An Infantry Paratrooper frustrated by the "system" writes:
One Unit Station Training (OSUT), is the training of choice for most combat arms Soldiers: do away with it immediately. There are INFANTRY MOS OSUT drill sergeants out there qualified to teach proper infantry tasks, unfortunately most are not. One of my drill sergeants who was training my platoon of all 11B's on their way to jump school, had never been a 11B! He had served at Ft Riley, and Ft. Carson. That told me 1st ID, and 4th ID, both mechanized. Nor was he a Longe Range Surveillance (LRS) Soldier for the prior: he was not jump qualified, yet he was trying to impart 11B skills to us! As much as the Army would like to think: 11M's and 11B's due not mix. The entire curriculum for Infantry AIT must change to adequately prepare young Soldiers for their receiving units.
I had the privelige and honor of serving with the finest non-SOCOM infantry battalion in the Army: 1-501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, where young Soldiers such as myself were exposed to the best training available, and were constantly encouraged to show initiative and skill mastering by the simple action done time and time again of the Platoon Leader (PL) handing "PFC whoever" his map, prc-119, and RTO simply saying: "you're PL now". This is leadership of the highest order. The Army needs all Soldiers to develop junior leadership, initiative, and skill mastering from the get-go.
Why does spit and shine, drill and ceremony crap continue in AIT, OSUT? Do away with Infantry OSUT immediately. Of all the MOS's combat ones, specifically INFANTRY should have separate specialized training after basic. Not taught by Drill Sergeants, but ex-Ranger Training Brigade, Special Forces instructors, experts in MODERN INFANTRY TACTICS, WEAPONS, who know the new face of war and will get our young Soldiers ready for it, not the parade ground. During my AIT we covered the most basic infantry tasks one each, during one day. Such as Friday: Move as a fireteam. Since we did it only once, as with all tasks, by the time I finished ABN school, ALIT, and got to the 1-501st, I was lost. Ask any trainer for anything, the key to memory is: mileage, mileage, and mileage. Those basic infantry tasks need to be repeated, repeated, repeated. The ever present Warning Order and OPORD. Every mission is organized around it: why don't we learn them in AIT? We don't have to get into the likes of the "truck annex" (maybe not a bad idea considering Somali ambushes), but at least the five paras, and sub paras. How do you teach such an advanced topic to new Soldiers?
First accept they are human beings with the same brain capacity as any other human being.
This gets lots of mileage. Going to chow? Have them make a brief OPORD for it, going to run PT? give them the warning order, and have them write the OPORD to it etc... Military Operations in Urbanized Terrain (MOUT), at every level not enough training is done to prepare for the most dangerous environment we can operate in, and the world is urbanizing rapidly... In AIT, we spent one day at a MOUT site, practicing antiquated tactics. A few weeks should be spent there.
Basic weapon skills.
Every time I see a Ranger his rifle is shouldered, his thumb on the safety, and his finger over the trigger well. I see AIT Soldiers walking with their fingers on the trigger, weapon practically dragging on the ground. Whenever I see a Ranger shooting, shooting on the move, or just sweeping for an acquisition his weapon is always shouldered high with his line of sight down the barrel. Simple solution: teach this from the beginning. Get rid of pure idiocy like all OSUT trainees road marching at port arms!!! Are these people in the 19th century? Pulling real missions. I thought basic and infantry AIT were supposed to be so hard. I got way too much sleep, food, and didn't even know what a ruck was while doing a "FTX". The pay-off ? When I got to the 1-501st I was woefully unprepared for the sleep deprivation, food deprivation, and humping that we or any light infantry bn does whether the 75th RGR, or 1-501st ABN INF. The enemy will run circles around us as we foot-slog--- like they did to us in Vietnam." We need to be able to speed-march at 4-7 mph so we can "out-guerilla the guerrilla" like Darby's Rangers could do in WWII, marching 10 miles in just 87 minutes. We must be able to move fast on the sensor swept battlefield for surprise is fleeting.
