Any recommendations or advice for ABOLC?

CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 06:47:39 -0400

In a couple weeks I will be graduating OCS. I'm headed to Armor BOLC in November. I am curious to hear what others have experienced, what to expect (family-wise), what manuals to break into, and any other info you'd be willing to share. Thank you in advance.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2015 7:10 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 07:10:05 -0400

Congrats on completing OCS and good luck as you transition into this new phase of your career.
Though every branch BOLC is different, be prepared to hear/learn a lot of information that may go against how you are farmiliar with doing things as a Soldier/NCO. Remember you are attending a TRADOC school - they teach regulation, not real life application. BOLC classes typically are comprised of every branch of the Army (Reserve, NG, and Active). Get to know your classmates, like any other oportunity, use it to build your contact/connection list.

Response by MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2015 7:36 AM

MAJ(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 07:36:42 -0400

It has been almost a decade since I attended, so my info is dated. I'm sure the POI has changed a bit. That being said. I recall having a substantial number of 1900 or later returns to the house after spending all day in simulators or classrooms. I also remember being downright exhausted during the field problems and the CULEX.

Study hard and apply what you learn to the problems they give you. Also, be ready to take charge and lead at 100 MPH. It is BOLC, so they want to see you lead and they know it wont be perfect. Make your recoverable mistakes there. Good Luck!

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2015 9:26 AM

1LT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 09:26:50 -0400

BOLC is what you make it. You can sneak through like a Joe and do enough to graduate, or you can give it all your effort. It is a chance to learn, a chance to grow, and a chance to connect. You likely will bump into those that go through BOLC with you later in your career. As mentioned there will be students from all components of the Army (Active, NG, Reserve). Learn from those other components as well. I am branched Chemical and more than half of the Army's chemical mission lies in the reserve components, so there was much to be learned from both sides.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2015 9:30 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 09:30:24 -0400

You're a prior NCO so you know what it is like to lead from the front. Don't hesitate to take leadership opportunities head on. Not only will you look good because of it, your peers will look up to you for it and it helps you to become a more aggressive leader. Always accept the most difficult and uncomfortable tasks. And help out the 2LTs who are new to the Army. They'll be your friend for life.
As a prior NCO this is the approach I took in OCS and in FABOLC and I did pretty well. Good luck and congrats!

Response by LTC Bink Romanick made Aug 19 at 2015 10:16 AM

LTC Bink Romanick — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 10:16:28 -0400

I'd like to help you but I went to AOBC in 74-75. The advice that I can give you is, know your weapons and be able to assemble them and disassemble them. Pay attention in your courses in the Weapons Department. Study your gunnery manual and KNOW it.

Know your vehicle, know how to operate it and KNOW how to maintain it. You will have to supervise maintenance as a company grade officer and lack of properly maintained vehicles and a high dead line rate can kill a CDR.

Our branch is the finest in the Army.it's a shame that you won't be training at Benning. Knox was a far better armor training location.

I too was a SSG who went to OCS, good luck in your career. STAY ON THE TANK!

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 19 at 2015 11:38 AM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 11:38:13 -0400

Fort Knox community has reasonably priced houses for rent. Understand the tank platoon uses various formations: 1. column when enemy is not expected 1. counter column when the risk is higher, wedge when enemy is expected, on line for attack by fire or when defending. Look at the other post because I explained where each tank goes. You will use sand tables applying this knowledge for several days. You will use the UCOFT which is the Unit Conduct Of Fire Trainer. It is essentially a simulator for the gunner and tank commander. You will go to the field with tanks for a week to familiarize you of the tanks. Good luck.

http://www.inetres.com/gp/military/cv/US_tank_doctrine.html

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2015 12:35 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 12:35:32 -0400

I sent through in 2007. Great course. It's demanding, not like NCO courses I attended. Be ready to do a lot of studying.

