What can I expect going back to Army basic as a prior service E-5?

2023-10-14T22:29:39-04:00

I am prior active service 6 years. I just reenlisted after 6 years of being out ans have to go back to basic. I am going to fort sill and i am keeping my E5 rank. Was wondering what all i should expect

Response by SGT Aaron Atwood made Oct 15 at 2023 1:17 AM

2023-10-15T01:17:57-04:00

You'll be watched more than others because you have that rank, and prior service as well. More will be expected of you.

Response by LTC Kevin B. made Oct 15 at 2023 7:06 AM

2023-10-15T07:06:45-04:00

https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/8507255

8507255

Response by CPL Miguel Velez made Oct 15 at 2023 7:58 PM

2023-10-15T19:58:43-04:00

Hello Timothy, great to meet here @RP. Six years ago you were in better shape physical , emotional and mentally. BCT will be a passing score, you can become a platoon leader and build trust with the new troops. Lucky you. Back in 77, veterans were ignored and accused of baby killers. I wanted to reup and some jerk did not give me a reelistment code. Well decorated, trained very hard, Honorable Discharged, because of my two MOS, even the cops said I was too dangerous to get a job. If you get the chance to get back incountry, I will envy you. God Bless your decisions my Brother Timothy. Hoora!

Response by SSG Andrew Chriss made Oct 16 at 2023 10:11 PM

2023-10-16T22:11:25-04:00

IMO: If you've been at more than one duty station then you should know that you'll need to be this skinny and run this fast. With that you need to be pushing yourself to excellence throughout Basic and AIT at a minimum. Expect that you'll be asked often and by many about your aches and pains. What any veterate Service Member should have passed on to you is: 'While you're in it is ALWAYS yes, may have another? until you are outprocessing and never before.' You need to be that resolute and ready. Drinking and partying it up? Sidestep that. If you're going back in, be the standard, any other approach will be much harder b/c you'll be looked at sideways by any who note your age and prior service. Be of good cheer, keep negative opinions to yourself unless a particular situation requires more. And that situation won't be in training. Good luck, man.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2024 11:20 AM

2024-01-07T11:20:18-05:00

According to TR350-6
(2) Prior service personnel in the pay grade of sergeant (E-5) through sergeant major (E-9)
are billeted separately from other IET Soldiers. Prior service NCOs are billeted in a separate
building when possible. If a separate building is not available, then on a different floor of an IET
barracks. If a different floor within the building is not possible, then within a separate room (not in
an open bay). Prior service NCOs may be billeted with IET Soldiers as a last resort with approval
of the CIMT. Requests should be submitted in memorandum format to CIMT G-3 office. Billeting
NCOs with IET Soldiers is not the intent and should be a last resort.
(3) The billeting of prior service NCOs also applies to RECBNs. RECBNs will immediately
identify prior service personnel and ensure the gaining BCT/OSUT units are informed of the prior
service personnel’s status, rank, pay grade, and billeting standards. If necessary, prior service
BCT/OSUT NCOs may be housed in AIT facilities.
(4) Privileges for reclassified and prior service personnel.
(a) Although reclassified Soldiers are subject to IET policies and procedures, their
privileges should be the same as those of permanent party members of equal grade. They are
treated with the dignity and respect due their grade.
(b) The company commander determines specific privileges based on such factors as
grade, training performance, self-discipline, motivation, and conduct.

https://adminpubs.tradoc.army.mil/regulations/TR350-6.pdf

TR350-6.pdf

Response by PO1 David Kingsley made Jan 8 at 2024 1:58 AM

2024-01-08T01:58:44-05:00

My re-enlistment into the Navy, was only after Six Months being out. they sent me to a NavVet program at a Boot Camp site (Great Mistakes, sorry, Lakes IL) and they replaced uniforms that I had gotten rid of, and because the uniforms are issued, any that I still had, I didn't have to buy new.
they sent me back through ASVAB and then Re-Classification (yeah, even though they ran me through re-classification at the MEPS
they sent me to medical to ensure I was still healthy and correct any problems.
then I had to wait for orders to my next school, duty station.
As an E-6 I was given a supervisory position for the Nav Vet training/re-training in Military Procedures

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 9 at 2024 5:41 AM

2024-01-09T05:41:40-05:00

For everyone who have commented/answered me. I wanted to say thank you so much. Have 3 weeks left of training and has definitely been a mix of everything that was said. Was a great time and completely different than basic back in 2011. Now onto my 92S ait for reclassing after this is over.

