Duration: 8 weeks

Purpose:

This course has been designed to train cadets in the basic military skills and introduce them to the training specific to their branch of the service.

Scope:

During the 4-week phase of the principal program of study, the students will be familiarized with military procedures of preventative maintenance of the M16, M60, 9MM, the portable company radio of FM PRC77, and the M988. The students will learn the life-preserving measures of combat, land navigation techniques, and leadership techniques in preparation for intensive training courses specific to their service branch. The students should divide according to their branch (artillery, infantry/ cavalry, engineers, and logistics). Each group will receive detailed instruction of the mission, tactics, and organization of their service branch.

Prerequisites:

To be a cadet in the third of fourth year of studies at a military academy and to be in excellent physical condition. Students qualified in parachute jumping should bring permission from their country in their trip orders.

Objectives:

General Material

Basic Military Skills: To teach the student the basic military skills in the areas of physical fitness, life preserving measures in combat, land navigation, and communications.

Special Military Skills: To train the cadets in the techniques of air transport operations.

Support: To train the student in the support procedures of the M16, M60, 9MM, and the M988.

Leadership: To instruct the student in the desired knowledge and actions of a military commander. To enable him with the necessary skills to advise, direct, and instruct his subordinates, establish a leadership development program, and develop appropriate relations between officers and noncommissioned officers.

Required Training in Human Rights Awareness: To present themes related to human rights that are applied to military operations.

Specific Instruction:

Artillery: To present the students the basic combat artillery skills. In the fire support training phase the students will learn the procedures of fire orders, the establishment of fire support, reconnaissance operations, selection and occupation of a position, and the procedures of the [goniómetro brújula]. The central point of this phase is an artillery training exercise of 2 days' length.

Infantry/ Cavalry: To instruct the student in the basic skills of the infantry/ cavalry in combat. The students will learn the basic operations of infantry/ cavalry squads and platoons, the establishment of air operations, and military operations in urban terrain. The training includes exercises with real fire at the squad and platoon levels.

Combat Engineers: To train the student in basic skills of combat engineers. The students will be given the opportunity to improve their land navigation skills. In the tactical training portion, the students will learn basic engineering operations including the use of tools and engineering equipment, the engineering combat support operations, and the installation of Bailey bridges.

Logistics: This course familiarizes the cadets with logistical support in combat operations. During the specialization phase, training is distributed in the spheres of combat basic support, provisions procedures, maintenance operations, transport, health support, and training exercises without troops.

Intelligence: This course familiarizes cadets with the basic skills necessary for the disengagement of tactical intelligence duties, intelligence preparation for the battlefield, other military operations, electronic warfare, enemy threats, defense, and internal development.

(Copied from School of the Americas website, February 1998.)