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Or does it all depend

I'm in a position to help with letting CGSE students know what they need to know. Sorry, I've been drinking and my first response was that they are leaders, don't be a dick. However, when I sober up I want to send a list of things of what this community thinks. Let me know what Majors should know given the current Army climate. I already have shave three times a day. Lol. Seriously let me know and I will submit it. I'm thinking barracks, DFACs, overall QOL.

Edit. I know it's CGSC. My dad died this morning and I'm still trying to help you guys. Like I said I've been drinking but want your honest feedback.

11B going from Active Duty to National Guard as an E6, what is the realistic timeline to make 7 and how do promotions in Guard work, I am also SLC complete

Just took my asvab and I fell 9 points short for 15T and 15U. I qualified for 15N & I’m perfectly okay with it. I just want to work on helicopters. The thing is I know active duty would be better, but I can’t do that right now due to other circumstances. If I do this job in the national guard, can I get a civilian job after AIT? Will I even be able to get a good full time job in this career if I don’t have the full time experience?? Any advice helps. Thanks.

I am not in the armed services. I have had interactions with armed service members (Veterans and Active Service Individuals) and I had a question.

Is it a thing to offer on base services to Veterans and ex-service people? (like updated psych/health education services, not the operations sensitive top secret stuff??)

Granted, I was AF and been out for >10 years, but damn. These two looked so wrecked I thought it was cosplay.

Sat down next to one of the Specialists and asked why both their boots were bloused different. “Are army regs that relaxed?”

“To be honest, no one really gives a shit.”

Really? Not trying to be a dick, but really curious if it’s really that bad? Uniforms looked like a dog’s breakfast, different patches (1AD, 2ID) because they hadn’t been given their patches yet, beard about an inch long…do the reserves really not care?

I got a field grade article 15 and did not get to write my own sworn statement no one came to talk to me and ask if I’d like to write a sworn statement. Is this correct? I’m not trying to get of trouble I messed up and got a deserved article but the proceedings seemed to be done wrong in my opinion. I could be wrong but what does r army gotta say? And sorry if I can google this I have to no avail.

Do any of the saunas work on post?If so, what gyms are they in?

I’ll take a large water and a slice of apple please

7 years in, doing the full 20. Talking with retention soon and know my broadening assignment is next for me. What are your thoughts on the three options? (Single no kids)

I got out a few years ago for medical reasons and since that time I constantly have the pull to go back. Now obviously I can't so I’ve had to look in other areas to fill that need of lifestyle/community. Unfortunately, I have yet to actually find anything that doesn't just feel like dress up comparatively. Case in point, I ran TEMS for a little bit which sounds great, but more than half the time we sat in the truck and watched as the SWAT team breached the house.

Have any of you guys ran into a similar experience? if so, what did you do?

I have my itinerary for my first duty station but I’m taking leave first. My itinerary is from AIT to duty station, and they told my to call Sato to get it changed. I put the confirmation number on delta and looks like it allows me to change it myself (even upgrade and get e-credits) sooo am I allowed to do that and keep the credit as the price difference is significant..

It does NOT mean “at large” or “as a whole.”

Career counselor questions

Any career counselor/retention NCO out there? Looking to ask a question about switching MOS before my window is open. Right at my 1 year on station, and I’ve heard you can switch MOS via a 4187 to reclass. Currently a 42a, and hate the office setting.

As of 2 weeks ago got 30 days of extra duty no rank or forfeiture of pay. Now the big question is does extra duty start the day of when punishment is announced? I have yet started extra duty yet.

For those of you who have been on multiple deployments how often would you say you don't get a CAB for deployments?

Are schools on base better than off base? I was considering Marshall Elementary on base, but I would like to hear about your experiences and recommendations...

Hi all,

I have my Bachelor of Science in Nursing and am a Registered Nurse. I’ve worked in a large hospital for around 5 months and do not like bedside. I have always thought about military.

I would like to join the army as an officer. Would I have to work bedside in an army hospital or can I be boots on the ground as a medic or nurse on the ground?

I apologize if I sound ignorant as I do not know much about military logistics and such. I appreciate all advice and help.

Having a bad time right now and have thoughts of blowing my brains out. I promise you I would never do it in actuality, but thoughts have bothered me for months and reached an intensity this week.

