Pathfinder is getting the axe. What other courses are being discontinued?

2021-05-11T12:53:11-04:00

I was reading an article about the Pathfinder Course getting discontinued. But the article mentions about roughly 30 other courses on the chopping block. Does anyone have any insight as to what courses could be next?

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made May 11 at 2021 2:22 PM

2021-05-11T14:22:22-04:00

Where did you read this?
That might be a good start

Response by CW2 Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2021 3:00 PM

2021-05-11T15:00:46-04:00

Please post a link to said article.
As for the idea of courses getting the axe: it happens. When that skill is likely not needed enough to merit teaching it - goodbye. The Recondo school was axed long ago and that was a high speed school. Pathfinder is right there with it. It has been relegated to being nothing more than "the pretty badge" because the job of actual Pathfinder tactics is handled by SOF now.
FORSCOM has become too risk averse to ever send in a tiny Pathfinder team to prepare for an Air Assault. Not to mention the next fight is likely with a near-peer and who we'd need much more that a Pathfinder team as there would be radar and ADA to take out to allow any air insertion - rotary or fixed.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2021 6:32 PM

2021-05-11T18:32:56-04:00

They're not getting the axe, the 507th is just closing its course. There are other courses. Just like the 82nd closed their Air Assault school, units have to decide if the cost is worth the benefit. The Army doesn't have pathfinder units anymore, or LRRS units. There just are not that many (if any remaining) positions that are coded for Pathfinder in units MTOEs on AD. There's not enough need to keep a school like that open at the 507th

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 12 at 2021 1:40 PM

2021-05-12T13:40:55-04:00

I just watched the movie Pathfinder on TUBI for free last night. They were the first ones into France to set up a light and an electronic beacon so the pilots would know where the drop zone was for the follow on mass of Airborne forces. The pathfinders were dropped a few miles from a German division focused on anti airborne operations. Needless to say most were killed but they completed their mission. It is based on true events. One scene was interesting. One of our soldiers prayed if he was killed to make it quick like a shot to the head and not to the stomach. He also prayed that he would not die alone. All of them knew the mission would be extremely dangerous, but they also knew that the success of Operation Overloard was depended on their mission accomplishment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_bjdLkmX1k

Pathfinders: In The Company Of Strangers (Trailer)

June 5th, 1944... A secret mission is launched prior to the D-Day Invasion. A small elite group of American paratroopers drop behind enemy lines and land ri...