Special Operations.Com
The
Engineer Jungle Warfare Course
By Captain Andrew V. Jasaitis
The Jungle Operations Training
Center (JOTC), located at Fort Sherman, Panama, trains
infantry battalions and engineer companies to conduct
jungle combat operations. One of the programs offered
by JOTC is the Engineer Jungle Warfare Course (EJWC).
The EJWC provides a unique opportunity
for engineer companies and platoons to train in a
jungle environment. The Jungle Operations Training
Battalion normally supports four engineer company
and ten engineer platoon rotations annually. The EJWC
is open to almost any combat engineer company-airborne,
air assault, wheeled, combat support equipment, combat
heavy, etc. Most rotations are from corps-level engineer
companies because divisional engineer platoons deploy
and train with the Infantry Battalion Jungle Warfare
Course rotations.
The Jungle Operations Training
Center's primary objective is to keep the art of jungle
warfare alive in the Army today. In concert with this
mission, the Engineer Jungle Warfare Course prepares
engineers to fight future battles and win in a jungle
environment.
In addition to supporting U.S.
Army combat engineers, the Engineer Jungle Warfare
Course provides joint training to selected U.S. Marine
Corps engineer platoons and some Latin American engineers.
Program of Instruction
The program of instruction for the EJWC is organized,
manned, and equipped to provide training to three
engineer platoons. Instructors from Alpha Company,
Jungle Operations Training Battalion, conduct the
training by committees. Team 6 provides instruction
in engineer-specific tasks.
The four-week EJWC consists of
two weeks of combat training (core jungle training
and tactical operations) and two weeks of construction
(Army Facilities Components System-Tropical).
Combat Training. Typical
training during the first two weeks includes: jungle
living, land navigation, mines and booby traps, jungle
combat techniques, rappelling, advanced rigging and
hauling, squad reconnaissance, squad react-to-contact
(blank and live fire), waterborne and small-boat operations,
basic and advanced demolitions, and platoon reconnaissance
and demolition missions. Platoons also negotiate the
rugged "Green Hell" obstacle course. The
second week culminates in a two-day company field
training exercise designed to meet the unit's mission
essential task list (METL) training needs and to employ
tactics, techniques, and procedures learned during
core training. Company infiltration and movement is
by several methods-landing craft, medium (LCM); F-470
Zodiacs, or Army aviation (air assault).
Construction Training.
The third and fourth weeks of the course
are spent on construction missions, which include
carpentry, concrete and masonry, plumbing, and construction
management tasks. Projects include bridge repair or
replacement; target, rappel tower, obstacle, boat
dock, fence, cage, and roof construction; office and
classroom renovation; and window installation. Units
normally provide eight days of construction effort.
All projects are designed to support the training
center so that the Jungle Operations Training Battalion
can continue to provide high quality training opportunities.
Deployment Tips
Adequate planning is important for a successful deployment
to the Jungle Operations Training Center. The following
tips will help units planning to attend:
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Send a site
survey team six months before deployment. The
team should consist of two or three people who
can make decisions on training and who have a
working knowledge of construction.
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Allow five
days (Monday through Friday) for the team's visit-two
travel days, one day on the Pacific side, and
two days at Fort Sherman for coordination.
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Plan for
the main body to arrive on the Friday or Saturday
before the first training day on Monday.
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Plan for
the advanced echelon to arrive four days before
the main body.
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Deploy with
all necessary construction equipment (such as
sets, kits, and outfits; power tools; and generators).
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Plan to be
self-sufficient (special equipment will be coordinated
in-country if needed).
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Focus home-station
training on knots/rope management, basic land
navigation, and battle drills in dismounted movement/patrolling
at squad and platoon levels. Identify weak swimmers
(water safety and drown-proofing classes must
be conducted within three months of deployment).
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Units that
conduct airborne operations must conduct B-7 training
and request permission to jump in country.
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