Most memorable training attention gainers?

2014-03-29T17:03:40-04:00

We've all been through countless hour of training, and of course with good training almost always comes... yes, you guessed it--outstanding 'attention getters!' It could've been an interesting video, an entertaining story, strategically placed joke or skit, or just about anything designed to 'wake up' a weary audience. So, what were your most memorable 'attention getters?' Did it make you laugh, or make you cringe... did it hit center mass, or miss the target altogether? Some become somewhat of an inside at the schoolhouse and others seem to almost take on a life of their own with a further reach; a good attention gainer can do more than just keep folks awake, it can become legendary. I know we have some absolutely awesome 'wake-me-ups' out there, so please feel free to add any photos, videos, or anything needed to tell your story; now strap on your seatbelts and let's get this thing started; thank you for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 29 at 2014 5:29 PM

2014-03-29T17:29:07-04:00

"Get in my guard" has always been a popular video from YouTube in combatives.

Response by WO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 29 at 2014 5:40 PM

2014-03-29T17:40:14-04:00

I'm not going to lie, parts of the SHARP video makes me chuckle every time.

Response by SGT(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 29 at 2014 8:38 PM

2014-03-29T20:38:45-04:00

Saw this video at a safety conference. It really hit home. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p916yeFa2Xk

Embrace Life: A new online ad with a twist

A new campaign called Embrace Life is tackling an old-age issue in a very different way.

Embrace Life: A new online ad with a twist

A new campaign called Embrace Life is tackling an old-age issue in a very different way.

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Mar 29 at 2014 10:17 PM

2014-03-29T22:17:04-04:00

The biggest attention getter I can remember was the 0430 wake up call. Our drill sergeant would come in throw the lid to the trash can down the center aisle, pick up the can and with a rifle cleaning rod awaken us from our slumber screaming "drop your cocks and grab your socks, its time to go to work ladies." This was 1979 and things were very different back then. Good times.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Mar 31 at 2014 11:48 PM

2014-03-31T23:48:59-04:00

Second Stage Cryptologic Technician Communications A School, I know what Chief Moats did to me now would be illegal and I suspect it was then. "Grab that High Level DC RF Patch Cord by the Tip" "I don't want to Chief (I was pretty well versed in electronics before I joined) "Grab it" Bam! shock bounced me off the Panel behind me "Nagel just demonstrated the hazards of the High Level Patch Panel". Still get a giggle every time I think about it.

Response by MSG Gene Potocki made Mar 31 at 2014 11:59 PM

2014-03-31T23:59:14-04:00

We had a instructor when I attended School of Cadet Command (1995) who would start out each class with a magic trick. (he was an amateur magician)

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 19 at 2014 7:44 PM

2014-04-19T19:44:11-04:00

In order to promote continued discussion on this and related subjects, here are just a few discussions that you'll want to check-out; thank you for all that you do, and... see you all in the discussion threads!

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 19 at 2014 10:28 PM

2014-04-19T22:28:00-04:00

This one I've seen numerous times over the years, particularly in classes describing complicated processes, staff process, procedures, etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pk7yqlTMvp8

cowboys herding cats

funny ads, cowboys herding cats, who can ever imagine?

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 19 at 2014 10:31 PM

2014-04-19T22:31:13-04:00

<p>Here's another one that I've seen used quite-a-bit, this one definitely has application to numerous situations... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9WMSxV6lMs</p><p> </p><div class="pta-link-card"><div class="pta-link-card-picture"><img src="http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/T9WMSxV6lMs/hqdefault.jpg"></div><div class="pta-link-card-content"><div class="pta-link-card-title"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9WMSxV6lMs" target="_blank">Lighthouse Vs. Ship</a></div><div class="pta-link-card-description">A commercial from a long time ago.</div></div><div style="clear: both;"></div><div class="pta-box-hide"><i class="icon-remove"></i></div></div>

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 19 at 2014 10:44 PM

2014-04-19T22:44:13-04:00

This is a great "attention gainer" that shows the U.S. military in a positive light, great video, great program, and when seen in a large group it has the full and complete attention of the audience... very powerful, you can check it out for yourself here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6H3iiI1hPAM

Christmas Drop

View the full story: http://airman.dodlive.mil/2012/12/christmas-drop/ For more than 60 years, Airmen have flown over islands in Micronesia, airdropping dona...

