Posted on Jul 10, 2019
Since the bulk of engineers are in the reserves I’m wondering how difficult it would be for me (a reservist) to get into sapper school?
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So I know it’ll be mainly up to my unit and whether they wanna roll the dice and spend the dough on me but I’m wondering if anyone who has gone through could tell me if they had any reservist in their class and if they managed to graduate. I also probably have close to a year before I’m e4 promotable so I’ve got some time to prepare so any advice in that realm would be appreciated also. Thanks for reading.
12B: Combat Engineer
Sapper
Sapper School
Advice
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 2
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2
0
Many years ago, when I went, your unit sponsored a number of slots for a class. Then, our unit asked for volunteers to fill those slots. The situation may have changed since then. We did not have any reservists in our class. I went as an E-4 with a waiver for rank. I agree with 1SG Furr that you will need to do a serious train-up before attending. Some things I remember:
1. Land nav: You REALLY need to have this down pat 100%. Not staring at your compass bumping into trees, but able to do good terrain association, comfortable with using checkpoints. Not only was the land navigation course at Sapper School extremely challenging in terms of time limit, but land nav mastery was a implied task, if you will, within your leadership work in patrol phase.
2. If you have never seen an OPORD before, you should get someone to go over one with you. Also, it would help to have a head start on Troop Leading Procedures (if that's still a thing - I assume that it is.) The orders process and TLP was a BIG part of the patrol phase and having a handle on it was necessary to do well in leadership evaluations.
3. Our unit almost skipped over doing any training on demo calculations. We thought we didn't need it. Then we did a diagnostic written demo test just to confirm that. Immediately, upon seeing our scores, we scheduled time to do some refresher training on demo calculations.
4. Do some rucking regularly. Get used to carrying heavy loads over uneven terrain. Toughen up your feet. You have to keep this up - the preparation fades away if you don't do it regularly.
When you get to the school, don't get frustrated, don't quit. You can be absolutely convinced that you've blown it and be very surprised at that end when you find out you didn't. So, just keep going no matter what.
1. Land nav: You REALLY need to have this down pat 100%. Not staring at your compass bumping into trees, but able to do good terrain association, comfortable with using checkpoints. Not only was the land navigation course at Sapper School extremely challenging in terms of time limit, but land nav mastery was a implied task, if you will, within your leadership work in patrol phase.
2. If you have never seen an OPORD before, you should get someone to go over one with you. Also, it would help to have a head start on Troop Leading Procedures (if that's still a thing - I assume that it is.) The orders process and TLP was a BIG part of the patrol phase and having a handle on it was necessary to do well in leadership evaluations.
3. Our unit almost skipped over doing any training on demo calculations. We thought we didn't need it. Then we did a diagnostic written demo test just to confirm that. Immediately, upon seeing our scores, we scheduled time to do some refresher training on demo calculations.
4. Do some rucking regularly. Get used to carrying heavy loads over uneven terrain. Toughen up your feet. You have to keep this up - the preparation fades away if you don't do it regularly.
When you get to the school, don't get frustrated, don't quit. You can be absolutely convinced that you've blown it and be very surprised at that end when you find out you didn't. So, just keep going no matter what.
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