US Army Training Center - Yearbook (Fort Carson, CO)

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The 9f!1 Dl'Vl3'lbll Today The Mllvslbn - fralhlhg The 9th Infantry Division's basic combat training mission is manifold. It required the undivided attention and cooperation from the trainee as well as an unprecedented attention to duty by the cadre instructors. The primary objective of the training program is to develop a superior trainee-graduate, well grounded in all phases of the in- struction received, and well prepared for efficient and honorable service as a soldier. The basic combat training program is highly concentrated and carefully developed to train a skilled soldier in the Atomic Age. The course of instruction covers 36 major subjects - from map reading to machine gun firing - all are important to the modern fighting man. The training is divided into eight 44-hour segments for a total of 372 combat training hours. In addition, each trainee receives a 20-hour period of instruction and orientation prior to commenc- ing the combat training. Major emphasis is on complete mastery of the M-1 rifle, basic weapon of the infantry soldier. A total of 86 hours of instruction and training - including the entire third week - is devoted exclusive- ly to the NI-l rifle. Thirty-nine hours are spent on physical conditioning and dis- mounted drill. Squad tactical training is taught for 16 hours. Six- teen hours are spent in familiarization and firing of the light machine gun. During the seventh week the trainees are taken into the field for a bivouac. While in bivouac, instruction is given in technique of fire, squad tactical training, firing of the rocket launcher, and running of the close combat indoctrination course. Among the other subjects occupying the busy trainees during the two month training cycle are carbine firing, night firing and night vision, bayonet drill, guard duty, first aid, camouflage and concealment, battle indoctrination, map reading and use of the compass, signal communications, inspections, code of conduct and military justice, to name but a few. Three tests are given during the cycle to evaluate the ef- fectiveness of the training and the progress made by individual trainees. Included are two hour physical training tests and a

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Ruhr Pocket, The 9th moved into the line and thwarted a major Germany attempt to break through the pocket which had bottled up thousands of enemy troops. The Division worked constantly on shrinking the Ruhr Pocket in the closing days of the war, freeing 900 slave laborers from five countries with the capture of Sinu on the Dill River. The 9th was assigned to Ingolstadt, Germany, at war's end. Among the awards and decorations awarded to individual soldiers we five Congressional Medals of Honor, 66 Distinguished Service Crosses, 1 Legion of Merit, one Distinguished Flying Cross, 1855 Silver Stars: 2- Bronze Stars for heroismg 3570 Bronze stars for meritorious service and l Air Medals. Duing the course of the campaigns of World War II, the 9th Infan Division suffered 4581 personnel killed in action, 16,961 wounded in act. and 750 missing in action. During the war, the 9th captured approximately 130,000 prisoners. Distinguished unit citations were awarded the lst Battalion of the 39th for action on June 28, 1944, near St. Jacques de Nehoug the 2nd Batttalion of the 39th for action july 11 and 12 at Le Desert, France, the 2nd Batta- lion of the 47th for action june 21 to 26, 1944, at Cherbourg, France, and the 3rd Battalion of the 47th for action during its drive on Cherbourg and the Hague Peninsula from june 21 to 26, 1944.

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final proficiency test in general subjects and weapons firing. The liring of required courses with individual and crew-served weapons. in effect. constitute practical tests. All instruction at Fort Carson is conducted by carefully selected and well-qualified instructors. For the most part. these men are combat veterans of the Korean YVar. many of them saw action in YVorld YVar Il. The training system stresses that personal contact between the instructors and the trainee will foster a better understanding of the mutual problems of each. Often during the evening hours. the squad leader can be found in informal bull sessions with mem- bers of his squad. Company commanders and platoon leaders are available to answer the trainees questions and to give guidance on any problem he mav be confronted with. Since all instruction is conducted by the cadre, they must be well-grounded in all phases of military instruction. They know that if their men have the right equipment and assimilate the instruc- tion, they would, if necessary, be able to take their unit into combat. They are given responsibility and authority commensurate with their position and thus develop leadership and command ability. A most important objective of the training program is the devel- opment of esprit de corps and team spirit. The program is de- signed to produce in the trainee a sense of identification with his unity a sense of belonging. This is accomplished by keeping the unit together during the entire training period. Competition be- tween units is encouraged and the trainee is taught pride in self and unit. Everyone from the Commanding General to the individual squad leader is dedicated to the task of seeing that the individual trainee receives the best of instruction and leaves Fort Carson a superior trainee - graduate. The trainee is also called upon to do his part to the very best of his ability. If the trainee applies himself diligently and learns well the lessons taught he will look back on his Fort Carson service as a most rewarding period. He will leave Fort Carson with the conviction that he has been a worthy member of the finest group of soldiers in the world - - a member of the 9th Infantry Division. An Old Reliable.