Response by CPT Ahmed Faried made Aug 19 at 2015 2:34 PM

CPT Ahmed Faried — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 14:34:18 -0400

Most of the advice here are pretty much spot on. My only contribution is to keep in mind that Armor and Infantry BOLC now do combined exercises together. So brush up a little on infantry manuever tactics and you'll shine. Unfortunately when i went through IBOLC, Armor and Infantry BOLCs didn't do that so I learned it only through books not in practice. Good luck.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2015 6:47 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 18:47:43 -0400

Do everything you can to get into the PLT that is taught by the Marine Instructors (pretty sure Armor, like FA and MP is joint). The Corps sends its best and brightest to Tradoc. You will work 3 times as hard as the other PLt's but be 3 times better for it.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 20 at 2015 5:29 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 17:29:24 -0400

If any old kook tells you any combat arms BOLC is a gentle men's course, don't believe it....be prepared to put in a lot of work and full days and sometimes weekends!

Response by LTC G. R. Thompson made Aug 21 at 2015 10:25 AM

LTC G. R. Thompson — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 10:25:04 -0400

Congrats on your pending commission. If your MOS was in the Armor world, you'll be ahead of the game. To take it to a deeper level, get familiar with the Armor ATP.. (http://armypubs.army.mil/doctrine/DR_pubs/dr_a/pdf/atp3_20x15.pdf)
Making the transition from Enlisted to Officer will require a mind-shift that can be difficult for high-speed NCOs. You have become "the guy who gets it done" and now you need to take the role of "the guy who enables the guy who gets it done". Never forget the challenges you faced getting this far--your Soldiers will be facing those same challenges. Give them the resources and training they need to succeed and then trust the Mission Command concept that allows subordinates to exercise initiative in order to meet the mission.

I wish I had more for you on the Armor Schools specifically. Good luck and God's speed.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Aug 25 at 2015 3:24 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Tue, 25 Aug 2015 15:24:06 -0400

Are you good at video games?

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2015 10:03 AM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 10:03:37 -0400

As a current ABOLC instructor I would start to read tank platoon, recon Manuel also start brushing up on your OPORDS.

Response by LTC Colin Hanzlik made Sep 15 at 2015 2:08 AM

LTC Colin Hanzlik — Tue, 15 Sep 2015 02:08:28 -0400

I was the Course Manager at Ft. Knox when we transitioned it from AOBC to ABOLC, so I don't know how it's been bastardized since moving to Ft. Benning, but you can expect to be challenged quickly and often. Study the Armor and Recon PLT SOPs and get yourself familiar with detailed patrol and warning orders as well as OPORDs. Ask questions about anything you don't understand and remember, it's better to make a bold decision than to sit back and play it safe. You can make all the mistakes you want as long as none are the same as before: Bold and Brash not Brute Force and Ignorance! Best of luck, partner!

Response by 1LT Rich Voss made Aug 3 at 2016 6:05 PM

1LT Rich Voss — Wed, 03 Aug 2016 18:05:28 -0400

First, congratulations (still a couple weeks, so behave) ! I attended Armor OCS at Fort Knox, and it was wonderful there in 1967 (yep, I'm that old). Have learned of the school being moved and the Patton Museum being moved both to an Infantry base, and am less that thrilled about that, but change is inevitable. I was single, so can't comment about the family part. Get insurance and banking/investment advice from USAA in San Antonio ASAP ! They are the best. 24/7/365 Worldwide. Read everything you can about George S. Paton and Manfred Rommel re: tank tactics. There are a few WWII Russian tank commanders that were some great tacticians too. Do the same about the battles in Kuwait and Iraq. We had M60's, M60A1's, A3's, and had familiarization firing and such with the Sheridan System, none of which you'll use, unless they are targets (heaven forbid). Never, ever do what I did when my driver didn't listen, threw a track on my vehicle and I stayed with the crippled tank to help fix it and turned the platoon over to my Platoon Sargent during maneuvers. Switch crews with him (he will hate that part, but he has the same radio as you & is needed to command the unit), have him switch crews with your WORST crew and assign the WORST crew the task of fixing YOUR tank. They won't like that either, but, NOT a
democracy. You will get to accomplish your mission with 4 good tanks and will NOT get reamed by your Company CO, Battalion CO, nor Brigade nor Division CO. Maybe take a "little heat" for losing one tank during an attack, but better than losing control of your unit. Have fun, stay in shape. Hope that you get a good duty station after Branch school. I "lucked" into Germany and traveled the Continent. Best wishes !

Response by SFC George Smith made Apr 21 at 2019 12:42 AM

SFC George Smith — Sun, 21 Apr 2019 00:42:21 -0400

Most Interesting… Good Info.... Thanks for a Share....