United States Army Armor School
Encyclopedia
The United States
Army
Armor
School is a training school located at Fort Benning
. Its primary focus is the training of United States Army
soldiers, NCOs
, and commissioned officers in the operation, tactics, and maintenance of Armor forces and equipment, including the M1 Abrams
main battle tank
, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, assorted crew-served and personal weapons, and various other equipment including radio
s. The school is also the site where U.S. Marines
are sent for training on the Abrams tank. The Armor School moved to Fort Benning
, Georgia
in 2010 as part of the United States' BRAC
program.
, Kentucky
as the Armored Force School. 80,000 students passed through the school in its first four years, with the first class starting November 4 of the same year. As of September 30, 1965, the armor school had graduated 214,122 students - 59,737 of which were officers, 140,909 of which were enlisted soldiers, 13,476 of which were officer candidates - as well as students from 63 nations.
The school was established by then-Lieutenant Colonel
Stephen G. Henry under the guidance of Brigadier General
Adna R. Chaffee, for whom the headquarters building is now named after. On July 1, 1957, the school was given its current name. It originally consisted of seven departments: Tank
, Wheeled Vehicle, Motorcycle
, Communication, Tactics, Gunnery, and Field Engineering.
Cavalry and Armor
Second
and First Lieutenant
s. These officers, recent graduates of the United States Military Academy
, ROTC
programs, and Officer Candidate School
, receive eighteen weeks of training in basic soldiering skills, maneuver tactics, troop- and company-level strategy, and logistical planning.
Students must complete, among many tasks, four main field training exercises. The first five day exercise covers cavalry operations, the second covers heavy armor
operations, and the third covers contemporary operating environment
(or COE) operations. The final exercise, known as "the Gauntlet," is a strenuous ten day movement which covers all subjects in the first three operations. Students are evaluated based on their performance during each exercises, and rotate among every position within a platoon and troop.
The course is instructed by officers, non-commissioned officers, and civilians from the 2nd Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment of the 316th Cavalry Brigade
.
Captains which prepares them for company command
.
The course is divided into two phases. The first phase of the course instructs all students uniformly, teaching basic fundamentals about Infantry
, Cavalry, Armor
, and Stryker
tactics.
The second phase of the course trains students based on the composition of their next duty station. These teams include armored units, cavalry units, Stryker units, infantry units, and Special Operations
units.
Requirements to complete the course include submitting an article to the United States Army Armor magazine, passage of all exams by at least 70%, and satisfactory performance on three fitness evaluations. Only two students are selected as "exceeding the standard" per class.
The course is instructed by officers and non-commissioned officers from the 3rd Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment of the 316th Cavalry Brigade
.
The Maneuver Captains Career Course is no longer under command of the United States Army Armor School and is located at Fort Benning, Georgia, falling under command of the United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence.
The course is the most focused of the courses offered at the Armor School, with eighteen students per class and a 2 to 1 student to teacher ratio. The course instructs on the M1A1 Tank and M1A2 SEP Tank
.
The course is instructed by officers and non-commissioned officers from the 3rd Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment of the 316th Cavalry Brigade
.
To be eligible to attend, a student meet some of the following criteria:
Originally known as the Scout Platoon Leaders Course, it was created in 1986 to instruct junior officers in reconnaissance techniques. The outcomes of the course were successfully noticed in Operation Desert Storm, and the course was opened to other MOSs in 1995. It was renamed the Scout Leaders Course in 2002 after being opened to both officers and non-commissioned officers, and then again to its present name. It has been modified to handle up to 1,200 students per year beginning in 2011.
The course is instructed by officers and non-commissioned officers from the 3rd Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment of the 316th Cavalry Brigade
.
To be eligible to attend, a student meet the following criteria:
The top twenty percent of the class are added as members of the Commandant's List, and one student selected by their peers become the recipient of the J.W. Thurman Award.
and United States Marine Corps
. To successfully complete the course, students must pass four written examinations and a number of practical exercises.
The course is instructed by officers and non-commissioned officers from the 3rd Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment of the 316th Cavalry Brigade
.
To be eligible to attend, a student meet the following criteria:
. Instructor certification is a strenuous process, with non-commissioned officers being pre-screened through the Army Basic Instructor Course.
