What is the best way to prepare for Engineer BOLC (academics and physically)? Advice to pursue engineer dive school?

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 23:59:39 -0500

Also, any advice for pursuing dive school during BOLC? I will go to first possible class date after May 2019. I am an active duty MP E-5, in the "active duty option green to gold" program. I was just informed I have been branched Engineer (my top pick). I am a certified diver in the civilian world as hobby.

Response by COL David Turk made Dec 1 at 2018 7:59 AM

COL David Turk — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 07:59:28 -0500

I don’t remember “dive school” being an option for engineer officers. Thought it was only for enlisted. So verify that is a viable option.

Response by CPT Ray Gilmore made Dec 1 at 2018 1:55 PM

CPT Ray Gilmore — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 13:55:01 -0500

I believe there is 1 Platoon, and they are salvage divers; not combat divers.

I ran Pre-Ranger & Pre-Sapper at FLW for the ECCC & E-BOLC ~2006 & ~2002....

The only place I saw guys doing dive course prep was at 6th RTB as a Med Recycle..... but never in an engineer unit.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 3 at 2018 12:25 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 03 Dec 2018 12:25:17 -0500

As far as EBOLC:
Run and ruck beforehand. You will complete a timed 5 mile run and 12 mile ruck march, both of which feed into your OML. Academic tests are all open book, just make sure to take good notes and brush up on your math skills for Demo, bridging, vertical, and horizontal. You will also have to prepare and brief an OPORD for a grade (done indoors on a sand table with almost no prior prep), volunteer to go earlier if you can. The later OPORDs can easily exceed 15 pages (they are tied to the current academic phase).

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Dec 22 at 2018 9:14 PM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Dec 2018 21:14:47 -0500

Be able to think out of the box....

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 19 at 2019 4:16 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 16:16:44 -0500

You could try to get familiar with some helpful fm’s like 3-34, would be a good start. Bridging, demolitions, engineer support to stability and dsca operations, maybe task force engineer, would be some good read-ahead areas I’d look at if I were you.