Here is the beginning to a better format:
1. Separate Infantry Basic and AIT: hand-over newly-made Soldiers to the Infantry Cadre
-11B/Ms graduate from "basic" then leave to the infantry training center, go to a new "tent city"--too much time is wasted going to and from chow and cleaning barracks and playing barracks harassment games. As much as possible, eat MRES/T-rats brought to the students instead.
Graduates of Infantry AIT earn the blue cord, disk and Brown Beret. Honor Graduates not going to Airborne School by assignment can get Airborne School. Airborne School-bound honor graduates go to Air Assault School. The top percentage (TBD) are considered honor graduates.
11B, and 11M AIT training needs to be separate!! Or even better, 11M's attend 11B, then go on to a specialized 11M course for Bradleys and M113A3 Gavins. If not, separate at the end of the course to specialize.
The Weeks follow the same course as a Pre-Ranger or 75th RGR RIP at the 25th, and 10th, CLC at 6th, NG PRC etc.) That incorporate deprivations, humping naturally as the mission dictates.
2. Infantry AIT taught by "the Combat/Survival cadre"
"First let me say that for years I've thought AIT was a complete failure, for INFANTRY that is. First major problem as I see it. I understand the need for basic training and how its curriculum works. "Brainwashing", breaking the person down, rebuilding him, conditioning him to follow every order without question, to have absolute trust in their leaders, and to work unwavering under the highest of stress. Current Infantry AIT provides Soldiers with only a brief introduction to the most basic infantry skills, that will probably be forgotten due to the curriculum's stress on drill & ceremony, CTT, and spit-shine pablum. While they have a role to play in the Soldier's introduction to the Army, it should be left at Basic Training. Drill sergeants are woefully underqualified to instruct infantry tasks, as with half the Army is left in archaic robotic, no-initiative, parade marching attitudes. When a Soldier graduates from basic training as an 11X, he is given 12 hours to celebrate and then is returned to the same barracks, the same cadre(drill sergeants), and the same parade ground cancer that he was part of in Basic; welcome to Infantry AIT, Fort Benning, Georgia. What is this?
Cadre are referred to as "Combat/Survival Instructors" and wear
For 11B's ex RTB guys, 75th NCO's who need a little time at home, a few 13F's, etc... I say 13F, because calling-for-fire missions is an essential skill at every level in the infantry company
For 11M's I see maybe a few ex-NTC OPFOR guys or Hollenfhels staff, some CAV scouts, and other highly qualified people.
ALL graduates of:
* U.S. Army SERE School at Fort Bragg, NC
Company of Four Platoons: CPT, 11A, Ranger & Parachutist qualified
Four platoons laid out with cadre of: one SFC(RI) three SSG's or SGT's
-Weeks 1 SHOOT
In barracks, full sleep, full food
OPORDs at simple levels
Day 6 Saturday Morning:
-Week 2 MOVE
In field(patrol bases w/ no OPFOR harrassment) full sleep, 2 hot chows,
one MRE
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Cadre-led patrol teach-as you go
Day 4
Day 6 Saturday Morning:
Week 3: SURVIVE : TA-50 & FIELDCRAFT
TA-50 & Field Craft
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4-5
Day 6 Saturday Morning:
Week 4: FIELDS SKILLS TESTED
In field(patrol bases w/probing) 70/30 security, three
Week 5: COMMUNICATE
New Book assignment: On Infantry by John English
Days 1 & 2
Day 3
Ground vehicle I.D.
Day 4
Aircraft I.D.
Day 5
Day 6 Saturday Morning:
Week 5: URBAN COMBAT
Soldier bivouack/FTX at MOUT site coducting in depth mout training.
