When should an 18xray take first leave home?

Larry Goodwin — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 23:52:32 -0400

When should I take first leave signing 18x contract

Response by Larry Goodwin made Oct 20 at 2021 11:59 PM

Larry Goodwin — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 23:59:19 -0400

I've had some people say wait till after selection and others say before selection just wanting to get some tips from anyone who may have some good points to consider

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2021 1:34 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 13:34:06 -0400

To answer the question, you will be first eligible to take leave after completing selection. You must complete the 4 week selection. If selected, you will be given a Q course date. If you do not complete selection, you will be reclassed into needs of the army and the first available leave you will be able to take is either at the conclusion of OSUT or AIT.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2021 1:48 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 13:48:04 -0400

The pipeline is so long that the only reliable date you can give is that you will have an exodus each Christmas, or at your first duty station if/when you become one of the 90+% who don't make it through to finish.

Seriously, if you haven't signed your contract already, don't sign up for 18X. You can attend Selection at any time you want in the Army without signing a five year contract and being obligated to an MOS you don't want if you fail or get injured

Response by Larry Goodwin made Oct 21 at 2021 11:02 PM

Larry Goodwin — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 23:02:52 -0400

I was told around months to a year till you get to the Q course and that's when I was thinking about getting leave is that a good time to go home? I live in the mountains and will be keeping up on pt and rucking

Response by SSgt Christophe Murphy made Oct 22 at 2021 7:56 PM

SSgt Christophe Murphy — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 19:56:28 -0400

I admire your confidence but you should take some of the advice with a grain of salt.

As much as you probably think most of the old timers on here are busting your chops it comes from a place of genuine honesty. Maybe too honest but it has zero malicious intent.

Every branch has some sort of platform that is extremely narrow.

My first duty station was with the USMC Silent Drill Platoon in DC. I xtremely difficult to even thread the needle and be on station for the annual Silent Drill School in the Fall. 75 % wash out rate. They generally only retain 12-18 of the 60-80 students who actually attend the first day of training. It’s a mix of luck just to be there if you pass the early stage screenings for height, weight, background and everything else they check. Then it’s 4 months of drill all day from darkness to darkness Monday-Friday.

Just like anything else they are looking at competency but also character and will power. Plenty of folks can hack the physical but if you are a bad egg or d bag you turn in your gear and you are out of the barracks before the other students know you were dropped.

Same thing happened when I was on Embassy duty. School is strict and they look at everything. To include being too cocky.

Just do the work and don’t over think it. But remember nobody shows up to get dropped or shows up to quit. Everybody showing up has the same vision you do.

Response by Larry Goodwin made Oct 22 at 2021 11:46 PM

Larry Goodwin — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 23:46:06 -0400

I appreciate your guys advice, I know selection is meant to thin out those who don't want to be there mentally your mindset has to be sound your performance more than top your team work is almost the most important factor and the biggest challenge is mental.