What's the BEST or the WORST classroom training you've ever received in the military?

2016-02-29T16:54:16-05:00

We all have had to sit and experience "death by powerpoint" at some times in our military career. I have had obligatory trainings that I attend and try hard to pay close attention to, but a few of them were very difficult for me to retain. On the other hand, some leadership courses - even in a classroom, are very helpful to me. The ASIST training is very useful for me in my field.

What about you? What was your favorite classroom course and what was your least favorite? How can we improve classroom training?

Response by CH (MAJ) William Beaver made Feb 29 at 2016 4:54 PM

2016-02-29T16:54:45-05:00

Response by COL Bernie Williford made Feb 29 at 2016 4:58 PM

2016-02-29T16:58:15-05:00

SHARP and SHARP. Depends on the instructor/facilitator at the time

Response by SSgt Rilene Ann made Feb 29 at 2016 5:00 PM

2016-02-29T17:00:15-05:00

when taught Prime for Life had to go to fort Richardson to observe their weekend P4L class, worst class ever been to and on the weekend.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 29 at 2016 5:01 PM

2016-02-29T17:01:27-05:00

Support Cadre Training Course (SCTC) at Fort Jackson

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 29 at 2016 5:07 PM

2016-02-29T17:07:09-05:00

I have yet to be impressed with the MRT modules, regardless of the instructor.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 29 at 2016 5:33 PM

2016-02-29T17:33:21-05:00

The best classroom training I've had would probably be Company Phase during MCCC. I learned more during that part of the course than I had in the last 6 years in uniform.

Resiliency training is one I have a hard time with. While it may work for some people, a lot of it strikes me as "fluff." Thinking about my son during a stressful situation does cheer me up, but it takes my mind off of the fight. In my position I simply can't afford to be day dreaming during a firefight. I think we would be better served implementing more hardship and tough realistic training. That's what I believe builds resiliency and mental toughness.

SHARP and EO courses would be a close second. There's been more than one occasion where I've felt like the villain simply for being born a white male.

Response by PO2 Michael Berry made Feb 29 at 2016 5:47 PM

2016-02-29T17:47:45-05:00

The absolute worse classroom training that I ever had in or out of the military was an advance outboard marine engine repair course. My family had at the time been in the boat business for more than 30 years. I was the youngest Certified OMC Master Technician in the world. So I kinda new my stuff. I was always willing to learn more but had a great foundation. I didn't want to go to this class but the unit that I was assigned to had 2 outboards that 4 different mechanics could not repair and it took my families boat shop 30 hours to repair because there had been so many different hand working on these 2 engine so I was picked to go to school at the same time my mother was having major surgery.

I get their and we have a new instructor who was being trained by the outgoing instructor. They kept fighting the entire 2 week course and most of the time both instructors were wrong. It was horrible. to pass the class you had to completely rebuild and outboard motor and get it running. I had mine finished way before anyone else did and was trying to help some of the other mechanics but the instructors would not let me. I swore that I would never ever attend that course again and thank did not have to.

Response by SFC William Swartz Jr made Feb 29 at 2016 6:16 PM

2016-02-29T18:16:13-05:00

Worst- every single SHARP & EO session I had to sit through over 26-years....best would be a toss up between Anti-Terror Level 2 and Battle Staff NCO Course.

Response by Maj John Bell made Feb 29 at 2016 7:01 PM

2016-02-29T19:01:27-05:00

There are, or were obligatory "Troop welfare" classes when I was in that drove me nuts. Not all of these classes were a waste of time, but a lot were. These types of classes were defensive shields so that we (I include myself) as leaders could say I'm concerned, and I care, and I tried to stop stupid conduct. No 2ndLt Benotz ever stopped acting like an idiot because of "safe Driving" or "Responsible Drinking" classes. If you (a junior leader) want to stop stupid conduct, do your homework as a leader. Get to appropriately know your troops. When they trust you, you'll find out who's acting up. Then you or someone in the chain-of-command can address it in a discreet meaningful way. It just takes more work. That's what we're paid for.

Response by CPT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 29 at 2016 7:08 PM

2016-02-29T19:08:51-05:00

Best... Collateral Dammage Methodology

Worst... AFATDS Operator Course

Response by SMSgt Mike Wood made Feb 29 at 2016 7:31 PM

2016-02-29T19:31:30-05:00

Best was 91A (Med trig) in Ft. Sam Was in the Army prior to the Air force. Worst was class on deployment to foreign area. Instuctor was monotone, ALL the way through. Really didn't match with reality.

