Drill Sergeant School
Drill Sergeant School
Posted on Sep 14, 2017
Is there anything in the training and doctrine regulation that mentions a training unit requiring a PT area within vicinity of AIT barracks?
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I am currently assigned as an AIT Instructor for PSYOP Soldiers that come to Fort Bragg from whatever location they came from for basic training. As a former Drill Sergeant myself, I have a decent idea of how to handle trainees in a training environment. Unfortunately, Fort Bragg is not a TRADOC post. So we have to share the majority of facilities and training sites with permanent party Service Members. One of my concerns is that the trainees do not have an adequate PT area to conduct PT in the morning before going to class for the day. We are in the midst of talking to DPW and Engineers about building up a PT area on the backside of our barracks area. I do not know how much kick back we are going to get, but I would like to help defend our case on the essentials to having a designated PT area should kick backs happen. In my experiences while on the trail, I noticed a generally common pattern. Training (BCT/OSUT/etc.) barracks or "starships" had a PT/running track and dining facility within vicinity of barracks area so that getting to PT or chow in the mornings only took a few minutes of walking or marching to get there. This helped facilitate such busy training days and having to constantly be on the go to make the mission. If there is a standard, where can such a standard be found? Does that apply to Advanced Individual Training barracks as well? I am looking for something in black and white that I may use to our units defense as to why this is essential to mission success and that we may potentially not be to standard. We have a DFAC about 5 mins walking/marching distance from the barracks. We conduct PT in the mornings behind our barracks in a small grass/sand blend area that contains random ant hills/beds and potential hazards from objects that stick out from the ground or electrical wires and boxes. For PT tests, we have to walk the students 30-40 mins away from the barracks to a quarter mile PT track. That is the nearest track from the barracks and the flattest and safest area to conduct a PT test without being in the way of permanent party Service Members who are driving at those hours to first formation and PT. Any advice and recommendations are greatly appreciated. Some days I miss being a Drill Sergeant and sometimes I don't. But as an instructor my tenacity to train and mentor doesn't stop and I want to continue to help. Best of luck to all current and future Drill Sergeants, Platoon Sergeants, and soon to be AIT Drill Sergeants.
This We'll Defend!
This We'll Defend!
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Drill Sergeant School Drill Sergeant AIT Platoon Sergeant Course Advanced Individual Training (AIT)
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I went through the PSYOP AIT program in 2007 (Nov 2006 to March 2007) and I'm trying to remember where we did PT. For some reason I can't place it. We did a metric f-ton of woods runs, we airborne shuffled to chow through the woods and then to class. But I don't remember where we actually did PT. I want to say it was on an old baseball field about half a mile from the barracks and we'd form up in a parking lot for runs. I know it wasn't on a track and field, because for the APFT we had to get bussed to a field.
That doesn't really answer your question though. I don't know of any regulation or requirement that deals with the accessibility to a track. One of the "selling points" of the current PT systems is the idea that it can be done anywhere.
Your best bet might be to check post rules and regulations, they may have something specific that requires units have access to a track and gym.
That doesn't really answer your question though. I don't know of any regulation or requirement that deals with the accessibility to a track. One of the "selling points" of the current PT systems is the idea that it can be done anywhere.
Your best bet might be to check post rules and regulations, they may have something specific that requires units have access to a track and gym.
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SFC (Join to see)
I think APFTs we can handle for now. It's really more so about having a standardized PT area IVO the barracks with a PT stand to conduct PRT (prep drills, cool downs, mobility movements, etc.). There is nothing like that here at the barracks. So we're conducting these things on a ground where things potrude and there's electrical boxes nearby too.
I don't think PSYOP AIT is in the same location that you did yours. I mean of course at Bragg. But in a different building I meant. I think the grassy baseball field area you're talking about might be the one at the very end of Kedenberg St.
I don't think PSYOP AIT is in the same location that you did yours. I mean of course at Bragg. But in a different building I meant. I think the grassy baseball field area you're talking about might be the one at the very end of Kedenberg St.
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SSG (Join to see)
I don't remember any of the streets, I haven't been back to Bragg in years.
I want to say CW2 (Join to see)'s directions match up with my memories. We'd get up, form up in front of the barracks, had three stations, one for pull ups, one for push-ups, and a grass strip for rowers. After everyone went through each station (5 pull ups 10 rowers and 10 push ups) we'd form back up, jog to a field where we did PRT. Run days were get up, form up, do a right face and jog for about two minutes to a dirt parking lot (that was also used by the engineers and FA), do PRT and then depending on which group you were in run. A group ran past the defac took a left and out to the Airborne museum (formation run out and free run back) B group did a loop, can't remember what it was though. C and D runners had it the worst I think. Indian runs up and down hills by the classroom followed up with an up hill grind back to the barracks.
I want to say CW2 (Join to see)'s directions match up with my memories. We'd get up, form up in front of the barracks, had three stations, one for pull ups, one for push-ups, and a grass strip for rowers. After everyone went through each station (5 pull ups 10 rowers and 10 push ups) we'd form back up, jog to a field where we did PRT. Run days were get up, form up, do a right face and jog for about two minutes to a dirt parking lot (that was also used by the engineers and FA), do PRT and then depending on which group you were in run. A group ran past the defac took a left and out to the Airborne museum (formation run out and free run back) B group did a loop, can't remember what it was though. C and D runners had it the worst I think. Indian runs up and down hills by the classroom followed up with an up hill grind back to the barracks.
