What are some tips for a future 12B (faster promotions, deployments, different types of units, etc.)?

Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 10 Feb 2019 17:33:18 -0500

Any tips on being a 12B? Faster promotions, deployments, different types of units, etc

Response by 2LT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2019 9:15 PM

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 10 Feb 2019 21:15:06 -0500

Schools! Request schools, Bravo 6 - Heavy Track Course is a great one!
Compete, Best Warrior, Soldier of the Year.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 10 at 2019 9:22 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 10 Feb 2019 21:22:49 -0500

- Volunteer for schools. Ask for them and prepare for them. You can get a waiver for rank for some of them if you look like you're ready.
- Land navigation and map-reading: get good at it early on.
- Troop Leading Procedures (TLP): Learn what this is and how to use it.
- Ask your fire team leader and squad leader questions and show interest in learning higher-skill level tasks early.
- I'm saying this as a fat, middle-aged software developer, but make fitness a priority. You can't lead if you can't keep up. Rucking was the most important ability in my experience.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Feb 10 at 2019 9:45 PM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sun, 10 Feb 2019 21:45:23 -0500

To get all that you would have to be in a top notch unit maybe XVIII ABC or 82nd/101AASLT

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2019 12:01 AM

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 00:01:58 -0500

I started my career as a Private (12B), before eventually commissioning..
1) Physical Fitness:
- The military is already a very physically demanding career, but if you want the opportunity to pursue special opportunities such as Airborne, Air Assault, Sapper, Ranger, etc.. you need to show your leadership your grit and that starts with Physical Training.
It's hard to get ahead when you can't keep up.

2) Professional Ethics / Responsibility:
- You are responsible for your actions. Do not let drugs or alcohol determine your career or its opportunities, as these two are the biggest killers I've seen in military careers. If you have impeccable character your leadership will respect you and will go out of their way for you.

3) Know your Engineer Craft:
- As a Junior Enlisted know Weapon Systems, Radios, Land Navigation, and Demolitions. This baseline of knowledge will set you up for initial success and promotions. The best Soldiers I've had were proficient in these areas and were able to help teach others in the unit.

4) Find a Mentor:
- This might be your first Team Leader, Squad Leader, Platoon Sergeant, or Platoon Leader. Regardless, find that person(s) you can go to for advice or guidance. My first mentor was a Master Sergeant, he was the one that recommended and motivated me to pursue a Commission in the first place. I most certainly would not be where I am today without that person.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 11 at 2019 9:06 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 11 Feb 2019 09:06:07 -0500

Know your job and know how it works 2 levels up. Helps those that don’t get it. Dig into the manuals, get the schools and just learn from your NCOs. Don’t be scared to ask why. The “why” will help you out along your path. If you don’t know what you’re doing, does it hurt to ask? Learn all aspects of being a 12B and the u it’s that you’re in. Whether it’s an IBCT (Infantry Brigade Combat Team(Light/Airborne)), ABCT (Armored Brigade Combat Team (tanks/Bradleys)), SBCT (Stryker Brigade Combat Team) or even an EAB (Echelons Above Brigade). If you get into each of these types of units, you’ll be extremely diverse in your trade and useful to the Army. Get I to those schools that will help your mission and you. College also.

Response by SPC James McGee made Feb 17 at 2019 8:34 AM

SPC James McGee — Sun, 17 Feb 2019 08:34:53 -0500

Just remember that basic training is exactly that! Knowing and owning your craft comes later. Fixate on all the internal schooling you can grasp. When a slot opens for Ranger School, by all means take it. After that, Sapper School will be a walk in the park, so-to-speak. Between these two schools you can get all you need to know about your job as a 12B. Remember, stay healthy and don't give in to temptation by those who came in to bullshit.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 21 at 2019 8:41 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 21 Feb 2019 08:41:26 -0500

Starting out it’s gonna be all about being Johnny on the spot good PT good weapons qual being knowledgeable and leading your basic soldier skills as long as your doing what your supposed to your pv2, pfc and specialist are gonna be pretty much handed to you when the time comes. After that though to get your stripes your gonna need to be a lot more proactive. Start working on your promotion packet. Get your distance learnings done (SSDs) and then start putting in requests for your NCO schools. You actually have to go on find the school your looking for and put in a request to your training NCO through your squad leader to get you a slot. If you wait around for your squad leader to do it for you your wrong. He’s got a bunch of guys to worry about and only so much time in the day. So helping him out by getting the right information helps you out and makes you look good. then when you have your SSD done and you pass your nco school, because your a good soldier and learned your skills for that level, done you turn in your promotion packet that you have been working on all along. As long as you got the nessary paper work done and are promotable, toy shouldn’t have to wait to long. Then you just rinse and repeat for the next rank. It’s a lot like school back in the 90s you want to go to the next grade you gotta pass all your classes the army doesn’t have a no one left behind policy.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2019 3:32 PM

PFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 09 Mar 2019 15:32:28 -0500

Be physically fit and constantly work to improve, always be motivated even if you've gotta fake it to make it, always be hungry to learn more about your job, and be respectful to everyone and especially to people higher rank than you.