UPON ARRIVAL TO UNIT

Fresh out of training and going to that first regular army unit is somewhat frightening and at the same time proud to be finally assigned to a real unit. Being the new member of the unit, I wanted to make a good impression and get some support from the older members of the unit. I wanted to make them, and myself as well, feel as if I really belong and wanted to be there. All of the yells and usual type of greetings you get as a new private didn't rattle me any; because I wanted to appear tough and ready. Uniform straight and starched. Boots shined to mirror finish. Haircut and shaved; really looking sharp.

Going into a strange situation and not knowing anyone can be sort of scary to say the least, but these guys are on my side so they are really glad to see me. At least that is what I convinced myself. Some of the members greeted me and made me felt welcome and not think that I was in the wrong place. Later I found that the way I was greeted was normal for any incoming new private. New and not knowing anyone or anything, leaves you at the mercy of the older members of the unit. When I say older members, I am speaking of unit members that arrived prior to me; some only hours. They too had to go through the same type greetings that I had gotten on their first day being assigned to the unit as well. Some, I found out later had only arrived a day or so before me.

ASSIGNED DUTIES

I was assigned to a platoon, then a squad, and finally a fire team. My indoctrination came on my first day in the unit. I was sent to the supply room and told to ask for something that didn't even exist or that the supply room wouldn't have anyway. As I realized what was happening, I began to feel really welcome. I am now an official member of this unit.

My assignment was rifleman. I was in a team of five members. My team leader, myself and three other members of the team. I being the new member and the lowest ranking member had to prove myself worthy. So I was given all of the "dirty jobs" assigned to my team. After it was clear that I was going to do my job and not gripe and complain about any assigned task, I became an equal member of the team. We are going to train and work together in everything we do. Building trust and knowing the strong and the weak qualities of each member could be very important later if we should have to go to war.

TRAINING

Members of a unit are training daily. Physical training, marksmanship training, mental conditioning, and generally soldiering. From the first day of assignment to the unit we are training and training hard. Conditions are developed to simulate being in a combat situation and to know what to do in any given situation is key, and could be a deciding factor in your survival in combat or as a prisoner of war if you are captured.

Classes on subjects that we might need one day in combat. All of the subjects were related to being a good soldier. Even with the joking and kidding around with new privates as they come to the unit for their first assignment in the army; it is all a part of conditioning members of the unit to work together as a team. Helping each other pass tests that qualify members for the job they are assigned and cross training to insure that every soldier in the unit knew the jobs of the others.

Everyone in the unit is constantly correcting each other when something is not right. From wearing the uniform correctly to military courtesy. How to address officers and how to address sargeants. Everything we may need in a combat situation is taught to us during training; from basic training to the time we have to use what we have learned or we decide to get out of service. Everyday is a training day.

REASSIGNMENT

Sooner or later there will come a time when reassignment orders come and you are going to be going to another unit. This could be that first overseas assignment to another country. All of the training gone through with the team here will now be going to benefit another unit. This is good for you and also good for the new unit you are going to be assigned. You at your new unit will not be treated as you were when arriving at the first assignment in the army. You will not need to be trained on how to do everything; you already know from previous assignment.

Getting to know new unit members could take some time, but that will come hopefully before having to ship out to combat. You hate leaving the old unit and moving but now you are in the army and that's the way it is. Moving about every two to three years is normal. Different people, different location, but the mission remain the same. That is training to be the best soldier that you could possibly be. That was my goal and that is how I got through over 20 years as a soldier in the army.