Re: IBCT Scout Platoon
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">A local unit is an HHC for a battalion in an IBCT and has a scout platoon. These are honest-to-god 11B-B4 coded slots, and I've been told by members of the unit that they do send folks to school. What can I expect in a unit like this?</div></div>
Each state is differant, each unit is differant, but I'll give you my outlook on such units. They are great (if you're a member) they are a pain in the butt, if you are the commamder of the HHC that has one in the company.
I joined the AK NG in 1973, 38th Special Forces Company. We could get dern near any school we wanted. 90% of the Company was Vietnam Vets. Lots of Adventure Style training. That Unit was disbanned in 1877. We were then made into the Light Recon Det. HHC 207th IN, ABN. Again a lot of fun, great training. Schools, though not as veried as the SF Unit, were still rather easy to get. I rangled a slot in the USAMU's sniper school fairly easy. This is before the Army or NGs schools were started. I couldnt recommend a better unit. I was the Team Sgt, (E-7). Later (1978) I went to OCS and took over a Team Leader, kind of my own Tm Sgt to, until I hand picked one. Great choice, we made a good team.
Now comes the Pain in the Butt Part. I was made Company Commander of the HHC that had the Abn Det. I cursed them for doing the crap I did. Double Sloting, Ungodly Training Request. Having to keep people in the arms room dern near 24/7 because they had no ideal when they would draw weapons or return them. Providing them support was a night mare. It did teach me management and gave me gray hair, what I didnt pull out anyway. But I was a Brother. so I bent over backwards, bended the rules. Made up the regs. What ever it took. Those were some great days.
As far as Cpt Robinson, I didnt go to any of the schools, but I want to ever WP Wilson match from 1977 - 1991. Shooting either composite Rifle or Combat Pistol. Back then the NG Marksmanship was in Nashville. Later in my career it moved to Little Rock. I did go to Little Rock at NGBs request to write the Marksmanship Ammo Policy. Got a nice letter for that, but POed a lot of the big states.
I was there when they started the Sniper Schools at Robinson, I had been running sniper schools for the AK NG until I retired ( I was then the SARTS OIC, and ran the Marksmanship unit for the AKNG0. Even served as a MAC VI Director (Marksmanship Advisory Committee). This was about the time the Army wanted us to get out of the Composite Shooting and into straight Combat. I faught this. We, the NG sent the All Guard team to Europe to shoot in their Combat Style matches. The Army figured we should change to match NATO. When I mentioned that our All Guard, (composite team) won the matches hands down, maybe they should change to composite instead of us changing. The other directors agreed, and we voted to keep the composite. Only to get home to discover the Army overrode us, switching to combat for our matches. This was in 1990 or 91, anyway the marksmanship abilities went down hill for the NG. The good part is this is when NGB started the combat schools including the sniper schools at Robinson, which is every bit as good, if not better then the Army's school at Benning. I think the AMU school was better but thats another subject.
Anyway, my advise, join the unit, put in for every school that comes down the pike. Nag them, dont give up, if your request is turned down, put in two more. The Guard is the perfect example where the Squeaky Wheel gets the grease.
My only regret is I got out. I retired in 92, if I stayed in, I would have transfered to the WY NG when I retired from APD, they can't kick you out of the WYNG until you turn 70. I could have had several more years of shooting on Uncles Dime.
Sorry for the Rambling, just a bit of nostalgia.