I’m in my first contract and have worked hard at several things in the Army. The general theme of what’s messing with me mentally is I feel like and largely am a failure at reaching my Army goals. I feel trapped in a shitty position that restricts me from having a fully normal life. My recent failure should not have been, in that people typically get a second chance but my leader specifically recommended me for relief. Many of his peers disagree with that, but largely the ones that matter are going off of him. I hold no real personal animosity but am pissed off at the outcome.

I’m two-thirds through my contract. I’ve luckily got some degree of financial security and academic and career prospects outside. Family life is good, and a motivating factor in leaving is having more time with them. I do have thoughts of swerving into oncoming traffic, but I know life is always going to be okay and things can expect to be better in due time. I’m just really, really bothered by those thoughts and urges, and they scare me because they’re appealing.

I’ve spoken to my chaplain before about career issues, but never about these thoughts. I don’t know the parameters of confidentiality with him and others, as they usually give that caveat of “harm to yourself, others, etc.” I’m wary of confessing these thoughts to someone and closing doors for myself in the future, both within the Army and otherwise.

Who can I turn to that won’t carry consequences for suicidal ideations? Thanks for your help.

So I haven't received notification of assignment or anything in IPPSA, but my branch manager said they're working my assignment for Fort Drum in January. Based on what was available in my marketplace, it should be 10th CAB. I was at Drum in the CAB previously in 2015-2017 and enjoyed it so I am looking forward to going back (insane, i know lol). So what's the morale and optempo like currently? If I get a say in my pinpoint assignment, which BN is currently the best/worst? Has anything changed for better or worse around the area? Most importantly, does the Stewarts outside the airfield still sell the Biggy Iggy ice cream sandwiches?

So I’m doing a TPU to TPU transfer and my transfer got approved. The weird thing is that the effective date lands on a weekend of drill of the unit I’m still currently in. It’s a MUTA 8 and it starts day 2 so I might have to show up for one day

I’m awaiting an answer from my PSG still but was wondering how this works. I wouldn’t mind showing up for one day as long as I’m still on their books so I can get paid but if I don’t have to I wouldn’t mind that either.

Oh get me a banana, orange juice and creatine

I just wanted to share my experience using CA funds to complete the TSAC-F certification.

TSAC-F is the Tactical Strength & Conditioning Facilitator certification created through a partnership between the US Army and the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA). The NSCA provides certifications for professionals in the world of personal training and strength & conditioning. The vast majority of your collegiate and professional 'strength coaches' have the much harder CSCS cert, which requires a Bachelors degree.

I have a BS in Exercise Science and worked in personal training and corporate wellness for a few years before joining the Army at 32. Oddly enough, or not, you can't use CA funds for the CSCS only the TSAC-F.

A year ago I used CA funds to purchase the $600 TSAC-F 'package'. The package included an E-Book and a number of quizzes and a practice test. Then I sat on it for months. You have 1 year to complete it. From the time you sign up to take the test you have 4 months to sit for the exam.

I had been reading through the E-Book and taking the quizzes off and on for a few months then decided it was time to get serious and take the test. I completed the 129 question practice test a few times until I got a passing score (required an 80, I got an 84). I then scheduled and sat for the actual test.

The actual test is 150 questions, 20 of which are non-scored questions that don't count. I took the test at the Ed Center in a very controlled testing room. No phones, no watches, no wallet, no nothing. You provide an ID and they take your photo and a few palm prints. I passed the test with an 88.

As far as the possible changes coming for CA I believe TSAC-F is still going to be funded. It was created through an Army partnership and supports H2F so if they did not allow CA for it then I don't think anyone would take it. It does not have a lot of appeal or application outside of Military/Police/Fire.

Why dont we have them on deployment? Does the Army thrive on post-deployment drama?

gimme a chicken sandwhich and some waffle fries, for free

edit: a conjugal visit is when your spouse visits you for coitus. im not talking about random hookers

I’m a small 5’2” female and I’m looking for suggestions for a plate carrier. I have the one I was issued, but it’s so big and bulky it really impacts my ability to move and my ability to keep my buttstock secure when I’m shooting. Let me know if you know of any carriers that can help with this! Thanks

My dad will be retiring in 3-4 years and I'm thinking of taking over his business. I'm currently an AGR (E6) in the NG with 11 total and 6 active service. My current ETS lines up with his retirement. I will have 14 total and 9 active.

