Posts Tagged Hertling
Re: Changing Army Basic Training
Posted by tradoclive in Initial Military Training on March 16th, 2010
A basic training alumni shares his thoughts on the changes being made to basic combat training, one of which involves the removal of bayonet training. Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, deputy commanding general for Initial Military Training, writes back:
Sent: Tuesday, March 16, 2010 6:21 AM
To: MONR TRADOC PAO
Subject: Changing Army Basic Training
This is to whoever is responsible for changing the way we are training our troops these days. I read the article in the paper this morning (by Susanne Schaeffer, AP), and it sounds like you’re doing the right things.
It’s about damn time. I took basic at Ft Jackson almost 40 years ago at the bottom of tank hill across from the cs gas chambers. What I have been reading about the changes in training you folks made, makes me wish I were in this new modern army. I have always believed that our troops needed certain area’s of training : first, with whatever current war or situation we are in at the moment , second; train them in the heat, the cold , the muggy. All my training was jungle and cold for conditions such as Korea or Russian.
I didn’t know diddly about deserts. This hurt me a little as an NCO later on. As I trained troops, I also learned from them. I remember the 82nd back in 82 or 83, they didn’t know jack about deserts either, they assumed a lot though. They found out the hard way out in Ft Irwin. Anyway, enough about what you folks all ready know.
I just wanted to heap some praise on the folks that had some gumption to get things changed that needed to be changed and modernized. Most people assume one can never change anything in the Army. You folks just
proved everybody wrong.
Once again Job well done !!
Respectfully,
S. Stallard
Fresno, Ca
Basic training unit E-5-1 (1972)
—————
Mr. Stallard
Wanted you to know that your note reached me, and I sure appreciate you taking the time to send it.
As you might imagine, we get quite a few comments from folks who don’t like what we’re doing…they want to keep us fighting the last war. But we need to change, and the words of encouragement you sent give us increased motivation. Will continue to constantly improve the training our soldiers get as they fight this long conflict.
Thanks, also, for your service!
Mark Hertling
LTG, US Army
DCG-IMT
What do you think of the changes? What other skills should Soldiers know coming out of BCT?
About IMT
Posted by tradoclive in Initial Military Training on October 29th, 2009
TRADOC News! Congress approved the standup of Deputy Commanding General for Initial Military Training (IMT) on 29 SEP 2009 with Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling in this new position. This organization will standardize some areas of training, reinvigorate others, and evolve the way that initial entry Soldiers and recently commissioned junior officers prepare for their first unit of assignment. One of the goals of IMT is to support more efficient and effective Army Force Generation, while shaping Soldiers and recently-commissioned leaders with the skills ready to contribute in a constantly changing operational environment. Lt. Gen. Hertling and his expanding team are working on several initiatives that will evolve training to meet the demands our Soldiers face, incorporating new methods, methodologies and training techniques that are geared on addressing the evolving nature of conflict and changing human and societal dynamics.
Read more about IMT’s set up here and view photos from Lt. Gen. Hertling’s promotion here
What are your thoughts on IMT? What questions do you have for Lt. Gen. Hertling and his team?
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