Any 13m out there? Currently stationed in South Korea with 2ID, and I'm still fairly new to my job. Any advice or tips on how to get better?

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 30 Apr 2017 00:31:24 -0400

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2017 6:17 AM

SPC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 01 May 2017 06:17:27 -0400

If you go to Korea you will work and will learn your job. Just don't get caught up in the bs

Response by SFC John Newton made May 2 at 2017 1:15 PM

SFC John Newton — Tue, 02 May 2017 13:15:29 -0400

Read the FM, study the TM on the MSD(or whatever they call it now) and pay attention to your gunner(if you are in a launcher) and your chief. Remember if you let your track be a POS that reflects on you as well.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 3 at 2017 9:43 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 03 May 2017 21:43:31 -0400

are you Ammo or on a launcher? either way 1. start with learning PMCS so that you can do it step by step without a 5 or 6 standing right there with you. 2. start asking questions about GDU and the tasks that go along with being a gunner . 3. Ask the gun chief for screen time on the GDU at mock fires . Any good NCO will train 1 above slot. the gunner should be able to step in the chief's hatch at any given time and you should be able to mimmick his actions on the GDU as well as the chief's slot pay attention to detail although I am a cook I was a 13m20 for several yrs and received best of best 2 yrs as a gunner on a launcher.

Response by PFC Paul Piverotto made May 5 at 2017 12:05 PM

PFC Paul Piverotto — Fri, 05 May 2017 12:05:58 -0400

Stay away from the soju.. I was at camp stanley 1995 1996... Have fun.

Response by SP5 Stephen Shoaf made May 10 at 2017 7:43 PM

SP5 Stephen Shoaf — Wed, 10 May 2017 19:43:35 -0400

Practice connecting/disconnecting your pods wiring. They can be tricky when its pitch dark and your hands are frozen. They do not give you much slop in the connection so you need to be almost perfectly square to start the thread correctly.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 17 at 2017 6:39 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 17 May 2017 18:39:19 -0400

Get into the manuals. Sit on the panel and play with it without being told. Do boards unfortunately but call cadence without being told.

Response by SGT Nelson Cox made May 22 at 2017 1:03 PM

SGT Nelson Cox — Mon, 22 May 2017 13:03:43 -0400

I don't know how much I can help. It over 20 years when I left the army

Response by SSG Chris Gursky made May 28 at 2017 5:37 PM

SSG Chris Gursky — Sun, 28 May 2017 17:37:14 -0400

My advice is to read a manual for an hour a day (minimum) when the time is available. Exercise, you should always have a top score on your pt tests. I tried to emulate the NCOs over me who were the most respected by the battery. It helps to know the difference between well liked and respected though.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 22 at 2017 4:12 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 04:12:41 -0400

Learn from your NCO's. It's an easy job but you must learn from your Chief and shadow your gunner. I have been doing it for over 7 years now and I learn something new every time I get in my launcher.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 22 at 2017 5:16 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 17:16:24 -0400

Find SSG Malek and leach on

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 22 at 2017 5:17 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 22 Jun 2017 17:17:32 -0400

Also, get into the theory of operations in the MSD and read it front to back. You will have a whole new understanding

Response by CPL Bryan Mahoney made Jul 9 at 2017 11:56 AM

CPL Bryan Mahoney — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 11:56:59 -0400

Well my brother I have been out since 94, but I was a 13mS8, what is your issues

Response by SPC Joel Stefanovicz made Jul 14 at 2017 11:13 AM

SPC Joel Stefanovicz — Fri, 14 Jul 2017 11:13:15 -0400

Ask around and find the best crew, study them ask them questions, pmcs is vital to the tracks success. Take the time and the effort to perfect, simplify, and own every simple task. Find a healthy hobby, tae kwon do is fun as shit. University of maryland offerd a korean culture and language class when i was there and it was imensly benificial. RUN for fun. Check out mt soyosan, cool bunkers from the war, good people, awesome view. Learn as much as you can because knowing is half the battle!

Response by SGT Daniel Neikirk made Aug 12 at 2017 12:01 AM

SGT Daniel Neikirk — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 00:01:45 -0400

Read your FM and TM, listen to your Chief he's been there done that, has the experience and advice you need to get better at your job, and yes learn your PMCS frontwards and backwards

Response by SFC Matthew Love made Aug 27 at 2017 7:58 PM

SFC Matthew Love — Sun, 27 Aug 2017 19:58:04 -0400

Don't be afraid to ask questions. Study for the board. In a launcher or Ammo, learn every position. Mission first. Have fun in the vill but don't be stupid. Protection!!!! Buddy system.Learn the job!!! If your in the field an Ajima has her tent set up, check the ramen for maggots. They tend to be in the spices. Maintain your composure.

Response by SFC Benjamin Castricone made Sep 15 at 2017 3:40 AM

SFC Benjamin Castricone — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 03:40:46 -0400

I'm retired now but I was an Ammo Platoon Sergeant in 1/38. The SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT THING is INITIATIVE . Crack the manuals open, PMCS everything, your life depends on it. Take training seriously. Never stand in the back and watch people do the task... get your hands on it, practice, and be the first to jump in there. This repetition may one day save your life, because you will automatically know exactly what to do. (I can still set up a claymore mine, shoot an AT4, operate the truck crane, and don a protective mask even though I haven't touched one in 8+ yrs) Be present, what this means is focus on the task at hand. You've no doubt been told "Be in the proper uniform at the proper place at the proper time" that also means ready to train. If you really want to excell know your job and your section chief's. We had a saying "2 up and one down" and that is what it ment. Always strive for that and you will go far. Your team, work well together and take the "Best by Test" competition...proof you know that you are a true professional in your field.

Response by SSG Craig Emery made Oct 19 at 2017 12:56 PM

SSG Craig Emery — Thu, 19 Oct 2017 12:56:27 -0400

Stay out of the "ville" I had way too many young PVT getting into trouble out there.

Response by CPL James Anderson made Nov 14 at 2017 1:39 PM

CPL James Anderson — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 13:39:03 -0500

When you get put in a track as driver make sure you practice reconnecting the cables in the back of the lm when reloading. They can be tough to put back on. Doing that helped us get top launcher in the battalion. Don't sleep with the drinking girls lol.

Response by SPC Jared Lewis made Jan 27 at 2020 4:22 PM

SPC Jared Lewis — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 16:22:49 -0500

Train as you fight. Make sure your vehicle is always ready and in the best shape possible. You can never do enough to make you vehicle better and the is never a point in time where your vehicle is in top shape. Always try to improve yourself physically and mentally by running the hill to Buddha, running the stairway to Heaven and gaining knowledge on what your job entails with uploads downloads, your firing point locations, as well as improving your reaction times to possible war. On Casey there is plenty of access to martial arts, get involved.