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 19 at 2014 10:58 PM

2014-04-19T22:58:22-04:00

If you're looking for a good attention gainer, a good 'TED Talks' video on a related subject is always a great way to bring in expert opinion, add levity, support a main point, make a memorable experience, or just provide a useful way to keep folks awake and engaged... This is just one example, it should be familiar to those who are familiar with Morgan Spurlock, "The Greatest Movie Ever Sold," "Supersize Me," or any of his other work. You can check it out here, there are tons of TED Talks on just about any subject that you can imagine, good luck and enjoy! http://www.ted.com/talks/morgan_spurlock_the_greatest_ted_talk_ever_sold

The greatest TED Talk ever sold

With humor and persistence, filmmaker Morgan Spurlock dives into the hidden but influential world of brand marketing, on his quest to make a completely sponsored film about sponsorship. (And yes, onst...

Response by 1SG Frank Rocha made Apr 20 at 2014 1:03 AM

2014-04-20T01:03:40-04:00

it was a safety video that I saw in Korea. Part of it showed 2 helicopters from Fort Campbell, KY flying in formation and one made a critical error causing the 2 aircraft to mesh blades. A brand new Soldier just showing up from AIT was playing the part of the "casualty" on the ground as part of the training exercise and was killed when one of the aircraft fell on him. The video had other disturbing things in it also like a guy using a band saw and getting distracted by someone behind him causes him to cut his hand off. That one got everyone's attention.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 21 at 2014 6:18 PM

2014-04-21T18:18:25-04:00

When you need a quick "wake-me-up" here's a slide that will get a good laugh, throw in a quick story, and you've got their attention once again... well, at least for a few minutes anyways! lol 

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2014 5:58 PM

2014-05-24T17:58:38-04:00

Here's a great attention getter, it's brief and to-the-point, it engages the imagination, and would make an excellent compliment to numerous military subjects... check it out here:

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

Apple - Here's to the Crazy Ones (1997)

This spot was released to initiate the Think Different campaign in 1997. Here's to the reasons we stick with Apple through the ups and downs.

Response by Col Private RallyPoint Member made May 26 at 2014 12:22 AM

2014-05-26T00:22:20-04:00

This is a great video entitled "Why Leaders Eat Last," perhaps a bit too long to use as an effective attention getter, although there are several clips that could be parceled out to reinforce certain points in a presentation. It is certainly worth a moment to check it out: http://vimeo.com/79899786

Simon Sinek: Why Leaders Eat Last

In this in-depth talk, ethnographer and leadership expert Simon Sinek reveals the hidden dynamics that inspire leadership and trust. In biological terms, leaders…

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Jun 6 at 2014 4:48 PM

2014-06-06T16:48:32-04:00

Tripping on a chair and doing a nose plant as I was about to give a safety brief - yes it really did happen that way.

Response by SSgt Gregory Guina made Jun 6 at 2014 10:13 PM

2014-06-06T22:13:52-04:00

I used this as an attention gainer prior to instructing a piece of comm gear that translates different signals.

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

Airplane! - Jive Scene with Translation [1080p]

Two guys on the plane speaking in Jive with translation. A funny scene from the 1980's movie Airplane! starring Leslie Nielsen. EDIT: Sorry, I didn't realize...

Response by MCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 26 at 2014 8:28 PM

2014-07-26T20:28:11-04:00

We used a BUNCH of good attention steps when I taught at the Air Force Senior NCO Academy. For the class on conflict resolution, we always used this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBvysuewIOs

Duel at the Mall

Road rage and class war escalate into a demolition derby at the local mall. Way too much testosterone!

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Nov 1 at 2014 12:30 PM

2014-11-01T12:30:28-04:00

My most memorable training attention-getter was supplied by our platoon sergeant at the conclusion of hand-to-hand combat training in BCT when he commented, "When you run out of ammunition, go find more."

Response by TSgt Eddie Mixon made Jan 10 at 2017 7:41 AM

2017-01-10T07:41:31-05:00

I had a new airman on my load crew at RAF Lakenheath who was very nervous around things that could go boom. As he was loading the carts in the bomb rack with a 2000 lb bomb hanging from it, I walked by the other side of the pylon and smacked it with a ratchet. He was about three steps gone when he heard me laughing. Same airman checking firing voltage on the 20mm gun lead managed to hold the multi tester lead so that it was touching the palm of his hand while he held it into the firing lead. Trigger was pulled, Airman became part of the electrical circuit. Almost needed a new meter.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 29 at 2017 8:43 AM

2017-08-29T08:43:52-04:00

Back in 92 all engineers got some sort of demolitions training, so all the constructions AIT trainees spent 3 weeks training with a combat engineer. Day one the Staff Sergeant holds a block of C-4 and goes thru the destructive power of C-4 the throws it as hard as he can across the room, we all hit the floor. He laughs at us and tells us "hell fella's we cook with that stuff". Then explains unless you use a blasting cap or some other source to detonate, it is perfectly safe. Best 3 weeks of training I ever had in the military.

