I’m starting this thread for ALL the Recruits here. This is going to be where all the Veterans, and Active Service Members can come to give advice on little things that you should think about. It’s geared towards troops once they’ve completed their Training, and are FNGs in Battalion. Little life lessons, as well as tips on how to do their job better.
I’ll start with a couple that I've learned from my time in.
1. Never buy a car from a used car lot within a 10 mile radius of your base, or if the lot has a sign that says bring in your Pay Statement. Stay away from them.
2. Open up an account with the credit union on base and set up an allotment for $100 every paycheque to go into that account and DO NOT TOUCH IT FOR ANY REASON until you are out of the service. Or, even better, put it into an RRSP.
3. For any and all debt that you may acquire while in the service, i.e. car payment, car insurance, rent if you live off-base and credit cards. Set up and allotment through your Clerk so that you ARE never late on your payments.
4. Every cab driver will tell you that they are a retired sgt. Be careful to pay attention that they are charging you correctly, no matter how drunk you are.
5. If you are pulled over by an MP and you notice that you out rank them, remember that you DON'T out rank them.
6. NEVER date a troop!
7. Wear eye protection. Wear your hearing protection.
8. Drink water. A lot. (Except right before a jump.)
9. Don't become a Kitslut. Just because it’s green/CADPAT/shiny, doesn’t make it a good piece of kit, and doesn’t make you look hard. It makes you look like a fool who can’t tell the difference.
10. When going to the field bring a little extra, you never know what’s gonna happen from one day to the next. If you think you have enough socks, you don't. Snivel kit: You can never have enough. Power bars: You may not have time to sit and eat an IMP. Batteries: Everything we have runs on AA batteries, and the CQ can never get enough. Hot sauce: Because IMPs can plug you up, and hot sauce both counter-acts that, and tastes better.
11. Always be flexible. O Groups, training meetings and other random meetings happen just before lunch or time to go home. Something out of the blue will come up and you’re not going home when you thought you where. Adapt.
12. Never pass up a shot at Basic Para Course, or you may never get it, or get it 6 years later, when you already have a few nagging injuries.
13. Never be afraid to ask questions, stupid or otherwise.
14. Save copies of every set of orders and every PER you receive, you might need them
twenty years later.
15. Make copies of your UER and medical records. Every piece of paper that is generated with your name and service number, keep a copy somewhere safe. Trust me.
16. Never lose your needle book.
17. Remember that tobacco runs out faster that you think it will when you are in the field. Better yet: quit!
18. Forget toilet paper, baby wipes pack smaller, and clean everything.
19. There are 3 people you must make friends with:
1. The Coy Medic
2. The Coy Clerk
3. The Cook
20. Don't be First. Don't be Last.
21. Always have a knife, a lighter, a watch, a pad of paper and a pen/pencil when in uniform.
22. Roll everything you pack, it packs smaller than folding.
23. Look out for shack rats, and chicks who want a guaranteed paycheque and subsidized healthcare.
24. There is no such thing as having too much ammo or water.
25. Forget about the GPS. Learn how to use a map and compass.
26. When you are in Basic, and Battle School, save ALL of that money. You don't need to be buying a lot of stuff while you are in Training anyways. Really you only need a little to buy crap like soap...and porn. And you WILL need that cash when you get to your unit.
27. (On a personal note) I don't give a frig how cool you were in high school, so shut up about it when us old, fat guys are telling war stories. You might learn something that will keep you alive later. More importantly, you might learn something that will keep ME alive later.
28. Shut up and do what I tell you. It’s for a reason. I don’t tell you to do crap because I like to watch your *** move.
29. If you are offered a course, no matter what it is, TAKE IT! It’s all paper that says you can LEARN to do something, and many translate into civilian courses that would cost you money to re-do.
30. And most importantly USE YOUR BENEFITS! Learn what they all are, and use them. Especially when getting out. No matter where you think you will be in 5 years, you will need that money for school, or re-training, when you get out.
