Hello everyone,I'm a former 11B being reclassed to 13F(mainly because I was away from the infantry for 3 yrs and its now over strength).I'll be going to sill on the 25th of next month and I'm wondering what to expect for prior service E-4s.Are we in open bays with the IETs or are we in separate barracks?I haven't had any real definitive answers on this from anyone around me so I thought I'd ask guys who actually know whats up.
When I was at school all the NIETs stayed in these new barracks behind the star ship. That was last summer and I don't how much its changed though, if at all.
Ah cool,thanks for the info.Nobody here could tell me for sure.Didn't really want to relive my days at Infantry OSUT all over again to be honest.I'd take a year in the sandbox over the mind games any day.
Haha, oh, your still going to get the mind games my friend. One of my old instructors is now the First Sergeant running the battery and let me tell ya', you are in for a real treat
Lol, I don't think so. It will be a whole lot more fun for you if you see/meet him without any prior knowledge I will give you this one bit of advice though. If you don't already have a copy of F.M. 6-30 I recommend you get one and take it with you. This book is going to be almost as important as the Bible when your down there.
They issue you a bunch of books and something like the 6-30 but it's not the complete one. I don't know if they still do that though, they could just give you a copy now a days.
I do have another question,Is there a gym within driving distance of the barracks area.Standard TRADOC pt isn't gonna get me back in shape for another deployment to A-stan.
I think so, if I recall correctly there is a gym near the F.O. simulator. If you ask one of the training NCOs they should be able to help you out. I'd recommend asking SSG Plautz if he's still around them parts. You do know that bulking up is not going to help your P.T. out though right? I was an All-American level weight lifter in high school with some pretty impressive records but when I got to basic all that bulk just slowed me down and made normal P.T. a lot harder.
I was wondering if a future soldier can get his hands on the F.M. 6-30. I am prior service navy leaving for wtc on oct 19th and then on to ait for 13f. I was an aviation ordnanceman in the navy. But i would like to get my hands on that just to see what i will be dealing with and maybe get a head start on things. Thank in advance for any info.
13f_Chief thanks a lot that realy help. Another ? what will ait be like for prior sevice guys. I just heard that we get special privilages. I am going in this like a new recruite. Any info on what ait will be like will be helpfull. Also will they let me bring my laptop with so that i can stay in touch with the wife and kids?
Well, all my experience is as an IET soldier so what I know about the prior service experience is rather limited. I know you will have greater liberties but of course those can be removed. Yes, you can have a laptop but you will also need a powerful wireless receiver to pick up any kind of signal. When you get in to the barracks I also recommend staking out an area by the windows. There is also a Taco Bell/Wireless Cafe/PX/arcade just up the hill from the star ship though so even if you don't have a lappy or can't get a wireless router you should be fine. A word of caution though, it can get expensive and is usually infested with AIT soldiers who managed to get a bit of leave. Also, beware of vindictive Drill Sergeants and idiotic basic trainees, they have a tendency to be up there too.
well thanks for the info. I really appreciate it you were a lot of help. Just one more ? I was just wondering if u can give some info on the job itself. Just want to know from someone with experience.
Haha, I don't have very much experience but I'll try and help you out. Basically, being a FIST is the best job in the world, no matter what anyone else may tell you. Sure, there are other jobs that get to blow things up but they can only do it in a single way. FISTs on the other hand have a million ways to blow things up! Of course when you get to AIT all you'll have are a few inept gun crews and a wide open range with few targets. You'll spend 8-10 hours a day on the firing hill, mostly sitting around and doing nothing while you wait. It's a good place to take a nap you just have to watch out for snakes, scorpions, and tarantulas. They like to sneak into equipment and what-not. Of course if your really enterprising and really hungry you can catch a snake or two and eat it, just make sure you cut the head off really quick or else.... Before you even get out on the range though you'll spend a whole week on landnav. These won't be little brush-up sessions though, you will spend at least 12 hours a day in the classroom during landnav week. After that you'll have a week of field Nav on the course at Sill. It will suck A LOT but you'll get through, just stay hydrated and make sure you know your map reading. After that you finally start learning how to call-for-fire. That's basically your AIT in a nut shell. I do have a few more bits of advice though.
1) Know your 15 subsequent corrections like the back of your hand and recite them daily, I think this is one of the biggest ones. 2) All numbers larger than 10 will be recited as individual numbers (i.e. instead of saying 1528 you will say one-five-two-eight). Although for some reason your allowed to say numbers ending in increments of 100 completely (i.e. if you have 2500 you will be able to say twenty-five-hundred) Clear as mud? 3) RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN RUN, there wont be a single day where you run less than 5 miles.
On a different note,what are Fisters doing in your unit these days?If I remember correctly they either were screwed into toc slaves or intel recorder(taking pictures and writing down things hadj would say to the PL)my last deployment in 06'.I would hate to end up being stuck in the toc knowing the platoons are busting their asses in sector.
Well, my units a little ate up and as such I was the only FIST we had last time we went out on the hill. Also, we have switched over to using digital means to call-for-fire. I was the only person who even remotely know how to operate the little computer so I was stuck in the cab of a hummer the whole time, playing with the little P.O.S. My unit just got a batch of new FISTers and I finally have an NCO in charge of me so maybe things will change... or not....
is now the First Sergeant running the battery and let me tell ya', you are in for a real treat 
I will give you this one bit of advice though. If you don't already have a copy of F.M. 6-30 I recommend you get one and take it with you. This book is going to be almost as important as the Bible when your down there.
