Well after Leader Forge, there wasn't much else to do in the course. The week after the FTX was spent cleaning weapons and equipment, turning in platoon gear, getting counseled by the Cadre, and wrapping up any administrative paperwork. national Guard guys turned in CIF, and closed out with Fort Benning, so they had quite a few trips to complete. The last week, we started off with a diagnostic RPFT - it wasn't quite like Ranger School, where you're done after you complete teh required number of repetitions, but no one kept track of your score - if you didn't make the required number, you simply were pulled off to the side for retesting. Rehearsals for the Blue Cord Ceremony and the Graduation Ceremony ate up most of our time this week. Go ahead and get your blue cord and have your button sewn on well before this week, so you're not scrambling. It's also a good time to call your brigade S1 and check in with them. The Assistant S1 is an LT like you, so there's not pressure. I didn't get a whole lot of information from them, just my battalion assignment, what the first few days at my post would encompass, and the reminder to complete Ranger School, else they would send me right back to Benning until I did. It was a very relaxed two weeks for us, but readers beware - our class was unique in that we have more than 3 weeks before we need to report for Ranger School; many classes get far less than that. The class before us got all of three days, so I am sure their timeline for Ranger School was much more compressed than ours. Friday of the last week, we reported in to HHC, got a brief on what the next few weeks would be like, and dates for the record RPFT, packing list layout, and practice Land Nav event.
Well folks, that's it. Done and done (for now). Since there are no more week-by-week breakdowns to complete anymore, I will be writing on selected subjects regarding IBOLC, to better help incoming guys out. Thanks for reading, and as always, comment if you have any questions.
Did anyone have surprises on duty assignments being changed or not being able to trade assignments. Did anyone get orders for specialty schools like mortar, mechanical school, or even pathfinder?
ReplyDeleteNo surprises on assignment changes - the rules for assignment swaps are that you can only do it once, and they have to be within 60 days, but they have let people fudge this - I traded assignments, and I was outside of the 60 day window by a few days, still got it approved. Schools...if you're stuck in HHC for a while, you may have the opportunity to go to some schools. You won't get any school assignments while in IBOLC proper, except Ranger. After Ranger School, you are guaranteed to go to Airborne, and if you go to a mechanized or Stryker unit, you will go to those schools before PCSing. Since our class had such a break between IBOLC and Ranger, many people got to knock Stryker out of the way. Mortar Leader Course is actually kind of hard to get in to, because it's a small course. You can ask for it still, but chances are slim you'll get it. In addittion, it may be in your best interest to not go to it, because if you do, chances are good they will make you a Mortar PL (unless you want to be a Mortar PL, then have at it).
ReplyDeleteContrary to any rumor you may hear, the Honor Grad does not get a Pathfinder Slot as a reward. That's a school you'll have to talk to your Battalion/Brigade S1 about.
What about the Pre-Ranger Course they have at Benning, do you know if the LTs are allowed to go? I only ask because I will have ~3 weeks from graduation to my RS date and thought I might head to the PRC to get some extra training in in hopes that I might make it straight through Ranger.
ReplyDeleteI heard that you can buy used uniforms at CRP sale the First friday of the month for a discounted price. https://www.benning.army.mil/garrison/DOL/crp.htm
ReplyDeleteHave you done this? If so, what was your experience like?
There is a Pre-Ranger Course, but its mostly for NG guys - they will not send you to PRC if you are active army, and you don't need to go. If you can pass the RPFT and IBOLC, you will be fine (or so I am told, having not been to Ranger School yet). HHC will conduct extra training and PT, as well as give you time on your own to focus on getting ready and working out on your own. Again, IBOLC is pretty much your PRC, and they do their best to get you ready.
ReplyDeleteYes, they do have a reclamation sale on the first Friday of every month, starting at 0900 and going until 1200. From 0900 to 1000 is reserved for junior enlisted, and they clean out most of the stuff. In addition, you will most likely either be in the field or in class, and won't be able to go. Best to find used/junk uniform before you come, or from other sources.
I was in that situation. My wife and I decided to live off post. We move there on the 24th. With the Armor school being moved to Benning and new LTs PCS'ing in the housing list is bloated. What class are you coming in for?
ReplyDeletewhat would be a good time to contact your branch manager about assignments? Would you even consider doing it before you got there?
ReplyDeleteI would do it as soon as you class up. Just drop him an email saying that you've classed up, and request your RFO. If you look at your RFO from your commissioning source (if you are ROTC or USMA), somewhere near the bottom it will tell your where you 'tentative assignment' is at. There's nothing wrong with asking the branch manager for a specific unit/post, but if the unit is at all competitive, don't expect him to give it to you. Your best bet will be to trade with a fellow LT once you're there.
ReplyDeleteHow much free time do you have in-between IBOLC and your next course (I assume Ranger). Are you or have you thought about walking to another 2-3 week course?
ReplyDeleteYou're living, which may be personal and you could email me, but how easy was it to find a place to stay? What with a report date and travel time, can one find a place, move in, and be ready all in a matter of days?
The time while in Georgia, how would you rate your free time, especially with other LT's? No doubt you made good friends but I read on FB of those in different combat branches that are taking weekend trips to NY, TX, KY, as an IBOLC graduate were you're weekends free to roam amongst the surrounding states?
Last Question, recycled? We have a GBR at my battalion and he was making IBOLC sound terrible, I.E. people were getting recycled, his company was the worst, all sorts of trouble etc... Your class sounds like it was a good time (so I've asked my COL to send me to the first ATRRS listed course of the year), did you or any of your fellow LTs in other companies experience these incidents?
Lastly, your BLOG is amazing. I plan to do the same for my cadets and anyone else searching for IBOLC information.
Man, I had a huge post here, stupid computer.
ReplyDeleteWe lucked out in that we had several weeks before we reported, but most classes are not that lucky; some guys had only 3 days or so before going. If there is time, and they send you to a course, it will be a course that you can't get hurt at. So if you've dreams of Airborne and Air Assault, don't get your hopes up.
It was easy for me to find a place to stay, but it kinda fell in my lap. Other guys didn't have a problem finding housing on short notice, but it was of the apartment with roommates type, so if you're looking for something different, it would be best to search beforehand. Married housing on post is most likely unavailable, as Armor School just moved down here, and they're taking up housing now as well. Best advice I can give you is the same I gave you at the beginning of this journal - get it squared away before you get here. can you do it here? Yeah, but its not worth the extra hassle.
You'll have plenty of free time and the ability to see other places, simply put in your pass request in a timely manner. If you're travelling within 150 miles, there's no need for a pass.
Always with the rumors! That's why I wrote this journal, to dispel such things. Guys, IBOLC is not hard, it is not emotionally and mentally draining, except when you're standing around for five hours because people are trying to reinvent the wheel. We had the company with the reputation for being stupid and ridiculous. Guess what? The vast majority of us made it, no problem. Do not let people psych you out about this place. In the first couple of weeks, there are two things that get you recycled. PT/Weight, and Land Nav; the former is completely within your control, and the latter, they give you PLENTY of practice on. After that, it's pretty much just injuries. I can hardly think of anyone who got recycled for failing tests or patrols. Ain't nothing but a thing.
Do you know of any sites where people post duty station bargains? There used to be a wall on one building but they're closing access to it because of some asbestos or something...
ReplyDelete