Combat Tracking Course
 

In the near future, I may have the opportunity to attend the Combat Tracking Course. I am very serious about preparing for SF, and want to make sure that I am maximizing my training. Will this course help prepare me for the rigors ahead? Have any QPs here taken this course, and what effect has it had on your operational capacity?

Never had such a course per se during my time - our ODA took our jungle tracking/survival training once with some NZSAS Maori and then on another occasion with some RPI Negritos.

IMO such a course as you mentioned cannot hurt and will offer skills that can prove useful no matter where your path leads you.

Richard's $.02 :munchin

You can never have enough land navigation skills. Tracking is a great great way to improve and apply techniques learned.

The flip side of tracking,, is being tracked,, just might save your bacon someday....

Most of my land nav & tracking education took place as a kid. Lower NY only allows smooth bore shotguns & slugs for deer season. My old man & his 30inch full choke A5 did not make the most accurate deer combo..

I practiced wound tracking just about every year.. :cool:

My $00.0002

They teach the tracking course at Ft. Huachuca, right?

Likely the one he is talking about.

The course has one instructor from 19th that is a squared away 18F that I had the pleasure of working with on my last rotation.

There are others. For those in Hawaii, look up the Malaysian Tracker Course. I took the abbreviated portion when some of the Malay Soldiers came to the island. It was informal and but very informative.

The Thai Army ran one during Cobra Gold at one point and when I was assigned to an Infantry Battalion, they ran some guys through. Different OE's require some different skills.

If your unit bitches about money to send you, look to your S2 shop for funds (they should know what to use) and OEF/OIF funds can cover them. Just make sure you have a strong justification and real need.

Thanks for the replies. They are greatly appreciated:D

We had a platoon sergeant that went to a "Jim Brown?" tracking school. Guy could track like mad.

We captured a turtle at JRTC(we named him "JRT"---joint readiness turtle). Couple days later, while we were out for a while, the turtle got away from our tent. Freaking platoon sergeant tracked it down. I would have never believed it if I hadn't been there, but I was with him and ID'ed the turtle(we had put 2 "cat eyes" on the turtle).

He was also good at tracking humans.

Tom Brown is perhaps the reference?

Combat Tracking
 

During my 2007 Afghanistan rotation I had the privilege of doing an abbreviated version of the Combat Tracking course. The instructor was a retired SF CSM, who came back onto active duty. The training was very unique and interesting. I definately do things and think a bit differently when patrolling since I've gone through the course. My only advice is "Stay on Spoor" :lifter

CH

Depends on the instructor. I knew a guy once who was so good he could track an Injun across a linoleum floor.;)

Only if he didn't take his moccasins off and put on clean socks first. :rolleyes:

Richard

Good class and well worth the money. I know several that have attended. It all comes down to money though and whether or not the command sees the value of the training.

Non-QPs providing answers or advice should reread the stickies for this forum immediately.

TR

I've taken the course (FT Hauchaca) at the end of 07 just before I retired as my primary overseas assignment. It will help with your PT as there is one day track that is about 12 miles long, you are tracking and not on a land nav course but you still need to know where your at and where your foe is going. Some of it is tracking up in the mountains and thru Sierra Vista (the town) Helps build working on small teams. It is a very good tracking course.

CD

theres a retired SGM floating around overseas, at least when i was there( 09) that was in A stan hopping around to different FOBS and teaching combat tracking to ODA's. I personally didnt take the course, ( too busy training LBM) but i heard from the guys that it was worth it. There may be someone on here who may know of him, or if your interested i could ask around and get his name for those interested. I could see it being used to find POO sites, or areas of interest. I think his first name might be Mike.