Thinking of reclassing..

[Avandir]

I've been thinking. I love my job, but as a FISTER nothing I'm doing can carry over into the civ world. Sure, I can read a map and tell you how far away that burger is from the cash register in meters, but what else do I have?

I was in the PX and there were a bunch of guys in black shirts and black cargo pants. Oakley's all-around and just looking hi-speed. I got closer and realized they were the SRT for Casey. They came complete with the big black van outside and everything. I had to pay my 'Net bill so I didn't get a chance to talk to them. Do you get to stuff like that from the MP's, or what? And does it carry over well to the civ world? Is it easier to become an LEO with MP experience?

Another route I'm thinking of taking is medic, but once again, I don't know how that would carry over.

Regardless of what I choose, I defiantely want atleast one tour in the sandbox as a Fox.

Ya'll have a good one.

[steelbreeze]

I've been thinking. I love my job, but as a FISTER nothing I'm doing can carry over into the civ world. Sure, I can read a map and tell you how far away that burger is from the cash register in meters, but what else do I have?

I was in the PX and there were a bunch of guys in black shirts and black cargo pants. Oakley's all-around and just looking hi-speed. I got closer and realized they were the SRT for Casey. They came complete with the big black van outside and everything. I had to pay my 'Net bill so I didn't get a chance to talk to them. Do you get to stuff like that from the MP's, or what? And does it carry over well to the civ world? Is it easier to become an LEO with MP experience?

Another route I'm thinking of taking is medic, but once again, I don't know how that would carry over.

Regardless of what I choose, I defiantely want atleast one tour in the sandbox as a Fox.

Ya'll have a good one.
I can't speak for SRT(or even tell you what it stands for-Special Reaction Team?) but all medics are nationally registered EMTs so you could get work on the civilian side with those credentials. Before you get too excited, check the wages for EMTs- they aren't that great. Probably be lucky to get too much better than $10 an hour. Not much else I can say on this, sure that someone with better info will be along shortly. Good luck.

[SN]

Anything to do with computers. or MI

[Sharky]

Instead of re-classing, why dont you put in a 4187 for RIP and try for the Regiment. 13F is the best gig in the Regiment (You get to go to MFF and CDQC just for starters). I assure you that it is more high speed than that SRT team. Dont be fooled. Wearing black kit and driving a black van doesn't make you high speed. Do you want to LOOK high speed, or be able to back it up?

[The Fat Guy]

Instead of re-classing, why dont you put in a 4187 for RIP and try for the Regiment. 13F is the best gig in the Regiment (You get to go to MFF and CDQC just for starters). I assure you that it is more high speed than that SRT team. Dont be fooled. Wearing black kit and driving a black van doesn't make you high speed. Do you want to LOOK high speed, or be able to back it up?

I had 13F's in my weapons platoon in C/2/75. They were great troops. Some were even attached to the line platoons. I agree with Sharky. if you want to look high speed, buy the black garb and oakleys. If you want to BE high speed, go to the regiment or SFAS.

PS, What rank are you? You may have more civilian skills than you think.

fast eddie sends

Jesus, Someone stop me before I pull a muscle...

[Drew]

You've gotten some good replies, but let me offer this- According to your profile, I've been in Iraq longer than you've been in the Army, and that's just this deployment. Are you the best 13F10 you could possibly be right now? Not an attack on you, just saying it may be a little early to worry about reclassing.

If I were you I would do exactly what Sharky said.

[Avandir]

I'm just a lowly, lowly Pv2. I've thought about trying for RIP. But I figure I'll take it one step at a time. I'm in for five so I want Airborne and chill for awhile, get the hang of how things are done, then move on.

I didn't score high enough for MI and I can't stand desk jobs. I work in S3 now and absolutely hate it.

I say SRT because that's definately the kind of thing that appeals to me.

[Bravo Five Romeo]

Do you want to LOOK high speed, or be able to back it up?
I've thought about trying for RIP. But I figure I'll take it one step at a time. I'm in for five so I want Airborne and chill for awhile
...
I say SRT because that's definately the kind of thing that appeals to me.
I guess that answers that question.