The most important change, is MOUT skills. Not just MOUT combat drills, but everything related to: hostage extraction, screening ambushes, security patrols, CA skills, etc.. Army wide the training for MOUT falls short and this needs to be solved yesturday. Haiti, Bosnia, Kuwait City, Liberia, the Commandancia, and MOST importantly the tragedy at Mogadishu. These all send clear signal to where warfare is heading more and more with our foriegn policy of intervention. "Light Infantry pure" is not an option here: Those that think a heavy/light mix in an urban environment is disaster, ala Chechneya (Grozny) they only need to look at Panama City during "Just Cause", Port au Prince, and the debacle at Mog. They need to realize that the M-1A2s, and M-2A2s w/ reactive armor are not T-80's and BMP's.
I don't expect these recruits to be SFOD-D operators, but say one topic: room clearing. Make it three days. Dry Fire, Blank Fire, Live Fire. This could be possibly taught by a SF guy, or maybe a Ranger company guy. Before people read the red flags of live firing for recruits in a complex, close environment: tire house. The new AIT does not practice idiocies such as currently found in AIT: tactical road marches at "port arms" for example.
From the beginning proper tactical weapon handling is stressed, stressed, and stressed throughout the program. The new AIT's C/S cadre organic OPFOR would be used effectively here playing guerrillas, terrorists, conventional Soldiers, and non combatants.
Day 1
The future urban battlefield
Day 2
How to attack buildings:
Day 3
Movement techniques in cities
Working with AFVs
Shock action: weapons effects
Screening smoke
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6 Saturday Morning:
-Week 6 RURAL COMBAT: Combined Arms Training
50/50 security, two MREs,
Day 1
briefing on CA trng
INF Tactics FM 7-8 Light Infantry Platoon and Squad
Recon Patrolling
Day 2
Combat Patrolling
Day 3
Movement-to-Contact
Day 4
Deliberate Attack
Day 5
Defense
Day 6 Saturday Morning:
-Week 6: ADVENTURE/TRANSPORTATION TRAINING
In barracks, full sleep, full food
-assualt climbing(instructed by military mountaineering instructor or like)
-Radio(instructed by 13F)
-Helicopters--Practice Air Assault
Speed March PT training with actual combat loads
11Ms split up to learn M2 Bradley and M113A3 Driving, TCing, Gunnery and get military vehicle license
11Bs learn to drive HMMWV/5-ton trucks and get military vehicle license
Day 6 Saturday Morning:
Week 7: RURAL FTX
Week 8: DRY RUN FOR CA MOUT FTX
MOUT site movement to by AASLT mission. Every five days spend weekend in bunk/shower room located at MOUT site, patrol base 50/50 security, one to two MRE's, full harassment by OPFOR
-MOUT rehearsals with 11Ms
-culminate with evaluated MILES 3 day MOUT tasks and tire house live-fire
-Week 9 : FORCE-ON-FORCE WAR GAME
On Infantry book report turned in
11Ms: Prepare Bradley and M113A3s for final war game, receive body armor
Soldiers appointed leadership roles for each TASK FORCE.
All troops wear MILES. C/S cadre only as evaluators/safety NCOICs with "BlueFor". C/S cadre as OPFOR armed with MILES, must be defeated in MOUT city.
*RECON FORCE
Graduation Exercise is a combined 11B/11M assault of a MOUT city, the light fighters lead on foot by getting "eyes on" recon to watch the town's perimeter (RECON FORCE), and Air Assault (actual or truck simulation) in to seize the Assault Zone for the 11M Soldiers to fly in by USAF C-17s (notional) (SECURITY FORCE). The 11B security force speed marches towards the city to secure route corridor for the ASSAULT FORCE. 11B (FIRE SUPPORT FORCE) moves into overwatch position held by RECON FORCE. FIRE SUPPORT FORCE opens fire to begin assault on signal of ASSAULT FORCE, using massed small arms and rockets to pin enemy down and shock him. Assault Force 11Ms in M2 Bradleys/ M113A3s acting as Drivers, TC, gunners, SLs, storms into the city, the 11M Squads wearing body armor inside jump out the rear ramps and clears it building by building, room by room, from the top down.
Noon Graduation is in the bleachers by the MOUT site after the assault.
