I'm trying to go back in after being out since 2001. I was 13B, but want to go back as 68W. Can anyone tell me what that AIT will be like?

2015-12-21T18:31:25-05:00

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2015 6:42 PM

2015-12-21T18:42:45-05:00

Not going to lie, it won't be pretty. 68W course is no joke and neither is the environment. Last I knew, even prior service folk were slapped in with the IET's and treated pretty much the same......restrictions and all.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 21 at 2015 10:06 PM

2015-12-21T22:06:08-05:00

Like High school, it will be just like that. At 31 years, I didn't mind being yelled at, going in front leaning rest position or following any instruction from my PLS. The hardest part from BCT and AIT was dealing with the immaturity of my 10 years younger peers. SPC Bobby Coble

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2015 3:42 PM

2015-12-22T15:42:29-05:00

Sorry I wrote my response in the wrong box but you should be able to read it in the thread.

Response by PFC Maxo Marc made Dec 22 at 2015 10:59 PM

2015-12-22T22:59:53-05:00

If you're going Ft. Sam Houston be prepared to study, PT, and party harder then you've had to in your life. The training is going to be tough and unrelenting but when you finish you'll never be prouder of your self.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2015 6:22 AM

2015-12-23T06:22:09-05:00

Be prepared to deal with alot of bullshit. I just graduated October 2014 so it was an experience. I came in at 24 and went to basic and ait with a bunch of 18 and 19 yr old who were reservists and NG. It was hell for me cuz I'm not a fan of getting in trouble for shit other people do. I'm not sure if they're gonna give you the prior service patch and if you do, your living arrangements and privileges will be different than what iet soldiers get. All I can say is study. It's not easy and be prepared to do alot of it. Very repetitive but not too bad. It could possibly be a good time. Definitely a change from the pull string, go boom world. Good luck. If you want anymore advice or talk, feel free to connect with me. I'm here. Have fun. Army strong. Happy holidays to everyone

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2015 8:09 AM

2015-12-23T08:09:03-05:00

As prior service you will love it. I was 19D and reclassed to 68W as well. Unlike "Puppies" fresh out of basic training, you get to stay in Prior Service/Officer Hotel on the base. The only downside, you will have to walk a little bit more of the distance for formations. Otherwise you will be given way more leeway (weekend and holiday passes) than the ordinary puppies. Also don't get tangled with the puppies. They bite.

The hardest part of the whole ordeal is to pass National Emergency Medical Technician Exam (probably one of the hardest if not the hardest exam you'll ever take) and 3 PT tests. There is the catch to those APFTs. In Sam Houston, it is one mile one way and one mile back for 2 miler. You have to run one mile up the hill and then the second mile down the hill.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2015 8:18 AM

2015-12-23T08:18:21-05:00

As I read your other in this thread, you have already shorten your stay at Fort Sam. Make sure you have your NREMT & CPR cards readily available to show them as proof. About the age it does not matter, I got into the service at 37, went to Navy and Army boot camps and their respective schools AIT & A, respectively. As long as you can do your PT, you should be able to go through the Whisky portion of the training. Good luck, and keep in mind you have to keep an eye on those EIT soldiers.

Response by SSG Nikki Ackerman made Dec 23 at 2015 8:33 AM

2015-12-23T08:33:28-05:00

As prior service you will be held to a higher standard. You will be expected to be an example. The training is tough but fair. When you have the opportunity to practice or study, take it. The classroom stuff is what is killer. If you aren't used to sitting, you'll get sleepy. I warn you, don't nod off though...

Response by CPL Tommy Santos made Dec 23 at 2015 11:43 AM

2015-12-23T11:43:00-05:00

I went to AIT in 2006, so this might not be as relevant or accurate, but it was fun and I learned a decent amount.

First month you will have restrictions, but following that, you will be able to leave after COB and on the weekends. During the first month, it was still a bunch of formations and half-right faces, but it wasn't anything too crazy if you were an Artilleryman before.

First 2 months were EMT-B and the last 2 months were TCCC, with the 2 weeks being clinical rotations at BAMC(?)

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2015 12:47 PM

2015-12-23T12:47:34-05:00

Welcome to the club. I left the Army in 1997 and went back in in 2014. Because I went in the National Guard I did one of the NG reclass schools. It was a small class, 18 of us in total. It was a great course totally devoid of any of the normal military school games. Be prepared to be the "old guy", in my case most of my class mates were fresh out of active duty recalssing so they where in the early 20ies. The NG is an acelarated course so be prepared to study if you take one of them as you will have test every 3 days and will be in information overlaod.

I can sum up my experance with this, best class I ever tool, cant belive I stayed out as long as I did.

Response by SPC Jonathan Douglass made Dec 23 at 2015 1:48 PM

2015-12-23T13:48:44-05:00

Well man, it's changed since I went through it in 2011, but I'll tell you this, you can't go to town in civies anymore, you'll do PT every morning, and the weekends are pretty much yours unless someone fucks up. You'll go through your EMT phase for 6-8 weeks (don't remember exactly) and then you'll go into your combat medicine phase, that's where the fun begins haha, lots of time doing field work and trauma lanes. I had a blast when I went through.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2015 6:21 PM

2015-12-23T18:21:54-05:00

The prior service patch is a patch that they give you if you can be considered prior service. I'm not sure what the requirements are for it but it just identifies you as not being an iet soldier so you get more privileges such as off post, drinking, etc. The iet soldiers get patches 4 and 5 to denote what phase they are in their training. Stupid stuff but it is what it is

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 23 at 2015 6:51 PM

2015-12-23T18:51:25-05:00

They still do that in basic. Red, white, and blue. But in ait, atleast at ft Sam in 232, they give you phase patches when you go from emt to whiskey and then phase 5+ which is wearing civvies off post and some other things.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 24 at 2015 5:50 AM

2015-12-24T05:50:00-05:00

Depending on whether your giving the "Prior Service" title or not will definitely change your AIT experience. If you are, you can expect your "Phase V+". Which would be; POV, Weekends off, off post travel, Drink/Smoke, etc. If your not considered prior service you'll work up from "Phase IV" which is marching to all chows, no civilian clothing, no drink/smoke, no off post travel, and no leaving BN Footprint. Along with constant room inspections, health and welfare, Bed check, etc.

Aside from that the training is really classroom oriented and the evaluations are meticulous. I'd say spend all your off time (2/3 Hours) studying and reviewing everything in EMT and LPC phase. After that the Whiskey Phase stuff is easy breezy. Just make sure you memorize the checklists for your all skills, even the slightest mistake will earn you a failure. The IET students will most likely be wildly undisciplined and will incur all sorts of fuckery on themselves and the company as a whole. I would try to set your self way apart from the average student through our academics and maturity.

I went through about 3 years ago, and my old PLT SGT is an AIT instructor there now, If you have any questions just shoot.

Response by SGT Jeffrey Dennis made Jun 14 at 2016 1:02 PM

2016-06-14T13:02:38-04:00

I reclassed to 91W(68W) in 04. They had a prior service platoon for each company. Its not too bad, you are not an IET soldier, so you get dismissed after training fairly quick. Off post on the weekends, back for Sunday Night Formation. We used to leave after sunday night formation, and go out for a couple more hours. But you will have to use your sleep time to study.