PT:

Pt, is rather challenging.  Runs are between 2 and 6 miles, at a 6 minute to 7 minute mile pace.  Large Hills are likely to be encountered as well :) and half of the class generally will fall out.  The students are also responsible for providing a cadence caller as well.  Runs are usually conducted every day during the General Studies phase.  Other PT include, log pt, boat pt during water ops (very fun and challenging), sand bag pt, rope climbs, ruck run (first day of Patrolling...don't expect pt to finish at the end of the run :), this will be one of the harder days of your life), boot run, and unarmed combat (3 days, during patrolling phase)
 
 

 

Land Navigation:  This part of the course starts 3 hours before EENT, and you must find 4 out of 6 points, each being between 1.5 km to near 3 km apart.  The terrain is rough and terrain association is a must.  Beware, the maps aren't always accurate as to placements of roads and such.  This is a retestable subject after completion of patrolling phase.

Demolitions:  The demolitions test is the only required portion of Demolitions.  It is 2 hours long, 50 questions of demolitions calculations.  The calculations include tree cutting (int and ext), abatis, advance steel cutting and conventional steel cutting.  All work is done by hand, no calculators.  I think the record time for the test is 39 minutes (if you break my record, let me know).  You will also spend time on the range and sleep over the night there.  You will do improvised charges, cutting C-4 to build various charges, such as shaped charges.  You will make thermite, fugas, ammonium nitrate, and dust initiator charges as well.

Communications:  You will learn to build field expedient antennas and put them into use.  They may be used in patrolling, so remember to save the ones you make.

Medical:  You will learn and be tested on giving IV's.  Also you will cover insect bites, and most of what you would cover in combat lifesaver course.

Booby traps:  You will learn a little bit about booby traps and everyone will get to use their imagination and make a trap in their teams quarter of the classroom or on a lane outside.  Afterwards, teams trade lanes and clear other's traps in darkness, with NVG's.

Waterborne Ops:  You will learn to do poncho rafts, rope bridges, raft operations, and tactical water infiltration of a beach.  The poncho rafts is the most difficult part, and you will swim about 1/2 mile with a partner and equipment, of course in combat equipment/bdu's/boots.  Rafting is the typical by the book, giving the commands as coxswain deal.  You practice capsizing drills quite a bit..and during boat pt you will have a race back to your camp with capsizing drills in route.  Water infiltration will give you the chance to jump off a moving boat and swim up to the beach with fins then take turns bounding up to take it.  Also, if you happen to be blessed you will get aircraft support and get to do helocasting (jumping out of a moving helicopter into a lake).

Mountain Operations:  Rappelling every way and shape is the easy way to describe this.  You will start with the basic rappels on the tower, to include australian rappel (this will get rid of your fear of heights if you have one or grossly amplify it).  You also learn climbing with prussics and with actual assension equipment.  After the tower you will go to the cliff site for a day of climbing and rappelling there.  You will do buddy rappels, litter rappels in 3 man team, combat equipment rappels, free climb, buddy free climb, and ascension device climbs.  You will also learn RNPI, and be tested on it.

Pathfinder Operations:  This is a classroom and practical exercise class.  Students on jump status may get to jump on this day.  You will learn to set up helicopter landing zones and drop zones.  This includes the calculations for drop zones of different kinds and calculating wind speed and direction.

Foreign Weapons:  You will learn to identify many different types up soviet and NATO weapons.  These will be from pistol to heavy weapons and anti-tank weapons.  You will be tested on identification of these, and you will be tested on disassembly and reassemble of an AK model rifle.

Foreign Mines:  You will learn approximately 30 different foreign mines, both anti personnel and anti tank.  You will be tested on identification of these.  You will also learn of different fuses found on mines and the methods in which they are employed in different hot spots around the world.  Its a very good class with lots of up to date information.
 

Patrolling Phase (2 Weeks)
 

Unarmed Combat:  This will cover the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th day of PT.  You will learn the basic throws and how to take out sentries.  You learn a little bit about basic kicks as well.

Troop Leading Procedures:  You will learn the basics of troop leading procedures.  Keeping track of unit information, planning, and Pre combat inspections.

Battle Drills:  You walk through and talk through the basic infantry battle drills of raids, ambushes, and patrol bases.  Its a long night :).

Warning Order:  Class on receiving the mission, setting your platoon into action with the quick warning brief that a mission will be coming down.

Operations Order:  This is a long class about the specifics needed for the operations order.  Make sure you take notes in your handbook so you won't mess up in patrolling.

Annexes:  Extra things that you will have to put into your operations order for movement and such.  The important ones to know are the truck movement and aerial movement annexes because you will see them again.

STX/FTX:  This is the fun part of the course (grin...you'll think so when its done at least).  In this 12 days or so you will get basically no sleep and run constant operations on things as simple as recon and ambush, or more complex like MOUT missions in a village.  There is opfor out there waiting to get you.  Be prepared to be able to do everything you've learned in the previous 2 weeks.  Be ready to do a cliff rappel and water crossing.  Have fun with it :).   You will be hungry, you will be tired, you will be stressed out, worn out, cold/hot, and will want to quit... don't quit, don't let your platoon members quit, it'll get better and its worth finishing.

    Suggestions: Bring kneepads (its rocky and with an 80 lbs ruck it hurts to take a knee), go on 2 MRE's a day (you won't have enough time to eat these, much less any more), DON'T BE A BLUE FALCON!, if you are PL switch people from 1st squad to 3rd or 2nd squad on a regular basis (due to the fact 1st squad has about 4 times as much special equipment to carry), and don't fall asleep unless you're standing up :).  Don't stress out on each other either...its hard on everyone, deal with it. Support your chain of command, and Leaders, realize that getting a grade is less important than taking care of your troops; Don't screw them over..they're you're responsibility.  You can still get GO's on your patrols and take care of your troops...I threw away both my grades on taking care of troops and still managed to get a GO with one of them...just know which instructor to do what around.  And finally, RTO's, leader's pick an RTO that will be the voice in your ear telling you exactly what you need to do at every step to pass your patrol...don't pick someone that is just going to sit back.