing I’ve seen not used and later in careers come back to pose issues.

Response by PV2 Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 14 at 2019 7:59 AM

PV2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 14 Dec 2019 07:59:26 -0500

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Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2020 8:15 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 06 Feb 2020 20:15:51 -0500

Do your taxes through military onesource - for one: its free, two: its H&R Block software. Better yet, if you need help, you can call toll free and get tax help!