Best Course You Have Attended?

[18C4V]

MFF ATIC. I learned alot of TTP's and it sure was a blast doing all that cool guy stuff. First time using the POM and I love it. The instructors were all top notch.

[delta6]

My first best course was P training RVN 1968, Instructor said what you learn today will happen again in a few weeks but I won't be giving that class. After that a Chaplin informs us that half of you may not be here to long so fill out these post cards and send them home, as we all looked at each other thinking WTF he must mean you.

[PRB]

NCOC...the Non Commissioned Officers Course or Shake n' Bake course. The Army took a Pvt. and turned me into a Sgt to lead a squad in Viet Nam.
Very controversial deal for those that took years to get their stripes but the combat arms was losing (kia/wia/ets) junior NCO's faster than could be produced normally.
They only taught combat skills, if you had a class on close air support you took notes, then went to the field and called in live close air.
Had a class on arty, then sat in a foxhole and called in live Danger close arty. Etc, Etc. Everyone knew the grad exercise was combat so no BS.
Made me tactically proficient at a jr level right quick, opords, ambush, patrolling...was all hands on and excellent. The Tach NCO's had all just come back from 'the Nam' and were great....
What they didn't teach me was how to take care of soldiers...but that wasn't a requirement in RVN, just executing the mission and keeping them alive. Took me awhile to adjust to stateside soldiering (families etc) but I had great NCO mentors.
Being an Infantry E5 squad leader in Vietnam with less than a year in service was a most exciting time and I loved every freakin minute of it.

[iMaGiNe]

Originally Posted by PRB

Being an Infantry E5 squad leader in Vietnam with less than a year in service was a most exciting time and I loved every freakin minute of it.

Very encouraging... I am headed to Afghanistan in a month as a E-3 team leader... I'm really nervous and excited, we are headed to COP Badel in Konar Province, which we're told is one of the most kinetic outposts in Afghanistan.

My best "school" so far is the Pre-Ranger Program @ 25th ID, taught me that my body will far outlast my mind. Unfortunately we only had 5 Ranger slots, and my battalion choose to send more experienced soldiers to Ranger School over me.

[PRB]

Originally Posted by iMaGiNe

Very encouraging... I am headed to Afghanistan in a month as a E-3 team leader... I'm really nervous and excited, we are headed to COP Badel in Konar Province, which we're told is one of the most kinetic outposts in Afghanistan.

My best "school" so far is the Pre-Ranger Program @ 25th ID, taught me that my body will far outlast my mind. Unfortunately we only had 5 Ranger slots, and my battalion choose to send more experienced soldiers to Ranger School over me.

All you can do is your best and you'll find that it will be just right. I was sent to the 25th ID in VietNam...2/14 Golden Dragons as a cherry E5. I had guys that had been in country and seasoned that I outranked and they watched me like a freakin hawk to see if I could cut it. I just did what I was taught.
My only advice at this stage is to lead by example and the guys will do as you do. Don't bitch about the chain of command cause you are in it now.
Find a mentor, an NCO you respect in the platoon, and seek his advice etc when you need it...don't be afraid to ask him questions etc.
Finally just this young soldier....don't doubt yourself...everyone is afraid, each and everyday everyone is afraid of the decisions they've made or failed to make...that is a constant of life so don't feel like the Lone Ranger, it's normal.
But keep that fear to yourself, mask it, and rise above it...be calm and deliberate...if you can do that, make decisions when others get 'excited' men will follow you anywhere.
Remember, wether you wear the rank or not doesn't matter at this point, you are a leader...lead.
God bless you too.

[olhamada]

Dive school. Physically demanding, intellectually challenging, fun, exhausting, and incredibly fulfilling.

[Dozer523]

CAS Cubed as a CPT at FT Leavenworth during the summer (when the Majors were NOT there; CGSC not in-session) was a hoot.

[greenberetTFS]

Originally Posted by PRB

NCOC...the Non Commissioned Officers Course or Shake n' Bake course. The Army took a Pvt. and turned me into a Sgt to lead a squad in Viet Nam.
Very controversial deal for those that took years to get their stripes but the combat arms was losing (kia/wia/ets) junior NCO's faster than could be produced normally.
They only taught combat skills, if you had a class on close air support you took notes, then went to the field and called in live close air.
Had a class on arty, then sat in a foxhole and called in live Danger close arty. Etc, Etc. Everyone knew the grad exercise was combat so no BS.
Made me tactically proficient at a jr level right quick, opords, ambush, patrolling...was all hands on and excellent. The Tach NCO's had all just come back from 'the Nam' and were great....
What they didn't teach me was how to take care of soldiers...but that wasn't a requirement in RVN, just executing the mission and keeping them alive. Took me awhile to adjust to stateside soldiering (families etc) but I had great NCO mentors.
Being an Infantry E5 squad leader in Vietnam with less than a year in service was a most exciting time and I loved every freakin minute of it.