I love my job, but as a FISTER nothing I'm doing can carry over into the civ world.Not true. There are many clubs on the west side that could use an experienced fister.

:D

[KidA]

Instead of re-classing, why dont you put in a 4187 for RIP and try for the Regiment. 13F is the best gig in the Regiment (You get to go to MFF and CDQC just for starters). I assure you that it is more high speed than that SRT team. Dont be fooled. Wearing black kit and driving a black van doesn't make you high speed. Do you want to LOOK high speed, or be able to back it up?

Agreed.

My MOS didn't translate into shit in the Civilian world. I got out, paid a school to give me a piece of paper stating I sat there for four years in a degree that has no correlation to anything in the Civ world (Greek and Latin) and haven't done too bad for myself.

What you do in life is up to you, not up to what you've done, but what you are willing to fight for.

Will some jobs in the military help you get a correlating job in the civilian world? Sure. Will some degrees help you get a job in the civilian world? Sure. But the best jobs are the ones you want and you convince people to take a chance on you for.

I'm an Army guy with a combat MOS and a degree in dead languages working as a Civilian for the Navy in a position that has nothing to do with anything I've ever done anywhere in my life, ever. I fought for it and I got it, and that makes all the difference.

[SN]

I'm just a lowly, lowly Pv2. I've thought about trying for RIP. But I figure I'll take it one step at a time. I'm in for five so I want Airborne and chill for awhile, get the hang of how things are done, then move on.

I didn't score high enough for MI and I can't stand desk jobs. I work in S3 now and absolutely hate it.

I say SRT because that's definately the kind of thing that appeals to me.

Bad news, you probably won't "chill" in the airborne. You'll go out and practice your mission getting ready for Iraq or Afghanistan. 12 months out, 12 months home, with 9 of those 12 months getting ready for the field, or sitting DRF.

As far as jobs go, you actually are getting training that transfers into the civillian world. The AF has a similar career field, and those guys end up working at Harris Corp (guys who make your radios), and other computer/radio companies. They get jobs working in sim centers running the call for fires cells, gunnery ranges and other locations.

You'll get what you put into the job.

Know your gear inside and out, and you'll have a reputation as someone who is good to go. That will help you with your civillian dreams.

If you want to be a cop, you should have enlisted MP, and walked around looking cool, you wanna be cool, go RIP.

[LRS Guy]

IMHO if I was a 19 year old 13F......I would be worrying about being the the BEST 13F I could be. Because while you may be in Korea right now, YOU are going to war before your time is up.

You should not be "chilling", be in the best physical condition you can be, learn as much as you can from your team leader, always be the first guy to man up (ie volunteer) for whatever comes down the pike (yes, some details suck, but from time to time GOOD things happen to those who volunteer). Even if you are not the best soldier in your unit, if you do the above you will be noticed in a positive way. Just my .02

BTW, if you are at Camp Casey, you are likely "Airborne qualified" not in a Airborne unit. If you were in a paratrooper unit, you wouldn't give a F%^& about what a a bunch of fag, legs in black were doing.

[Overland]

It might just be me...

But I would rather hire a motivated, confident and disciplined 11B just out of the Army than a slovenly, "Me Me Me", spoiled brat right out of college.

To echo the rest of the thread's contributors (and my father), do what you do to the best of your ability. Work hard and you'll be surprised at what doors open for you.

[0699]

Not to jump on the band wagon here, but DO NOT be impressed by people that "look" high speed. That's the easy part. Self discipline and knowing your job are the first two steps in being high speed. If you can't do those two things, the rest is all BS. Anyone can buy black cargo pants and Oakleys...

Do the best you can at where ever you are and always strive to improve.

[Snake]

I'm in for five so I want Airborne and chill for awhile

Wrong answer.

[Sharky]

Yeah. What Snake said. As well, if you want to "Chill", disregard that whole idea of trying to 4187 to RIP. I personally think you should try out for that SRT team. If you're lucky, they dont even have a selection course and you just join the team and get issued the black kit and Oakleys. That way you can hang out at the PX and impress PV2's.