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SFC (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) - Sounds like C and D had it pretty bad. Poor poor C and D. But it looks like a lot of the PT was done up and down Ardennes then. Both on the other side towards Kedenberg (when Ardennes crosses over Reilly road) and up and down Ardennes. Unfortunately, due to the construction of a language and cultural center (right across the street from SCWS headquarters and NCO adacemy), Ardennes has been closed off from there to Reilly road. So getting across the street to Kedenberg isn't very direct. Common sense would tell me to just go around it and walk across some grass to get to Reilly and cross over. But since that road closure is there, there's no need for a MP stopping detail....long story short...risk assessment concerns I see coming from higher. So we've kept it all on the Ardennes side.
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SSG (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) - Looks like a lot has changed. I hear the course itself is completely different as well.
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I'm a little confused by your problem. My OSUT at Leonard Wood didn't have a special PT area. We ran on the roads like all of the other trainees and regular army units did. We did push ups and situps in the same area that we did first formation. The PT test was on a relatively flat stretch of road. And when I got to my first duty station, other than a ramped up intensity, PT was conducted in an identical manner. So I'm confused as to why you need a special PT area outside of the trainee barracks.
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SFC Benjamin Castricone
A chief component in PRT is the pull-up bars and space to safely conduct 60-120s and various other activities without hazzards. As a former AIT Drill Sergeant keeping everyone on a good timeline, hygiene, chow and push to class it is in the best interest to have those facilities close by. When I joined we stuck to the dirty dozen and called it good, but my generation didn't play a lot of video games and seemed more athletic. Not so these days, hence PRT and trying to avoid injuries that these young soldiers encounter. Nothing worse than a holdover whom tries their hardest gets injured doesn't ship. Recovers, looses those gains only to re-injure themselves trying to get to their units and starts all over again only to be chaptered.
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As far as somewhere to take a PT test I would recommend the track off of Ardennes near the bowling alley/swimming pool (not sure if this is the one you are walking to or not). Ardennes is always open for PT so you don't have to worry about road closures. Now how busy that track is and who occupies it during PT I do not know.
If you are looking for the safest area to conduct regular PT, I would suggest crossing Gruber onto Kedenburg (what Ardennes merges into). There is a PT field if you follow it all the way until you come to a T, make a left and you should see them in once you clear the tree line. There are also some pretty nice running trails to do back there as well. Probably about a mile from your location.
As far as the standard goes that you are looking for, this sounds like something that would be in a policy letter provided by the SWCC school house.
I can help you find alternatives to your regular PT area if you are having DPW/Saftey issues but it all depends on how far you are willing to travel (Assuming you guys are still located off of Merill). Most of that area is parking lots and buildings with very little grass. I am not sure sure how familar you are with Fort Bragg but I was stationed there for eight years.
If you are looking for the safest area to conduct regular PT, I would suggest crossing Gruber onto Kedenburg (what Ardennes merges into). There is a PT field if you follow it all the way until you come to a T, make a left and you should see them in once you clear the tree line. There are also some pretty nice running trails to do back there as well. Probably about a mile from your location.
As far as the standard goes that you are looking for, this sounds like something that would be in a policy letter provided by the SWCC school house.
I can help you find alternatives to your regular PT area if you are having DPW/Saftey issues but it all depends on how far you are willing to travel (Assuming you guys are still located off of Merill). Most of that area is parking lots and buildings with very little grass. I am not sure sure how familar you are with Fort Bragg but I was stationed there for eight years.
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CW2 (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) - The trails used to be called "the engineer trails". I know that there has been some construction on the one end near Clark. There should be a small hill that is pretty good for sprints too. I miss running around there.
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CW2 (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) - Always nice to get updates in and around Bragg. Hopefully Ill get my chance to come back here in the near future. Yes Towle Stadium was the one I was talking about. That area just has bad placement for PT. On a side note I did not realize it was 1.7 miles to Towle Stadium from your location. I thought it was shorter than that.
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SSG (Join to see)
CW2 (Join to see) - We did so much log PT out there on those trails. My hands blister and ache at the memories :)
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SFC (Join to see)
SSG (Join to see) - Oh my, how things are changing around here. It probably will not be the same place you remembered a while back. Old facilities demolished and replaced with newer facilities for different purposes than what was once there. The new highway connection to I-95 that cuts through Fayetteville and cuts around Bragg (295 bypass). New shoppettes, remodeled North PX, a new movie theater is on it's way. The list goes on.
And yes, we are stuck in the middle of nowhere with limited access unfortunately. We still make with due and get the mission done. I just feel like it can be done more efficiently and effectively. I just need find out how.
And yes, we are stuck in the middle of nowhere with limited access unfortunately. We still make with due and get the mission done. I just feel like it can be done more efficiently and effectively. I just need find out how.
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