Response by SGT Carissa Lara, RCS made Feb 29 at 2016 8:18 PM

2016-02-29T20:18:43-05:00

The best classroom training that I've ever had has been the Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Course. I had awesome instructors who managed to make death by powerpoint interesting. My classmates were also very engaged in to course as well which led to lots of interaction.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 29 at 2016 9:28 PM

2016-02-29T21:28:38-05:00

MRT, SHARP, suicide prevention, EO

Response by SSG Ed Mikus made Feb 29 at 2016 9:31 PM

2016-02-29T21:31:54-05:00

PHASE 1 BNCOC was a complete waste of time, well except for the ill-managed field exercise. (Yall think SSD's are bad! go back in time a few years, we begged for this!)

The Army's new 25D class was by far the best, although it comprised of a bunch of civilian certification courses crammed back to back and taught by contractors from the certificating company.

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Mar 1 at 2016 2:48 AM

2016-03-01T02:48:16-05:00

The best was NCO School at Camp Lejeune NC & worse was Map Reading in Parris Island because I fell asleep & had to police the area outside the tent for several hours.

Response by TSgt Melissa Post made Mar 1 at 2016 2:49 AM

2016-03-01T02:49:30-05:00

Our trainers are actually pretty good at keeping the classes as interesting as possible since we have all been through it multiple times. One of the big things that I think could be done to improve is the visual aides. I instantly shut my mind off when I see the typical AF heading and white background on the power points. Make them look appealing and maybe our short attention span will stick around for 2 seconds longer (**SQUIRREL**).

oh and trim up the 50 page long power points. It's called a briefing because it is brief...

Response by MSgt Wayne Morris made Mar 1 at 2016 6:50 AM

2016-03-01T06:50:44-05:00

I sat thru so many snoozers that my eyes are still partially glazed over even after being retired all of this time but I guess the worst was a 3 day course for the STS (space shuttle) Bent Pipe comms system. By day 2 I was wishing I had paid attention in a suicide prevention course just to save my own life.

Response by CPT Craig Clark made Mar 1 at 2016 8:45 AM

2016-03-01T08:45:27-05:00

TAMMS 38-750. Instructor warned us it was bad
Field training in 73 at Bragg with 82nd and SF teams. Great!

Response by CH (LTC) Robert Leroe made Mar 1 at 2016 9:14 AM

2016-03-01T09:14:59-05:00

The best training I had was the PAO Course at the Defense Information School. And while seminary gave me some training in counseling, most of what I learned was at the Army Chaplain School and monthly Chaplain training events.

Response by SFC Dan Whipple made Mar 1 at 2016 9:34 AM

2016-03-01T09:34:12-05:00

Two classes stick out from my memory. One was a "Hey You" class on the HEMTT. I usually abhor such classes because the instructor reads out of the TM and knows less than me. I was pleasantly wrong this time, the instructor was an old guy from OSHKOSH that help design the HEMTT. I think his name was Charles Wood, he knew every part of that truck, how it worked, how to diagnose it. He was very good at conveying the material. Lessons: good instructors are subject matter experts. and Despite what the Army thinks: some people are born instructors, he was.

The Second class was the exact opposite, a maintenance class on the new ATLAS forklift that was being fielded. The clowns that taught it were dual status Guardsmen that were put on orders. None of them were subject matter experts. We spent the first day and a half on forklift safety: THIS FOR A CLASS ROOM OF MECHANICS WHO OPERATED AND WORKED ON FORKLIFTS FOR YEARS. The class was a bad joke, no real maintenance (-20/-30 level) was taught; three days out the window. Lesson: Check you lesson material and know your audience. If the students know the material they're going to sleep.

Most courses taught by the Army suck. Poor instructors, outdated material. You wanna see good courses, go to the Ft McCoy ARRTC. Instructors that are true professionals, classroom material always up to date (usually they know new regs before they are published). The classes there are condensed, and intensive.

Response by Lt Col Robert Canfield made Mar 1 at 2016 10:16 AM

2016-03-01T10:16:27-05:00

That would have to be some of the "Quality Air Force" training we were force fed during the 90s. Some of those classes involved "drinking the kool aid" by the 55 Gallon drumb.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2016 11:27 AM

2016-03-01T11:27:44-05:00

Is it correct in saying that I don't remember ANY of it that it was all the worst? I GUESS learning how to shoot an M16A2 wasn't all that bad since I got 40/40 on it and kept that up all during my 10 years in service. so I guess that was the best? I don't know if you can call it that but...I guess I would take that...maybe being able to set up an entire FIELD HOSPITAL with all the support units and all the sleep tents and then helping put them ALL UP correctly, I guess maybe you can call that the best too???

