Top 05 Military Specialty Schools in the United States

As the war on terror enters its second decade, the United States military continues to operate at a rapid pace. An important component of the US Army has always been the high level of training its members receive. It is training that is at the heart of this list. Army personnel are assigned dangerous missions that require not only courage but also a high level of skill to accomplish. As a result, the men and women who perform these dangerous tasks themselves undergo some of the toughest and most rigorous training. These military schools are charged with testing and shaping the physical, mental and emotional aspects of each cadet, and represent the pinnacle of military training.

Authors note: I am quite sure some readers will be wondering about international schools such as the Royal Marines Commando Training Center and the like. I am fully aware of the great training these schools provide. However, this list is for military specialty schools within the US Armed Forces.

1. Pathfinder School

Mission: Army Pathfinders' mission is to ensure that airborne assault forces reach appropriate landing/drop off areas. Pathfinders are soldiers that are deployed to a designated drop zone prior to the main attack force (up to 72 hours in advance) for the purpose of marking the drop zone, guarding the starting zone, landing and clearing the drop zone, etc. These soldiers are capable. Call in air strikes to targets of opportunity, and will be expected to coordinate most phases involved in LZ/DZ operations (aircraft landings/movements, weather forecasting, crane loading operations, etc.). Operating in four-man teams, they operate alone behind enemy lines until the main assault force arrives.

Training: The US Army Pathfinder School is a three-week course held at Fort Benning, Georgia. To participate, a soldier must be assigned a circular hatch (or en route) that requires wayfinding skills, be physically fit to participate in airborne operations, and be 110 or higher. The purpose of this course is to instruct Soldiers to:

How to navigate decommissioned helicopter landing zones, establish and operate day and night helicopter landing zones, and how to establish and operate day/night (DZ) parachute landing zones, including Computed Air Launch System (CARP) DZs, and Tagged Launch System Ground (GMRS) DZs and Army Verbal Launch System (VIRS) DZs, perform crane load operations, provide air traffic control (ATC), rotary wing (RW) and fixed wing (FW) airborne operations.Provide navigational assistance.

Over the course of three weeks, students will learn essentially every aspect necessary to conduct a successful air strike to a specific location. Although this course is not physically demanding, it is academic, as students have to absorb an incredible amount of information. Students will begin their studies in both classroom and field environments (a significant amount of field time). Upon successful completion of the curriculum, Soldiers are awarded the prestigious Pathfinder Badge, and are eligible for assignment to one of the three Pathfinder formations in the US Army.

2. Airborne School (Basic School)

Mission: When conventional soldiers find some terrain impenetrable or difficult to navigate, paratroopers can be airlifted in and dropped anywhere accessible by air. This includes behind enemy lines. In addition, the ability to quickly deploy "troops on the ground" by air, especially in hostile environments, is a military advantage that cannot be underestimated. These types of combat missions require soldiers with exceptional infantry skills, not to mention the nerve and training required to jump out of a fully functional aircraft.

Training: The United States Airborne School is located in Fort Benning, Georgia. The Basic Airborne Course (also known as Jump School) is a three-week affair whose purpose is defined to: "Qualify the student in parachute use through combat deployment and develop leadership, self-confidence, mentality, and aggressiveness through physical terms."

A defining feature of Jump School (besides jumping out of planes) is the intense physical training required during the 3-week training period. Students are expected to be able to handle the PT system and successfully pass the required PT exams as well as meet the jump requirements.

Jump training is divided into 3 cycles. The course/first week is spent learning how to land properly using the Parachute Landing Gear (PLF). Students will spend a lot of time jumping off platforms and learning this trick. Upon successful completion of PLF learning, students move to the tower for the second session/week. This training will introduce the students to the proper techniques of parachuting equipment, getting out of an aircraft, falling from extreme heights, etc. Students must successfully complete all requirements for this stage to continue. The third course/phase is actually jumping out of the plane - five times. Upon graduation, students are awarded the prestigious and well-recognized Basic Parachute Wings.

3. Marine Scout Sniper School

Mission: The US Marines are an elite in their own right. Every Marine is trained from the start to be an infantryman and be very effective with a rifle. Then imagine what a marine corps sniper can do. Marine Scout snipers are unique in that they carry out the dual responsibilities of reconnaissance and sniper duties. Scout sniper platoons are the battalion commander's resource for gathering intelligence, or for using accurate fire to suppress enemy targets (i.e. kill the bad guys). Their motto is "Ek Joli, Ek Mar". Operating in teams of two, usually alone, in the target-rich environments that have become the norm in America's War on Terror, Marine Scout snipers have their skills in high demand. Trained to see them through until it's too late (not until then), these Marines learn their trade at the toughest school in the Marine Corps.

