Cav Leader's Course open to other branches.

Efforts to make modular brigade combat teams (BCTs) a reality have required some fundamental shifts in thinking about how to organize BCTs and configure them to fight in a full-spectrum environment. The cavalry's role has not been spared this reexamination. To ensure the officer education system (OES) at Fort Knox, Kentucky, remains current and relevant, the Armor School recently redesigned the Cavalry Leader's Course (CLC).

As the force structure changes, we also must reconfigure our assumptions about who should attend the CLC. The combined arms philosophy underpinning the logic behind creating modular BCTs demands that all officers assigned to the BCT planning staffs or the reconnaissance squadrons within the BCTs understand reconnaissance and security operations, regardless of branch.

Leaders who attend the CLC are provided in-depth knowledge of reconnaissance and security as applied to the new reconnaissance squadrons found in the heavy BCTs (HBCTs), infantry BCTs (IBCTs) and Stryker BCTs (SBCTs). The CLC accomplishes its learning objectives through practical exercises that test and hone the students' understanding of the latest doctrine; tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs); organizations; missions; and the capabilities and limitations of reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition (RSTA) and reconnaissance squadrons.

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The Armor School encourages CLC enrollment for all Armor officers as well as leaders serving in Field Artillery, Infantry, Engineers, Aviation, Military Intelligence and Signal Corps assigned as planners or commanders of RSTA/cavalry organizations in the modular BCTs. These planners or commanders should consider attending the CLC to prepare for assignments to or in support of RSTA and cavalry organizations. Attendance at CLC is now open to graduates of any Officer Career Course in the grades of first lieutenant (promotable) through major.

The course is offered six times a year and is three weeks long. Enrollment is available through the Army training requirements and resources system (ATRRS).

The homepage for the course is http://www.knox.army.mil/school/16cav/octeam.asp (access "Student Info," then "Cav Leader"). For questions about the course, call [phone] or DSN 464-1324. You can send questions via email to Captain J. Timothy Vibbert at [e-mail].

MAJ Matthew A. Dooley, AR

Former CLC OIC/Instructor

Fort Knox, KY