[MtnGoat]

As a 18C getting to your first ODA.. like its has been posted. Sit back, read the team out, don't get out of shape.. time to get in better shape and find out what the ODA all has as far as the equipment. If your single its ten times better, you will need to burn some midnight oil learning what every thing is on the ODA hand receipt.

1- EOCA course. With all of the UXO and IED stuff going this is a good 18C course. Hazards Devices School (HDS) is also and other good one to go to.

2- Electrical training. I feel that during TO block they don't cover electrical power sources enough. I saw three different ODAs at two different fire Bases not knowing how to fix there Generators when they went down. Called a local to come and fix them. Great, but if you can do it. It can be faster. SO many students leave the 18C-Q not knowing how to wire up a generator to a house. During the course you build one TO building and you didn't even get to go over to that every "part" of the work site. SO you lost out on the some of the training. They need to add in 4-5 Generator at the build site so that every student can see if not do a wiring set-up on a generator to provide a power source. Go to your local College and sign up for a basic electric class. It will pay off on most FB so you don't have to wait around for KBR or a local national.

3- Computer skills. Most have a laptop if you don't get one like posted. Skill Soft on AKO will help you here or get that video professor program. You need to know WORD, Power Point and EXCELL and a 18C. ACCESS work great for your ODA property account ability and tracking team gear.

3- Sometimes a good welding class helps out down range. But, that's up to your Grps AOR.

Guess what exsquid even the instructors on the Committee want to add more time and subject matter. Can't get more time to the total course hours. So who (instructor) will give up time to provide more time for a new subject or add to another one. Thats what CTRB are for and yes something just stay around (TA) that we don't really use OCONUS. Remember all you students; Q-course is the basic course to make you a 18 series. So you need to go to additional schooling for your MOS. At your local College to military schools and ANCOC. SWTG teaches you enough to know how to operator within your MOS to support your Groups AOR and your ODA its mission.


VG