[Avandir]

Wow, let me dig the multiple boots out of my ass before I respond.

What I meant by "chill" was learn the ways of the Airborne. Wrong wording, my mistake, I should have clarified. I wanna go Airborne, see how things work and if I like it, stay. If I like it and want more, I take a swing at RIP.

I'm trying to be the best FISTER I can. I've done one live fire in my career and my days consist of emptying trash cans and reading my 6-30. I get the feeling that Korea is seriously fucking me for down-the-road deployments. My Sergeants Time training consists of learning how to grade PT cards and inputing them into a computer instead of training with the four 13F SNCO's in my section. We don't do shit. "I wanna do livefire" is punishable by death here. Maybe I'm going about this the wrong way...

Thanks for all the great replies.

[Sharky]

Look stud, lots of youngsters like you come on here looking for advice. Rarely do they hear what they want to hear. On here, you get a dose of how it is, rather than how you want it to be. You haven't even been in the Army long enough to make PFC yet. Are you really the best 13F you can be already? How long is the line of NCO's who trust you and your knowledge enough to allow you to call in live fire on their LFX? Do you think you are the only one who had to spend more time than they wanted doing senseless bullshit? We all did. Regardless of unit. My advice to you is the same thing you have heard already. Do whatever it is you are told to the best of your ability. If that is entering PT scores, do it 100%. Get your ass off the internet and get your head in some FM's that will enable you to be a better 13F. Your reputation starts now. In fact, it's started already. If you want something better, stop crying about it and start taking action to make yourself better. You're obviously not exactly a shit hot 13F or you wouldn't be working in the 3 shop. You'd be in a line company doing your job instead.


Part of it is probably that you let your dissatisfaction with your job show. You obviously dont communicate your intent well in writing. Maybe that applies in person as well.

[Sharky]

I say SRT because that's definately the kind of thing that appeals to me.




Here's a good example. You say that SRT appeals to you. Why? You were impressed by the black BDU's and Oakleys, that's why. You're impressed by an inferior uniform and some over-priced sunglasses. Think about that. Ever wonder how much SRT actually gets to do something real? I'll venture to say it's damn near never. You want to do the high speed shit but you haven't even mastered the basics of your own core job yet. Why should anyone give you an opportunity to do something like that when you haven't been in long enough to earn it? You're ready to jump ship into something you know absolutely nothing about. You'd be just as unhappy on that SRT because the truth is that it's probably even more boring than working in the 3 shop.

The Army is a meritocracy. If you want something, you can get it, but you have to EARN it. Like I said, if you want to BE high speed, you can. The opportunity is there. But you have to go get it. If you want to LOOK high speed, well, that's easy. Just understand that you will never darken the door of a true high speed unit if you are willing to cave in because you have to enter some PT scores on a computer.

[Brian1/75]

Black BDUs haven't been cool since like 1974. I'd laugh at those guys for looking like a low-budget Hollywood film. Now get a deployment under your belt and maybe you'll get to do a 'live-fire', kill some hadj, realize how awesome your job is, and not give a fuck that you don't have a civilian counterpart.

[Purple36]

Avandir,

As someone with over 20 years in and who spends all day looking at soldiers records to pick out the stellar performers I suggest that you seriously listen to Sharky's words. If you follow his advice you will succeed. Every last one of us has done the jobs that make no sense and that suck. It's part of life in the Army. If you do well at what you do not like or enjoy, you will excel in those things you do enjoy. If I get a kid who wants to be high speed, but is mediocre in the mundane BS that comes along with all jobs..I keep on looking.



Here's a good example. You say that SRT appeals to you. Why? You were impressed by the black BDU's and Oakleys, that's why. You're impressed by an inferior uniform and some over-priced sunglasses. Think about that. Ever wonder how much SRT actually gets to do something real? I'll venture to say it's damn near never. You want to do the high speed shit but you haven't even mastered the basics of your own core job yet. Why should anyone give you an opportunity to do something like that when you haven't been in long enough to earn it? You're ready to jump ship into something you know absolutely nothing about. You'd be just as unhappy on that SRT because the truth is that it's probably even more boring than working in the 3 shop.

