Going through first drill unprepared for us army reserve? help advice pls..

[leekun2010]

I just received info from my unit today that we have a mandatory drill this weekend and I do not have all of my uniforms and whatever else is needed and i was told that my unit is in mobilization phase and that theres a PT inspection of some sort. im freaking out because i just got commissioned, no way near reaching minimum PT standards for my ht/wt reqs, dont have all uniform items ready (nearest base pX didnt have everything available), etc. im scared and very nervous right now.

info abt me:

havent gone to bolc yet

this weekend is my first ever drill with them

i just got commissioned not too long ago

any advice from any us army nurse pls

i apologize for being really nervous but i cant help it

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

As a SSG you would get booted from my platoon office in a heartbeat if you wear ACUs with NOTHING on them. You knew when you were commissioned that this day was coming and you should have ordered your own name tapes, flag and other items at that point. Name tapes are cheap, no reason to not jump the gun and get it. You should have also received your basic issue then. As far as PT...well, that should have been a requirement prior to commissioning also. No sympathy here. You wanna pass the PT test? You train for your test the same way you did your NCLEX...start the two mile run, sit ups and push ups. To get better on push ups, do 15 normal, 15 with your feet elevated, 15 with an empty back pack and 15 with 20lbs or more in the back pack, you will get there. Dont focus too much on ht/wt if you can pass the PT test you wont be taped. However, you need to get your uniform in order now. Call your supply sergeant, they should have your stuff.

Going in there unprepared will only tell your troops that (a) you can't be trust in a war situation because you aren't prepared for basic drill and (b) you are no different than any other butter bar out there I'm not saying this is true at all, but bottom line is being a new officer is kinda worse than being a private. You dont know all the answers, but because you are an officer you are EXPECTED to, so there is a HIGH learning curve. They talk about newbies in the ER getting eaten alive, for officers, this is 10 times worse!! You can fix this, just get squared away, know your lane and learn everything you can.

You dont want to give this information. It's hard enough for new officers without having this issue at hand. Square yourself away, call the supply sergeant and see if anyone in your area can make the tapes for you now.

Not sure if you have been in the Reserves or not but it is not always easy for Reservist to get uniforms since there may not be a base for several hundred miles. If they do not have a AKO account yet can not buy them from AAFES yet either. Also, officers do not get a basic issue but a clothing allowance which does not cover much. Even enlisted reservist have to wait months to get there basic issue. If a soldier has been off of active duty for a certain period of time they will recieve their uniforms thru the unit which will not be ordered until they start drilling.

The poster who I am qouting is giving you very bad advice and sounds like they have never served in the reserves. When I was in the reserves we never looked down on someone new in civilian clothes since we all went thru the same issues when we joined. Also, we worked with our new officers to help them get up to speed.

But as others have stated about the PT and weight this is something you should have been working on in advance. You know your weight standards since you had to meet them for your commissioning physical.

Good luck, keep your head high, go in with open eyes and learn as much as you can.

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

Good golly get yourself to a good sew shop, it can be off base and order yourself name tapes, and US Army tapes. You will also need a VELCRO flag, unit patch and rank. You know your patrol cap needs rank and name tape as well? I also strongly suggest getting yourself the Army Officers handbook. It will have all this information in it. As an officer you will need to be the example and there is not excuse for not having your things together. If need be go up to drill a day early because the sew shops need a day to make the tapes. Quite honestly if you take your uniform pieces in they will square you away. I'll say it agian, don't forget your patrol cap and the rank and name tape for it!

If you do not live close to a base be careful about which sew shop you go to since not all of them are up to snuff since the AR on uniforms is not upto date, even the offical one found online. Speak with fellow officers to find a good sew shop which can be trusted. For name tapes there are several online ordering sites. Once you get your AKO account make an account with AAFES and order your uniforms thru them.

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

Let me get this straight... you just got commission in thearmy reserves... if you have not been to OCS yet that's mean you are not readyfor anything probably they are calling you for meeting and paper signing... if you've been to OCS you should have your ACUs that's all you need.

You will start drilling with the unit and plan on being there the whole weekend.

[SycamoreGuy]

However, technically you don't have to drill until after BOLC. I don't remember what they code you as but it's not bad.

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

Yes, you do have to drill before OBLC because is you are not a satisfactory driller you will not go. I have seen soldiers chaptered out of the Army Reserve for not drilling before OBLC.

[SF_RescueNinja]

Not sure if you have been in the Reserves or not but it is not always easy for Reservist to get uniforms since there may not be a base for several hundred miles. If they do not have a AKO account yet can not buy them from AAFES yet either. Also, officers do not get a basic issue but a clothing allowance which does not cover much. Even enlisted reservist have to wait months to get there basic issue. If a soldier has been off of active duty for a certain period of time they will recieve their uniforms thru the unit which will not be ordered until they start drilling.

The poster who I am qouting is giving you very bad advice and sounds like they have never served in the reserves. When I was in the reserves we never looked down on someone new in civilian clothes since we all went thru the same issues when we joined. Also, we worked with our new officers to help them get up to speed.

But as others have stated about the PT and weight this is something you should have been working on in advance. You know your weight standards since you had to meet them for your commissioning physical.

Good luck, keep your head high, go in with open eyes and learn as much as you can.

Unfortunately, there are some soldiers out there with this mentality towards newly commissioned LT's, regardless if they are West Point vs. ROTC vs. direct commission (who have the largest learning curve if they have never been exposed to anything military) and the OP would be lucky to have someone like you, jeckrn, to help them along the way. Hopefully there are a few in your unit.

