On 14 January I received an email from my Unit Administrator (UA) pertaining to my army career.  I would like to just post a quote of the email, and while it is an unclassified document, I don't feel it to be appropriate so I'll summarize.  Basically I submitted an application for pre-qualification for a direct commission as an officer in the US Army Reserve--which I did qualify and I'm currently awaiting further direction from higher up the chain of command.  However, my unit is preparing to mobilize for deployment to Afghanistan and a lot of training is forthcoming throughout this year.  In fact, I already have a week of training coming up in February.  Also prior to deploying we have about thee months of training in another state.  The process of commissioning can be very lengthy and frankly the chances of getting commissioned and trained in time for deployment in January 2012 is slim-to-none at the rate the process is going.  Ideally, it would be great to commission and finish officer school prior to deploying, but as I've already stated...  Suffice it to say if I continue with the direct commission I would be placed on an order of merit, which would make me "non-deployable".  

When I read all this I couldn't help but think something along the lines of  "It can never be a singular and simple path, but forks in the road every so often."

So after much discussion, careful and prayerful thought on the matter, this was my emailed reply to my UA:

We shall see what happens in the coming months following this.

Hooah!

Before I begin, I plan on addressing all of these tips in a more organized fashion in a video very soon, so look forward to it. :)  The reason I'm addressing this here first and not in a video is to provide an immediate answer to a question that was asked of me on my Go David Strong Facebook page.

Christopher  Rodriguez is shipping to basic on January 5, 2011 and this is what he asked:

Your page really helped me, just dropping by to say that I leave for Fort Jackson in 8 (1-5-11) days and after I'm going to Fort Lee for AIT, any tips for BCT and any tips for Fort Lee?

Well, I had to think a little, but then I just started typing and before I knew, a lot of memories started coming back to me and I found I had a lot to say--in no particular order mind you. 

Here is my answer to Christopher

BCT

Be prepared to possibly stay awake for several hours beyond your normal wake hours at Reception.  And yet, don't get too comfortable there either because you can.  When you ship to where you will be training everything will change drastically.

Don't EVER, NEVER, EVER go anywhere without a battle buddy!  I'm being nice when I say this.  Don't be that guy...at BCT nor AIT.  Don't do it.  Some sergeants are eagerly foaming at the mouth to slap you with an Article 15 for not having a battle buddy.  Also when you address an NCO or Officer, have a battle buddy.  No exceptions!!!

Stand at Parade Rest when addressing your drill sergeant [at attention for an officer] or any NCO for that matter and end all your sentences with "drill sergeant". LEARN YOUR RANKS AND INSIGNIAS!  This will affect how you are to address any given soldier (namely soldiers of higher rank than you) that passes you by in the hall or elsewhere.  You can easily find you and your battle buddy/platoon/company pushing or low crawling because you failed to address the presence of an NCO or Officer. Call at ease when you see a drill sergeant enter a room or company area only when there is no drill sergeant present, or if a higher ranking NCO enters the room. (ie.  Your Line Supervising Drill Sergeant usually outranks the rest of your drill sergeants.  So hypothetically, if Staff Sergeant Bickler is present with your platoon, and then Sergeant First Class Marks enters, you call "at ease" and get at the position of at ease PRONTO!  The latter also applies to when your First Sergeant shows up).  Remain at the position of at ease until the command to "carry on" is given.  When your company commander shows up and you're the first to see him or her, call your plantoon or company (depends on who all are present) to attention and salute (only outdoors--salute indoors and you will push), "Good morning/afternoon/evening Ma'am/Sir".  Do NOT drop your salute until he/she returns the salute and then drops his/her salute.  Then remain at attention until he/she gives you the command to "carry on".

Study your butt off with your "Smart Book".  You can never learn enough.  It will seem like it is totally pointless, monotonous and boring, but the information within it will be revisited again and again throughout your Army career, especially when you want to move up rank.  Learn it NOW!  And besides, the information will help you improve and grow in Army knowledge.

NEVER fall asleep on fireguard duty, and know your general orders like you know your date of birth as well as the Soldier's Creed.  Do your special duties while on fireguard duty and do not slack off.  Your bay/barracks will be inspected each morning by your drill sergeant.  If your sleep bay is jacked up, you and/or your platoon, or the fireguards (that were supposed to cover whatever is lacking) will be smoked.  Count on it!  Aaaand there will be times where your drill sergeant will do some "character building" corrective disciplining, just to set an example even when everything is done correctly--even perfectly.  Just accept it and move on.

Don't be a sickcall ranger.  Sickcall Ranger - (noun)  a private that attempts to avoide PT or unpleasant training during BCT or AIT by going to sickcall and/or the TMC (Troop Medical Center) almost daily.  Yes these pitiful excuses for a private exist, and they suck!  They ruin it for those that are truly in need of medical attention.  Don't hang around Sickcall Rangers or they will drag you down.

