Posted on Dec 31, 2018
What does Army Basic Training look like for a prior service E-7? What is the TRADOC 350-6 not telling me?
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Prior Air Force Master Sergeant (E-7) heading to Army BCT (Ft. Benning) as a Sergeant First Class (E-7) in 3 weeks. What does basic look like as an E-7?
Posted in these groups: 
Drill Sergeant
Basic Combat Training (BCT)
Prior Service
Fort Moore
Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS)
Drill Sergeant Basic Combat Training (BCT) Prior Service Fort Moore Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS)
Edited 7 y ago
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 97
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Yeah they should pull you aside and brief you before the training starts.....probably when you report in. I will tell you when I went to Air Assault School, we had a SFC complain publicly in front of the PVT, PFC's........the whole class that as a SFC he wasn't going to pull guard duty on everyones equipment while they breaked for lunch and he found it insulting he was on a work detail with Privates. Eh, my advice is never do that because the NCO Cadre tore him a new azzhole publicly in response. Just be very formal and humble at Ft Benning your first priority is to learn. Asserting rank while in an Army school is always a bad idea unless your told otherwise. Let the other NCO's tell you what is OK and not OK when they brief you prior to training.
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1SG Eddie Jones
It was always understood that in school everyone is equal. I went to 1SG Academy my instructor was a MSG, in class he out ranked me.
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LTC Anthony Merola
I'm going to assume that the writer who re-enlisted is presently a slick-sleeve, so whether he got any rank back or not, the trick is to be humble, low-key and eager to learn. His experience and quiet, mature presence will manifest itself later on when he mentors the other younger trainees and encourages everyone to work together.
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SFC (Join to see)
Well I can say win I went thru basis I was lucky and got put with a bunch of Vietnam vets and they took us who wanted to learn under their wing and thought us after hours how to be a soldier. The drill sergeants were so impressed how learned so fast that we got out of a lot of the details. During the day they let the instructor do their job and never corrected them or shows any disrespect. I learned a lot from those guys. So with that said be humble and help them not disrespect them.
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SPC Steven Nihipali
That SFC was a dumbass... glad he got tore a new one. If he wasn't willing to pull guard duty and help instruct, might as well demote him to 1 already
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I don’t know but Damn you are really going back to basic? God bless you and good luck.
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MSgt Scott Barker
Sgt Robert Shaw - Great rank, wasn't it? I put on buck sergeant on 1 May 91, the last day it was given out.
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SSG (Join to see)
As I understand it, An E-4 Buck Sergeant was essentially a Corporal. NCO responsibility without any more pay.
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MSgt Scott Barker
Essentially yes. Promotions to E-4 were automatic. You put on E-4 Senior Airman (at your three year time in service point, could vary through "Below the Zone" competition) for one year, then automatically became an E-4 Sergeant. This simply changed you from airman to NCO status. After that you tested for E-5 and above. After May 1991, buck Sergeant was discontinued and you stay as a Senior Airman until making SSgt (E-5) through testing.***Note - That was then....don't know if it has changed since.***
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SrA William Hull
I entered the Air Force as an E-3 due to prior experience in ROTC. I was in Basic for 11 days and released to my Tech School on what they called, at the time, a Proficiency Advancement. I would expect prior service to have the same option to request the "short run" in Basic.
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https://www.army.mil/article/122708/55_year_old_back_in_basic_training_after_37_years
SFC John Taffe might be able to help you out.
SFC John Taffe might be able to help you out.
55-year-old back in basic training after 37 years
Soldiers from Company D, 3rd Battalion, 10th Infantry Regiment, look just like any other Soldiers from a Basic Combat Training company -- but one individual has people doing double takes. That's because Sgt. 1st Class John Taffe is 55 years old.
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WO1 Dave Middleton
In 1970 WOC school I was surprised that so many prior NCOs quit because they could not deal with the harassment from the TAC officers. We. Newbies were to dumb to know any thing different. It was like basic on steroids. The couple of Marines who had transferred to the Army to fly, though, laughed at how light the harassment was.
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SGM (Join to see)
I was a DS in D 3/10, late 80's early 90's, at FLW (not when this Soldier went through) and then my son was a DS in the same BN but in C Co. Nothing triggered this comment except that I saw the caption of his BCT. He must have gone on to AIT somewhere else, maybe even on post.
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CPT Daniel Cox
WO1 Dave Middleton - As a prior enlisted, when I went to West Point they came down on me for "smirking" too much. I could not take Beast Barracks seriously and always wore a sly smile with the games the upperclassmen played.
