Questions about 18x for prior service

Flick · 05-01-2012, 09:58

I just got out of the Marine Corps, i was infantry as a squad leader for 4 years got out a corporal (e4) and i go to mepps in a couple days to sign my 18x contract for the army. I have a few general questions that if anyone has knowledge on the subject might answer (reason being im not sure if stuff is different being prior service infantry)

What my recruiter told me:

I wouldn't have to go to bootcamp or infantry school because my mos is directly transferable.

I would come into the army as a Specialist bc i got out of the marine corps as an E-4

And that i would either go to Airborne School-SOPC-SFAS or SOPC-SFAS-Airborne school. (he said he wasn't sure and it could be based off slotting avaliability)

*obviously i'll know for sure when i get up to mepps, but i'd like to have a more definitive answer if i could bc we all know recruiters only know so much and it's what mepps puts in front of you that matters...so does this information i was told seem accurate?

**The Reaper** · 05-01-2012, 17:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flick

I just got out of the Marine Corps, i was infantry as a squad leader for 4 years got out a corporal (e4) and i go to mepps in a couple days to sign my 18x contract for the army. I have a few general questions that if anyone has knowledge on the subject might answer (reason being im not sure if stuff is different being prior service infantry)

What my recruiter told me:

I wouldn't have to go to bootcamp or infantry school because my mos is directly transferable.

I would come into the army as a Specialist bc i got out of the marine corps as an E-4

And that i would either go to Airborne School-SOPC-SFAS or SOPC-SFAS-Airborne school. (he said he wasn't sure and it could be based off slotting avaliability)

*obviously i'll know for sure when i get up to mepps, but i'd like to have a more definitive answer if i could bc we all know recruiters only know so much and it's what mepps puts in front of you that matters...so does this information i was told seem accurate?

Doesn't matter what we think, or what the recruiter says.

The recruiter will offer you a written contract, and you decide if you want to sign it or not.

Once you get a written offer, then it might make sense to ask if that is what others are seeing, before signing it.

Best of luck.

TR

greyshade · 05-02-2012, 16:58

What your recruiter told you is exactly what I went through as a prior service 18x. You'll be pretty randomly assigned to a basic training company in a random week of basic. Some guys did the entire basic experience. I got put in at week 6. I personally saw tabbed Rangers who had a break in service have to repeat some portion of 11B school.

Hope this helped, good luck.

Flick · 05-31-2012, 09:41

Gentleman,
Thank you for responses.

CSB · 05-31-2012, 21:27

Listen to The Reaper.

Get it in writing, but then take advantage of any Army time you can get before SFAS:

- It's a hat, not a cover.
- It's a wall, not a bulkhead.
- It's a floor, not a deck.
- All of your equipment does not need to be Army hand-me-down.

I'm sure you know your way around a gym, take advantage of your experience and spend some time at the "Small Arms Repair Facility" while you can. It is amazing how active duty soldiers can take it for granted, while civilians must scrape and pay for quality physical fitness training facilities.

And to the extent luck plays into your future: good luck.

Flick · 05-31-2012, 21:39

Thank you again for the input. In regards to your mentioning about the gym, does Ft. Benning have a Crossfit Gym (or something similar)? I heard a rumor that it did.

Flick · 06-01-2012, 13:48

Thank you for all the advice/input gentleman. I received a call from my recruiter today letting me know all my enlistment codes have been changed from 2 to 1. As far as I'm told I should be a go for 18x and will be getting a call personally from the 1st Sgt at Mepps to let me know about everything. Hopefully for once in this whole process this part will go without a hitch! And I forgot to mention earlier, hope all of you had a good Memorial Day weekend.

Dusty · 06-01-2012, 14:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flick

Thank you for all the advice/input gentleman. I received a call from my recruiter today letting me know all my enlistment codes have been changed from 2 to 1. As far as I'm told I should be a go for 18x and will be getting a call personally from the 1st Sgt at Mepps to let me know about everything. Hopefully for once in this whole process this part will go without a hitch! And I forgot to mention earlier, hope all of you had a good Memorial Day weekend.

Good luck.

Cool Breeze · 09-12-2012, 15:09

Am sure your SUT skills are solid. Make yourself super smart on land nav and you should be GTG for SFAS and SOPC.
Good luck.

goon175 · 09-12-2012, 20:57

Ft. Benning just recently opened up the Audie Murphy gym, sponsored by the 75th across the street. It is like a CF box on steroids. Anything you could want from a Jacobs Ladder to tires to flip, they have it all. There is also Smith Gym, which you can hit up for a more traditional gym experience. They also have a nice sized pool and a rock climbing wall. Really nice facility. There is also a CF box off post that I have heard nothing but good things about.