After qualifying through the course, they must then be certified through the United States Army Armor School and the 316th Cavalry Brigade
in a two week course which centers around appropriate techniques of instruction and tactics.
Upon being both qualified and certified, instructors are authorized to wear the Fort Knox
instructor badge, similar to the Armor School Distinguished Uniform Insignia. It is worn in the same position as the Recruiter Badge
.
, Lebanon
, Saudi Arabia
, Egypt
, Greece
, and the Republic of Turkey
. A majority of Egyptians attend the course to train on their recently-acquired M1 Abrams
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Armor
Armoured warfare
Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of armoured fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of war....
School is a training school located at Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
. Its primary focus is the training of United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
soldiers, NCOs
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
, and commissioned officers in the operation, tactics, and maintenance of Armor forces and equipment, including the M1 Abrams
M1 Abrams
The M1 Abrams is a third-generation main battle tank produced in the United States. It is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972. The M1 is a well armed, heavily armored, and highly mobile tank designed for...
main battle tank
Main battle tank
A main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...
, the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, assorted crew-served and personal weapons, and various other equipment including radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
s. The school is also the site where U.S. Marines
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
are sent for training on the Abrams tank. The Armor School moved to Fort Benning
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
in 2010 as part of the United States' BRAC
Base Realignment and Closure
Base Realignment and Closure is a process of the United States federal government directed at the administration and operation of the Armed Forces, used by the United States Department of Defense and Congress to close excess military installations and realign the total asset inventory to reduce...
program.
History
The United States Army Armor School was established on October 1, 1940, in Fort KnoxFort Knox
Fort Knox is a United States Army post in Kentucky south of Louisville and north of Elizabethtown. The base covers parts of Bullitt, Hardin, and Meade counties. It currently holds the Army Human Resources Center of Excellence to include the Army Human Resources Command, United States Army Cadet...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
as the Armored Force School. 80,000 students passed through the school in its first four years, with the first class starting November 4 of the same year. As of September 30, 1965, the armor school had graduated 214,122 students - 59,737 of which were officers, 140,909 of which were enlisted soldiers, 13,476 of which were officer candidates - as well as students from 63 nations.
The school was established by then-Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
Stephen G. Henry under the guidance of Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Adna R. Chaffee, for whom the headquarters building is now named after. On July 1, 1957, the school was given its current name. It originally consisted of seven departments: Tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
, Wheeled Vehicle, Motorcycle
Motorcycle
A motorcycle is a single-track, two-wheeled motor vehicle. Motorcycles vary considerably depending on the task for which they are designed, such as long distance travel, navigating congested urban traffic, cruising, sport and racing, or off-road conditions.Motorcycles are one of the most...
, Communication, Tactics, Gunnery, and Field Engineering.
Armor Basic Officer Leaders Course
The Armor Basic Officer Leaders Course (or ABOLC) is the introductory skills course for United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Cavalry and Armor
Armoured warfare
Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of armoured fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of war....
Second
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
and First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
s. These officers, recent graduates of the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
, ROTC
Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps
The Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps is the United States Army component of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps. It is the largest ROTC program, with 20,000 ROTC cadets in 272 ROTC programs at major universities throughout the United States.The modern Army Reserve Officers' Training Corps...
programs, and Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School (U.S. Army)
The United States Army's Officer Candidate School , located at Fort Benning, Georgia, provides training to become a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army...
, receive eighteen weeks of training in basic soldiering skills, maneuver tactics, troop- and company-level strategy, and logistical planning.
Students must complete, among many tasks, four main field training exercises. The first five day exercise covers cavalry operations, the second covers heavy armor
Armoured warfare
Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of armoured fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of war....
operations, and the third covers contemporary operating environment
Urban warfare
Urban warfare is combat conducted in urban areas such as towns and cities. Urban combat is very different from combat in the open at both the operational and tactical level...
(or COE) operations. The final exercise, known as "the Gauntlet," is a strenuous ten day movement which covers all subjects in the first three operations. Students are evaluated based on their performance during each exercises, and rotate among every position within a platoon and troop.
