Posted on Jun 12, 2016
Tips for preparing for Pathfinder, specifically at Ft. Drum?
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Every other year or so, Ft. Drum's Light Fighter School hosts a Pathfinder class. Does anyone have any experience with the course hosted there? Any tips for preparing for pathfinder school in general?
Posted in these groups: 
Pathfinder School
Fort Drum
Pathfinder School Fort Drum
Edited 8 y ago
Posted 8 y ago
Responses: 8
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I attended Pathfinder School at Fort Campbell, but the curriculum should be identical regardless of where the school is. A good jumping off point for studying can be found here:
http://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/rtb/1-507th/pathfinder/content/PDF/PrepCourseStudyGuide.pdf
As for preparing, study, study, study. Once you're in he course the sheer amount of information thrown your way daily is incredible. The biggest issue my class had was the written and hands on sling load. Know the rated capacities of everything and be able to recite all sling load deficiencies verbatim. That will have you off to a good start.
http://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/rtb/1-507th/pathfinder/content/PDF/PrepCourseStudyGuide.pdf
As for preparing, study, study, study. Once you're in he course the sheer amount of information thrown your way daily is incredible. The biggest issue my class had was the written and hands on sling load. Know the rated capacities of everything and be able to recite all sling load deficiencies verbatim. That will have you off to a good start.
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SGM Robert King
I was already a Jumpmaster when I attended so the DZ/LZ was not hard for me. Sling load inspections was the hardest part, they do not have specific procedure like doing a JMPI. But you have to pay attention to what looks right and set your own procedures, you don't get much time with the equipment to practice. Study your but off every night with your classmates. Trying to study before will cause problems since procedures change and you could learn a bad habit.
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1SG (Join to see)
Roger SGM. My reference to studying was regarding capacities of the sling load equipment. I for one, had a lot of trouble with the round slings. After spending enough time studying though, patterns developed that allowed me to easily figure them out on test day. Unfortunately, I can't seem to recall what that pattern was after all these years.
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Start brain dumping everything you ever learned except for Algebra. Find a learning method that works for you, ie study groups.
Perfect your clean sequence on slingloads. Above all, take it one step at a time. The instructors will teach you everything you need to know, if you try and self study you're going to do something wrong and it will become habit.
Perfect your clean sequence on slingloads. Above all, take it one step at a time. The instructors will teach you everything you need to know, if you try and self study you're going to do something wrong and it will become habit.
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Great school, the hardest army school I've ever graduated from. All the other posts here sum up most of it. One important thing I didn't see listed is if you don't understand, ask questions. Unlike air assault where the instructors must follow a script, in pathfinder they are allowed top actually teach. They will find a way to help you understand the concepts. Realize that the school is drinking from a fire hose and you have to learn literally everything they teach you. Be prepared to study, a lot, brain dump anything you learned in air assault or airborne and don't try to prepare ahead of time. Work hard and you will likely pass. Good luck.
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