I am slotted for pathfinder school in a week. Any advice?

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 May 2017 00:02:26 -0400

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 31 at 2017 1:47 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 31 May 2017 01:47:23 -0400

Which one are you going to? Is it a MTT or the one at Benning? But you really have to take it one subject at a time. You should be studying nomenclature. They should have the packet on their website or in the welcome packet. It is a very tough course. Ever subject is very intense. It will only overwhelm you. So don't study everything. Just be familiar with the subjects.

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made May 31 at 2017 1:55 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Wed, 31 May 2017 01:55:59 -0400

Study, don't take the knowledge test for granted. Knowledge is a zero tolerance deal with only a few Military Schools , Jump Master, repel master, Pathfinder are a few of them...... Did I mention Study, don't take the knowledge test for granted.

Response by CPT Jim Schwebach made May 31 at 2017 9:18 AM

CPT Jim Schwebach — Wed, 31 May 2017 09:18:53 -0400

I'd prepare for Pathfinder in much the same manner I prepared for any of the unclassified courses in which I participated. Study the course(know what you are getting into), study the content(this is a head course and the information is available from multiple sources), discuss the course with graduates(you're ahead on that one) and, last but not least, remember the guiding principle of all Army courses, special skills or not - the purpose of the course is not to produce failure; the course(s)' object is to produce qualified Soldiers. And finally remember that literally thousands of Soldiers have successfully completed the course, if they could do it so can you.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made May 31 at 2017 9:48 AM

LTC Stephen C. — Wed, 31 May 2017 09:48:36 -0400

SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member, you've already received good guidance from CPT Jim Schwebach, CPT Private RallyPoint Member and SGM Erik Marquez. Also, I never attended the Pathfinder course, so I'll simply wish you bonne chance.

Response by 1SG Jacob Baty made May 31 at 2017 10:15 PM

1SG Jacob Baty — Wed, 31 May 2017 22:15:18 -0400

Start studying nomenclature for sling loads as well as the link counts and different types of sling legs and there capacity. Go to every study hall especially on the weekends. The instructors want you to pass but you have to put in the time.
I wouldn't worry about drop zones and such as you want to do it exactly the way they want.
I have been to a lot of Army schools and that was the harder than Ranger School for me.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2017 4:20 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 04:20:07 -0400

Be the first in and last out of the classroom each day. ;)

Response by CPT Larry Hudson made Jun 1 at 2017 1:40 PM

CPT Larry Hudson — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 13:40:38 -0400

Keep your mouth shut and go beyond any limits you have sought. Good luck, soldier.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 1 at 2017 4:31 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 16:31:50 -0400

Pathfinder School wasn't bad if you studied, I would honestly study till about mid-night, 1AM every night. Day 1 wasn't hard at all, just a repeat of 10days of AA School. You'll be fine if study and ask questions. Good luck!

Response by SFC Aaron Calmes made Jun 1 at 2017 5:46 PM

SFC Aaron Calmes — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 17:46:42 -0400

As everyone else has said, study study study! Do all study halls and study after that until midnight or 1am depending on how confident you are in the current day's material. There is and exam on day 2 and every single day thereafter through day 10. Like any Army course you can fail any test one time and do a retake but the retake will be at like 0600 to be followed by (if you pass) the regular exam for the day at 0800 (that you probably didn't have time to study for because you were studying for the retest). That what got most people (well that and slingloads). Slingloads was harder than air assault because instead of saying "gig" you had to use proper nomenclature i.e. 5K clevis instead of 10K clevis.

Response by SP5 Robert Ruck made Jun 1 at 2017 9:46 PM

SP5 Robert Ruck — Thu, 01 Jun 2017 21:46:23 -0400

Take a compass with you. LOL. Good luck on your training and career!

Response by COL Charles Williams made Jun 3 at 2017 1:05 AM

COL Charles Williams — Sat, 03 Jun 2017 01:05:10 -0400

Do great and never quit.

Response by MAJ Javier Rivera made Jun 4 at 2017 8:51 AM

MAJ Javier Rivera — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 08:51:43 -0400

Have fun! And study off course! Focus on what the instructors teach, you will be surprised on how many bad manners you have -if you have done any sling loads in the past- and how it could bit you in your 4th point of contact.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 4 at 2017 7:08 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 04 Jun 2017 19:08:11 -0400

Just study hard take as many practice tests as you can make sure you remember how to shoot a good azimuth and are able to memorize simple algebraic equations and conversions

Response by SFC Terry Murphy made Jun 10 at 2017 10:11 AM

SFC Terry Murphy — Sat, 10 Jun 2017 10:11:44 -0400

As a former Pathfinder Instructor, my advise is study and ask any question that you may have. If you don't understand something, chances are someone else is in the same boat. Don't wait until the last minute to clarify anything you are having problems with. Oh yeah, and this may be a simple thing to do, but I saw several students kicked out because of it, show up on time!

Response by SFC Terry Murphy made Jun 13 at 2017 10:28 AM

SFC Terry Murphy — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 10:28:00 -0400

To all that may be reading this for an upcoming Pathfinder School date, I was an Instructor from 98-2000. I don't know if they still do it or not, but I would give my home phone number (no one had cell phones!) to my students and they were free to call me until 2100hrs (I had young children so I had to set limits!) and ask any questions or clarify any material they had questions about. This helped a lot of students pass homework assignments that in turn would help them pass the tests. Like I said, I am not sure if they do this today, but if they do, take advantage of it.

Response by SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 6 at 2017 7:28 PM

SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 06 Oct 2017 19:28:50 -0400

I do have a question about qualifying for PFS. I already know, Gt over 110 E4-E7.
I am Enlisting as an 88M, leaving to BCT OCT 24 I will be an HET Driver. Do all 88m's if they qualify with the above go to this school. Basically asking how do I get in?