The course is instructed by officers, non-commissioned officers, and civilians from the 2nd Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment of the 316th Cavalry Brigade
316th Cavalry Brigade
The 316th Cavalry Brigade of the United States Army is the brigade responsible for the training of U.S. Army Cavalry and Armor officers and non-commissioned officers. The 16th Cavalry Brigade was redesignated as this unit in July 2010...
.
Maneuver Captains Career Course
The Maneuver Captains Career Course (or MCCC), is a twenty week-long course for U.S. Army Cavalry and ArmorArmoured warfare
Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of armoured fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of war....
Captains which prepares them for company command
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
.
The course is divided into two phases. The first phase of the course instructs all students uniformly, teaching basic fundamentals about Infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
, Cavalry, Armor
Armoured warfare
Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of armoured fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of war....
, and Stryker
Stryker
The IAV Stryker is a family of eight-wheeled, 4-wheel-drive , armored fighting vehicles derived from the Canadian LAV III and produced by General Dynamics Land Systems, in use by the United States Army. The vehicle is named for two American servicemen who posthumously received the Medal of Honor:...
tactics.
The second phase of the course trains students based on the composition of their next duty station. These teams include armored units, cavalry units, Stryker units, infantry units, and Special Operations
United States Special Operations Forces
United States Special Operations Forces under United States Special Operations Command are active and reserve component forces of U.S. Military...
units.
Requirements to complete the course include submitting an article to the United States Army Armor magazine, passage of all exams by at least 70%, and satisfactory performance on three fitness evaluations. Only two students are selected as "exceeding the standard" per class.
The course is instructed by officers and non-commissioned officers from the 3rd Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment of the 316th Cavalry Brigade
316th Cavalry Brigade
The 316th Cavalry Brigade of the United States Army is the brigade responsible for the training of U.S. Army Cavalry and Armor officers and non-commissioned officers. The 16th Cavalry Brigade was redesignated as this unit in July 2010...
.
The Maneuver Captains Career Course is no longer under command of the United States Army Armor School and is located at Fort Benning, Georgia, falling under command of the United States Army Maneuver Center of Excellence.
Armor Master Gunner Course
The Armor Master Gunner Course is a strenuous fifty-five day course offered by the United States Army Armor School. Twenty-five days of the course is hands on activity, while twenty-eight days of the course consist of classroom instruction. Students must complete six exams and all hands on exams with 100% accuracy.The course is the most focused of the courses offered at the Armor School, with eighteen students per class and a 2 to 1 student to teacher ratio. The course instructs on the M1A1 Tank and M1A2 SEP Tank
M1 Abrams
The M1 Abrams is a third-generation main battle tank produced in the United States. It is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972. The M1 is a well armed, heavily armored, and highly mobile tank designed for...
.
The course is instructed by officers and non-commissioned officers from the 3rd Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment of the 316th Cavalry Brigade
316th Cavalry Brigade
The 316th Cavalry Brigade of the United States Army is the brigade responsible for the training of U.S. Army Cavalry and Armor officers and non-commissioned officers. The 16th Cavalry Brigade was redesignated as this unit in July 2010...
.
To be eligible to attend, a student meet some of the following criteria:
- Be a member of the United States ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
or United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. - Be between the gradeUnited States Army enlisted rank insigniaThe chart below represents the current enlisted rank insignia of the United States Army.This chart represents the U.S. Army enlisted rank insignia with seniority increasing left-to-right inside a given pay grade...
of E-5 (Sergeant) and E-7 (Sergeant First ClassSergeant First ClassSergeant First Class is the seventh enlisted rank in the U.S. Army, above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant and First Sergeant, and is the first senior non-commissioned officer rank...
). - Have a Military Occupational Specialty code of 19K (Armor Crewmen).
- Volunteer for the course.
- Have at least ten months remaining in their contract to the United States ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
Army Reconnaissance Course
The Army Reconnaissance Course (or ARC) is a twenty-seven day course offered by the United States Army Armor School. Instruction centers around mounted and dismounted reconnaissance for small- to mid-level units, as well as advanced technological techniques such as UAV deployment, air-ground integration, and advance navigation. The course is taught predominantly around practical exercises, with four days of classroom instruction, four days of simulator training, six days of squad-level exercises, and eleven days of platoon-level exercises.Originally known as the Scout Platoon Leaders Course, it was created in 1986 to instruct junior officers in reconnaissance techniques. The outcomes of the course were successfully noticed in Operation Desert Storm, and the course was opened to other MOSs in 1995. It was renamed the Scout Leaders Course in 2002 after being opened to both officers and non-commissioned officers, and then again to its present name. It has been modified to handle up to 1,200 students per year beginning in 2011.