My husband is a traditional guardsman. He's currently in WOCS and will incur a 10 year obligation that brings him to about 22 for a non-regular retirement.

Am I crazy for wanting to get out? AGR was great at first when I had no kids and no responsibilities, but I have 2 young kids now (primary caregiver for both) and the thought of us both leaving them for the next 10-14 years for drill weekends, AT, exercises, schools, deployments, etc is insane. Work life balance for me is not that great. I feel mentally exhausted and overworked. I spend about 9 hours in the office and 2-3 hours commuting, dropping off, and picking up the kids. I come home exhausted but we go straight into preparing dinner, getting us and the kids ready for bed, just to do it all over again the next day.

The cost of living is very high where I'm at, so I would have to keep working until 65 if I retire (regular or non-regular). I thought about reverting back to MDAY, but honestly not sure if that retirement pay is worth it. Not interested in OCS or WOCS anymore because of the time away from the kids.

It's a small business so we're not going to be super rich or anything, but we will be able to live comfortably, pay our mortgage, bills, kids education. Hoping this could be an opportunity to open other businesses in the future and eventually retire before 65.

Growing up my parents were always working. I spent a lot of time with grandparents and babysitters. I don't blame them for it as they were just trying to do their best to provide but I felt emotionally distant. I don't want to do that to my kids. If I take over the business I would have more flexibility and be more present.

If you were presented with this opportunity, would you take it and get out of the military? If i wait to finish out my military career, i won't have this opportunity again. I am very conflicted.

behavioral health doesn’t help, maybe that’s just me. i’m tired of getting told to “soldier up” or some other stupid phrase. i don’t want to be in the army anymore. i mindlessly signed a contract almost a year ago and although i love my MOS (68W) i do not want to be providing healthcare within the army. the lifestyle is completely insufferable. between shitty leadership and worthless PT i feel like my time has been wasted and all of this stress i go through is pointless. i’ve been medicated for depression and anxiety but it has not helped. i constantly think of where i could be if i hadn’t joined the army, i’m not one to back down in the face of adversity but im drained. i can’t handle 3 1/2 more years of this. no wonder suicide awareness is so high within the military. this is not to hate on anyone who enjoys the army, it’s just not for me. i’m not cut out to be a soldier and i’m alright with that. i just want my life back, i want to be able to enjoy things and feel emotions without being degraded by a high-speed SSG that devotes his entire life to sucking on Uncle Sam’s tit. anyways, Aerosol! 🦅🦅

The glorious moment has come! You have worked hard, or for some hardly worked, for the past 4 days. Formation just got cut and now you are about to enjoy the next 48 hours. What is the first thing you guys do?

I for one get a chocolate milk shake from the shoppette, then drop trou whenever I get home.

I shall have a chocolate milkshake, with a sleeve of king size reese’s.

Hello. I am from Chile, and I would like to ask a question about basic training situations in USA to make a comparison with my country.

Right now, a scandal is going on about a conscript that died of a heart attack in basic training, after 3 weeks of entering the military service. They were marching from 4000m to 3000m downwards a hill (an 8 or 15 Km march, is not clear right now) with very low temperatures, his fellow soldiers reported temperatures of 5 F (-15 C). The conscripts reported that at the start they were forced to march with a shirt only, as a "manhood" test or crap like that. Reports are confusing right now. The point is that (I suppose that afterwards they were wearing the full gear for the cold) he didn't feel well during the march, fainted twice, but the instructors obliged him to follow up, even calling him "f-word" and "coward", a coronel said to him "you are better dead, you are of no use for the army", etc. for not having the will to go ahead. The guy tried to push it and fainted a third time and never recovered consciousness. So, they sent him urgently to a public hospital and died in the way to it. The coroner said that the cause was a heart attack.

Another 40 soldiers suffered of influenza; several are in critical state in the hospital.

In the march there were no medical attention available, the ambulance was far ahead.

I'm curious if kinds like this happens in the US Army, especially if during basic training a private faint, says that feel bad, and if they keep him pushing on to complete some demanding physical exercise.

Thanks very much for your responses!