The Army is a meritocracy. If you want something, you can get it, but you have to EARN it. Like I said, if you want to BE high speed, you can. The opportunity is there. But you have to go get it. If you want to LOOK high speed, well, that's easy. Just understand that you will never darken the door of a true high speed unit if you are willing to cave in because you have to enter some PT scores on a computer.

[mrwill]

Gentlemen, if you would allow me, I would like to interject a few words of my own. After reading through this discussion, it’s been eating me up not to give some words of my own that will hopefully help. If I am out of line, let me know and I will delete my post.

-About 13 years ago, I was in yours shoes as a PV2. With aspirations of becoming an “Airborne Ranger”, I joined the Army, relying on my recruiter to make my goal a reality. As was the case with many recruits both then and now, my lack of research ended up with me becoming 11x, unassigned infantry, and after OSUT, 11M, mech infantry. To make matters worse, I was assigned to Fort Irwin as OPFOR, driving a Sheridan tank, the farthest I could come from my goal, I felt at the time. As a result, I had a lot of the same feelings that you have now. I was disillusioned, and every time I replaced a road wheel, or pulled an engine, I thought “I have to reclass and get out of here” or even thought about ETS’ing completely, while I stewed in self-pity.

-Eventually I realized my attitude was getting me nowhere. Here I was, sulking about being an Infantryman not doing an Infantryman’s job, but yet I was doing nothing to change it. I started taking it upon MYSELF to change things. I asked myself the most important question someone can ask themselves: “am I the best at everything I do?” The answer was no. I enrolled in correspondence courses and starting learning EVERYTHING I could about not only my job as an Infantryman, but the jobs of my Squad Leader and Platoon Sergeant. I memorized weapon information, I volunteered to carry and maintain other weapons other than my M16. I would volunteer to call for fire during our missions at NTC. I signed out AT weapons to use during missions, and practiced calling in 9 line medevacs. I sat in on OPORD’s, and attended any course offered on post from combat lifesaver to the foreign weapons course. My squad leader no longer had to tell me what to do, or how to do it. Pretty soon, I became a pretty important asset, and was promoted to E4, because my squad leader wanted me as one of his team leaders.

-At this point I asked myself again, “am I the best at everything I do?” The answer was again, no. Even back then, the internet wasn’t as available as it is today, and I didn’t have as incredible of a site as SOCNET to get info from, so when I stumbled across an SFAS prep packet, I had a new challenge. I followed the rucking, swimming and PT suggestions to a T. Why? Was I dead set on SFAS as a destination? No. But from seeing the performance of the SOF teams when they visited at NTC, I respected their abilities, technically and tactically, and knew they set the bar high. Soon, 300+ PT tests became the norm, rather than an unreachable goal. This got me noticed by the 1SG, an ex-RI for the Ranger Regiment. He was so impressed, that he offered to help me out and maybe get me a shot at what I had initially joined the Army for. The physical side of things was looking bright, but what about the mental side? I had slacked through high school quite a bit, and “chilled” way too much. I decided to rectify that. I brought one of those big SAT prep books to the field, and when everyone else was relaxing or playing around (OPFOR’s field time was pretty relaxed then, I don’t know about now) I was hitting the book. I took the SAT’s at the education center 2 months later and scored almost 1300, quite a feat for someone in the bottom 1/5 of his high school class. This got me noticed by our PL. He asked me if I ever considered West Point. I literally laughed at him, and explained about the bottom 1/5 standing for high school. He told me that anything is possible. I didn’t believe him. Now I do.

-I applied to USMA (West Point) to appease the PL, thinking “there’s no way”. Well, 5 months later, I had an acceptance letter to the prep school. I suddenly had a lot of options for my once bleak future. To make a long story short, I chose the USMA path, hit the books hard, and graduated. I ended up leading an Infantry platoon successfully in combat and bringing my boys all back home in one piece. I went on to successfully command a Cavalry Troop as well later on, as well as get some of those fancy badges I was so fixated on when I joined.