Response by 1SG Brian Holt made Jan 11 at 2024 10:10 PM

2024-01-11T22:10:33-05:00

It's all going to depend on the senior cadre. I have seen it where the prior service NCO is used as an asset to the Drill Sergeants (treated differently than the others). And I've seen it where they are made platoon guides and consequently held responsible for the trainees success or failure.

Response by SSG David Forler made Feb 11 at 2024 12:30 PM

2024-02-11T12:30:18-05:00

I went in in 79. we had a Vietnam Veteran from the 101st, with his CIB... since the DI was not a COMBAT VETERAN he treated the soldier with great respect, told us to respect his CIB and what he had to do to earn it. The soldier was a E-4 an did everything we had to do, but he did give us tips on the weapons range, how to build shelters with ponch and 550, how to spit shine our boots correctly etc

Response by SGT Mark Rhodes made Feb 11 at 2024 7:16 PM

2024-02-11T19:16:04-05:00

I’m sure everything has changed since I went through. But I had a E5 in my basic training class and he wasn’t treated any differently. He like everyone else could not wear his rank until he graduated.

Response by SGT Jim Giffin made Apr 26 at 2024 11:21 AM

2024-04-26T11:21:31-04:00

The Drills can't use the Shark Attack. Basic will be softer than when you went through the first time.

Response by Lt Col Timothy Cassidy-Curtis made Apr 26 at 2024 2:48 PM

2024-04-26T14:48:20-04:00

Do you remember Basic? Did you succeed? Obviously, you did something right, because you went on to become an NCO. What should you expect? Expect to do the same thing you did when you were in Basic, before. You listened to the DI, and/or others in charge of you. You did your best to do what they "asked" (okay, "told") you to do. You did it as quickly and as well as you could. You did not complain (much).
What should you expect? That. Do that. Expect yourself to do the stuff that got you through the first time. And expect that any NCO who is in charge of you will expect you to know what they need to do, because (as a Sgt, yourself) you've had to have had these expectations yourself.
Expect from yourself what you would have expected from others as a Sgt. You know the drill. Do it. Get through it. You might find good camaraderie on the other side. That, if you have applied yourself and the experience you now have, can also be something you could expect.

Response by SFC Kevin Childers made Apr 27 at 2024 10:22 AM

2024-04-27T10:22:53-04:00

So presume the Retraining Brigade at Ft
Riley is not an option.

Response by Sgt Brett Holdeman made May 1 at 2024 10:19 AM

2024-05-01T10:19:12-04:00

I'm curious as well as puzzled. When I enlisted in the Indiana Nat'l Guard in '89, as a former Marine (we serve 13 weeks of basic training, so maybe that's why, in addition to the infantry & marksmanship training, etc.) I didn't have to either re-attend basic or lose my Marine rank (also an E-5). Are you prior sailor or airman, perchance?

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 1 at 2024 3:19 PM

2024-05-01T15:19:46-04:00

So true!

Response by SPC David C. made May 1 at 2024 4:58 PM

2024-05-01T16:58:07-04:00

Interesting. I knew prior service could go back in w/ rank but I didn't realize you could keep that rank while in bootcamp. I mean are you considered a private while in training and then get your rank back once graduating? Will you wear your ribbons/ medals during uniform inspections? Agreed with what others had to say though, 100% you'll be held to a higher standard

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Jun 4 at 2024 9:43 PM

2024-06-04T21:43:12-04:00

Good evening SGT Private RallyPoint Member. Excellent post. Thanks for sharing this brother Timothy. Excellent question. I recall when I switched branches from the Navy Reserves to AD Army I had to go through Warrior Transitinal Course (WTC) at Ft. Sill. I do believe that this type of course has been discontinued in 2012. Most of what you'll be taught there you probably already know as a prior service NCO. When I went through the WTC course I was asking a lot of the PS NCOs a lot of questions, because I was new to the Army. Most of all you'll be looked up to for guidance from the other privates.

Response by SFC Richard Baerlocher made Jun 16 at 2024 10:34 PM

2024-06-16T22:34:21-04:00

You won't be wearing your E-5 insignia until after you graduate from basic. This happened while I was at Ft Jackson. The trainee was a former Marine Drill Sergeant. We didn't have any Drill Sergeants available at the time because we weren't expecting to fill. The trainee took care of the trainees until the regular DI's could be there. The senior Drill Sergeant had him helping to form the company, and get the company into formation, and other duties. He was promoted to E-6 upon completion of basic.

Response by MSG Kenneth Bucy made Jul 1 at 2024 1:05 AM

2024-07-01T01:05:18-04:00

Expect to be put to work as the Drill Sergeant's "assistant."