SFQC Class Number

[Mitch]

First, I just read the comments from SGM Baer that he made in his Speech to the 247th Graduating Class of SFQC, as published in the latest "Drop." Reading that gave me a slight smile as he stated that it was "Just 28 years ago" when I sat where you sit, seems like yesterday.” I smiled because even though for me it was over 40 years ago - it still seems like yesterday.

He said that he could not even remember what the speaker said all those years before - strangely enough, I do remember what our speaker said - he was. An 0-5 from JFK Center – don’t remember his name or what his job was. But, what I remember best from his speech was not, how great our accomplishments were, or how proud we should be, etc. It was more along the lines of: "You think you have accomplished something? It is just beginning. For those of you who think you can relax, who think you can kick back and take it easy, who think you can back off and forget to be a soldier - you will be gone. You will not make it........"
He went on for another 10 minutes like that. For those of us who had just survived up to a year at Bragg at SFTG and had put up with all the chicken shit, most recently handed out to us at Echo Company or HHC - SFTG (where we were assigned for Phase 3). This was more of the same old song - a major disappointment. I was glad that I had no family there to hear that.

This SGM got it right - he pulled the families in, he allowed the guys to feel some pride for their accomplishments - he pointed out that you still had to keep up with your PT stay strong - but I could see that you could walk away from that ceremony and feel like a Man. Good Job Sergeant Major!

Secondly - when did they start numbering SFQC classes? Was it from Day 1, if so, what class would I have been in, graduating on May 29th, 1969? These days, how many classes do they have per year?