How Army Jungle Soldiers Are Training For A Possible War With China | Insider Business
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updated 14 Jun 2023
The Army's Jungle Operations Training Course is depicted in the provided excerpt. The training is focused on preparing soldiers for potential warfare in challenging jungle environments, particularly in light of the perceived threat posed by China. The course takes place on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, where the dense jungle provides an ideal training ground.
The training begins with 80 students, but only 51 will successfully complete the 12-day course and earn the prestigious jungle tab. Throughout the training, students face rigorous tests and must survive a three-day culminating exercise in the jungle. The instructors refer to the students by their assigned roster numbers rather than their names.
The excerpt also highlights the dangers and difficulties of operating in the jungle. Students learn that approximately 50% of everything in the jungle is potentially dangerous, including wildlife and plants. Visibility is limited, and movement requires slow and methodical approaches.
Some students are dropped from the course for various reasons, such as failing critical tests or not having the required items on the packing list. However, these vacancies are filled by students on the waitlist. The narrative includes snippets of conversations with instructors and students, revealing their motivations for joining the Army and their determination to overcome the challenges of jungle training.
The first critical test in the jungle training course is about tying knots, including the slip figure eight and the around-the-body bowline.
Students are timed and inspected on their knot-tying abilities.
One student fails a critical knot but gets a chance to retest on day two.
The instructors emphasize the importance of survival skills and using the jungle as an ally.
The jungle 5K is the second critical test, where students have 40 minutes to complete a 5-kilometer run with elevation changes while wearing load-carrying vests and carrying replica rifles.
Six students fail to finish the 5K in time, including the student who previously failed the knot test.
The third critical test is the combat water survival assessment, which involves stages like the don and ditch, high-dive jump, water tread, and a 50-meter swim.
Some students struggle with swimming but pass the test, while others are dropped from the course.
Five students are dropped from the course after failing the swim test, and the remaining students continue their training at Camp Lightning.
Land Navigation and the Students
Land navigation is a critical test in the training.
Jungle navigation is challenging due to the risk of getting lost and encountering the enemy.
Students must plot geo-coordinates on a map and plan routes without GPS devices.
The terrain at East Range, where training takes place, is treacherous and hinders straight-line movement.
Land navigation test is the most difficult, and many students fail.
Students practice land navigation by finding points on a map within a given time.
They use dog collars to track their location during the practice.
Moving through the jungle is slow and physically demanding.
Small-unit tactics and communication are crucial in the jungle.
Relaxation time is limited, and the terrain poses risks of injuries.
The class consists of 67 students, with 47 from Hawaii and 20 from the 82nd Airborne Division.
Students come from various backgrounds and stages of their military careers.
The highest-ranking student is a lieutenant colonel with extensive experience.
The presence of experienced soldiers like No. 23 is notable.
Senior leaders participate to lead by example and stay connected with the troops.
The first sergeant has served as an Army sniper and has had multiple deployments.
He wears a silver bracelet in memory of fallen comrades.
Tensions building in the Asia Pacific and the history of Jungle School
Tension is building in the Asia-Pacific region amid rising tensions with China.
The US Department of Defense announced an increase in military presence in the Philippines.
The military's focus has shifted back to the Asia-Pacific region under President Obama.
The jungle warfare school in Panama closed in 1999 but reopened in 2013 in Hawaii.
The course is open to all military branches and foreign allies, with priority given to Indo-Pacific command personnel.
Students in the course may have orders to go to the Philippines for training and joint operations.
Students learn about booby traps, tracking, camouflage, and other survival skills in the jungle.
They practice finding enemy signs and navigating the jungle.
Students also learn about using a jungle penetrator for rescuing casualties.
Rappelling down treacherous gulches is a test for the students.
The course emphasizes knot tying and safety procedures.
The students' experience includes riding helicopters and taking breaks to rest.
Survival Village
A group of students is participating in a survival course, where they have to give up using dip (tobacco).
One of the students reunites with an old friend who was also a Ranger instructor.
The students practice making ruck rafts, wrapping their backpacks with ponchos to create buoyancy.
They face challenges and receive feedback from instructors during the course.
The students spend time in Survival Village, learning skills such as making fire, purifying water, building shelter, and finding food in the jungle.
They kill and prepare wild chickens for consumption.
The students reflect on the impact of the course on their family life, with some feeling guilty about leaving their families for training.
They spend the night in the jungle and continue to build relationships with their fellow students.
They eat oranges and make tea from the peels as part of their survival experience.
The final step is to build a signal fire to attract the attention of a rescue aircraft.
One student had to go to the emergency room for a leg laceration but returns to complete the course.
Breaking news reports President Biden ordering fighter jets to shoot down a Chinese spy balloon.
The Final Challange: "Culex"
The briefing is about the final challenge of jungle school called "culex."
The goal of the enemy, Culex, is to harass and destroy friendly US forces.
The exercise lasts for three days and incorporates everything the students have learned.
The enemy uses vehicles like ATV Polaris, four-wheelers, and Humvees.
The mission progresses each day, leading to the beginning of the Green Mile on day three.
Communication is emphasized, and FM comms are reliable in the jungle.
On the first day, the students swap rubber duckies for M4 carbines and engage in combat.
They encounter enemy contact and choose to break contact and move deeper into the jungle.
Radios don't always work, making communication challenging.
The squad faces difficult terrain, including waist-deep mud pits and steep slopes.
They encounter enemy fire, engage in a firefight, and retrieve the enemy's battle plan.
On the second day, the squad continues to face enemy contact and movement.
They struggle to find a tunnel, and their discipline and morale are low.
They use M4s and the M249 squad automatic weapon (SAW) in combat.
Instructors and 82nd Airborne members play the role of opposing forces.
The students rely on MREs for food during the exercise.
On the third day, they link up with another squad and encounter injured students.
The squad creates a Z-pulley rope system for evacuating a simulated casualty.
They refit and prepare for the final event of jungle school.
The Green Mile And Graduation
The Green Mile is a rite-of-passage activity, not related to the movie.
It is a 2 ½ mile walk to give back to the jungle for the experience and knowledge gained.
The squad goes through an obstacle course and climbs Cherry Guava Hill using trees.
They encounter a litter loaded with gear that they have to carry.
The squad reaches the LZ (landing zone) near Camp Lightning, the finish line.
Only 51 out of 80 students finished the course.
After cleaning their gear, the students participate in a tradition called the Dogex, where they enjoy a meal prepared by instructors.
Graduation day arrives, and family and friends gather to celebrate the jungle-qualified soldiers.
The soldiers express their pride and confidence in operating in the jungle.
The No. 1 graduate feels lucky and relieved to have passed.
After graduation, they plan to relax, spend time with family and friends, and prepare for their next assignments.