Wednesday was our final PT test - the first one counted for 30 point, the final is for 70 points. Again, if you can get over 300, they'll usually float a positive spot report your way. If you score a 290 or better, you'll get the maximum amount of points towards your OML score. More classes about COIN operations; an overview of counterinsurgency, characteristics of insurgencies, do's and don't of counterinsurgency, the purpose of counterinsurgency operations, tactics. Defensive operations was brief, but everything you need to know is in FM 3-21.8, Chapter 8.
Thursday was our COIN / Defense quiz. Topics covered:
- Definition of insurgency, counterinsurgency
- Historical examples of insurgencies
- Characteristics of good/bad counterinsurgency
- Paradoxes of counterinsurgency
- Types of stability operations
- Types of battle positions
- Characteristics of the defense
- Forms of defense
- Parts of an insurgency organization
- Purpose of Lines of Effort in COIN
- Steps in preparing an engagement area
After that, we reviewed for our cumulative exam for Friday, and the cadre answered questions we had about the defensive OPORD due the next day.
More to come on Saturday.
Out of curiosity what was the average and top pt scores?
ReplyDeleteAverage, I don't know. The top was a 336 for our platoon, we had four guys on the extended scale. Last PT test the average was...I want to say a 236, but it might be 256. Max score for that one was 306, I believe, with 3 people on the extended scale.
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ReplyDeletehttp://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/199th/IBOLC/updates/IBOLC%20Graduation%20Requirements_MAR_10.doc
ReplyDeleteThis document, on the IBOLC website, has a matrix breakdown of how much everything is worth, as well as what you MUST complete in order to graduate. If you're gunning for the top, start out strong and have a great PT score. That will set the cadre's impression of you from the start, and that transfers to your peers as well. The main thing to worry about is the peer reviews. It's a terrible system, in my opinion. First, it's more of a popularity contest than anything, and secondly, if you end up in a stacked squad, you could be better than everyone else in the other squads, but if you're the 'least' high-speed in your squad, you'll get less points than the guy in the other squad who just happens to suck less than everyone else. The best thing I can tell you is be high-speed from the start, and make yourself well-liked, or at least well-respected.