What are some “Dos and Don’ts” of your first duty station? Any tips?

2019-01-06T21:08:44-05:00

I am set to PCS from Fort Gordon (AIT) to Fort Bragg this Tuesday and my chain of command has been helpful with guiding me and helping understand how different the “Big Army” is than TRADOC and I would just like to see if there is anyone that has some helpful tips or things to avoid doing at my first Duty Station?

Response by SFC Scott Higgins made Jan 6 at 2019 9:15 PM

2019-01-06T21:15:04-05:00

Be on time, do your job., and don't expect any favors. Don't party on your first night in your unit. Get to know what to expect from your leadership team. If you don't know the S.O.P's or your unit, find out where they are and learn them.
Thank you for your service.

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2019 9:15 PM

2019-01-06T21:15:28-05:00

PFC Private RallyPoint Member Enter "First Duty Station" in the Search bar above, hit enter, and then click on "Answers". You will find other Posts that deal with the same subject. Good luck, and welcome to RallyPoint.

Response by MAJ Tom Hutton made Jan 6 at 2019 9:15 PM

2019-01-06T21:15:35-05:00

No walking on Ardennes Street!

Response by SSG A Miles made Jan 6 at 2019 9:16 PM

2019-01-06T21:16:49-05:00

Don't slack. As the saying goes for New York, if you can make it in the 82nd you can make it any where.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2019 9:17 PM

2019-01-06T21:17:07-05:00

1. Do believe in yourself
2. Do have a positive attitude
3. Do what you should, and much more even if not asked
4. Do Embrace the Culture
5. Do Develop Yourself and others
6. Do a lot of PT
7. Do your best always
8. Do be of sound mind and Character
9. Do enjoy your work, your peers, your mission and your unit
10. Do have fun

...

1. Do not be a Non-Airborne Person

That is all

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2019 9:17 PM

2019-01-06T21:17:49-05:00

Be motivated, listen to your leaders, and strive to be the best at your job and as a soldiers. Always seek improvement and increased responsibility. As long as you do that, when your time comes you'll be promoted. Carry that advise through your career and you'll see progression.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2019 9:24 PM

2019-01-06T21:24:12-05:00

Mouth shut, ears open. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Put in the extra work and people will notice. Be ready to take on extra work when it's asked of you.

Don't neglect your PT! There are a ton of gyms on post and they are all free. Morning pt shouldn't be the only pt you do all day.

Don't blow all your money. If you're single and living in the barracks. Literally everything is paid for. Don't rush out to go get a car if you don't have one. Don't go into debt. Don't get a star card and Max it out. If you want to make a big purchase like a car talk to one of your NCOs that you trust to help you out. They will be willing to and it'll pay off in the long run.

Use the tuition assistance the army gives you to take college classes while you're in! It's free money and helps alot. The education center on Knox has all the info you need.

Choose your friends wisely. You can be pushed to excel or dragged down all by who you hang out with. You'll know who the shitbags are after a few weeks of being at your new unit.

Get out of the ft Bragg/Fayetteville area on weekends. Don't just sit in your room/house and waste time. Lots to do up in raliegh, out by the ocean, west into the mountains ECT. Just don't be a barracks rat.

Most of all be ready to learn, don't be lazy and have fun! The army is great but a lot of people get miserable because they don't do anything to help themselves out. It isn't gonna be awesome everyday, but it is what you make it. Good luck! Bragg isn't a bad place to be. I've been here and Ft. Drum. While I miss the snow I enjoy it here more.

If you have any more questions let me know. I'm on Bragg and have been for a little bit.

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2019 9:29 PM

2019-01-06T21:29:39-05:00

Do: Avoid Ft Bragg
Don’t: Go to Ft Bragg

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2019 10:14 PM

2019-01-06T22:14:37-05:00

"Do" everything they tell you, it's a learning progress, "Don't" hang around those that have a bad attitude, especially at Bragg.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 6 at 2019 10:22 PM

2019-01-06T22:22:43-05:00

The sum up the army be in the right place in the right in the form at the right place. Everything else is given to to you.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jan 7 at 2019 12:51 AM

2019-01-07T00:51:21-05:00

PFC Private RallyPoint Member This thread has some good advice and is pretty developed. Recommend you read this, then refine your question. https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/how-can-i-as-a-new-soldier-coming-from-ait-make-a-good-transition-from-a-training-environment-to-my-first-duty-station

How can I as a new soldier coming from AIT make a good transition from a training environment to...

Many soldiers are young adult who have never had to move to a new place before. What are some things we can do to make a good transition from training (AIT), to our first duty station? And what are things we should avoid doing? And what are things we should start planning for accordingly now, before we actually leave for our first duty station? And what can we expect when we do finally begin our duties in our units?

Response by CSM William Payne made Jan 7 at 2019 10:57 AM

2019-01-07T10:57:15-05:00

There are a number of great recommendations below, read them.

Serving in the military is a condensed version of being in civilian life, like in dog years, one year in the military can equal several in the civilian world, especially if you are deployed.

But as anything in life, you get out of it what you invest or put into it. If you are actively engaged, enthusiastic and a hard charger, embracing “the suck”, you will get much farther than sitting around complaining about things you have no control over.

Choose your friends wisely, they can have a direct or indirect influence on your career, for better or worse.

Remember, you are serving at the leisure of the military, or as president John Fitzgerald Kennedy said; Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. Do well and you should be rewarded.

Giving that, NOBODY will do a better job of looking after you and your military career than you. Not your recruiter, not your drill sergeants, not your squad leader, Platoon Sergeant or First Sergeant.

It’s your responsibility to make your medical appointments, keep yourself physically fit, proficient with your weapons and the equipment relevant to your MOS.

Keep a yearly log of achievements; promotions, letters of achievements, challenge coins, medals, high APFT scores, weapons qualifications or any other related tasks in which you excel, no matter how trivial it may seem.

When you reach the rank of a NCO, you will start to receive yearly evaluations or NCOERs and the information you have logged during the year will assist your rater in writing that evaluation.

Remember millions have gone before you and succeeded, some in under the worst of circumstances.

Or you can do as little as possible, complain all the time, and count the days until you ETS.

Thank you for your service to our great country. You are part of the less than 1% willing to accept that challenge in today’s environment. Good luck in your military career, no matter how short or long, Godspeed and be safe.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 7 at 2019 5:31 PM

2019-01-07T17:31:03-05:00

Run and then run some more

Response by PFC Scott O'Connor made Jan 7 at 2019 9:07 PM

2019-01-07T21:07:07-05:00

STAY OFF THE GRASS! DON'T BE A LEG!

Response by SGT Jeff Bush made Jan 11 at 2019 10:34 PM

2019-01-11T22:34:56-05:00

Pay attention to the rank on the chest and beret. Do not walk past an officer without rendering military customs and couresties: "All the Way, Sir/Ma'am" and while saluting when they are 3 to 5 paces away from you. Stand "at ease" when speaking to an NCO and under no circumstances if outdoors during Reveille or Retreat, or Taps do anything other than stand at the position of attention, face the music and render a salute unless you like getting scuffed up and screamed at.