Response by MSG Allan Davis made Jan 9 at 2020 6:37 PM

2020-01-09T18:37:09-05:00

There is nothing that will make you feel more like a warrior, than a lone voice in front of an entire battalion sounding off slow and long “AIRBORNE” and hearing that battalion in unison respond sharp and quick “KILL,KILL, KILL!”

As far as the coolest “wake up” “attention getting” thing that made an lifelong impact, “ blah blah blah tempo unlike anything blah blah blah..... because here we add the element of (BOOM!!!) SCORCHED EARTH!”

Response by 1LT Mike Donio made Jan 10 at 2020 10:27 AM

2020-01-10T10:27:45-05:00

Can't say I recall any!! Every OCS course began with a joke, usually about the truck driver and the 6 Hell's Angels and went downhill from there.

Whereas, I had a journalism professor who would open his one course greeting the students and then from out of no where a person in a ski mask would enter the room holding a banana run up to the professor and yell.."..bang bang you're dead." After which he would tell the students to write about what they just saw. From what I recall, not many could. Isn't much but that's all I got.

Response by Maj John Bell made Apr 12 at 2020 11:54 AM

2020-04-12T11:54:02-04:00

First Place
School: The Basic School
Class: Close-Air Support
Video: See link, Plus the instructor was moonwalking and break dancing during the entire video (and he was actually pretty good)

2nd Place
School: The Basic School
Class: Artillery and Mortar Call for Fire
Kermit the arty frog (Kermit the frog hand puppet in Helmet and Body armor made from turtle shells) was the ventriloquist dummy instructor for the entire class, we laughed so hard we cried)

3rd Place
School: The Basic School
Class: I cant remember
The instructor, he was every inch of 6'4" tall and probably weighed about 150. He was wearing a child's Viking helmet and breast plate and carrying a cheap child's plastic sword. He said "I am Major Labadie, but you can call me BONEMAN THE LIBRARIAN."

4th Place
School: USNA
Class: Ethics plebe year, 1st day of academic year.
Instructor little tiny, pudgy, in no way physically impressive Navy Lieutenant asks the biggest toughest guy in the class, "Why does the military exist?" As the student starts to answer... the Lieutenant grabs the big guy by the shirt, yanks him across the table and screams "Say one #$@&%#$@! word and I wil knock your &$*^%$#&* teeth down your &%^%$%# throat." He then pushes the student back into the chair and walks around staring fiercely at all of us, asking "Anybody else want to offer an opinion?"

After about a minute of uncomfortable silence he says "We are the nation's bully boys. If you don't play nice in the world, America will send us to rip off your head and shit in your chest cavity." He then walked over to the big guy he grabbed, apologized and thanked him for not beating the crap out of him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoaXWMlG5ZM

You dropped a bomb on me!

Clips of bombs and bombings set to "You dropped a bomb on me" by The Gap Band.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 12 at 2020 12:17 PM

2020-04-12T12:17:12-04:00

As a Corporal, I taught a class to 2 companies from our Battalion on the use of field comm gear when you are not a field radio operator. We were out in the field for our yearly NBC qualifications. I had everyone, Officers included, sitting in the field as I started talking about the need for everyone to know the basic assembly, operation and how to call in for support when their radio operator is taken out of action.

Once I knew enough of the Marines were starting to zone out (not hard with 2 days straight of instruction and gas chamber work) 2 of my Platoon mates discharged a couple of CS canisters behind the class (we sat them this way so the wind would drift it across the whole class). I casually disconnected the antennae from the PRC-77 I was holding and threw it to the right. Disconnected the handset, threw it to the left, dropped the battery case and tossed the battery behind me. By then, most of the Marines were looking around for that annoying gas - none of them putting on their gas masks!

Our Comm Chief, our Platoon Commander and a couple other Staff Sergeants started running around yelling "You are dead". I started yelling "Who is going to call in the Medivac?" At the end, we had less than 20 Marines with gas masks on as they were trying to figure out how to reassemble the radio and do - something.

My class was only another 30 minutes after that but I had every eyeball, from the Colonel on down.