What is the best advice given to you since enlisting? What's the worst advice given since enlisting?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 16:00:50 -0500

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2021 4:57 PM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 16:57:41 -0500

Best: you can learn leadership from both good and bad leaders..
- good leaders you copy what they do
- bad leaders you do the opposite of (I like this the most because I would never be the leader to my personnel that I had towards myself in the past.)
Worst: you don't have a say in x, y, z because you aren't a high enough rank.. self explanatory as to why thag is just wrong.

Response by CW3 Harvey K. made Jan 30 at 2021 5:00 PM

CW3 Harvey K. — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 17:00:00 -0500

Best -- from my Dad "Never volunteer".
Worst -- from my wife "Do you have to?"

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2021 5:04 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 17:04:39 -0500

Best advice:
Inspect what you expect

Be the last one to sit down and the first one to get up

If you want your team to move a pile of sandbags go pick up the first bag

Never ask someone to do something you wouldn't do yourself

Never pass off a Soldiers problem, stick with them till its solved.

Treat your Soldiers like you would want your child to be treated by their leaders

Don't leave the Army without taking full advantage of the TA and getting a free degree.

Every problem in the Army can be solved by finding the right banana to give to the right monkey to push the right button.

Worst advice:
Generally listening to your junior level peers about anything - always go to the source, the subject matter expert, in whatever area you have a question. Your peers, and often your immediate leaders, don't know a damn thing about reenlistment, transition, medical bills/Healthcare, complicated finance issues, reclass, MEB, assignments, compassionate reassignments, and any other out of the norm issue. Get into the regulation for the answers. They're only going to tell you what they heard from a friend of a friend who heard it from a PSG who heard of something similar ten years ago. Policies and procedures change constantly in the Army.

Other terrible advice:
You don't need to bring that much water, you'll only be out there a little while

You don't need to worry about TAP till your 90 days out from ETS.

Tricare will pay for one elective surgery

Call your Congressman or IG to complain when you don't get the answer you want (this is rarely the right answer).

Just ETS with your injuries and file your VA claim after.

Just push through the pain

You don't need to bring all that cold weather gear

Reclass to this MOS as a stepping stone to this job over here

Reclass to a job that you think will give you a good civilian career after the Army.

Response by Cpl Vic Burk made Jan 30 at 2021 5:06 PM

Cpl Vic Burk — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 17:06:04 -0500

Best: Keep your $hit squared away and think before you speak.

Worst: You don't have to do anything you don't want to, just refuse and they will get someone else to do it. (It's no wonder that guy got a Undesirable Discharge. I saw the certificate. It was on plain white paper. If I remember correctly, the Marine Corps EGA was not even on it. I would have been embarrassed to go home with that, or even a General Discharge.)

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2021 5:11 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 17:11:30 -0500

Best: Assist and Insist... Assist (enable) others in understanding and meeting the standard, insist they meet the standard.

Worst: Never volunteer for anything.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Jan 30 at 2021 7:47 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 19:47:35 -0500

Good advice:
-in any aircraft emergency the first step is to wind the clock (older aircraft had mechanical analog clocks that needed winding. In many cases the best thing to do first is to take a moment to determine what’s really happening before you act.)
-aviate, navigate, communicate in that order
-if all else fails, keep the wings level and crash straight ahead

Worst:
-never volunteer
-additional duties differentiate you from other officers

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2021 9:07 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 30 Jan 2021 21:07:09 -0500

Exceed the standard; Lead from the front; Set boundaries are the best ones.

I really never received bad advice in the military.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Jan 31 at 2021 6:37 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 06:37:58 -0500

Listen to what is being said, and think before you speak.

Trust me.

Response by CPO Michael Sordelet made Jan 31 at 2021 8:07 AM

CPO Michael Sordelet — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 08:07:34 -0500

Best, Everything you do at sea effects the mission, make sure it effects it positively.
Worst, you should go nuke. I didn't thank God.

Response by TSgt Tim Doering made Jan 31 at 2021 10:28 AM

TSgt Tim Doering — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 10:28:50 -0500

My best advice at my first duty station was from my trainer, was to learn something new everyday...didn't have to be job specific just something you didnt know the day before. I actually had to report to him at the end of day and we would discuss what I had learned. I have carried this philosophy with me through out the years since and it has served me well, Thanks SGT Jim Rizzo!

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 31 at 2021 12:47 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 12:47:35 -0500

Best advice:

1) Leaders lead and leaders read.
2) No one loves you like you do. (Meaning no one will make sure your paperwork is right, you get promoted, get the position you want, etc. more than you will, so you need to stay on top of it and talk to the right people to keep them on it.)