The course is instructed by officers and non-commissioned officers from the 3rd Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment of the 316th Cavalry Brigade
316th Cavalry Brigade
The 316th Cavalry Brigade of the United States Army is the brigade responsible for the training of U.S. Army Cavalry and Armor officers and non-commissioned officers. The 16th Cavalry Brigade was redesignated as this unit in July 2010...
.
To be eligible to attend, a student meet the following criteria:
- Be a member of the United States ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
or United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. - Be of the appropriate rank:
- For officers, between the rankUnited States Army officer rank insigniaUnited States Army officer rank insignia in use today.-History:The structure of U.S. ranks has its roots in British military traditions. At the start of the American Revolutionary War, uniforms, let alone insignia, were barely affordable and recognition of ranks in the field was problematic...
of Second LieutenantSecond LieutenantSecond lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
and Captain. - For non-commissioned officers, above the gradeUnited States Army enlisted rank insigniaThe chart below represents the current enlisted rank insignia of the United States Army.This chart represents the U.S. Army enlisted rank insignia with seniority increasing left-to-right inside a given pay grade...
of E-5 (Sergeant).
- For officers, between the rank
- Have a Military Occupational SpecialtyUnited States military occupation codeA United States military occupation code, or a Military Occupational Specialty code , is a nine character code used in the United States Army and United States Marines to identify a specific job. In the U.S. Air Force, a system of Air Force Specialty Codes is used...
code in one of the following areas: Armor, InfantryInfantryInfantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
, EngineerMilitary engineerIn military science, engineering refers to the practice of designing, building, maintaining and dismantling military works, including offensive, defensive and logistical structures, to shape the physical operating environment in war...
, AviationUnited States Army Aviation BranchThe Aviation Branch of the United States Army is the administrative organization within the Army responsible for doctrine, manning and configuration for all aviation units....
, Military IntelligenceMilitary Intelligence Corps (United States Army)In the United States Armed Forces, Military Intelligence refers specifically to the intelligence components of the United States Army...
, or Field Artillery, or be servicemembers attached to reconnaissance organizations in the Signal Corps, Military Police Corps, or Chemical CorpsChemical Corps (United States Army)The Chemical Corps is the branch of the United States Army tasked with defending against Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear weapons...
. - Have graduated either the Basic Officer Leaders CourseBasic Officer Leaders CourseThe Basic Officer Leaders Course is a two-phased training course designed to produce commissioned officers in the United States Army. It is a progressive model designed to produce American Army officers with leadership skills, small unit tactics and certain branch specific capabilities.- BOLC A...
(officers) or Basic NCO course (non-commissioned officers).
The top twenty percent of the class are added as members of the Commandant's List, and one student selected by their peers become the recipient of the J.W. Thurman Award.
Cavalry Leader Course
The Cavalry Leaders Course (or CLC) is a fifteen day course offered by the United States Army Armor School. The course emphasizes troop leading procedures and tactics for mid-level to senior members of the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
and United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. To successfully complete the course, students must pass four written examinations and a number of practical exercises.
The course is instructed by officers and non-commissioned officers from the 3rd Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment of the 316th Cavalry Brigade
316th Cavalry Brigade
The 316th Cavalry Brigade of the United States Army is the brigade responsible for the training of U.S. Army Cavalry and Armor officers and non-commissioned officers. The 16th Cavalry Brigade was redesignated as this unit in July 2010...
.
