I am about a week away from reuping in the NJNG after a 19 year break (RA - 101st).
I am an old 31V who is being placed in a 25U slot. First off, is this a lateral move or up or down. I'm being told its an equal position.
Also, its been so long since I even smelled an old PRC77 (I know they don't use them anymore), etc., where can I find TMs online to get me up to speed on the "new and improved" commo equipment?
You'll be sadly dissappointed I'm afraid at how far the level of technical expertise has slipped. During the grand dumbing down (as most refer to the CMF31 consolidation of 31V, 31K, and most of 31C into 31U around the same time you left) the ranks were filled with folks who didnt have a clue and most really didnt want to even try. Promotion points shot through the roof as E5-E7 suddenly became overstrength. It was a bleak time to be Signal not in a signal unit.
Its gotten better and the equipment has improved a bit, but not significantly. If you know civilian PC's along with your prior 31V knowedge you should have no problems. AM radios are making a resurgence (Harris 150 models) so if you remember your antenna theory and GRA-106's you're good as gold.
As far as being an equivilent position, thats yet to be seen. Doctrine is changing and where your MOS is located in the maintenance chain is moving from unit level to Combat Service Companies (CSC) located in Field Support Battallions (FSB). Wait long enough and things go full circle.
I can answer lots of your questions because I stayed in either RA or NG from 1983-2006 in 31V/31E/31U/25U.
Oh I'm not bitter, just a realist. Some person in PERSCOM got a marxist hair up thier rump and decided that every peg could fit any hole. (if you're not familiar with Marxist ideology, all people are equally fit to do any job no matter what thier actual capibilitie are.)
Here's the RAND monograph on what they thought was a geat idea.
What they fail to reconcile was the training that produced each MOS qualified individual were not equal. 31V when I went thought was self paced and had a 60% wash out rate, but those who did finish could hit the ground running when they hit permenant party. 31K at the same time had an 90+ percent sucess rate.
Now dont take me for someone who didnt appreaciate 31K's. I had some outstanding soldiers I worked with who were 31K's, the jobs just were that different.
During the grand dumbing down (as most refer to the CMF31 consolidation of 31V, 31K, and most of 31C into 31U around the same time you left) the ranks were filled with folks who didnt have a clue and most really didnt want to even try. Promotion points shot through the roof as E5-E7 suddenly became overstrength.
It was a bleak time to be Signal not in a signal unit.
You can say that again. I started out as a 72E with a secondary MOS as 05B. Off to Nam and Pooooof!!!! 05B were in demand ( I wonder why?)From there, was promoted (E5(again)) holding a 31G slot, then it was changed to 31V. AIT was a waste of time. I never worked as a 72E ever again. I had to volunteer and spend almost 6 years as a Drill to make E-6. When I went to the advanced course some 18 years later, I took along some old photos of the Comcenter, RF and UHF rigs from the 50s and 60s. None of the instructors had never heard of them. Being a Tact Signal Sgt in a non-signal unit was pretty much un-promotional status. Too many and not enough open slots to be promoted in. When I finally came down on the E-7 list I told them to stick it. After 14 years as a staff, the rank was tatooed on.
