What are the biggest challenges for a new service member arriving at their unit for the first time?

2018-05-18T16:25:12-04:00

For the junior enlisted members who are new to the military, what are the things that concern you, you find confusing, worrisome or difficult as you arrive at your first duty stations?

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made May 18 at 2018 5:36 PM

2018-05-18T17:36:19-04:00

First thing is fitting in, second is making a good impression, third is getting along with the rest of the group.

Response by PVT Rich Burns made May 18 at 2018 11:07 PM

2018-05-18T23:07:35-04:00

Biggest fir me was, What is expected if me. It was harder when I PCSed to Ft Stewart my Second Duty stayion.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2018 11:31 AM

2018-05-19T11:31:26-04:00

I remember my first concern was hoping to feel welcome. I was escorted in to meet our Platoon Sgt on my first day with a smile on my face because I was glad to be there. (I am a naturally happy guy) The first thing he said to me was wipe that smile off your face, your hideous. I was confused and definitely did not feel welcomed there at all.

Response by SPC Jonathan Thomas made Jun 4 at 2018 7:42 AM

2018-06-04T07:42:54-04:00

Adapting to changes, relaxed settings and trying to maintain your military bearing.

Response by FA Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2018 3:17 AM

2018-06-08T03:17:59-04:00

The only real challenge for me is not being around my family as often as I used to be.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jun 8 at 2018 6:34 PM

2018-06-08T18:34:08-04:00

Every soldier or NCO had a sponsor to acclimate them faster.

Response by PVT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 31 at 2018 8:28 AM

2018-07-31T08:28:08-04:00

From my aspect it's trying to find people you can know and talk to when needing advice . When I got to my reserve unit I didn't know many abbreviations and s.o.p . Then I started talking with my squad Sgts who helped square me away.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 31 at 2018 11:46 PM

2018-08-31T23:46:31-04:00

To me it was the expectations of me since I came in at 27 with leadership background. Will I be Ok having a bunch of kids bossing me around. I still have trouble to this day with new E5s or even with my chain of command as most of them still don’t know how to be a mentor. I guess that’s why my career isn’t going the way I had hoped it would. Maybe the maintainer and noner mentality is just very different.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2019 8:13 AM

2019-05-26T08:13:11-04:00

The biggest challenge for me I would say was trying to get into the swing of things and getting out of the boot camp mindset. Also not knowing who to talk to or knowing anyone period.

Response by AB Edward Mondini made Jul 18 at 2019 3:59 PM

2019-07-18T15:59:39-04:00

A promising military career could be that much more rewarding if a mentorship program was available. Unfortunately, “mentor” seems to be an ugly word in all the wrong circles.

Response by SR Charles Meier made May 24 at 2021 9:39 PM

2021-05-24T21:39:58-04:00

Realizing that their is life beyond the cell phone and going through withdrawals from not having it attached to their hands 24/7 ...

Response by AB Roger Zauner made Jul 16 at 2021 2:35 PM

2021-07-16T14:35:39-04:00

Going to Church on Sundays.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Nov 23 at 2021 2:30 PM

2021-11-23T14:30:20-05:00

I told the unit every incoming soldier would have a sponsor to show them around post because it might take some time to understand the layout of a post.

Response by SGT Mustafa Stokely made Nov 23 at 2021 8:40 PM

2021-11-23T20:40:31-05:00

Ultimately, it will boil down to: a) Are you a responsible and respectful person, b) Can you be trusted to complete your tasks, and c) How others feel around you.

Even if you somewhat fail at the first impressions stage, not all is lost! When I arrived in what was then West Germany, fresh out of AIT for my first permanent duty station, I discovered that someone had stolen my bag containing all of my military uniforms, etc., from the cargo hold of the bus I was riding on. To make matters worse, my unit was about to deploy for REFORGER (a Cold War era major military exercise, aka Return of Forces Germany,) and there was not enough time for me to get new uniforms. I came into the army as a PVT/E1, and had been promoted to E2 in AIT, so there was some "latitude" there! :D

As things turned out, there was a SP6 (yes, they once existed!) who was similar in size to me, so I ended up borrowing one of his sets (think Vietnam Era uniforms!) What made things funny was that I looked very young, though had a SP6 rank sewn on my color, with a Vietnam combat patch, AND an aviator badge! (NCO's were once permitted to fly things in Vietnam, though apparently, this was a short-lived program.)

I remember the S3 and the Bn Cdr coming into our TOC, and there I stood, in my "stolen valor" solution to my missing uniforms! haha The Opns NCO, a seasoned MSgt was all smiles, having conceived a way to ensure I would not be left behind on post, while the unit was deployed for REFORGER. I am not sure why they simply did not remove the rank/patches, etc., from the uniform, but I think the SP6 in question likely objected.

It was interesting to see the puzzled way in which other junior enlisted folks interacted with me, noting my very young age, while also noticing the rank and Vietnam combat patch (I can no longer remember what unit the Spec-6 had served with...) At any rate, (I was told to keep my mouth shut, and this is what I precisely did!) A month-or-two later, I received my new uniforms, and this time with the correct rank pinned on, (not sewn!) and this, too, made folks very puzzled! ("Did you see Spec-6 Stokely, I think he was busted down to E2!" :D )

So, if I can recover from such a comical situation, you'll do just fine, so long as you do what you're supposed to do, and simply be someone folks will be comfortable trusting in. Best of luck to you!