What can I expect at first duty station as prior service Army NG?

2018-09-05T02:47:46-04:00

I just signed a 3yr contract with Active Army, as prior service NG soldier who served 6 years. I have no idea what to expect showing up to my first duty station, and what the inprocessing entails. I’m already 12B qualified and will fill that MOS position in Fort Hood, TX. Anyone whose gone through this transition in the last couple years would be a huge help!

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Sep 5 at 2018 5:55 AM

2018-09-05T05:55:46-04:00

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member just come in with a " POSTIVE CAN-DO ATTITUDE" stay away from the negative (nay-sayers--this unit sucks) and listen/follow positive leadership! It will be alright.

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Sep 5 at 2018 6:06 AM

2018-09-05T06:06:26-04:00

Go to your duty station unit, do the paper work, and show that your there to do the duties assigned to you.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Sep 5 at 2018 9:56 AM

2018-09-05T09:56:53-04:00

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member Unless something has changed in the last year or so, be mentally prepared to be treated, processed professionally, with care and exactly like everyone else there..Privet to MSG. Same required processing, mandatory briefings and classes.
It can get tedious and frustrating if you let it. it also if your doing your job right be the break before the responsibility and work that is soon coming. It is about the only time while at FT Hood, you will be responsible for you, yourself and the person in just your uniform.. So relax, go left when they say go left, sit when they say wait and then back the other way because things changed... Its a process, it takes time, you cant change that and it will end..Smile.... meet folks, take care of yourself.

We moved from Corvallis Oregon (OSU) to Fort hood in 2005, it is a change of scenery thats for sure.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2018 12:14 PM

2018-09-05T12:14:10-04:00

Fort Hood has a centralized in processing system to the installation. You'll head to the Copeland Center once you get there, sign in, give them copies of your orders, etc. If you're a single soldier, they'll assign you a barracks room temporarily. Then they'll give you a schedule of where to be to take care of various steps of in-processing, to include morning formation and PT. After a few days of going through the different stations, there will be a mass orientation meeting, where afterwards, representatives of your unit that you will be joining will pick you up, and you go from there to your unit in processing and that concludes installation in processing.

Your active duty days will be whatever you'll be assigned. With the exception of having any weekend duties, it is the usual of 0630 PT, 0900 work call, 1130-1300 lunch, 1700 dismissal, with the exception of Thursdays for family time, which is a 1500 dismissal. But as the saying goes, your mileage may vary depending on unit policies and duty requirements.

You will be provided your first line supervisor, chain of command, NCO channel, etc and they'll get you squared away with anything else you may need.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 5 at 2018 1:40 PM

2018-09-05T13:40:46-04:00

Thank you to everyone who responded. I appreciate the positive advice, and I’m ready to fulfill another obligation and all the responsibilities that come with it. I was more looking for information in regards to what actually happens right when I get there for in processing, being assigned a unit, when will my sponsor reach out to me, housing (married with one kid), etc. Looks like I have a lot more information to better prepare myself!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 5 at 2018 3:04 PM

2018-09-05T15:04:06-04:00

Ask if you get a sponsor to show you around. You will go to an in process unit to settle things like travel and get your gear. I don't know if entails one or two weeks.

Response by SGT Tomas "Huey" Husted made Sep 5 at 2018 7:38 PM

2018-09-05T19:38:58-04:00

What I remember is jealousy, especially if you show up carrying rank earned as a NG. NG's and especially JROTC carrying rank upset the ner' do wells. Remember that when and if you run across these types of people because they've had their chance and maybe blown it.Personally I would say after 6 yrs with the Guards you have earned what rank you carry. As Cowboy said show them you are prepared to do your duties. Slope your shoulders a little so all the crap can roll off. I'm positive rp members will be pulling for you.

Response by SSG Thomas Werstlein made Sep 6 at 2018 12:16 PM

2018-09-06T12:16:14-04:00

When I did this back in '99 (AK NG to Active Duty assigned to FT Hood) I went through the reception BN where they gave me necessary forms for clothing sales so I could get uniforms, then off to CIF for TA-50, Medical, Dental, and finally down to gaining BDE. Process took about a week. Keep in mind this was back in '99 and A LOT may have changed. Ask for a sponsor and just go with the flow until you get to your gaining unit. Once you in-process your new unit get to work and kick ass. Be positive, stay positive, do your absolute best, have fun, and enjoy everything FT Hood has to offer.

Response by SGM Joel Cook made Sep 9 at 2018 6:31 PM

2018-09-09T18:31:08-04:00

I would start by saying hang on because you are in for a ruff ride. Unfortunately there is quite a bit of stigma towards NG personal in active duty units. It verges on discrimination in some cases. In my first duty station after AIT as a PV2, I went to Fort Hood and was assigned to 2/5 ADA as an M-577 Command Track driver for the BN S3. Right after I arrived we got another new guy in right behind me. He was a retread like yourself from NG. He was a SPC that had a Masters Degree in Horticulture and the guy could not be trusted to do anything alone because he would find a way to mess it up like a soup sandwich. Just as an example the section SGT sent him to the Motor Pool to spot paint TA-312 Field Telephones that spent a month outside during an FTX and they got rained on every day during that month. My squad mate showed him how to clean, sand, paint the first one correctly, then asked if he had any questions. We then went to replace track pads on our vehicle which is a two man job. It takes several hours to break and replace track and the new guy was supposed to join us when he was done painting phones. He never showed up so the SPC went looking for him after two hours. Found him sleeping in the CONNEX after he had dunked the entire phones down into the five gallon can of paint without cleaning or sanding them. Then laid them onto newspaper to dry. What a disaster. Ruined all the phones making them inoperative and required full rebuilding to get them to work. After that fiasco the S3 OIC said that guy doesn't take a shit without someone supervising him closely. The soldier didn't last six months before he was chaptered out of the Army for several more examples of gross negligence I won't go into. I apologize for the long story but almost every active duty soldier has a story like this to tell about NG retreads. My advice to you don't do anything leading to you being seen as ; THAT GUY! Your attitude, actions, and bearing should all be geared to making the best possible impression to dispel the attitude that NG soldiers are less than stellar. Go into your unit like you don't know everything. Ask tons of questions and take nothing for granted. If you are unsure of anything ask. I don't know if you have an active duty mentor but if you don't get a good one and bounce everything off that friend to see if it makes sense. I have two brothers and a brother in law in the Minnesota and Florida NG. We often exchange stories on how things are in active vs NG units. We all agree night and day difference. Good luck and good hunting!