What are the things that concern you, you find confusing, worrisome or difficult as you arrive at your first duty stations?

AB Tharanga Nuwan — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 02:49:20 -0500

For the junior enlisted members who are new to the military, what are the things that concern you, you find confusing, worrisome or difficult as you arrive at your first duty stations?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 30 at 2019 9:20 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 09:20:33 -0500

Not knowing the area. Not knowing anyone. Hoping to remember all the info given to you in firehose fashion. Trying to navigate the base.

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jan 30 at 2019 10:35 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 10:35:40 -0500

AB Tharanga Nuwan the phrase I absolutely despised while in processing and getting settled "...I wish you would have called us ahead of time. if you had only <insert a non-intuitive function>, we wouldn't have to do all <insert paperwork intensive scavenger hunt task>..."

Otherwise, it's not hard, it's the Army....or in your case the Air Force. I've never in processed an Air Force base. Don't they have a concierge service?

The Army at least made this process easier by aligning the functions. FMWR does their set of services. housing does theirs. In and out processing does theirs. Then it is a matter of physically finding the buildings. The big installations have a one stop in and out processing. You leave ready to,start at your unit, to include a basic issue from the Central Issue Facility CIF and Soldier Readiness Processing and a round of shots.

My wife would get a full tank of gas in our new town and intentionally get lost just to figure out what goes where and what is out there. She'd manage to find a lot of local gems like burger places etc.

Most of it is just the unknown and the anxiety of being uprooted before you are re-rooted in familiarity, relationships, and places. Get yourself a base map and just drive around.

Does the Air Force do sponsorship? The Army has thrown their shoulder into this, its not perfect but better than it ever has been as of 2016. It at least gives a you a peer belly button to help you out.

If you are going to your FIRST duty station, it's initial entry training...the folks in the round hats will help you out. You won't have time to worry about a new base. You'll assembly line in and out. You'll barely have time to have your feet hit the ground. It will be just you and your duffelbag.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jan 30 at 2019 5:45 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 17:45:57 -0500

As I commander, I made it imperative incoming soldiers had a sponsor to show them around.

Response by 1SG Bill Farmerie made Aug 16 at 2020 9:55 AM

1SG Bill Farmerie — Sun, 16 Aug 2020 09:55:30 -0400

First duty station is just completely unknown. You really haven't been in the service yet as you only gone gone through your Basic and school training. You have no idea what the military is about yet. For most they will be in a new part of the country or even out of the country for the very first time. They are usually going by themselves. They are totally in the dark. You just have to focus on the things that are important.

Response by MSgt Michael Lane made Aug 20 at 2021 4:27 PM

MSgt Michael Lane — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 16:27:17 -0400

My first 24hr was crazy to make a long story short I reported to my unit then was taken to my section and they tool me to a german bar I woke up next day in uniform (hat nowhere to be found) in some German guys house across from a bar. I had no idea where I was or where the base was. My first mission find the base.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Aug 20 at 2021 4:35 PM

Sgt Dale Briggs — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 16:35:15 -0400

I don’t recall any angst over reporting to my first Fleet Unit, a better spot than listening to the boots just in from PI Imamate their DIs all day. A lot of the stuff I hear are problems were never a problem in my 4 years, no one bitched about PT or the range, whatever, you were a Marine you were used to PT every day. I did on my own 5-6 days a week depending on if we had Company PT. My only bitch in 4 years was having to do mess duty for 2 weeks in A school, everyone E3 and below, and mess duty in boot. Imo it was wasted time and nothing to do with training and made my time there longer than it needed to be. Hey you show up say hi, shake a hand introduce yourself and then keep your mouth shut for awhile and do as your told. Once your involved and prove yourself it’s no sweat, just don’t be that guy or gal who knows everything and feels the need to share it.

Response by SSgt Tom Canning made Aug 20 at 2021 4:37 PM

SSgt Tom Canning — Fri, 20 Aug 2021 16:37:49 -0400

Airman,
Do they still use the sponsor system in the Air Force? If so I would recommend that you utilize it and listen to your sponsor. They are a great help for in processing purposes and in helping you establish friendships that can be long lasting. In fact when I arrived at my first duty station the airline lost my duffel and subsequently all of my uniforms. My sponsor helped me report to my squadron commander in my civies and also helped to ease an otherwise difficult situation with humor!