What is AIT like as a reclassing NCO? Barracks, how you are treated, etc.

SGT Jon Conover — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 17:41:57 -0400

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Oct 16 at 2015 6:25 PM

SFC Everett Oliver — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 18:25:22 -0400

Goodness, I went back through AIT as a SSG in 81.... The students treated me like one of the cadre and the cadre treated me like a SSG... The instructors pretty much left me on my own, It was a self paced course that was supposed to take 16 weeks I did it in 9 weeks and they wanted me to stay as an instructor..... I turned it down....

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 16 at 2015 7:05 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 19:05:23 -0400

In today's TRADOC, there are a lot more fraternization policies in place than there used to be (such as what was mentioned by SFC Everett Oliver in 1981. Having recently gone to the Defense Language Institute as a SSG (which is an IET environment, though not MOS-producing, it has a lot of the same rules), I can tell you that TRADOC 350-6 will set limiters on EVERYTHING. If you are an NCO, MOS-T, that means you cannot spend off-duty time with IET. You cannot spend off-duty time with MOS-T junior Enlisted. You cannot hang with cadre of any rank.

Your pool of friends will be very limited to the few MOS-T NCOs available, and your social life will be determined by your involvement with your surrounding community, for the most part.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 17 at 2015 8:32 AM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 08:32:03 -0400

I briefly reclassed to 42A and attended AIT at Fort Jackson, SC.

I made points for SGT while there, but due to logistical concerns (they wanted to do a formal promotion ceremony) I wore SPC 3 weeks longer than I should have.

Anyway, reclass Soldiers were treated more or less like permanent party, in that we stayed in separate barracks, and our only requirements were to show up for PT in the morning and class by 0900. Once PT was over, we were basically on our own.

There was only one incident where the Heat Cat got to 5 and the schoolhouse CSM told all of us reclass Soldiers to unblouse our boots and sleeves like the IET Soldiers. Our class found the TRADOC reg that stated reclass Soldiers were to be treated like Permanent Party. When presented with this reg, the CSM said that he didn't care what reg we had nor where it came from, that we would do what he said, no questions asked. Word spread quickly and that got squashed by the end of the day. Otherwise, it was a pretty painless process.

Almost forgot-- since my entire class was reclass Soldiers, we completed the 8 week course in 6 weeks and graduated 2 weeks early.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Oct 17 at 2015 3:03 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sat, 17 Oct 2015 15:03:52 -0400

I reclassed as a prior service and it was like going to college. No Drill SGTs and lots of females and parties.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Nov 8 at 2015 3:08 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 15:08:50 -0500

I was a grunt and went aviation. AIT was at Fort Eustis and E-5^ stayed in the on post hotel. If you maxed out your PT test, you didn't even have to do PT with the AIT students. You were separated from the AIT students, went to different break areas, and had nothing to do with them. This intel is 20 years past the expiration date so tread lightly.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 8 at 2015 3:37 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 08 Nov 2015 15:37:05 -0500

Maybe like a soldier that would be my two cents

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 5 at 2017 1:51 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 05 Feb 2017 13:51:09 -0500

Who would ever want to leave the infantry?