For potential SFQC students

[mffjm8509]

I'd like to take a minute and impart some wisdom on anyone considering attendance at the SFQC.

Between tours in the 10th Group, I spent 3 years working out at Cp Mackall. I was a Cadre Team Sergeant (walker) for 5 cycles and the reaminder of the time I was Senior Instructor of Phase II.

Essenentially there were 2 questions I would ask myself when considering a grade of any student. If I could answer yes to both of these questions, then ussually everything fell into place for a passing grade. Nothing fancy here.....

1) Can I trust him? Probably the most important thing you can bring to Special Forces is a strong character. Never lie, cheat, or steal. There is no use for someone that I cannot trust.

2) Is he trainable? The CTS at Phase II will teach the students several simple SOPs. Can you as a student take what you've been shown in a short period of time, and apply it when tired, hungry, and under preassure? Are you trainable.

Asside from that there are a few areas that all potential students should spend the time required to master basic skills prior to attendance. Basic skills of shoot, move, and communicate are really all that is needed at this level, and your character and attitude will really determin the rest.

1. Shoot: Marksmanship is a task that very few units in the army really practice enough to be proficient. 9 rounds to zero and 40 to qual annually are the standard for most units. Unfortunately there is a great deal more information available, if studied and applied to make you a marksman. I think it was Jeff Cooper that said haveing a gun makes you no more of a gunfighter than having a piano makes you a musician. Moral of the story, learn to be proficient with issue weapons. Begin with FM 23-9, chapters 2-6 which focuses on basic rifle marksmanship. Learn to apply these fundamentals and leave the cool and sexy stuff for after your tabed and attending special schools, (and even then, these basics are the framework for success).

2. Move: Here I'd start with the rarely read FM 21-75, Combat Skills of the Soldier. This manul covers many tasks that most gunfighters take for granted, such as use of cover and concealment, cammoflage, and indivudual movement techniques. If you can apply what is covered in this book, youll be able to easilly apply to a maneuvering element in the field.

3. Communicate: Show up knowing how to operate simple US Army radio systems, PRC-119, PRC-126, PRC-148.

4. Common Tasks: You should be proficient at the SMCT but the follwoing I'd reccomend for attendance at Phase II:

Assemble, Dissasemble, Load, Fire, Engage Targets with, & Reduce Stoppages on the M4, M9, M203, M249, M240B, MK19, & M2 HB MG, (the last 2 arent required at Phase II but they are machine guns and lets face it machine guns are just cool!)

........A brief side note. If you study the tasks above and are proficeint with those weapons systems, you'll know that the SAW and 240MGs fire from the open bolt. There is absolutely no way to slowly let the bolt forward while the weapon is loaded without firing a round. I had to counsel at least one student per class that had an "AD" with a MG and he was always "just riding the bolt forward".....KNOW these weapons systems!



Prepare the M136 (AT4) for firing, and restore it to carrying configuration

Employ the M18A1 Claymore mine

Basic First Aid tasks (ABCs)

Navigate while dismounted
Navigate while mounted

This is not an all encompassing list of what you are expected to perform at Cp Mackall, its just a start. These are things you should be proficient in when you show up.

HTH

mp