Given the return of Drill Sergeants to AIT, should the Army make every major CMF training center a BCT and convert to OSUT?

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 12:20:57 -0500

Since the return of Drill Sergeants to AIT I have thought to myself, if we are already working 6 days a week, teaching WTBDs on Saturdays, conducting rappel tower, rifle and grenade ranges why not make every major CMF training center a BCT and convert to OSUT?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2019 12:44 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 12:44:04 -0500

68CMF doesn’t go to the range, rappel tower, etc.

Response by 1SG Frank Boynton made Feb 18 at 2019 12:45 PM

1SG Frank Boynton — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 12:45:29 -0500

It would create a lack of consistency. I totally agree with combat arms doing it but not other branches. I’ve served in non-combat arms units and I know the lack of consistency when it comes to the basics first hand.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 18 at 2019 12:49 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 18 Feb 2019 12:49:41 -0500

68CMF has over 20 MOSs all with different course lengths. I don’t see a way for it to be feasible. Some MOSs are not even on Army installations and some have multiple phases at different installations.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2019 8:32 AM

WO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 08:32:42 -0500

Is that all specific to your CoE or what that commander wants? Haven’t been a Drill in AIT but the 3 AIT sites I’ve been to, the kids are off on weekends. I haven’t seen weekend training. Where I am now they don’t even have an FTX phase anymore for AIT.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2019 10:10 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 10:10:53 -0500

Money and logistics.

When you have a short MOS with lots of students like 11B or 13B, it makes sense to lead them directly into their AIT. There's no need for any special resources and you'll always have a full class.
Now, take a low density MOS like the CMF 68, some of the individual MOSs don't access even an entire basic class of students in a whole year. Many of these classes are a year long, several of them have a second phase at a different location, and most of the classes are extremely small. Except for 68W many of the Soldier's would be holdovers for weeks or months waiting for their AIT. The Army is always pushing toward consolidation in order to preserve resources.

I wish we could do away with Ft Jackson and align the support MOSs with the combat MOS Basic trainings, but those bases don't have the resources to support that and it would be unreasonably expensive to run several other basics. Ft Jackson is essentially the result of consolidation of all the support MOS basics

Response by SFC Donald Lockwood made Jul 23 at 2020 10:08 AM

SFC Donald Lockwood — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 10:08:00 -0400

I having the experience of one station unit training as a drill sgt. The trainees are more connected to each other as steam. Most experience leadership skills above what BPCTwill afford the soldiers. It is a great experience with many benefits to the individual.