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

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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

I would just show up in PT's and play dumb.. I doubt they are expecting anything more than you being at the right place at the right time. You should be able to contact your first line leader and try to meet them 15min before 1st formation.. Truthfully your first line leader should be making contact with you but dont stress it. Show up a little early and follow the crowd. Maybe bring in some dougnuts on Sunday.

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Informatics.

question about your unit's patch: is that issued or it needs to be bought?

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Specializes in Medical-Surgical, Informatics.

even if that means I just got my ID card yesterday?

i am not making any excuses for the sequence of events however i was very confused as to what uniform items needed to be bought, what needed to be done and prepared before my first drill, where to report etc. everything has been happening yesterday and today non stop and and i am a bit nervous as for tomorrow. i do not have full information on what's going on and i have difficulties getting in contact with my unit.

i do want to thank all of you and your input. i seriously do.

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Im pretty sure you have to buy it but they may just give you one.. Also make sure you study for the Whiz Quiz that is often administered in the PT uniform!

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Specializes in IMC.
i plan to wear civvies with my pt uniform, and from my understanding as was explained to me, this would replace me wearing ACU's for now until i get my uniform completed. pls correct me if im wrong. at this point, the name tag and boots are whats holding me back which ive already ordered for both online and just waiting to come by mail.

i appreciate all of your feedback for my concern and i am doing my best to get everything straightened out. i appreciate all your help here.

UMMM, You cannot wear your PT uniform with your civilian clothes that is am Army no-no. You seriously need to talk to your Supply Sergeant and get your uniforms squared away. Why didn't your recruiter explain this all to you!

This is why EVERYONE should go through Basic Combat Training before you are commissioned!!

As others have stated you should get a unit sponsor to show you the ropes about the unit and to take you around to meet everyone. My unit did when I was in the National Guard.

As for PT, you are on your own you need to start doing daily PT so you can pass a PT test. If you do not pass you will be flagged and cannot receive promotions, awards, and go to the schools you need!!

You are an officer and the standards are set higher for you than a Private!

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Specializes in critical care, Med-Surg.
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.

I know zip about the military, but that all made perfect sense to me! Good luck leekun!

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Your best bet is to show up in civilians... because you pairof tan boots... a set of ACU, and on the ACU you need name tag, marines, army,air force, or navy tag rank, I assumed Second lieutenant, dog tags, Unit patch,the flag, and your PC with a saw on rank and name tag; I'm sorry there is noway you can get all these ready by this weekend. The only thing you can do is show up in civilian, and if you've not been to BOLC you should be in civilian anyway.

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UMMM, You cannot wear your PT uniform with your civilian clothes that is am Army no-no. You seriously need to talk to your Supply Sergeant and get your uniforms squared away. Why didn't your recruiter explain this all to you! .This is why EVERYONE should go through Basic Combat Training before you are commissioned!! As others have stated you should get a unit sponsor to show you the ropes about the unit and to take you around to meet everyone. My unit did when I was in the National Guard.As for PT, you are on your own you need to start doing daily PT so you can pass a PT test. If you do not pass you will be flagged and cannot receive promotions, awards, and go to the schools you need!!You are an officer and the standards are set higher for you than a Private!
Lol he didnt mean civvies and pt's at same time man. He should report in uniform, because he was commissioned already, so show up in pt's, explain your uniform problems and if you are allowed to change into civvies, they will let you know, but make sure you bring all uniforms just in case they are able to square you away while there. So pack the ACU's just dont wear them. I can definitely say though, showing up in some kind of uniform is better than civilian clothes. not to mention u already said there was a pt test. Make sure whichever pt uniform u wear though wear it correctly including reflector belt. Oh yeah bring all parts of your pt uniform though this time of year i amsure it will be shorts and tee shirt, you do not want to risk being in a different uniform than the rest of your unit while at PT. i feel like telling you as much as I can but cant think of it all, oh yeah get a hair cut if you havent already, if you arent sure if your hair is within standards than shave it. A medium fade is good with most units though. Since there will probably be a PT test when you get there make sure you hydrate hydrate hydrate. You gotta hydrate. Sorry post was so long. I wrote it from my phone too lol
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Your best bet is to show up in civilians... because you pairof tan boots... a set of ACU, and on the ACU you need name tag, marines, army,air force, or navy tag rank, I assumed Second lieutenant, dog tags, Unit patch,the flag, and your PC with a saw on rank and name tag; I'm sorry there is noway you can get all these ready by this weekend. The only thing you can do is show up in civilian, and if you've not been to BOLC you should be in civilian anyway.
you dont need BOLC to be in uniform. You are an officer in the army after you are commissioned so u should show up in uniform
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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.
for the uniform, can i still wear my acu even if im missing things like my name tag and a other emblems for my ACU?

No, do not show up wearing uniform that is incomplete. Once you get your uniforms have one of your follow officers or better yet one of the senior enlisted to go over your uniform first.

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Specializes in EMT, ER, Homehealth, OR.
Lol he didnt mean civvies and pt's at same time man. He should report in uniform, because he was commissioned already, so show up in pt's.

This would have been a no-go in all of my reserve units. If you did not have the proper uniform you wore civies.

PT belts are a unit thing, not all units require one. Some units have specific colors and others do not care. Find this out at drill.

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Wow... There are posts that are a little too harsh and a little too soft.

First: you are an Officer in the the US Army. You should be prepared to take the APFT and pass any given day. Your ROTC program should have prepared you for that and shouldn't have commissioned you with out a passing APFT. You should wear PTs and bring a set of civilian clothes until you get your uniform squared away. You do realize that you will have to have your uniform squared away for BOLC? you really, really don't want to go there without a complete uniform.

Second: You are a newly commissioned 2LT. They are expecting you to make mistakes, it's not that big of a deal (however first impressions are important). I doubt if anyone will get butt hurt about you not having a full uniform. Just remember that they will not be that nice at BOLC. You are lucky that you are a reserve soldier and not active, you can get away with some of this stuff. All in all just relax.

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