Posted on Jul 19, 2023
Sgt Connor ORourke
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I’m a prior service Marine Sgt with three weeks Gap in service before going to AIT as an 11x can anyone fill me In on what to expect or what’s gonna happen cuz nobody really seems to know and I just wanna mentally prepare I was a POG in the corps Jo
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Responses: 8
CSM Darieus ZaGara
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You can expect to be treated like every other Soldier, as you should not make the same mistakes recruits make you should have a normal ride. You will be treated with the respect due, but expected to perform at levels above that of a recruit.

You may also be called upon to withe lead an element, or mentor a trainee who has been selected. The fact that you were a Sgt. In the Marines should make this tour seem like daily operations.
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Sgt Connor ORourke
Sgt Connor ORourke
10 mo
Awesome thank you I’m trying to go in with the expectation I’m a Sgt but at the same time I’m a trainee and fuck everything I think I know and just be a sponge
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CPT Lawrence Cable
CPT Lawrence Cable
10 mo
Back in the dark ages when I did OSUT, there were several Prior Service Marines in my Training Company (Delta 8/2, Harmony Church). My view was that they were given more responsibility and as long as they performed, were treated more like soldiers. A couple of them were headed for OCS, both Vietnam War retreads.
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CSM Darieus ZaGara
CSM Darieus ZaGara
9 mo
Sgt Connor ORourke That’s the right attitude. Yo will mail it and excell in the Army.
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SSgt Christophe Murphy
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I lateral moved from Infantry to Communications when coming off of MSG duty. I was in a similar situation being a Sgt in an entry level MOS school environment and it certainly has it's Pros/Cons. The best thing to do is be humble and keep your learning hat on. Be who you are but keep in mind you are a student and your #1 priority and obligation is to learn. Do that and you will be just fine. Good Luck.
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Sgt Connor ORourke
Sgt Connor ORourke
9 mo
Thank you
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SGT Aaron Atwood
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As a prior Marine turned soldier...

Retain what was good about the Corps. Retain the work ethic. Retain what it means being a Sergeant of Marines. The confidence that goes with that will be a positive contagion among both peers and cadre.

Along with that: keep an open mind. I kept my MOS so there have been only a few times that I needed to use my brain matter vs going on autopilot per se.
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Sgt Connor ORourke
Sgt Connor ORourke
9 mo
Did you find the transition hard at all? Does it still have the same feel as the corps?
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SGT Aaron Atwood
SGT Aaron Atwood
9 mo
Sgt Connor ORourke The paperwork was hard. Army doesn't understand that the Corps doesn't just hand out NAMs and COMs like candy (unless of course you're aligned with the right people). That put me, and still has me at a severe disadvantage compared to my E5 peers (ten years at four different stations in the fleet and all I have to show for it is not getting in major trouble). Online and on paper you're going to disappear for at least 36 hours. Hopefully you have competent admin people who can work with you on that. Keep an eye on your pay too; as mine got messed with.
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SGT Aaron Atwood
SGT Aaron Atwood
9 mo
Sgt Connor ORourke Oh, definitely not the same as the Corps. Lot more laid back, more of a 8-4 or 9-5 attitude vs being there until the issue gets solved.
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SGT Corey Sandberg
SGT Corey Sandberg
9 mo
I would maybe caution a bit on Sgt. Aaron A.'s response about just blindly expecting it to just being more laid back, as I am not sure he took into account that you are switching to an Infantry MOS and not a support MOS. A good rule of thumb I would say about 'normal duty hours' is that every rank I gained as an Infantry soldier I added about 1.5 hours to a 'normal' duty day. As a private it was 0545-1730, as a team leader it was 0500-1800, as a squad leader it was 0430-1830. Also, in the Infantry, you will absolutely stay until the job is done, in garrison and definitely in the field. There is a vast difference between Infantry and support MOS' in the Army and it is felt. It is not preached 'every soldier is a rifleman first,' like it is in the Marines, there are definitely Soldiers (probably the majority) who touch or fire a weapon maybe once a year. These Soldiers are of course infinitely important and do things us Infantry need and could never accomplish, so not knocking other MOSs. All the best in your switch, you mindset seems great, just go be the best, and take care of your Soldiers!
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