Our military adopting the Grendel?

[pinzgauer]

(Do they really have a "Forrest Gump" award??? )

Not officially, but they do jokingly call the winner that. Not to imply his M4 experience has been spotless, he lost his firing pin cotter for 25 minutes once, delaying the squad. They did PT while he searched for it. Found it between his belt and trousers.

Mine learned early the value of good NCO's -- a lesson many fail to learn and heed.

USMA understands that point and has restructured to reenforce that. Clearly off topic, but freshmen are privates, sophomores (yuks) are corporals, Juniors are SGT's, and seniors compose the officers.

The corporals function as team leaders, 1:1 mentors. SGTs essentially run the platoons & company (PLT SGT & 1st SGT, etc). HR, training, details, problem children, they own it. Officers command the companies, brigades, and regiments.

All are responsible and graded on how their unit responsibility and individuals perform, under the guidance of a Regular Army CPT or MAJ "TAC" and SFC "TAC NCO" per company. The TAC and TAC NCO are focused on making sure the cadet NCO's and officers learn from their mistakes, rarely stepping in up front unless it's a safety issue.

It's not perfect, nor exactly the real world, but cadets do learn the roles and responsibilities of NCO's by performing as one in the garrison and field. And leadership, they have to live it. Lead badly, perform badly, get ranked badly.

The post '98 USMA method does not replace exposure to real NCO's in command. That they get through summer assignments, including one which they will act as fresh LT over a real unit under supervision of a senior NCO. They do leave with a healthy appreciation of respect for NCO's, their experience, and also their roles.

OK, we are far afield from Grendels. M4's & M14's are all they see! (well along with 203's, AT-4's, SAW's, M-240's as well)