Reward is the coveted Brown Beret of U.S. Army Combat Arms, on their heads while wearing BDUs. Honor graduates announced. Certificates handed out after clean-up.
WORK WITH WHAT WE GOT?
"While in the 1-501st I recieved my new team leader, who served as my team ldr for the majority of my time in. His father was the nephew of GEN Westmoreland, and he had served his first
enlistment in 1stID. Not only was he a jump cherry, he was woefully lost in filling the position of a rifle team leader in a LI Division. With training and time, he did prove to be one of the greatest human beings I have ever known. Even the qualified drill sergeants with vision have a difficult task properly training new Soldiers. The reason: micromanaged set curricula that revolves around drill & ceremony, and CTT. Both of which should be left in basic training for obvious reasons.
Yes, drill and ceremony conditions the Soldier to unquestionalby react to orders, and to be a "cog in a machine", I would hope this is not what the Army wants anymore. The Army needs all Soldiers to develop junior leadership, initiative, and skill mastering from the get go. My solution to this?
Form a board made up of Officers and NCO's from SERE school, RTB, LFA's,etc... to investigate, form and test an AIT company to train in the new proposed curriculam. AIT Infantry instructors should be the best in the Army, not what currently fill some of the ranks mentioned. Solution: Take instructors from schools that teach "real" infantry skills: RI's, LFA instructors, SERE instructors, NWTC instructors(assualt clmb), JRTC OC's, etc... they are the answer to develop and teach the new curriculam for a separate AIT from OSUT.
Being a 11B is physically grueling work, obviously in varying degrees between units like: 2/505th, 1/75th, 2/14, or 6th LRSD. Regardless, even at the "straight-leg light fighter" level a Soldier will be deprived of sleep, food, and until the Army solves the Soldiers load (which can be done), a very heavy load humped all day and night. Usually the only physical training found in AIT throughout the program is a every other day, simple, PT progam, that obviously fails to prepare soldiers for the physical hardships found in their recieving units when they graduate. The answer is a graduated scale of ever increasing sleep & food deprivations, and
increased "humping" with heavier loads throughout my proposed program. I'm not recommending a mini-Ranger school, so there would be appropiate breaks in between the schedule with full food, sleep, and no humping. AIT currently teaches the most basic infantry skills in one day blocks only. Example: Thursday: Move as Fire Team in Wedge. This is only taught once, and is forgotten because most Soldiers are worrying more about drill tasks, the barracks bay, etc...
Trainers thoughout the world know that the key to memory is: Mileage, mileage, and mileage. All tasks must be executed over and over, again and again. Yes, the program would be longer, however, given my sleep deprivation: there would be a lot more training time available each day. Since most tasks would be taught in the field (as they are NOT done now), then the recruits need to stay in the field. Not spending hours trying to exactly align shelter halfs that they'll never even see again in the real Army. No, they'd be sleeping a few hours each night in a patrol base pulling 50/50 security, continually being probed and harrassed by the new AIT's organic OPFOR. At first there would be more sleep time, 70/30 security, and no OPFOR; then slowly work them in. Crawl, Walk, Run.
Currently AIT does not cover basic infantry Soldier skills that are essential to the Soldier let alone advanced skills. I don't recommend teaching advanced skills, but I do propose some new skills to be taught in my proposed curricula. Throughout the program EVERTHING will be based around the instructors issuing warning orders, and the Soldiers writing and executing OPORD's. Every task for an infantryman revolves around this: and currently AIT doesnt even mention it. OPORDS start with simple tasks like: move to chow hall.
