Common Task Training, known as C.T.T., is a set of basic skills that every soldier is required to know and be proficient with. These are the core skills that the Army has established as minimum requirements for the maintenance of fundamental tactical effectiveness. C.T.T. establishes a baseline wherein lies the soldiers roots; essentially, no matter what occupational speciality the soldier holds, he or she is always expected to be prepared to meet the call of a war fighter.

Here at Camp Shelby, the C.T.T. competencies are spanned over two days. The instruction takes place both in class room like settings, as well as outdoor testing environments. The skill sets covered range from battle field first aid, chemical/ bio hazard reaction drills, hand grenade throwing techniques, navigating a mine field, to movement and assault drills. Each station is graded on a pass/ no-pass basis, with a passing score achieved by completing performance measures for each task at one-hundred percent.

No one is excluded from this training. Even General Pritt, the Task Force Commander has participated in the C.T.T. courses. So as I joined A. SECFOR for their C.T.T. proficiencies, it was no surprise to find their commander, Capt. Repp, their 1st Sergeant, 1st Sgt. Sentoyo, as well as A SECFOR's Platoon Leaders and Platoon Sergeants attending the classes along side of the soldiers. With sweat beading as temperatures pressed above 90 degrees and humidity pushed above the 80 percent mark, the soldiers and their command staff worked to remain focused and enthusiastic. The heat was made worse as the soldiers worked to complete their requirements for the Nuclear, Biological, Chemical (NBC) section, putting on their protective masks and protective suites. And in true infantry fashion, Captain Repp was quick to note my lack of mask, "You're not sweating enough, you need to have one of these on."

For a well trained infantry company, Common Task Training can be pose a challenge for it's leadership to maintain the individual soldier's motivation and interest. Yet, a well trained unit also understands that basic's training such as C.T.T. are skill sets that must be instinctive in a combat environment. A SECFOR demonstrated their professionalism on both days, approaching each task with intensity and motivation. A solid testament to the Company's appreciation for the unknown challenges that lie ahead.

As the second day's training came to a close, I filmed the soldiers as they low crawled, high crawled and rushed to the various points marked on the dusty lanes. The words of from the previous day by 1st Sgt. Sentoyo proved too true, "...once you've been in the infantry it's always in your blood." The lanes were being run in pairs, and they were one man short. Borrowing a helmut from one soldier, and a rifle from another, I buried myself into the dirt, crawling and rushing the points as everyone else had done. My skills were a bit rusty, but it made no difference. You just can't appreciate what these guys go through without getting as close to the experience as they do. Sometimes that means eating the same dirt. As for the C.T.T., it's a bit of a misnomer. While they are "common tasks" they still require focus, practice, and physical stamina. The fact that A. SECFOR passed all of its competencies only goes to demonstrate that no matter how advanced training becomes, one can never lose touch with a set of basics. A. SECFOR seems to hold to that.

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Copyright, Scott Kesterson- 2006

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