Posted on Jul 15, 2017
Should direct commission officers (Med, JAG, etc) be required to learn skills such as marksmanship and land navigation when commissioning?
10.4K
30
23
8
8
0
Coming from the enlisted side, I personally feel that we are all Soldiers 1st (or Marines, Sailors, Airmen) and that we all need at least a basic level of proficiency and some form of "basic training" should be required for all new Officers. I had a conversation with some folks who don't believe that limited duty officers need this type or training unless they are perhaps assigned to a line unit.
Officer
Leadership
Training
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 16
1
1
0
I would say it depends - I was Direct Commissioned after 24 years of Enlisted service in both the Army and Air Force; Active Duty and Reserve - If they are not prior enlisted then maybe it would be beneficial.
(1)
(0)
1
1
0
CPT (Join to see)
When I commissioned they only required a 2 week orientation course (9 to 5 with no weekends) that was pretty much entirely classroom based and basically taught people what the ranks were and how to salute. After that there's BOLC, which is sort of like the officer version of AIT. It's still mostly classroom based with some field training. There was a range but I wouldn't say anyone was proficient. It was actually a terrifying experience. I came closer to getting shot there than I ever did in Iraq or AFG. They are starting to implement a 3 or 4 week direct commission course for medical officers prior to starting BOLC. Apparently this course pops up every few years, stick around for a bit, goes away then pops back up again.
(1)
(0)
SSG Diane R.
I really think at least a 4 week course should be mandatory 8 would be better. The modern battlefield spares no one and even medical personnel may have to defend themselves and their patients.
When I was at FT Bragg, NC in the 70's We had ROTC students with us one summer and I drove them crazy with weapon drills. I made the girls carry an M60 - 'you wanna be a soldier, we'll OK then', carry this!
When I was at FT Bragg, NC in the 70's We had ROTC students with us one summer and I drove them crazy with weapon drills. I made the girls carry an M60 - 'you wanna be a soldier, we'll OK then', carry this!
(1)
(0)
LTC Jason Mackay
CPT (Join to see) - it is not long, but from what I found the DCC is at least weeks.
(1)
(0)
0
0
0
Slightly off topic, but is there a way to bypass the 30% rule? What I mean by this is that regardless of your discharge paperwork (I'm 1-A, Honorable) with the possible exception of the national guard, every recruiting office has told me that you cannot re-enlist above 30% (I am at 80%) I was one of those Corporals who saw the stupidity of my command, but decided that instead of complaining about it I would be better off to finish my degree and apply to OCS, yet I never knew I couldn't get back until my senior year of undergrad when I called up the recruiters
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
Yes, or else they should have just become a civilian equivalent of their profession. Everyone wants to play Soldier until you have to do Soldier-y things, apparently.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
All Direct Commissions attend a DIrect Commission Course. JAG goes to Benning. AMEDD go to Fort Sill OK. Chaplains go to a Basic Course at Jackson. They cover basic soldier skills. Took me 20 minutes on google to figure that out.
Chaplains can not be assigned a weapon or employ one. Several chaplains have been relieved over this and separated. My CJA was assigned a 9mm and went to the range as much as anyone else did. Medical small arms qualification depended on specific role.
You cut this with too wide a swath. Having conversant level of skill in Land Nav comes down to practice. The Chaplain and Lawyer in units I have been in have done what used to be known as COmmon task Training (now warrior tasks and drills). Are they rusty? Yep. That once a year is probably all they get.
You also have the whole TDA world which has a different set of training, mission, and equipment. They likely don't have weapons assigned in the TDA, so no qualification. mynGarrison did not have weapons for soldiers. Have to figure TDS and non TOE legal units are the same. MEDDAC/DENTAC are the same.
Chaplains can not be assigned a weapon or employ one. Several chaplains have been relieved over this and separated. My CJA was assigned a 9mm and went to the range as much as anyone else did. Medical small arms qualification depended on specific role.
You cut this with too wide a swath. Having conversant level of skill in Land Nav comes down to practice. The Chaplain and Lawyer in units I have been in have done what used to be known as COmmon task Training (now warrior tasks and drills). Are they rusty? Yep. That once a year is probably all they get.
You also have the whole TDA world which has a different set of training, mission, and equipment. They likely don't have weapons assigned in the TDA, so no qualification. mynGarrison did not have weapons for soldiers. Have to figure TDS and non TOE legal units are the same. MEDDAC/DENTAC are the same.
(0)
(0)
0
0
0
The Marines require that. Everybody (including JAGs, pilots, etc.) go to The Basic School. It's part of the Marine Corps ethos - every Marine a rifleman.
(0)
(0)
Read This Next
Continue with Facebook 
Continue with Google