To be eligible to attend, a student meet the following criteria:
- Be a member of the United States ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
or United States Marine CorpsUnited States Marine CorpsThe United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
. - Be of eligible rank:
- For officers, between the rankUnited States Army officer rank insigniaUnited States Army officer rank insignia in use today.-History:The structure of U.S. ranks has its roots in British military traditions. At the start of the American Revolutionary War, uniforms, let alone insignia, were barely affordable and recognition of ranks in the field was problematic...
of First LieutenantFirst LieutenantFirst lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
(Promotable) and Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant colonelLieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
. - For non-commissioned officers, above the rateUnited States Army enlisted rank insigniaThe chart below represents the current enlisted rank insignia of the United States Army.This chart represents the U.S. Army enlisted rank insignia with seniority increasing left-to-right inside a given pay grade...
of E-8 (Master Sergeant/First Sergeant).
- For officers, between the rank
- Have a Military Occupational SpecialtyUnited States military occupation codeA United States military occupation code, or a Military Occupational Specialty code , is a nine character code used in the United States Army and United States Marines to identify a specific job. In the U.S. Air Force, a system of Air Force Specialty Codes is used...
code in one of the following areas: Armor, InfantryInfantryInfantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
, EngineerMilitary engineerIn military science, engineering refers to the practice of designing, building, maintaining and dismantling military works, including offensive, defensive and logistical structures, to shape the physical operating environment in war...
, AviationUnited States Army Aviation BranchThe Aviation Branch of the United States Army is the administrative organization within the Army responsible for doctrine, manning and configuration for all aviation units....
, Military IntelligenceMilitary Intelligence Corps (United States Army)In the United States Armed Forces, Military Intelligence refers specifically to the intelligence components of the United States Army...
, Field Artillery, or Signal Corps. - Have orders stating that they will be planners, commanders, Troop First Sergeants, Squadron Operations Sergeants, or Operations Sergeants Major of a United States Cavalry unit.
- Have graduated either the Captains Career Course (officers) or Battle Staff NCO course (non-commissioned officers).
- Possess a SECRET military security clearance.
Instructors
Instructors for the United States Army Armor School are soldiers of the 316th Cavalry Brigade316th Cavalry Brigade
The 316th Cavalry Brigade of the United States Army is the brigade responsible for the training of U.S. Army Cavalry and Armor officers and non-commissioned officers. The 16th Cavalry Brigade was redesignated as this unit in July 2010...
. Instructor certification is a strenuous process, with non-commissioned officers being pre-screened through the Army Basic Instructor Course.
After qualifying through the course, they must then be certified through the United States Army Armor School and the 316th Cavalry Brigade
316th Cavalry Brigade
The 316th Cavalry Brigade of the United States Army is the brigade responsible for the training of U.S. Army Cavalry and Armor officers and non-commissioned officers. The 16th Cavalry Brigade was redesignated as this unit in July 2010...
in a two week course which centers around appropriate techniques of instruction and tactics.
Upon being both qualified and certified, instructors are authorized to wear the Fort Knox
Fort Knox
Fort Knox is a United States Army post in Kentucky south of Louisville and north of Elizabethtown. The base covers parts of Bullitt, Hardin, and Meade counties. It currently holds the Army Human Resources Center of Excellence to include the Army Human Resources Command, United States Army Cadet...
instructor badge, similar to the Armor School Distinguished Uniform Insignia. It is worn in the same position as the Recruiter Badge
Recruiter Badge
The Recruiter Badge is a decoration of the United States military which is awarded to those personnel who have performed recruitment duty as military recruiters to the United States Armed Forces. The Recruiter Badge is issued by every branch of military except for the United States Marine Corps...
.
International Students
The United States Army Armor School educates military officers from foreign countries in its programs as well. Due to the recent separation of the Maneuver Captain Careers Course, the majority of international students attend the Armor Basic Officer Leaders Course, with an average of four students per class. Student come from (in order of number who attend)JordanJordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
, Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, and the Republic of Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. A majority of Egyptians attend the course to train on their recently-acquired M1 Abrams
M1 Abrams
The M1 Abrams is a third-generation main battle tank produced in the United States. It is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972. The M1 is a well armed, heavily armored, and highly mobile tank designed for...
.
External links
- http://www.knox.army.mil/school/ website
- http://www.army.mil/-news/2010/05/25/39763-chiarelli-armor-school-moving-home-to-benning/
- http://www.army.mil/-news/2011/01/19/50548-armor-school-kicks-off-first-class-at-harmony-church/