AIT

As for AIT, the same customs and courtesies for NCOs and Officers apply, so no need to belabor the point again.  At Fort Lee, you will be living in what we call "TRADOC Land" aka strictly by the book.  Army Regulation reign supreme at  Fort Lee and you need to be in compliance at all times, in terms of proper uniform and where you are to be, AT THE RIGHT TIME.  Remember this and never for get it:  Fifteen minutes prior is considered "on time".  Arriving at or just before the time you are to report is considered late and you will be declared FTR (failure to report).  When you are FTR you may find that you have additional duty to do at your company for being late, and/or you may lose your weekend pass.  Don't be that guy!

PT is a bit more your responsibility during your down time.  You may find that PT won't be as consistent as you'd like and it will be up to you to remain fit enough to pass your PT tests.  

If the number of people carrying STDs could be illustrated on a map at Fort Lee, you'd see a the post lit up in red for people that are burning.  Don't be that guy that got it on with the loose female [or male] while away on pass at the hotel.  It happens and it's embarrassing.  

Now because Fort Lee is so by the book, do all that you are told as much as possible because for whatever reason they love issuing Article 15s to privates who just can't get right. lol

At AIT you will have an NCO assigned to you as your Platoon Sergeant, however, you will have fellow student leadership over you as well who literally carry--to a degree--the same authority as your NCOs.  Listen to them, even when you want to beat them, kill them, shoot them down range, etc.  Yes, student leadership can take their power to their heads and abuse it.  That's okay, get them fired. If you think you can do better, speak up.  Every company has a comments box [or at least they should] where you can anonymously address an issue.  I'm not kidding.  If you don't like something, speak up!

Do all of these basics and you'll be golden.  But let me leave you with the best advice of above all.  Grow a HUUUUUUUUGE amount of patience and humility.  AVOID taking things personally.  When you're punished by smoking, consider it the most merciful thing to have happened, because there are worse forms of punishment that are hard to recover from let alone reverse.  

That's all I can think of right now.  ...actually there's more, but I don't want to overwhelm you nor ruin the surprises IET has to offer you. LOL! I pray the best for you and If you have any questions, feel free to email me at godavidstrong@gmail.com.

Take care!

-David

 

I promise you that I am working hard for you guys to bring some much needed content with useful Army information both about Basic Combat Training, AIT and more. I for one know the immense cluelessness or mystery there is to what Initial Entry Training is like prior to getting there. So I'm working hard to bring you high quality work. Please be patient with me as I work out my technical setbacks with my cameras and will do my best not to disappoint, especially in light of a new year.

Additionally, Go David Strong is getting a slight overhaul in look and direction, so hang with me if you like what I've done so far. Hang in there, namely you future soldiers! Tracking?

Hooah!

 

Army Value:  Personal Courage

Disclaimer:  This is not a knock against my superior in any way, just an honest statement of how I feel as a result of the matter.  My superior and I have an awesome professional relationship and I couldn't be happier to have her as my Unit Administrator.  For the record she said, in so many words, that she believes that I am capable and believes I can rise to the challenge.  My answer to her was that I will do my best, and she agreed.

Last week I learned that I am doing the Best Warrior Competition in Tampa, Florida on January 8-9th.  I actually already blogged about this, but felt the need to express this in video because it has somewhat consumed me and I need to vent--ya know just let it out once and for all.  This is my outlet and I hope viewers don't see me as complaining, but quite the opposite.  My goal is to be myself on here and as honest as possible without violating Operation Security (OPSEC).

Finally, I recorded this video twice and debated for three days whether or not I even wanted to share my feelings on this matter at all.

P.S.  Pardon my junky room.  I'm still half-way unpacked since I got back from AIT. lol

 

I got back from training on December 1st, but this is not a video about any of that yet. This is just a quick "Hey! I'm fine" and I'm working my way back to normalcy as a civilian. Very basic. :)

It is time I get back to this blog. I have obviously been away because of my training which is very demanding of my time and energy, not to mention every electronic device was taken away from me.

I am presently in my third week at AIT (Advanced Individual Training) at Fort Lee, Virginia. My platoon of 88N (Transportation Management Coordinators) have been getting quite a bit of attention here because we are the first transportation class of 88N to train here. The transportation school used to be at Fort Eustis and was recently transferred here.

Thus far we've had a lot of class (death by PowerPoint) and we spent four days in the field doing drills, time at the firing range and convoy live firing. Since returning from FTX and with only three weeks left, we are senior class. My experience here has been fun on some occasions and tough at other times. There have been plenty of days where I'd ask myself what the heck was I thinking to join the Army.

Finally, I am very happy that Posterous.com has creates an iPhone app through which I can blog here more easily, versus having to always whip out one of my laptops--which isn't always convenient. So anyway, expect to see and/or hear more from me. Tracking?

Hooah!