-My whole point here is this: You ALWAYS have great things to pursue and occupy your time with, no matter what job you have. You are NEVER really “stuck” like you are imagining you are now. Ask yourself “am I the best?” The answer will always be no. No matter who you are, or what unit you are in, there is room for improvement. You can always improve in anything you do. I had the privilege of working with numerous SOF teams in combat, and I can assure you, that as much as you might be impressed now with how the cool looking gear looks, you would be 10 times as impressed with their technical and tactical proficiency. They live the word “success” in all they do, because that is what they strive for, whether they are conducting a mission or scoring a PT test. Anyone can wear “cool” gear…hell, even airsoft warriors wear “cool” gear, but that doesn’t mean they are impressive.

-What can you do to change your direction? Determine where you are physically, mentally and technically/tactically. Write down where you are in all of these areas and where you would like to be. Shoot high. Chart what you need to do to go from A to B. Find a mentor/role model in your unit. If you were the CO and wanted the best guy for your job, who would you pick? Usually that is the guy you should emulate. Get out on the road and ruck up. Improve your ruck times, run times and your other PT scores. Are you hitting 300+ every PT test? You are in the S3 shop. Are you observing and learning? Do you know all the tactical map symbols? Can you write an OPORD? S3/operations is one of the most robust aspects of staff operations, you could learn a lot here. I think you can see where I am going with all of this. Put the horse before the carriage. Become the best you can, and then gravitate towards others like you. It’s a path not many take, but it has many rewards. You may catch flak for being the guy on a weekend doing a ruck march instead of pounding beer, it will be worth it. Good luck to you, and I hope I helped.

[Massgrunt]

Awesome post mrwill.

Speaking as someone who was dragged kicking and screaming into an S3 shop before I got out, it was actually a great learning opportunity. I got a bird's eye view of how things worked in a battalion, and had a lot more responsibility than most corporals do. I ended up taking a lot of work of the boss's plate that he really didn't have to do, but did anyway because he was the type of guy that never said no. It was actually a very valuable experience.

[Sharky]

Outstanding post.

[Zulu6]

Instead of re-classing, why dont you put in a 4187 for RIP and try for the Regiment. 13F is the best gig in the Regiment (You get to go to MFF and CDQC just for starters). I assure you that it is more high speed than that SRT team. Dont be fooled. Wearing black kit and driving a black van doesn't make you high speed. Do you want to LOOK high speed, or be able to back it up?


As a former FISTER from 2nd batt I can tell you that is where you want to go!
Sharky
Amen brother!

[Snake]

YOU ------> IRAQ/AFGHANISTAN --------> Success.

There's your roadmap.

[Purple36]

Perfect advice that we can all use throughout our lives:

Gentlemen, if you would allow me, I would like to interject a few words of my own. After reading through this discussion, it’s been eating me up not to give some words of my own that will hopefully help. If I am out of line, let me know and I will delete my post.

-About 13 years ago, I was in yours shoes as a PV2. With aspirations of becoming an “Airborne Ranger”, I joined the Army, relying on my recruiter to make my goal a reality. As was the case with many recruits both then and now, my lack of research ended up with me becoming 11x, unassigned infantry, and after OSUT, 11M, mech infantry. To make matters worse, I was assigned to Fort Irwin as OPFOR, driving a Sheridan tank, the farthest I could come from my goal, I felt at the time. As a result, I had a lot of the same feelings that you have now. I was disillusioned, and every time I replaced a road wheel, or pulled an engine, I thought “I have to reclass and get out of here” or even thought about ETS’ing completely, while I stewed in self-pity.

