One thing I've never really touched on about IBOLC is, 'what is day-to-day living like?' I talk about what we do, but I don't talk a lot about free time, your relationship with the cadre, etc., which was one of the primary concerns of mine going in to this. It seemed rather strange that I never talk about it.
IBOLC is a gentleman's course...ish. In many respects you are treated as an LT, but in many respects you are treated like a private. It's not like IET where you're braced up all the time, people jumping down your throat, pumping out push-ups every twenty minutes for some infraction. You're address as Lieutenant or Sir by the cadre. So long as you're doing what you're supposed to, cadre are friendly, more than willing to talk about their experiences, and help you get to where you need to be. You're expected to make mistakes, and they offer constructive criticism. At the end of the day, assuming you're not in the field doing patrol ops or the ilk, you are free to do as you please. Weekends are all your own, and while my platoon has bonded well, you will always have particular individuals that you build more rapport with, and end up hanging out on your free time - barbecues, trips to other cities, and such.
Then there's the other side of the coin. There are times where they make your place known. A lot of admonishment for not moving fast enough, only to sit waiting for extended periods of time for events to begin. Strict adherence to uniformity, which has always struck me as pedantic, is present as well - everyone has to look and wear the same thing, at all times. Evolutions that are conducted not because they provide concrete knowledge, but because you're a hardcore infantryman and you should embrace the suck. For instance, staying overnight in the field, only to get on a bus the next morning and be dismissed. There's worth to it, to be sure, but if you've got a wife and kids at home, you would like to spend as much time with them as you can. I've other examples, but I think they are more cadre-dependent, and not indicative of the course as a whole.
Bottom line is that you are still your own person here, and you will have time to wind down and enjoy yourself, but like anything else in life, there are those annoyances and frustrations that come with bureaucracy. They might put on a hard face at the beginning, but this course is nothing that someone with adequate physical preparation and a level head cannot handle. Relax and have fun, here. You'll meet some great guys.
With IBOLC being a gentlemen's course, would you recommend bringing spouses along or go in it alone and have them meet you at the following duty station?
ReplyDeleteWhile weekends are free, are there prep classes for Ranger or other follow on training?
How about living situation, better or worse off places to live?
and your posts are perfect.. Im sure you can agree that its difficult enough finding information for IBOLC for any incoming LT. I hope all that follow your blog do the same when there day comes-I know I certainly will.
ReplyDeleteClass of 11, CSUF
Bring you wife, man! You'll have time to spend with her for sure, although when you go to the field for 3-4 days she might get lonely. They'll have a wives' group for her to participate in. There are no prep classes to speak of - IBOLC is considered your Pre-Ranger course. After IBOLC, you'll have a few days before Ranger, but that's it.
ReplyDeleteLiving situations - you can get on-post housing. I would stay away from Norton Place, the buildings are older and kind of deteriorating. Off-post, I can't tell you much about. For single LTs, Independence place is where they go. I'll ask around for you.
When is your Ranger School date and did you get orders during inprocessing for it? I am traying to squeeze Airborne in before I go to Ranger School.
ReplyDeleteMy RS date is at the end of February. We lucked out, because wew have about four weeks before we have to show up, not counting the two weeks of out processing for IBOLC. Mos people get between 3-12 days before their date. I did not get orders for RS, and still haven't gotten them, although some of my peers tell me that they just got theirs.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Airborne School beforehand, they plan on people going to Airborne after Ranger School. They have a little matrix set up in HHC that shows you exactly how they break down the schooling, depending on which unit you go to. If you just want to go to Airborne, don't worry, you will go, no matter what unit you go to, before you PCS. If you want to go beforehand so you can jump during Ranger School, it's not going to happen. Even if you had the time, they want you to use that time to prepare physically, and they don't want to risk you hurting yourself jumping, and missing your report date.