Hooah!! Welcome back for another update of Infantry OSUT Training. Your Soldier has moved into Week 16! They’re starting to see the finish line and they can’t wait to show you how much they have transformed when you visit them for graduation. If your Soldier doesn’t know where they are going to be stationed for their first duty station, they will be finding out in the upcoming weeks.
Week 16 Expectations – Gold Phase
After back to back weeks in the field, your Soldier will appreciate the change of scenery in Urban Operations (UO) training this week. Instead of traveling out to a heavily wooded training area and living out of their rucksacks, your Soldier will spend their days learning how to operate in urban compounds and villages. This new environment poses many new considerations for them such as the verticality of structures, multi-room buildings, and moving in confined spaces as a team. With an increased emphasis on situational awareness and attention to detail, your Soldier will become proficient in navigating the complex problems associated with developed areas.
Urban Operations
The first segment of training is the Urban Rifle Marksmanship (URM) range. Thus far, your Soldier has learned how to group, zero, and accurately fire their weapons systems at targets on a flat range from a variety of positions. In URM, they will learn to quickly acquire and shoot at nearby targets while moving and from different orientations. Using all of the fundamentals of marksmanship and weapons safety they have been learning, they will work to increase their precision and speed when dealing with the new challenges of urban combat. These ranges will prepare them for what follows in their Urban Operations (UO) training days.
Following the URM ranges, your Soldier will train with their Company in the various urban training areas. The instruction will focus on one of the most complex aspects of modern combat; fighting in and around buildings. They will learn how to move from the surrounding area into a structure, how to organize and establish their position in buildings, and how to clear complex room layouts.
Your Soldier will strengthen their bond with their Drill Sergeants as they pick their brains and listen to their stories in conjunction with the training. Many Drill Sergeants have first hand experience and concrete examples from their time in battle to help teach your Soldier. These interactions are inspiring and leave a lasting impact on each Soldier as they contemplate their own aspirations to become an Infantry Soldier in the United States Army.
Letters From Home = Morale
Best of luck to your Soldier this week on their training. Make sure you send them a Letter before the week’s end. Ask them to tell you about Urban Operations and if they are excited for next week’s Urban Live Fire.
Although Sandboxx letters arrive the next day with return stationery, a pre-addressed envelope, the return postage paid, photos, and a gift card feature, don’t feel like you have to use Sandboxx to send letters. We encourage handwritten letters and cards – these are super important.
The Making of Your Soldier
Stay tuned for more insights into Week Seventeen and beyond. Follow us on social media for the latest updates, letter ideas, and more.
That’s a brief look at the intense but rewarding journey your Soldier is on. Let’s keep supporting them every step of the way!
You can always find me via chat in the Sandboxx app or happiness@sandboxx.us — just ask for Kris, and myself or another teammate will get back to you as soon as we can.
Hooah!
SGM Kris Broadus, U.S. Army (Ret)