31. Commissioned From The Ranks Officers will resort to wall-to-wall counselling as quick as a grizzled NCO. Don't frig with them.
32. Remember: That broken-down, chubby old man with the Sgt stripes, or WO crown has been doing this for a lot longer than you. He’s still doing the things that are knocking the snot out of you, and he’s twice your age. He was once a young, cocky private too, and he’s learned a lot since then. You CANNOT kick his ***. He WILL hurt you. Badly. Stop thinking you’ll kick his *** someday. You won’t. You will thank him later, though. Even if only in your memories.
33. Know when to violate the "never volunteer rule." If there are multiple tasks to get handed out, always volunteer for the first one. Chances are good that the later options suck a lot more.
34. Master Corporal is the hardest job in the Army. He’s being a dick because he has to. Do what he tells you, and stop bitching about it. He used to be you.
35. There is a fine line between "thief" and Platoon Scrounge. Taking from the Army (or better, the Air Force) to help the troops out is good. Taking from a troop, for any reason is theft, and you deserve to be beaten severely. And often.
36. Learn how to turn a wrench well. Take care of every vehicle you get assigned to you. DO NOT PISS OFF THE MECHANICS.
37. Learn every job in the Platoon. Hump the C9. Hump the C6. Hump the Radio. Your job is to learn your bosses job. If, after a year, you can't be a section 2IC if necessary, you are a lazy shitbird.
38. Learn the difference between "wants and needs."
39. Only pay cash for major items. Get a credit card. Put a little on it, then pay it off promptly. Build a credit rating. You WILL need it later. But, do NOT put everything on plastic. You end up breaking yourself to pay off the interest rate.
40. Strippers are not your friend. They are paid to pretend to be interested in you. You are an open wallet, not a sex object. Actually, you kind of disgust them. Sucker.
41. The best place to meet hot, brainy chicks is the public library, the local college library, or church. You will not meet your life-mate in a meat-market with a neon sign above it.
42. NEVER GO INTO DEBT UNLESS YOU’RE LITERALLY SAVING SOMEONE’S LIFE TO DO IT.
43. If you finance a car then make sure it is paid off before you Release.
44. When you Release, look into ALL of your options, INCLUDING the Reserves.
45. Reenlist for the right reasons, not because you have bills to pay. The reasons you chose to Release did not go away, and you will become a drain on your fellow troop’s morale.
46. Go Airborne, stay Airborne! It’s a mind-set, not a hat. Keep the attitude, even when you lose the Beret.
47. Marrying a chick with debt is okay. Marrying a chick that makes you go into debt further every month is STUPID! Staying with her because she gives you steady sex is even stupider.
48. Don't EVER poke your Warrant awake in the field, in the middle of the night while you’re on stove/radio watch. If he needs to be disturbed, wake him with that nice cup of coffee that you just made for yourself. Trust me.
49. The new 2Lt. is not your buddy. I don't care if he likes the same comic books, video games, and likes to hang out. He doesn't need to know anything that your WO, Sect Comd, or Sect 2IC haven't already told him. He will someday have to order you into a very dangerous situation. Don’t make it harder for him to choose. The hesitation could get you both killed.
50. Being second or third on a course is cool too. Don't be in the lower 2/3rds. Someone has to be, just don’t let it be you.
51. You ever call your Sect Comd "Sarge" expect a beat down. You deserve it. He is a Sergeant. “Sarge” is that clown in the Beetle Bailey comic strip.
52. Shine your damn boots. Blackening is for PONTIs. Soldiers have shiny boots.
53. If your dick is running, or hurt's when you piss, DON’T wait 3 months to tell a doc about it! Better a little embarrassment now, than having it amputated later. And tell your medic first. DO NOT TELL THE WO first. They might be able to help you out and make it go away.
Anyone (BTDT‘s only) have anything to add?