The reality is that you need to communicate, work with your NCO's (this is where you need to take into consideration their experience BUT have a strong backbone when you have to make the final decisions as you have a different role) and lead by example - including PT (I am assuming direct commissions did not have to pass a PT test; I never went without passing my diagnostic and record PT tests in ROTC and we could not commission without this or passing CWST [combat water survival training]) and uniforms (if you show up without a proper uniform (missing tabs, name tape, etc.), other Officers and especially your soldiers may lose respect for you).

These things should have been taken care of ASAP but instead of lecturing you on this, I would suggest that you wear your PT clothes (regulation: you cannot wear any other civilian attire with this) AND bring a nice change of clothes that look professional/business casual to change into. Things like the uniform can be sorted out but get started on your PT right now!

Army doctor advised: ELMO (eat less, move often) HA.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!

[SycamoreGuy]

I'm pretty sure Pre-IADT are not required to drill. I never drilled before BOLC (ok I was only commissioned for 2 months before BOLC but still) and I have never seen anyone require enlisted Pre-IADT soldiers to drill. Is it a good Idea? sure. Could the UAs in my battalion be wrong? absolutely. I'll have to do some more digging.

[itsnowornever, BSN, RN]

Not sure if you have been in the Reserves or not but it is not always easy for Reservist to get uniforms since there may not be a base for several hundred miles. If they do not have a AKO account yet can not buy them from AAFES yet either. Also, officers do not get a basic issue but a clothing allowance which does not cover much. Even enlisted reservist have to wait months to get there basic issue. If a soldier has been off of active duty for a certain period of time they will recieve their uniforms thru the unit which will not be ordered until they start drilling.

The poster who I am qouting is giving you very bad advice and sounds like they have never served in the reserves. When I was in the reserves we never looked down on someone new in civilian clothes since we all went thru the same issues when we joined. Also, we worked with our new officers to help them get up to speed.

But as others have stated about the PT and weight this is something you should have been working on in advance. You know your weight standards since you had to meet them for your commissioning physical.

Good luck, keep your head high, go in with open eyes and learn as much as you can.

Actually read my post before you quote me please, I am a SSG and have served 8 years. My husband is a SFC and has served 13 years. Both of us were active as well as National Guard, so I do know what I am saying. I also have first hand knowledge of how the OP will be treated when they show up and they aren't squared away. As an officer (see, I read your post, you hinted at being an officer or at least enlisted) you are giving bad advice and this is why it seems the non-Active officer side is failing in the eyes of the enlisted---you are giving him the ok to go in ate up. No, that is NEVER ok.Bad advice? To what? Go get himself squared away? Spend a little of his/her own money (you can order uniforms online, not just from military sources) to look like he/she has some pride in the country he/she signed up to defend?

[79Tango]

LT, I think by now it has been established to just show up in PT's and go with the flow. Being that you are brand new with 0 time in service (TOS) there will not bbe alot of expectation out of you. As for the soldiers mentality towards you, alot of that depends on the unit. If you are going to a combat arms unit you best be squared away.. Med Commmand, not so much. Just make sure everyone renders the proper salute, and I do mean everybody! You need to set the tone immediately and they need to show you respect!

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

Actually read my post before you quote me please, I am a SSG and have served 8 years. My husband is a SFC and has served 13 years. Both of us were active as well as National Guard, so I do know what I am saying. I also have first hand knowledge of how the OP will be treated when they show up and they aren't squared away. As an officer (see, I read your post, you hinted at being an officer or at least enlisted) you are giving bad advice and this is why it seems the non-Active officer side is failing in the eyes of the enlisted---you are giving him the ok to go in ate up. No, that is NEVER ok.Bad advice? To what? Go get himself squared away? Spend a little of his/her own money (you can order uniforms online, not just from military sources) to look like he/she has some pride in the country he/she signed up to defend?

I have been both enlisted and officer, serving both in the Navy & Army, acitve & reserve for both. I have served in medical units along with combat arms, & Marines in the reserve side. I have never seen a new solider enlisted or officer treated poorly because they were not in uniform for their first drill. As I see you do not know that officers have to buy there own uniforms and do not want to spend money unwisely. As 79 Tango stated along with other posters, relax, the unit will not treat you poorly or look at you badly since we all have gone thru it. What would be "ate up" as you say is to make any new soldier not feel as part of the team and looked down on because of their inexperince. If a unit has this mentailty that is a sign of toxic leadership from the officer & enlisted and has no business being in the military; any branch, period. Also, those so called leaders need to go.

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

LT as others say go with the flow for your first drill weekend. I recommend wear business casual civilian and having your PT's with you. It will be your decision which to wear, hopefully you have spoken to your new unit for guidance on this. Do not let some posters get under your skin by tring to be hard. If you go in civilian clothes you will not be "ate up" as others have stated. You would be ate up as they say if you come in not wearing the uniform proper be it ACU's or PT's. The only issue which you should have stayed up on was your HT/WT and PT standards. Not that you are drilling just work at getting in shape, learning the ropes, go to OBLC. Also, find a good senior NCO & fellow officer to help guide you thru the steep learning curve.

[jeckrn, BSN, RN]

I'm pretty sure Pre-IADT are not required to drill. I never drilled before BOLC (ok I was only commissioned for 2 months before BOLC but still) and I have never seen anyone require enlisted Pre-IADT soldiers to drill. Is it a good Idea? sure. Could the UAs in my battalion be wrong? absolutely. I'll have to do some more digging.

All I know is that once you recieve your orders to your unit with a report date you are no required to be an active participant. Did you recieve your orders to your unit with a report date before you went OBLC? It is not unheard of officers having to wait almost a year to go to Reserve OBLC.