What does Army Basic Training look like for a prior service E-7? What is the TRADOC 350-6 not telling me?

I went to Army basic in 2015 at Benning as a prior service Air Force E6. I had my own private room with a fridge and my phone when not training. Had to show up to all the training but otherwise I was left on my own. Had most weekends from Saturday around 11am off and most nights too. For the most part I was incredibly bored. Can’t hang out with cadre or the private’s so I bought a flat screen and a play station to pass the time. Did some fishing too!! Good luck!! Drills told me I would stay in the barracks for the first 72 hours. It after about 30 minutes they gave me a key to their private shower and my own room about an hour later.

1. Keep in mind, you will be (maybe) subject to the same training as the kids. Lead by example- approach all tasks with vigor. Look at it like Airborne School- no ones rank makes them special- everyone is equally a trainee. Your experience/leadership is the only thing above the other trainees. And your rank/former rank does not count!

I learned as a recruiter that WO recruiters can pull from other branches. It’s amazing who can get into what as long as the proponents of each field sign off on it. I put in a prior E5 from the navy that went to Ft Jackson. They put him in the bay and made him do everything with the non prior service, just with stripes on his uniform. They put him in charge of everything too. He said his navy E5 buddy that went to try for 18X at Benning got separated in his own barracks with other NCO’s and kept his phone the whole time. He was given report times he had to be at morning formation. I thought the created a 6 week program for PS at Leonard wood you should have gone to but I guess they aren’t utilizing that. Looks like you might be there now, let us know what the newest info is from first hand experiences.

Remember to address the Drill Sergeants as 'Drill Sergeant,' not 'Sir.' If you call an Army NCO 'Sir' you'll get dropped. Good luck, Sarge! :)

Following this thread. Same position as you so any feedback you have on the process would be great. Has anyone heard of an approved waiver for BCT? OP - did you try to submit an ETP to waive BCT? I don't mind going through basic but it sounds like it's confusing for all parties involved.

A buddy of mine in my unit went back to BCT after a 15 year break of service. He was a prior drill instructor if the 11B MOS. He told me it was annoying to say the least, but he was separated from the Joes for most events, and got treated with much respect by his instructors.

Most WOC types go through BCT at Fort Jackson, how did you end up at Benning? One of my current students ( IERW) at Rucker went through at Benning, he said he had a great time, but he is 21 years old.

SFC Velado,

That is both awesome and awk...WARD! lol I can't even fathom what that would be like being an IET at Ft. Benning for OSUT, and seeing an E-7 training alongside you! haha

That being said, TRADOC 350-6, 4-13 (pgs 66 - 8) outline well the meat and potatoes of what will be the most important to you. From what I've heard though, it is night and day in the difference between what Ft. Benning was like when I was there (1993) and now. It sounds like both good and bad. I would imagine that one of the most challenging issues will be how you relate to other IET's as a senior NCO. The regs in 350-6 only go so far, and leave a pretty wide berth for the CO to adjust how he is going to have you involved, to varying degrees.

That will be one hell of an experience, wow! I do have to know, if you don't mind me asking...

...how did you manage to keep your grade coming from AF to AR? I am assuming it was predicated on an RCP based issue that would immediately nuke your entry, but not sure. I'd love to know if you don't mind. :)

Best regards.

In 2004 after 30 years of active duty, one year of management work, and two years of not much I was hired by DHS/CBS as a CBP Officer. At 51 years old I was the oldest in the class; and 6 weeks prior to reporting for training I tore my left knee’s ACL and Meniscus. In lieu of surgery I was fir for a custom made knee brace the same one that NFL and College linemen wear. Good thing I had TRICARE Prime! I told our class’s senior Physical Techniques (both PT and defensive tactics) of my “physical limitations; and said I would give it 110% but if I pointed to the corner and went and sat down I needed a break! He said fair enough but if he thought I was dogging it “we’d have a chat. That never happened. There were some days easier then others but I had to live up to the “age and treachery overcoming youth and ability.”
For whatever reason you’re going to basic as an E7 good luck! The key to remember is you’re the trainee; you are there to learn; but you can also help by mentoring others in your company.

Good Luck!

We actually had one in ours. They pulled him aside and asked if he wanted to skip the training and go other stuff. His response was pure leadership “I’m going to continue on with these guys and do everything they do I shouldn’t be treated any differently”...