What is active duty like between the ranks of E-1 and E-4?

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 22:24:25 -0500

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2017 10:35 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 22:35:01 -0500

Slave labor, being treated like a child, unable to be blamed for anything, lots of wondering what is going on, very little responsibility....I think that about sums it up.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2017 10:38 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 22:38:59 -0500

It's great. You're put in charge of things. Given oodles of responsibility. Weekends and Holidays off.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2017 11:01 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 23:01:18 -0500

Hours of inactivity, followed by busy work of limited significance.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2017 11:09 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Jan 2017 23:09:18 -0500

SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member Active duty is what you make of it. Be a squared away soldier. Work hard to master your MOS and the duties of a soldier. Create opportunities to take on increased responsibilities so that you can earn promotions.

Response by SPC(P) Gildardo Navarro made Jan 7 at 2017 12:01 AM

SPC(P) Gildardo Navarro — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 00:01:50 -0500

go to the motorpool, cleaning out a connex millions of time, waiting around for hours for nothing. Work and pt. Field and range. Area beautification, lots of it. It sucks but some strange reason you love it.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jan 7 at 2017 1:24 AM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 01:24:28 -0500

Figuring yourself out because you have to grow up sometime. That's the time to nail down those good habits so they're second nature when more lives count directly on you. Other than that, try and remember you're not indestructible.

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Jan 7 at 2017 8:26 PM

PO1 Brian Austin — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 20:26:35 -0500

Doing mundane tasks "just because". Cleaning just to clean.
But also learn as much as you can about your MOS. Square yourself away. Try to take on increased responsibilities. Don't let the mundane and constant cleaning get you down, let the whiners whine.

Response by SGT Matthew S. made Jan 7 at 2017 8:42 PM

SGT Matthew S. — Sat, 07 Jan 2017 20:42:55 -0500

As others have said, lots of pointless "busy work", hurry up & wait, PT, cleaning... along with the opportunity to better yourself, both personally and professionally. As has been said, learn good habits - and don't forget to listen & learn from those with more experience in your field. Again, it is what you make of it. What you do in that time period determines much of how you will perform if/when you move on to higher rank(s).

Response by SPC Brian Mason made Jan 8 at 2017 2:08 AM

SPC Brian Mason — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 02:08:10 -0500

Who knows?
Actually a person's experience in the Army/military vary: duty station, MOS, their CoC, schedule for that year, etc. That doesn't even take into account the person's sex, age, ethnicity, work ethic, personality, emotions, health, marital status, kids, etc. In general lower ranking soldiers get hazed upon arrival for awhile and usually treated like crap. A soldier's experience greatly depends on how he or she acts and performs. There's no manual nor it is the same.
Do I regret joining? NEVER....As a Medic (68W) I enjoyed my job most of the time. Getting calls from the guys in the barracks to get an IV because they drank too much was frustrating. Good old Fort Drunk, NY.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 8 at 2017 5:17 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Jan 2017 17:17:48 -0500

PVT to SPC : Execute orders from NCOs and Officers appointed above you. SPCs are supposed to be groomed for initiation into the NCO ranks.

CPL: an E4 tasked with increased leadership responsibilities. Capable of doing majority of the things a SGT can do but without the corresponding pay increase.