SUMMARY/CONCLUSION
Our Arctic Paratrooper concludes:
"More money, more failures, better qualified instructors? More Time? Yes. If necessary add time to AIT. The result, adequately trained Soldiers for recieving units instead of them having to "indoctrinate" incoming Soldiers on their own. Squad Leaders cannot compress months of training if an operational mission is assigned to the unit withing weeks of recruits arrival to unit Yes, yes, yes. Mistakes learned in peacetime are GOOD FOR FUTURE WAR, maybe not peacetime promotions, but this is the price of being a PROFESSIONAL ARMY that solves its problems instead of denying them (hear that usmc?) The result is a semi-competant junior enlisted Soldier ready to take on further training with his unit i/e Airborne/Air Assault missions, area recons, route security, etc...And most importantly hopefully help prevent situations like the "roundout" BDE from Georgia who during Desert Shield/Storm never left NTC to round out the then 24th ID (M) because they couldn't pass as competent troops. This is even more poignant in the Army's active duty draw-down and further reliance on reserve component "enhanced bdes".
When it comes to it, it all comes down to what's been stated many times in the 1st TSG's web pages: "defeatist" attitudes. I always felt we undertrained in the 1-501st, but we always shined when we worked with Soldiers and marines from other units. The 75th RGR REG is the finest infantry formation in our Armed Forces. I realize we can't all jump, fast rope, ride in gun jeeps, etc... Why can't we at least attempt to train to the same standard in all light/heavy inf bns?
FEEDBACK!
Satisfied? Or must we amputate an arm and climb Mount Everest?
April 27, 2001; THE BAYONET: THE ARMY WAY; The Army has created "The Bayonet" as its own final test of a recruit's mind and body. The Bayonet is a 25-mile endurance course with numerous events, challenges, and tasks. The Army course is 24 hours and is focused on tactics by platoons of trainees. The Bayonet includes five specific events:
The Wall: A squad must evacuate two "wounded helicopter pilots" (dummies weighted with sand) over a rough terrain course including a ten-foot wall.
The Bridge: The platoon must make a tactical movement across a rope bridge.
Ammunition Carry: The platoon is given a stack a heavy ammunition cans (weighted with sand or other material) and must work together to move them "to the front line".
Casualty Evacuation: Several members of the platoon are "wounded by artillery fire" and must be carried to an evacuation point.
The Cliff: The platoon must attack up a 70-foot cliff using ropes already in place. As always, the platoon must work together with stronger members assisting others.
After the basic training company completes The Bayonet, the troops march to a field lit by torches, dip their canteen cups into a barrel of "grog", and drink a toast to the infantry. This ceremony welcomes them to the Infantry Branch as qualified Soldiers.--
A seasoned Army Paratrooper NCO writes:
"...I agree we need to tap into the intellect of Soldiers and fully make them part of the mission. I also agree this can be accomplished without the drill sergeant mentality. However, at the current moment the Military and especially the Army is hurting like hell for people. I think some of this is due to the perception that the economy is good. The economy is good for some in certain places. However, even in places where the economy is more worse now than 10 to 20 years ago they are not joining. People are smarter and wiser than we give them credit for and I think this shows in the lack of recruiting using free college and the like marketing strategies. Once in Ft. Lewis I asked a Soldier why he did not want to go to PLDC. He told me "Why, I have more power now than you.... Why would I want to give that up?" when I asked him what he meant he said.... the Army has changed, you can no longer drop me, yell at me or inspect my room without my permission.....and when I screw up, all you can do is counsel me and wright me up...so what. Anyway, after listening to what he had to say I thought about it.... The Army had changed, almost overnight. It would have been one thing if the officers and politicians in changing authority and responsibility over night had told us NCO's. Sometimes you need to exercise that in your face approach when the situation dictates. I always told my Soldiers WHY, even when they were punished. My goal as an NCO is to always train... Learn from all your experiences and increase your perspective. I was never an S/M type of leader nor a politician. The biggest problem I see now is that most NCO's and Officers do not know the difference between a LEADER and a MANAGER. In order to correct this power has to be given back to the NCO's and the Army is going to have to go the extra mile to try and keep some of the good ones in. Most everyone I went to Iraq with and grew up through the ranks with have left. They gave up. No longer were they allowed to train and discipline their men. Even Special Op's have gotten down to the bare bone... but not because of indiscipline so I am told.