PRB,

Far as I'm concern you had a lot of guts taking on that responsibly........ Not many men can do and do it well............ My beret is off to you...........

Big Teddy

[Griv]

Merlin.
"You're all fookin experts now are ya?!" - George

[Raine_n_Roses]

Originally Posted by PRB
NCOC...the Non Commissioned Officers Course or Shake n' Bake course. The Army took a Pvt. and turned me into a Sgt to lead a squad in Viet Nam.
Very controversial deal for those that took years to get their stripes but the combat arms was losing (kia/wia/ets) junior NCO's faster than could be produced normally.
They only taught combat skills, if you had a class on close air support you took notes, then went to the field and called in live close air.
Had a class on arty, then sat in a foxhole and called in live Danger close arty. Etc, Etc. Everyone knew the grad exercise was combat so no BS.
Made me tactically proficient at a jr level right quick, opords, ambush, patrolling...was all hands on and excellent. The Tach NCO's had all just come back from 'the Nam' and were great....
What they didn't teach me was how to take care of soldiers...but that wasn't a requirement in RVN, just executing the mission and keeping them alive. Took me awhile to adjust to stateside soldiering (families etc) but I had great NCO mentors.
Being an Infantry E5 squad leader in Vietnam with less than a year in service was a most exciting time and I loved every freakin minute of it.

I agree with GreenBeret....Sir....All hats off to you.

Very encouraging. Even If Iam not SF, but just a Soldier. Thank you Sir.

[18C4V]

Originally Posted by Griv

Merlin.
"You're all fookin experts now are ya?!" - George

for my class it was"Special Forces my ass"

[Jefe]

I couldn't put one formal school as way better than others I have been to, but think I had extra good classes OCONUS thru MTTs that at the schoolhouses in CONUS a couple of times. Notably, Sniper School and Air Assault School did things different when they were away from the flagpole.

Best Stateside course I went to: Sapper. First Infantry allowed in to my knowldge.

SCHOOL I MISSED NOT GETTING BY FAR THE MOST:

RECONDO at Fort Bragg which was mandatory for ALL E4s before they went to PNCOC. I was just an E1-E3 and got levied to Germany right after Grenada.
They went to this great idea that everyone would go to Ranger School instead and of course not everyone does or can. RECONDO guaranteed 100% that no dead weight is going to make E5.

BEST TRAINING

I enlisted in 82 and my Squad Leader and above were all from the 173rd and Vietnam Vets. They taught so many things that weren't captured in the FMs its a shame that they are all just about gone now.

AND PRB
I had to chuckle a bit about your concern about the way you got your stripes. You became an NCO alot faster leading men in combat that anyone will in a schoolhouse, particullarly with the POI they teach these days.

Also, you just gave me a good reminder about leadership the way you spoke humbly to the young PFC on the board (good luck to you by the way). That was the type of NCO Corp I was raised by and was very lucky to have been around such men. As I enlisted on my 17th Birthday, I got lucky to have such role models. So many Super Heros today who made their rank by making a big deal about how rear echelon types wear their ear plug case on a FOB, its terrifying!

Anyways, thanks for the read.

[Dirt Farmer]

SOT, was the best for me.
Ranger school was the hardest, 1/80
Amphibius Recon school Virgina Beach by Force recon was a vaction.
Sadm was the most serious.

School I missed because there were two Johnsons in our company was Advanced Demo.

Originally Posted by Green Light

Every time I hear about a JM student goofing up in the aircraft I think of that day. It was still fun. I was a lucky E5.

I like to re-read this thread whenever it pops up, the many stories make it a favorite.

I've come to the conclusion that the Static JM course is a "milestone - gate keeper" course. Without it, few attend O&I, no one attends MFF-JM, you need it for Dive Sup, WIC, Winter Warfare, BN S3, and countless other SF assignments. With the JM under your belt, you become more safety aware and from first hand experience, a better "trainer".

The JM course represents all that SF stands for, the simplicity of UW, training indigs, the fight for freedom, etc. The level of professionalism in a ODA lead Jump Master course, taught by MTT is unique. If one can attend the JM course, do so.

As for my JM graded jump, the aircraft was a Vietnam era Otter Caribou. Flight records had it supporting SF teams from 1962-1966, RVTN. The port side engine caught fire, and my JM command was "Exit the aircraft NOW".

[ObliqueApproach]

This is a great thread and my first time to see it!

From the perspective of learning about myself, for me it would have to be SERE, with the main learning points being:

1) You are not as tough as you think
2) The occupants of Room 7 were true heroes
3) Pain hurts
4) 110% is not always the right answer
5) The Code of Conduct is real

I also learned that you can get road rash on your face from a vertical concrete wall if you fall asleep standing up!