Response by SSG Eddye Royal made Mar 1 at 2016 2:05 PM

2016-03-01T14:05:25-05:00

CPT Beaver, this is best way I can tell you, cut your TEATH while your in the military, because I had a Cilivian mgr, that failed badly in a 250+ group, and I because his back up on doing the Presentations with the upper management. Who were the leaders, some of the group were board member of EDS ie Dick Chaney, and WIllam Baker that sold EDS to Hewlett Packard,

So ask questions to the group if you have to if you see them sleeping.

Response by SSG Michael Primm made Mar 1 at 2016 2:45 PM

2016-03-01T14:45:34-05:00

Air Defense BNCOC it was self taught by the students I learned absolutely nothing. Not one class was taught by the instructors. One class was radio class for 8 hours.

Response by SFC Jake Lansley made Mar 1 at 2016 4:53 PM

2016-03-01T16:53:57-05:00

Best course by miles was the Joint Air Operations Command & Control course at Hurlburt Field, FL. The most mentally engaging, high level course I've ever had where you meet people from all of the services and share ideas and learn that there is such a different way of problem solving and tackling obstacles. The instructors all have tons of experience and really instill bringing your ideas out and listening to them instead force feeding the "correct" answer. Can't trumpet this course enough and believe every military professional going to staff or command above Battalion level in the Army or USMC should take this course. And the location of the course is the best place I've ever been in my 23 yrs. Amazing!!!!

Worst - I lump in PowerPoint reading of mandatory briefings. So lazy, check the box BS training that really is a waste of time.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 1 at 2016 10:42 PM

2016-03-01T22:42:07-05:00

Worst: "Hip-pocket"(Our LT likes to assign them a drill or two ahead of time) training on battle drills in a classroom... You look out a window and there was this ginormous field that was part of the armory property. It was sunny, not that cold or muddy.

Best. GBS training. We spent 15 min on a PowerPoint, spent the next 45 on the system going over what we did, rinse and repeat. It was great.

Response by SSG Alandtish Eccleston Eccleston made Mar 1 at 2016 11:21 PM

2016-03-01T23:21:13-05:00

mine was a class that I could not take notes on . Searched to confirm not so much as a pencil. Just to find out the reason we needed a security clearance

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2016 12:07 AM

2016-03-02T00:07:52-05:00

Most of 350-1 training

Response by SFC Edwin Watson made Mar 2 at 2016 12:52 AM

2016-03-02T00:52:05-05:00

My least favorite while I was in was the Ohm's Law video I had to watch every time I had to reclass to another mechanic MOS. The presenter was Air Force, and he had the absolute worst monotone I have EVER heard.

Response by SPC Byron Skinner made Mar 2 at 2016 1:05 AM

2016-03-02T01:05:15-05:00

Sp4 Byron Skinner. Pre Deployment to Vietnam lecture and the afternoon I spent in a class given by the XO on our friends the South Vietnamese.

Response by MSgt John McGowan made Mar 2 at 2016 7:33 AM

2016-03-02T07:33:40-05:00

The very first race relations class in the 1970s. They were poorly planned and was a in your face type class. I asked a reasonable question the first day and never got a answer. So I set the rest of the time. Second class much inproved, the instructor even admitted the first were poorly run.

Response by CDR Chauncey Dupree made Mar 2 at 2016 8:21 AM

2016-03-02T08:21:47-05:00

The most boring, grueling, mind-numbing training I ever experienced in my military career was in March of 1988 while I was assigned to HS-85 (Helicopter Anti-Submarine Warfare Squadron Eighty Five) at NAS Alameda, CA....I even remember the month and year. The squadron flew the dinosaur of an aircraft in the form of the SH-3H Sea King, and seriously even at the time the aircraft were older than I was. One of them had been manufactured in 1965 and this was 1988. Anyway, someone in the fleet found a problem with the aircraft that was so major it caused a Safety Stand-Down....for 3 days!!! For those three days the ONLY thing we did was training...not torpedo loading training....not mine loading training....not some kind of training that meant actual work on the aircraft, but they gathered us all up in a room and ALL DAY!....from revile to taps we sat in that classroom and heard lecture after lecture after lecture. Let me tell you, pilots may be good at flying but they suck at lecturing. IT LASTED THE WHOLE NAVY DAY for 3 DAYS! We (the lower enlisted men) couldn't even leave for chow. They brought food from the galley and I remember us sitting on the deck (the floor) with our backs against the wall eating that stuff, all the while being told to continue reading the information they had given us. Even being out on the Carrier having to take cold, oily showers wasn't as bad as this. As a matter of fact I remember thinking about how much I would rather be on the Carrier during flight ops in the IO (Indian Ocean). Battle Station drills would've been more fun than that mess. Funny thing is the training was about maintenance on the aircraft and we never once touched the aircraft during the training. Needless to say I guess the one benefit for me was that it helped me complete my Plane Captain training sooner....for as much of a plus as that can be. After the three days were over I remember thinking "Good grief! I've been in that room three days and I can't remember how to get back to the barracks :)." Every morning Master Chief (E-9) Thompson would look at us (E-1 through E-3) with a big smile and that ugly friggin' coffee cup in his right hand and say, "What a fine Navy day! How are my children today?" We would answer sarcastically and reluctantly, "Fully Joy, Master Chief."