... I agree we need to update the infantry school. But, we still need that basic shock of welcome to the Army. We still have to weed out what is not wanted. The problem is that those who do wash out end up taking a drill SGT with them... I was talking to some Drills the other day and was informed that the Army is hurting so bad that they will not kick anybody out unless its something big... That the Soldiers have more rights than they.... "that if a Soldier curses you out all you can do is wright them up...you cannot say anything that might upset them." I amnot sure how much of this is BS but this came from five different Drills.... This is astonishing!!! So do we need to change Basic.. HELL YEAH! We don't have to go back necessarily to WWII style but we at least have to let new recruits know the limits, even if it is in the form of a good ole smoke session, ass chewing or smack across the face. The prob with our Basic today is that if this is how they truly are going through boot camp then when they get to their Units why wuold they act any different.... If they are taught to have no respect for their first NCO's why should they have respect for us? I know what your going to say....We just have to train them our selves and teach them respect.... What time? Between Article 15's, EIB, World-wide deployments, post police call, range support,motor pool, gunnery, and everything else when do you have that much time for one Soldier...I am not saying it can't be done... just that with all that currently is and most Soldiers under six years of service has never seen an Army that is even close to being combat ready."
*Advanced Combat weapons shooting school (Cooper's API Paulden, Az)
*Combat Lifesaver or more advanced medical training
*Airborne qualified
*Ability to attend any school they want upon request (major attraction to be a C/S instructor)
1SG(RI)
Attatched: OPFOR platoon, four 13 F's, eight survival instructers, eight close-combat instructors, four military mountaineers
-inprocessing and issue
-full briefing on weapons handling
-OPORDs
-Patrol Base activities
-Rifle PT/bayonet every day
Lecture on the new face of war by guest speaker SME (Col David Hackworth, MGen Harold Moore, BG John Singlaub, Ft. Benning CG, GEN Colin Powell etc.)
Book Reading assignment given: Vietnam Primer by COL David Hackworth (R)
Pocket references given: STP 21-76 Ranger Handbook and Combat Leader's Guide
Expert Infantryman's Badge plus Weapon handling skills--5 Ready Conditions, 4 safety rules, "Hunt", Point"
*Pistols
*Assault rifles/carbines
**Light, *Medium, *Heavy Machine Guns
**ATGMs (Dragon-Javelin)
**Assault rockets
**Grenades
**Mines (Claymores, M21 AT)
Speed-March to ranges and back
Live Fire day-night
Quick Reaction shooting lanes
TEST
If you pass: weekend off: Vietnam Primer Book report due Monday
If not: study all week-end and RE-TEST Monday morning
-*Hand and Arm signals
-Team tactical Movements
-Team react to Fires
-Squad Movements
-Squad React to Fires
New book assignment: We were Soldiers once and Young by LTG Hal Moore
Ruck march to all training areas
Basic infantry skills:
Individual camouflage (higher standard: use burlap strips)
*IMT
"move as a fire team"; formations, fire & movement
Hand/Arm signals
Tracking/counter-tracking
*Operating and Defeating NVDs and FLIR
Night infiltration lane
Map reading
Geocoordinates
Terrain association walk
*Day/Night Land Navigation I: buddy teams (One man at night with NVGs)
Student-led patrols
TEST
If you pass: weekend off: We were Soldiers once and young book report due NEXT Monday
If not: study all week-end and RE-TEST Monday morning
Unarmed combat PT every morning, one day Combat Water Survival Test
In barracks, shortened sleep, full food
-Advanced Land NAV(classroom)
-*Land NAV II course: longer legs, hard terrain
-Squad Movements
-Negotiating Danger Areas
