Drill Jitters

So when I joined the military. I love it at first. I loved Basic and AIT. But ever since I got back to my unit I have had such a problem with it. I mean Dont get me wrong I still love the military in alot of aspects. But every time drill comes around. I just get so nervous. And have breakdowns. I can't explain it. And I dont know what to do about it. I guess I am just finally admitting it because annual training is coming up next week. and deployment is a big possibility for me this spring.
Any Tips?

I wish i could give you advice on drill i have only been to one with one coming up on the 15th of august. what are you more nervous about, like does PT make you upset or just being there in general?

What do you have to do at drill?

Well I am a cook. and for the longest time we didnt cook at our unit because we didnt have enough cooks. The only time we would cook is when we went to fort Mccoy and then we were always cooking with other units. And I felt so inadequate because i am mos qualified and didnt know diddly squat about anything from not doing it. And when we were at our unit we always trained on the trucks. I honestly dont know why going to drill upsets me so much its not the PT. I just get so nervous being around everyone else.

i know exactly how you feel, i dont mind being there but i also dont want to look like an idiot. xD the only thing i hate is taking showers, cause i will always be shower shy! :-P

Deployments are not so bad depending on the people you are with. Try and met some of your fellow soldiers and then you will start looking forward to going to drill and seeing them and catching up. It is very hard to get in the mind set of "army" when you only go once in a while but it will come. Also AT is nothing but a big summer cam and a great time to bond. Use your time wisly and met new people.

Deployments are really good. Well, not good in the aspect that you're away from home and family, but you bond with everyone and you really start learning your job. I'm Active Duty so we usually do our job a little more.

your fear is the unknown,new place quite understandable, dont worry you will get know people, just have a knowledgeable leader/person show you around and what to do, ask lots of questions, learn the leadership traits you like and adapt to your style. Make friends and watch out for your friends. also don't fall for cherry tricks,,like look for chem lite batteries, or make you look for Prik E-7,,,like that crap. next you know 2 years later.. you end up as Lt Kyler..next CO

Hello Private Amanda,

I am going to give you my $ 0.25 (and that is as much as it will be probably worth).

It sounds like your fears are well founded. There is a big problem with the Guard and the Reserves that everybody likes to either disagree or defend. That problem is a two fold problem:

1) Time to do your MOS training. The reservist has two days a month and 2 weeks a year to develop him or herself into a competent soldier. There are only 48 hours a month (give or take) for you to be MOS proficient, learn leadership skills, fix and/or maintain your equipment, mentor subordinates and/or supervisors, blah blah, you get the idea. The active duty soldier has even more crap to deal with, but they get 6 days a week, 12 hours a day to accomplish this.

2) Leadership is lacking. I am not sure how it is in other states, but I will speak from experience, that leadership is lacking in the reserves. Keeping up numbers is the number one game for a lot of units in the reserves. That means that sometimes, we as leaders tend to be a bit more relaxed than should be.

What is lacking in you, is a motivator, or a person who can make you understand that you are a worthwhile soldier, trained to do your job efficiently (you passed MOS training). I am not talking about some guy yelling at your, or pumping smoke up you know where. I am talking about a first line supervisor who will take you under his/her wings and guide you, mentor you, perfect you into being the best soldier your abilities can allow, and the best dammed cook the army ever had.

So take a deep breath, relax, and understand that you are good to go and you know what to do. When you face that obstacle (fear, forgetfulness, lack of confidence in your skills), go grab your first line supervisor and demand leadership. Demand it!!! Take it from him/her because you deserve it.

I hope this helps you out a bit,

Uncle Jerry