U.S. Army correspondence courses.

[mojaveman]

Back in '81 while I was working physical security in Germany I decided that I needed something to do to keep me occupied so I completed Warrant Officer Flight Training by correspondence course. They even sent me this neat aluminum flight computer to use during the navigation portion and with it a note stating that they wouldn't give me credit for the course until I sent it back after I was finished.

There were other courses I would have liked to take but later couldn't find the time.

So I'm curious, does anybody have any strong opinions on the courses and which ones did you complete?

[Team Sergeant]

I did ANCOC via Army correspondence course as a SSG. Was still an 11B so it counted for SF. I also took IOBC and was just finishing when they said we could not take those courses.

I don't think the Army correspondence course program is worth the paper it's printed on, especially when it comes to action guy stuff...... I don't remember a word of the ANCOC Army correspondence course I took but I sure as hell remember the Infantry BNCOC course I attended. Nothing beats hands on experience.

[The Reaper]

I went through the SFQC with correspondence course SF soldiers and ran the last 18C correspondence course class.

There was no way to teach (or learn) the same material that was in the resident course by correspondence, even with periodic resident portions.

IIRC, the Phase II SF Engineer Sergeant Resident Course was more than 12 weeks, including three weeks out in the woods in hands on construction, bridging, ranges, Improvised, Target Analysis, FTXs, etc.

There was no way to teach the equivalent amount of material in two weeks, plus correspondence course learning.

Just my .02, YMMV.

TR

[Snaquebite]

Correspondence courses:
Book knowledge - ok
Anything that requires hands on - fail

[mojaveman]

Pretty much what I thought too.

What they would have been good for was a pre-study before attending the real course.

[MR2]

My third day on a team, the IntelSgt handed me the SFQC Ph I Correspondence Course. I had to complete at least an hours worth every week if I wanted to go on any deployments or to any schools. Completed Ph I, Ph III, and Ph II Weapons, Medical, Engineer, and Commo well before ski season.

As a young LT, I completed the Infantry Advanced, Quartermaster Advanced, and the AMED Advanced Correspondence courses before attending IOBC. Completed C&GSC Correspondence before attending IOAC.

As a TL, I supported the TS who made all the new guys do the SFQC Correspondence courses. They had to have 4 hrs per month done or they were the SGM's bitch for the whole drill.


I still don't know shit.

[Dusty]

I did ANCOC via Army correspondence course as a SSG. Was still an 11B so it counted for SF.

So did I. Man, was Hank B. ticked off. :D