Response by SFC Raymond Thibault made Mar 2 at 2016 1:31 PM

2016-03-02T13:31:09-05:00

No for me it during Advanced NCO School. ANCOC. The class was field sanitation, I don't think the Instructor had a clue. The best was in the Gulf, Special training for Operation Provide Country. How to work with the Kurdish Refugees.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2016 1:39 PM

2016-03-02T13:39:27-05:00

I attended a 7-level school in 2005 that consisted of Windows 95/WinNT training. It was worthless. Thankfully we were the last class to attend this outdated training class.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2016 3:12 PM

2016-03-02T15:12:50-05:00

I was in the Navy Reserve in Indianapolis. Everyone had to do Damage Control Training and all the bonehead officers could think up was to show the Forrestal Movie 3 or 4 times over the drill weekend. It was a good movie but after the third or fourth time, I got tired of seeing that Damage Control Chief get vaporized. He was a brave man!
Another time, some bone head used The Bridge on the River Kwai to teach Law of Armed Conflict. He kept interrupting and pausing to add his douche-bag two cents. He was the kind of jerk that thinks that he is a stand-up comedian and talks like he is funny and clever but is just stupid.

Response by COL Tom Hill made Mar 2 at 2016 6:33 PM

2016-03-02T18:33:55-05:00

As a PV2 and PFC, I was fortunate enough to receive training in the 13E (FDC) MOS...while I went on to OCS and a 30-year officer's career, I enjoyed my 13-E training more than any other I ever had. Guess I was just an old math weenie!

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 3 at 2016 9:15 AM

2016-03-03T09:15:57-05:00

How about..."Yep, I lied. I made the whole thing up just to get votes and donations." That'll be a cold, blizzard day in Hell.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 4 at 2016 11:01 AM

2016-03-04T11:01:29-05:00

The nco leadership course was the best in my opinion it even helped me a lot when I got out of the army best course ever

Response by SMSgt Keith Stephens made Mar 4 at 2016 3:19 PM

2016-03-04T15:19:50-05:00

Omg, do I remember Quality Air Force. Yep, QAF, was the god awful invention of some sick and demented individuals. You always felt like choking yourself out after one of those sessions. It went on, and on, and on. We always had some intellect challenged senior NCOs narrating these power point slides. You felt violent when you came out and then was told there where many more sessions to finish it. Many years later I was in Arlington cemetery visiting my mother's grave. I decided to walk around some and low and behold a very large tombstone became apparent to me my eye was caught by the fact it was a pink marble. I stopped to look and on the side it stated that this deceased officer had been instrumental in inventing QAF. I was mortified and instantly found myself cussing as I moved out smartly. To this day I can't believe that this guy's family thought QAF as something good and grand.

Response by COL David S. made Mar 5 at 2016 12:04 PM

2016-03-05T12:04:49-05:00

For me, it really depends upon the instructor. I have had some very good courses on dull subjects from inspired instructions, and some very dull instruction on very important subjects.

Response by CPT Chris Newport made Apr 18 at 2016 11:24 PM

2016-04-18T23:24:19-04:00

Worst classes: those not taught, no info on critical things like CBR, Enemy capabilities, World sitreps. time at the range with our weapons and theirs, and related things like "the Claymore and you" and grenades. I shot more as a civilian than I ever did in the Army. The worst actually taught, the JAG lecture on prisoner handling under combat conditions after My Lai, absolute fantasy, and the race relations week but I was quite naïve then.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 19 at 2016 1:20 PM

2016-05-19T13:20:20-04:00

Resiliency training is a total waste of time.

Response by CH (LTC) Robert Leroe made May 19 at 2016 4:06 PM

2016-05-19T16:06:59-04:00

The BEST was the Public Affairs Officer Course at the Defense Information School, Fort Benjamin Harrison (now it's at Meade). Very professional, state-of-the-art, and practical. I'm still using lessons learned as a civilian minister.

Response by SGT Tom Recupero made Mar 16 at 2022 8:03 PM

2022-03-16T20:03:36-04:00

I once… no joke, had a class on how to cross a road. There was a tutorial and everything. Safety stand down.