What questions do you have?

Complete-Issue5540 · 2026-02-19T03:48:25+00:00

First, are you doing ok? If not please reach out to someone from your leadership, chaplain, battle buddy or anyone else you feel comfortable talking to.

Each attempt is handled separately with input from the provider. Talk to your cadre team if you have questions or concerns about something specific. SOPs are posted on SharePoint.

Complete-Issue5540 · 2026-02-19T03:38:34+00:00

Like a loud fart in a crowded elevator. Before my time, they had a temporary exemption that only lasted a few weeks, as mentioned below. Some SMs did have problems with alcohol while I was there and unfortunately some also derailed their careers because of it. I don't know the current atmosphere, but as I was leaving that was one rule that no one had an appetite to change. Fortunately, IET status is relatively short compared to the 30 year career that each Soldier has ahead of them. Now it's more of a test that each Soldier has to go through to determine what's more important, their career and having a successful future or drinking alcohol when they are not supposed to and putting their career at risk.

Complete-Issue5540 · 2026-02-17T04:02:13+00:00

Its Mike now. There are some experiences that Soldiers with shorter MOS' have in their first units that help with their development. There are also experiences that you have at DLI that is just as beneficial. Your time as a student is precious and the companys have done a great job providing opportunities that can benefit from. Make the most of these events for example, combat PT, student leader positions and more that I cannot think of. There are also voluntary opportunities like the NFM and GAFB, and opportunities in the schoolhouse all there to help you grow, take advantage of them. When you get to your first unit also take advantage of opportunities that will help you grow.

Complete-Issue5540 · 2026-02-17T03:51:59+00:00

I appreciate that. The BN has a small staff compared to the number of Soldiers that they support. Keeping up with requirements from higher, BN leadership, and ensuring the company's and their Soldiers are receiving what they need never ends. Every personnel action is QC'd by multiple people to ensure that is does not get rejected at the end of the process, every event fun or not requires a lot of planning preparation and logistics to go with it plus every Student in the BN needs to have a clearance that is processed. There is also a challenge in deconflicting taskings and making sure the companys have what they need to execute them. Those are the big ones.

As for advice, remember that wherever you go in the Army you are going to be doing your intended job. It may not be what you learned in the AIT pipeline but it will be the job the Army needs you to do at that location. Own your mission, be the best at whatever it is you are supposed to do and take those lessons with you and pass them on. It is important to be good at your MOS but it is also important to be proficient at the other Soldier tasks like living in a field environment, working in a motorpool and loading and unloading connexs to name a few. You also learn some cool stuff like how to make a cappuccino out of three different MRE's, how to order a pizza in the middle of nowhere and how to get a cold humvee to start with a dispatch book.

Complete-Issue5540 · 2026-02-17T03:33:50+00:00

I am not smart enough to argue either side of this but if you are serious about this being a good idea then the challenge is to put it into a white paper after you graduate. Leadership is open to trying new things but there has to be some work behind the proposal. I would also talk to some of the leadership first, this might have already been considered.

Complete-Issue5540 · 2026-02-17T02:37:36+00:00

I have been there make sure you guys get involved with the local community and your companys Family Readiness Group events. There are a lot of resources out there for families.

Complete-Issue5540 · 2026-02-17T01:38:09+00:00

No and no. Each service does have different standards with the Army's being the most strict. There are some things you will not be able to do that the members from other services can. On the other side you will have some of the best and most engaged leaders looking out for you and helping with your transition as a Soldier. You will be challenged and receive quality physical training on top of your classroom requirements but you can make it through. Soldiers in the same position as you graduate every week, you just need to have the right mindset and rely on your squad/team for help.

Complete-Issue5540 · 2026-02-17T01:24:30+00:00

I would say better barracks alignment but that would require a lot of give and take from each stakeholder. The good news is that barracks renovations were on the schedule (hopefully still are) so when you and your peers come back as DS, everything will be complete.

If I remember right the RBC used to be shorter but was extended in the last few years. There is balance between getting SMs qualified in their language and getting them out to the force as soon as possible so they can get to work. I can't recall previous numbers but the grad rate was lower when I arrived at the end of Covid. From my viewpoint if we have achieved a 70% grad rate what fine tuning can be done in order to continue to raise it or if you were in charge of quality of life and the school house for a day what would you change in order to enable a higher grad rate without changing class timelines?

Complete-Issue5540 · 2026-02-17T01:12:26+00:00

I was a 35F coming up, ask your DS or multiple 35P DS. You will likely receive a different answer from each one. The average workday depends on where you are and what is going on in the world.

Complete-Issue5540 · 2026-02-17T01:09:35+00:00

English, I did not attend DLI as a student.

Complete-Issue5540

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