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PFC Clive Heckenberg
Went back into the army reserve (Australia) at 57, no issues if you are fit & can ‘play the game’. Still got chewed out a few times, as expected!
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In case anyone is wondering; Ft Benning is not as bad as people think. The 30th AG isn't as soul sucking as I've read. All E5 and above are separated from the PVTs. As an E7, every Drill Sgt I have been in contact with has been curious about my story and extremely respectful. I am also very respectful and have military bearing at all times.
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Wish you the best of luck, have no idea how you're going to be treated as a SFC going through basic.
When I went through basic many moons ago we had a Vietnam veteran SSG re-entering the service that went through basic with us. He completed all the training we did but was quartered separately. Remember him working with the guys who were slow on the uptake to help them learn stuff. I don't remember the DIs screwing with him, but to us he was a Demi God.
When I went through basic many moons ago we had a Vietnam veteran SSG re-entering the service that went through basic with us. He completed all the training we did but was quartered separately. Remember him working with the guys who were slow on the uptake to help them learn stuff. I don't remember the DIs screwing with him, but to us he was a Demi God.
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COL Jon Lopey
CSM: When I went through USMC boot camp in 1972 we had a former Army sergeant and Viet Nam veteran in my platoon. He was an All-Army wrestler as well. He was a good man but dropped out of a long run and he was relieved of his guide position. He was older (26 or 27) and I always felt for him because he was a big guy and took some punishment. They made him a "House Mouse" as well, I think because he was in the Army. He was going into Marine aviation and only got PFC (E-2) out of boot camp as well. He made it so we had a lot of respect for him. He wore his Viet Nam ribbons during graduation, which raised his status in our eyes too. Thanks for your distinguished service! COL L
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I went to jump school as an e7. Act like an NCO get treated like an Nco. Do the training as it is presented. You doing it with enthusiasm and leading the way soldiers will respect it. Cadre will notice and if my experience counts will treat you like an nco.
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If the (former) Master Sergeant lets his leadership, experience, and maturity do the talking, the training cadre may grant him a space on the fast track, allow him credit for his previous experience, and defer to him as an SFC. If he runs his mouth and tries to throw his stripes around, the Cadre will mark him a trouble maker and give him all manner of extra attention.
(Kind of like the senior NCOs and Officers going through SF School... Training Cadre cares not for your stripes...)
(Kind of like the senior NCOs and Officers going through SF School... Training Cadre cares not for your stripes...)
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Understand that all trainees are on equal footing. They come to training with different backgrounds, but when you are a trainee, you are a trainee. As a leader you should understand that this is a learning experience. Don't try to throw your rank around with the cadre or your fellow trainees. Share your experience, but don't be to proud to do any task assigned. You will be held to a higher standard because you're not some punk kid fresh out of high school. To echo what others have said: remain humble and accomplish the mission. BCT is a mind game, have fun, learn what you can, and strengthen what you already know. Welcome to the Army!
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In 2003 I was promoted from Intelligence NCO to 1SG in an Armor company, and went to Armor Basic. The cadre was overjoyed to see me, and loudly told everyone within hearing that I would be in charge of the school starting at 1630 every day, and they would go home.
I immediately held a formation, and announced that anyone who was jailed after 1630, would still be in jail the following morning when I reported them AWOL. I further said that anyone who knocked on my door after 2100 had better be bleeding.
At the end of the school, the cadre told me this class had less problems than any previous one.
So my advice is probably obvious:
1) You are in school to LEARN. If you know everything already, don't go.
2) Extra duty is the price of rank. If you didn't learn that, you haven't earned your rank yet.
3) There is NOTHING demeaning about proving you can do any job you expect your subordinates to do. In fact, if you can't, you haven't earned your position yet.
4) Set the example.
I immediately held a formation, and announced that anyone who was jailed after 1630, would still be in jail the following morning when I reported them AWOL. I further said that anyone who knocked on my door after 2100 had better be bleeding.
At the end of the school, the cadre told me this class had less problems than any previous one.
So my advice is probably obvious:
1) You are in school to LEARN. If you know everything already, don't go.
2) Extra duty is the price of rank. If you didn't learn that, you haven't earned your rank yet.
3) There is NOTHING demeaning about proving you can do any job you expect your subordinates to do. In fact, if you can't, you haven't earned your position yet.
4) Set the example.
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