Worst Advice: (From a NG commander) "Don't worry about all that stuff. Have your full time staff do it and then just sign off on it."

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jan 31 at 2021 3:25 PM

CAPT Kevin B. — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 15:25:45 -0500

Many going from E-1 to O6. Some I learned on my own; some I was told.

Best: Do the uniform proud. Be visible moving the Command forward. Always ensure your people can step into your place if you want to go places. Incoming fire has the right of way. If you can't trust, you won't be trusted. Learn how to manage your seniors. The Range Officer is God. Don't try to solve everyone else's problem. A clean bore is your friend. They still haven't figured out how to make a powdered over easy egg. You are responsible for the accuracy of your record. If confused, salute anyways. Make sure you crack the valve on the moon boots before lifting off. Understand the little things so you can decide which ones are worth paying attention to.

Worst: You don't need a copy of your medical record. S-1 will get your DD-214 right. Make sure your SSN# is on your clothing (was a requirement before PII). It's OK to jump down from the top rack the morning after you got the 200M IU Bicillin in the hip. You can take the Fifth on an Admin or JAG Investigation (you can't).

And a critical best one I figured out as I progressed. If you're thinking about leaving the Service, make sure you leave on your terms, not some REMF's.

Response by SGT Mark Halmrast made Jan 31 at 2021 4:49 PM

SGT Mark Halmrast — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 16:49:53 -0500

Best: don't ask why
Best (when I became Sgt): priorities -- mission, men, myself

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 31 at 2021 6:30 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 18:30:48 -0500

Don't quit.

Response by SFC Marc W. made Jan 31 at 2021 10:14 PM

SFC Marc W. — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 22:14:55 -0500

Best advice: You're the only one that cares about your career, don't depend on someone else to get you the schools or opportunities.

Worst advice: Don't judge the Army by one unit.

Response by MSG Clyde Mills made Feb 1 at 2021 8:19 AM

MSG Clyde Mills — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 08:19:32 -0500

The Best advice i got was when I was requested to participate in the Sgt. Morales Club Competition while serving in Germany. I was a fresh 2 week old recently promoted to Sgt. and had no clue about this Sgt. Morales Club. But with vast studying, learning everything possible about the Team members I was in charge of and lots of brain busting. I competed against lots of Senior NCO's and became the #1 Selection at each of the 3 Competitions I competed in. But sadly I had to miss the final 2 Phases of the Competition due to a family emergency back Stateside. But after participating in this Competition is made me a much better NCO and my knowledge of the Military Regulations was a great help to my overall Career of over 20 years.

I'd say the worst advice i got was from my Mortars Platoon Sgt. I had while serving at Ft. Lewis, WA. I asked him to help me get into a College and get a degree so I could become an Officer. He told me I didn't want to become an Officer and insult my intelligence of becoming one. He said the backbone of the Army was enlisted soldier's and that I'd get promoted faster and have a better career as an Enlisted Soldier. Me being a E-2 with hardly no military experience, had no reason to judge his reply. So I dropped the entire thought and stayed an Enlisted Soldier for my career. Yes I made every Promotion within the minimum time in Service all the way to E-8 and was proud of all my accomplishments I had achieved during my time I served. But I do think I would have been an awesome Officer for those that would have served under my Leadership. But I'll never know now, but accept the fate I took down the enlisted path.

Response by MSgt Mark Bucher made Feb 2 at 2021 11:02 AM

MSgt Mark Bucher — Tue, 02 Feb 2021 11:02:18 -0500

Embrace the suck!

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Feb 3 at 2021 4:25 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 16:25:46 -0500

Don’t bitch, your all in the same boat no one wants to hear it.

Pull your weight, or your buddy will have to pull more to make up fir you. Don’t be that guy.

Response by CPO Clifford Henry made Feb 3 at 2021 4:37 PM

CPO Clifford Henry — Wed, 03 Feb 2021 16:37:18 -0500

Best and worst advice at the same time. Never volunteer for anything! Was actually a SFC who said that to me. 90% of the time it’s shit wrapped in a bow. I never followed it. However, 90% of the time it was indeed shit wrapped in a bow. The other 10% I got to do some cool shit which made it worth it.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Feb 2 at 2022 11:18 AM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Wed, 02 Feb 2022 11:18:11 -0500

Don’t bitch, no one gives a fuck, everyone your bitching to is doing the same damn thing you are.

Pull your own weight if not your buddy will have to pull his plus some of yours.