Training: The Marine Corps Sniper Course takes place at four different locations (Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Camp Pendleton, California; Quantico, Virginia; MCB Hawaii). To participate, a Marine must be at least a corporal (E-3) or higher, have an infantry occupation, be an expert with rifles, and have first-class physical fitness and swimming skills. Must be eligible for the test. In addition, a Marine must be selected at the behest of his parents. Once determined, a Marine will typically attend one of four schools closest to his or her home unit. The school itself is 12 weeks long, with a focus on training Marines to become the most dangerous long-range snipers in the world. This is evidenced by the first nine weeks of training devoted almost exclusively to shooting and qualifying - over distances known and unknown. During this phase, students will learn a variety of skills, the flight physics of projectiles, spotting, shooting techniques and more. There are several marksmanship qualifications at this stage, which test a student's ability to shoot in a variety of conditions and at different distances (1,000 yards and beyond).

All this is done under directed pressure and at a high speed. The second stage of training is devoted to handicrafts. This is where students will learn stalking, camouflage techniques, camouflage training, and the like.

The school is demanding, and the dropout rate is 60% or more. Marines are expected to successfully pass each stage of qualification to continue training. Upon successful completion, Marines are certified scout snipers, eligible for advanced training (such as urban and mountain sniper courses), and assignment to the Navy fleet as a sharpshooter or spotter.

4. Aviation Survival Technician/Rescue Swimmer School

Mission: We forget that the Coast Guard is an important member of the US Armed Forces. Despite this, these brave men and women continue to perform their services and duties at the highest level. This is certainly true of Coast Guard rescue swimmers. In my humble opinion, anyone who wants to jump out of a helicopter into the ocean...at night...with skyscrapers blooming deserves to be on this list, and everyone else is the absolute best. contain details. Rescue swimmers are the elite of the Coast Guard's search and rescue effort. These are the people who will come to pick you up when your ship is heading to the Arctic Ocean or some other faraway place. These Defenders put their lives in harm's way so that others can be saved. It takes a special breed to perform these duties at the highest level expected, and only the best can survive in training. 

Training: The AST Coast Guard School is located in Elizabeth City, North Carolina and is an 18-week course. In addition, students must attend a four-week emergency medical technician course in Petaluma, California. But before any of that can happen, prospective rescue swimmers must attend a preparatory course. Held at various Coast Guard stations, these introductory courses are 4 to 6 weeks long and consist of rigorous physical training (particularly swimming) designed to prepare students for the requirements of the AST. Only half of the initial prospects pass this stage and participate in the AST. In total, the rescue swimmer will spend about a year training. At the AST, students learn how to deploy from helicopters, a variety of rescue techniques, as well as receive in-depth training in the aircraft systems of the vehicle to which they will be assigned. Upon successful completion of all of these, a soldier (or woman) will be classified as an Airline Survival Technician. Not everyone gets this honor. The school dropout rate is as high as 80%.

5. Pararescue School

Mission: These are pilots who risk everything to save downed fighters (usually pilots), especially behind enemy lines. In fact, they are the only operational unit in the US Armed Forces specifically tasked with rescue operations in hostile environments. These are among the bravest and most well-trained Soldiers to be found not only in the USAF, but also in the Special Operations community. Not only must they have the infantry skills needed to infiltrate behind enemy lines, but pararescue jumpers (PJ's) must be able to provide effective medical treatment to keep their charges alive. Interestingly, until recently, this elite service was available only to enlisted pilots.

Training: Refers to the training required to become a PJ as Superman. And for good reason, because not everyone can be an Air Force Pararescue Jumper. In total, before becoming fully certified, a potential PJ will undergo two years of intense physical training covering many areas. The first step is the Pararescue course. This is a "let's see if you have what it takes" course and lasts 9 weeks. It will take place at Lakeland Air Force Base in Texas, where students will be constantly trained in running, swimming, weightlifting, and the like. Students will be introduced to the basics of diving, mastering military weapons, medical treatment procedures, and other basic techniques. Graduates of this course will get their "ticket" to the other specialty schools required to earn PJ's prestigious Maroon Beret. These schools include: Airborne School, Combat Diver School, Basic Survival School, Parachutist Freefall School, Pararescue EMT/Paramedic School, and Underwater Evacuation Training.

Only upon successful completion of this training will a pilot be issued a PJ Certificate. Consider this; Among the community Special Forces training schools, Algorithm Training has the highest dropout rate (about 90%). It is not unusual to have only 4-6 successful graduates out of 100 students. These are the real deal.