Posted on Jul 7, 2021
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I'm USMC Prior-Service(POG-Comm) going into the Army Infantry as a Sgt after not long of a break. I was in the reserves for a bit after I got out, dropped to IRR and IRR time was up last June. Now i Leave back to the military (and planning on making it my career) in a month and I'm excited but also wondering if anyone else ever decided to go back in after their life didn't turn out to well as a civilian.
I'm Lucky to have to opportunity to go back and excited but has anyone else done the same and once you were in for awhile how long did it take to get back into the swing of things and when things started to work themselves out.
I already have checked my ego and chip at the door and am going in open minded quiet ready to learn and not gunna talk too much at first.
I looked at going back in awhile ago but things prevented me from doing so until now.
I'm Lucky to have to opportunity to go back and excited but has anyone else done the same and once you were in for awhile how long did it take to get back into the swing of things and when things started to work themselves out.
I already have checked my ego and chip at the door and am going in open minded quiet ready to learn and not gunna talk too much at first.
I looked at going back in awhile ago but things prevented me from doing so until now.
Re-enlistment
Prior Service
Infantry
11X: Infantry Recruit
Posted 3 y ago
Responses: 5
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I had a several year break in service. I eased in by joining the NG a few years later. But I joined a deploying unit and realized I wanted the full time thing and that my skills and qualifications were more marketable in the military at the time.
By the time you walk out of AIT and arrive at your first unit, you'll have a handle on things. Prior service kids assimilate better because they realize this is a career and not a new set of parents. Initial term kids seem to have this perception that their NCO's are just another set of parents they need to rebel against. It's usually around 21 or so that people start to consider this as a real career and not a job they are doing for three years.
Best advice is to look around at what you want to do for the next 15-20 years. Infantry promotes the best, if you want to do that either get tough and go to Airborne and Ranger school, or get smart and go to Master Gunner school. You can always try out for SF, PSYOPS, and Civil Affairs early in your Career as well, they all have good promotion rates as well. You might have a chance to reclass to a few other jobs as well, depending on class seat availability and your rank, just realize the more technical the job the slower they usually promote. You can become an officer as long as you have your bachelor degree, and we have several Warrant Officer fields that will accept any MOS and don't require a degree. If you choose to become a pilot you will owe the Army 10 years from when you graduate.
But all around, the Army is pretty easy. You just show up and work and you will get promoted. Depending on your MOS you might have to put in some extra work to be above your peers, but there is no reason you can't make MSG in your MOS before you retire.
By the time you walk out of AIT and arrive at your first unit, you'll have a handle on things. Prior service kids assimilate better because they realize this is a career and not a new set of parents. Initial term kids seem to have this perception that their NCO's are just another set of parents they need to rebel against. It's usually around 21 or so that people start to consider this as a real career and not a job they are doing for three years.
Best advice is to look around at what you want to do for the next 15-20 years. Infantry promotes the best, if you want to do that either get tough and go to Airborne and Ranger school, or get smart and go to Master Gunner school. You can always try out for SF, PSYOPS, and Civil Affairs early in your Career as well, they all have good promotion rates as well. You might have a chance to reclass to a few other jobs as well, depending on class seat availability and your rank, just realize the more technical the job the slower they usually promote. You can become an officer as long as you have your bachelor degree, and we have several Warrant Officer fields that will accept any MOS and don't require a degree. If you choose to become a pilot you will owe the Army 10 years from when you graduate.
But all around, the Army is pretty easy. You just show up and work and you will get promoted. Depending on your MOS you might have to put in some extra work to be above your peers, but there is no reason you can't make MSG in your MOS before you retire.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
We all could have used a Career Counselor with your experiences.
Could you explain the Master Gunner School recommendation? I believe I know the answer coming from the Light Infantry to Mechanized Engineer, but I'm not sure everyone gets that remark.
Could you explain the Master Gunner School recommendation? I believe I know the answer coming from the Light Infantry to Mechanized Engineer, but I'm not sure everyone gets that remark.
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SFC (Join to see)
CPT Lawrence Cable good point lol.
In the Mech infantry and Stryker infantry world the machines are everything. In the light and Airborne you live on the strength of your back, but in Mech and Stryker the vehicles are your primary source of combat power. Every Mech and Stryker battalion has a Master Gunner who is the Subject Matter Expert on the combat power and capabilities of those vehicles. I don't know much about the course itself, only that it is very academically difficult, it almost always offers a higher reenlistment bonus than their peers, and they are always promoted above their peers. Having been in Mech and Stryker units I can say the Master Gunner is about one step below the Operations Sergeant Major in terms of important positions within the battalion. The school itself incurs a three year SRR and those who pass it are stabilized at the unit for another year or two.
In the Mech infantry and Stryker infantry world the machines are everything. In the light and Airborne you live on the strength of your back, but in Mech and Stryker the vehicles are your primary source of combat power. Every Mech and Stryker battalion has a Master Gunner who is the Subject Matter Expert on the combat power and capabilities of those vehicles. I don't know much about the course itself, only that it is very academically difficult, it almost always offers a higher reenlistment bonus than their peers, and they are always promoted above their peers. Having been in Mech and Stryker units I can say the Master Gunner is about one step below the Operations Sergeant Major in terms of important positions within the battalion. The school itself incurs a three year SRR and those who pass it are stabilized at the unit for another year or two.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
SFC (Join to see) - And you have a set of knees and a back after you get out :^).
This course is relatively new, or at least for a Geezer like me, but I saw the necessity of the course, in all its variations. I believe it takes an ASVAB GT score of 100 to get a seat.
As an aside, I always felt that Senior NCO's and Infantry Officers should all be required to go at least one tour with a Mech/Stryker unit. I didn't get that experience until I went to the Kentucky National Guard as a Combat Engineer in a Divisional Mechanized Engineer unit. A completely different world and in reality, where the real combat strength of the Army is located.
This course is relatively new, or at least for a Geezer like me, but I saw the necessity of the course, in all its variations. I believe it takes an ASVAB GT score of 100 to get a seat.
As an aside, I always felt that Senior NCO's and Infantry Officers should all be required to go at least one tour with a Mech/Stryker unit. I didn't get that experience until I went to the Kentucky National Guard as a Combat Engineer in a Divisional Mechanized Engineer unit. A completely different world and in reality, where the real combat strength of the Army is located.
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Good luck with that I had a fifteen year break in service. Much like riding a bike, it comes back. I did a Recruiting Tour coming back. I didn’t have family problems. As long as I am bringing home a check and providing. Medical all is well
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Best advice I can offer is to come to the dark side. I was prior service USMC on the enlisted side. Granted, I am nurse so the medical side is different compared to regular Army. I had a long break in service (10 years) and despite being older getting my commission is the best thing I have done. Good luck!
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