Due to caches being lost or stolen, and to help lighten Soldier loads better fieldcraft needs to be institutionalized from the get go. C/S Cadre with SERE school , or TDY AF Survival Instructors (an MOS) could be used to introduce Soldiers to these tasks. When any Soldier is assigned to any USARAK unit, they must first go through ALIT (Arctic Light Individual Training). Basic Survival skills covered in FM 21-76 AF Survival Manual are taught here such as gill netting and snaring with 550 cord, tracking, shelter construcion, etc, edible berries in AK, etc.. These things were only briefly introduced, but have always remained in my memory. ALIT would be a good primer to study for this part of the program since they're teaching survival skills to all MOS's in a non-stress environment. Along with ever increased sleep deprivation, there would be a graduated scale for food deprivation: start with 2 hot meals and a MRE, go to two MRE's, to one MRE complemented with what Soldiers could find on their own using the surivial skills taught them by their instructors
TA-50 Overview & explanation
Layering and ECWCS
Soldier's Load planning
*NBC training
Medical training (include SKEDCO MEDEVAC)
SERE survival training
Land Navigation Training III: fireteams (Soldiers take turn playing different roles in fire team)
SERE-LAND NAVIGATION PTX (Squad recon patrols must E & E back to friendly lines)
TEST
If you pass: weekend off: We were Soldiers once and young Book report due Monday
If not: study all week-end and RE-TEST Monday morning
MRE's, 8m road march to field w/60lb rucks
-Ambushes
-Actions on the objective
-culminate with evaluated movement to contact, and squad ambush
*Radio skills: SOI, AN/PRC-119 SINCGARs
Call-For-Fire missions (sand models like used at EIB)
Introduction to CAS, Artillery and Naval Gunfire Support
Landing rotary wings, recovering equipment bundles and calling 5 and 9 line MEDEVACs
TEST
If you pass: weekend off: On Infantry Book report due by graduaton week
Peacekeeping: Searching, detaining EPWs
Automobile defense, searching for car bombs, hidden weapons
Non-lethal weapons: CS etc.
-CA topics(taught by CA personnal)
-Non Combatants in Combat Environment
-Assualt Climbing on Wall (Buildering)
Stand-off attack
Top-down: ropes, ladders, etriers, cranes, helicopters/fast rope-rappel
Horizontal: mouseholes, vehicle battering ram
underground: tunnels, sewers, drains
TEST
If you pass: weekend off: We were Soldiers once and young Book report due by graduation week
If not: study all week-end and RE-TEST Monday morning
AASLT mission to field
-Field craft(taught by SERE instructor)
-culminate with students alone moving tactically 15k in three days w/ 75 lbs rucks unaccompanied(shadowed by instructers) harrassment by OPFOR and Indirect Fire, two MRE's given each for this.
Crucial: Must complete in time and forage enough food to complement their two MRE's for three days
General movement techniques
React to Sniper Fire
React to Indirect Fire while in Open Terrain
Crossing Linear Danger Areas
passage of lines
Point, Area, and Route Recons
screening ambushes
anti-recon patrols
Actions on the objective
Depuy Fighting positions w/overhead cover to standard
Day Hasty Defense
Night Defense
TEST
If you pass: weekend off: We were Soldiers once and young Book report due by graduation week
If not: study all week-end and RE-TEST Monday morning
TEST
If you pass: weekend off: We were Soldiers Once and Young Book report due by graduation week
If not: study all weekend and RE-TEST Monday morning
In field, patrol base, security up to students, one to two MRE's, road march 12m to field w/ 80lb rucks, all resupply by helicopter
with students running PZ(shadowed by cadre)
-full culmination, force-on-force evaluations with students on own(shadowed by instructors)
against OPFOR
Binders with ALL course work turned in for evaluation (cannot graduate without it)
Preparation for CAFTX: 11Bs: sandbag trucks and form into "heliteam" sticks
Bay planning using OPORDs. All Soldiers involved.
*SECRITY FORCE
*FIRE SUPPORT FORCE
*ASSAULT FORCE
AAR.
Equipment turn-in.
Clean-up.
Out-processing (11X MOS binders returned)
Soldiers encouraged to continue their professional education through reading and the U.S. Army IPD correspondance course program all accessible via the internet.
Dismissal
Return to U.S. Army Airborne Equipment Shop