What should I know before reporting to my first unit?

My advice to anyone new to the armed forces is this:
Always be in the right place, at the right time, and in the right (squared away) uniform. If you can consistently do that, your world will be a much happier place as most of the negative attention will be given to those who can't do those things. Beyond that, work hard, smoke the APFT, and LISTEN to your NCO's. Lastly, you're going to meet a lot of other Privates who are eager to show you where to go to get beer/women/etc. You're new and you'll want to fit in but I advise that you pass on the offer at first. There will be plenty of time to have fun, trust me. But when the new guy screws up he tends to get stuck with that label. You don't want that.

Ok a few things ' I'll keep this short and sweet so you can be squared away! Stay single , where a condem , keep your mouth shut , don't kiss ass and above all " never be late " oh almost forgot " keep track of all your paperwork ' especially medical !!!!

So much good info already provided. Look good in uniform, and make sure your actions reflect that uniform. Show up early and volunteer (yes, this may piss off your peers, but you do it, they won't be your peers for long). When they need a body for the motor pool, your right hand should shoot up EVERY TIME.

This won't help you as a private, but maybe it could, but it will help you as a young SGT trying to move forward. 1: You have no friends. Oh, you'll make them. For sure. But at the moment, no one is your friend. 2: Become buddies with a joe in S1. This makes life so much easier. 3: Make sure you are on e good side of the supply clerk. 4: Get in good with a SGT in the S3 shop. No one knows more about the 5 Ws than him. 5: Most importantly- be yourself. Bring *you* to the unit. Your strengths, your weaknesses. We aren't perfect. We make mistakes. Roger sergeant, and move on. But be you. Have personality (without crossing that line). Enjoy soldiering. Be proud. Have fun. Have fun. Every day, have fun. Ask questions. Learn one thing from every leader you encounter, whether it's something to do, or something you would never do. Learn. Love. Soldier.