-Eventually I realized my attitude was getting me nowhere. Here I was, sulking about being an Infantryman not doing an Infantryman’s job, but yet I was doing nothing to change it. I started taking it upon MYSELF to change things. I asked myself the most important question someone can ask themselves: “am I the best at everything I do?” The answer was no. I enrolled in correspondence courses and starting learning EVERYTHING I could about not only my job as an Infantryman, but the jobs of my Squad Leader and Platoon Sergeant. I memorized weapon information, I volunteered to carry and maintain other weapons other than my M16. I would volunteer to call for fire during our missions at NTC. I signed out AT weapons to use during missions, and practiced calling in 9 line medevacs. I sat in on OPORD’s, and attended any course offered on post from combat lifesaver to the foreign weapons course. My squad leader no longer had to tell me what to do, or how to do it. Pretty soon, I became a pretty important asset, and was promoted to E4, because my squad leader wanted me as one of his team leaders.

-At this point I asked myself again, “am I the best at everything I do?” The answer was again, no. Even back then, the internet wasn’t as available as it is today, and I didn’t have as incredible of a site as SOCNET to get info from, so when I stumbled across an SFAS prep packet, I had a new challenge. I followed the rucking, swimming and PT suggestions to a T. Why? Was I dead set on SFAS as a destination? No. But from seeing the performance of the SOF teams when they visited at NTC, I respected their abilities, technically and tactically, and knew they set the bar high. Soon, 300+ PT tests became the norm, rather than an unreachable goal. This got me noticed by the 1SG, an ex-RI for the Ranger Regiment. He was so impressed, that he offered to help me out and maybe get me a shot at what I had initially joined the Army for. The physical side of things was looking bright, but what about the mental side? I had slacked through high school quite a bit, and “chilled” way too much. I decided to rectify that. I brought one of those big SAT prep books to the field, and when everyone else was relaxing or playing around (OPFOR’s field time was pretty relaxed then, I don’t know about now) I was hitting the book. I took the SAT’s at the education center 2 months later and scored almost 1300, quite a feat for someone in the bottom 1/5 of his high school class. This got me noticed by our PL. He asked me if I ever considered West Point. I literally laughed at him, and explained about the bottom 1/5 standing for high school. He told me that anything is possible. I didn’t believe him. Now I do.

-I applied to USMA (West Point) to appease the PL, thinking “there’s no way”. Well, 5 months later, I had an acceptance letter to the prep school. I suddenly had a lot of options for my once bleak future. To make a long story short, I chose the USMA path, hit the books hard, and graduated. I ended up leading an Infantry platoon successfully in combat and bringing my boys all back home in one piece. I went on to successfully command a Cavalry Troop as well later on, as well as get some of those fancy badges I was so fixated on when I joined.

-My whole point here is this: You ALWAYS have great things to pursue and occupy your time with, no matter what job you have. You are NEVER really “stuck” like you are imagining you are now. Ask yourself “am I the best?” The answer will always be no. No matter who you are, or what unit you are in, there is room for improvement. You can always improve in anything you do. I had the privilege of working with numerous SOF teams in combat, and I can assure you, that as much as you might be impressed now with how the cool looking gear looks, you would be 10 times as impressed with their technical and tactical proficiency. They live the word “success” in all they do, because that is what they strive for, whether they are conducting a mission or scoring a PT test. Anyone can wear “cool” gear…hell, even airsoft warriors wear “cool” gear, but that doesn’t mean they are impressive.

-What can you do to change your direction? Determine where you are physically, mentally and technically/tactically. Write down where you are in all of these areas and where you would like to be. Shoot high. Chart what you need to do to go from A to B. Find a mentor/role model in your unit. If you were the CO and wanted the best guy for your job, who would you pick? Usually that is the guy you should emulate. Get out on the road and ruck up. Improve your ruck times, run times and your other PT scores. Are you hitting 300+ every PT test? You are in the S3 shop. Are you observing and learning? Do you know all the tactical map symbols? Can you write an OPORD? S3/operations is one of the most robust aspects of staff operations, you could learn a lot here. I think you can see where I am going with all of this. Put the horse before the carriage. Become the best you can, and then gravitate towards others like you. It’s a path not many take, but it has many rewards. You may catch flak for being the guy on a weekend doing a ruck march instead of pounding beer, it will be worth it. Good luck to you, and I hope I helped.

[Purple36]

...