Presented by the U.S. Army, The Infantry Noncommissioned Officer Candidate Course (TF 4118) is a short training film that provides a look at the program offered at Fort Benning, GA, from entrance qualifications to the training content up through the completion of the course. The film opens with a shot of Infantry Hall (00:30). Command Sergeant Major James A. Scott addresses the graduating class of the NCO Candidate Course (01:03). Candidates train with machine guns and batons in hand-to-hand combat (02:31). A battalion commander addresses a new class of NCO candidates (03:44). Candidates participate in exercise drills, including the Ranger Obstacle Course (05:18), then practice the basics of bayonet fighting (05:50). They are also trained in firing the M-16 rifle and the M-79 grenade launcher, as well as assembly and maintenance of the weapons (06:20). Candidates operate communications equipment and perform medical evacuation operations as part of the course. The young men study at desks next to their bunks (08:29). Candidates go through Leader Reaction Exercises in teams of five (09:37); in one exercise, they must get a wagon over a mock river. Candidates sharpen their shooting skills in the Eleven Bravo Phase II portion of the program. Teams cross a stream (11:44), run night operations, evaluate terrain, and supervise courses of actions during the training simulations. Candidates study 81 mm mortars, working on assembly, placement, crew drill, and operating the mortars (13:12). Men construct a tactical operations center (15:05). NCO candidates stand at attention (17:01). A Tactical NCO helps a candidate review a map. Candidates practice using the M2 4.2-inch heavy mortar (18:30). During “Ranger Week,” candidates participate in night patrols (20:38); the men also ford a river in camouflage, receive rations from a helicopter, and respond to surprise attacks on their camp. Candidates ask questions of officers who have recently returned from combat (23:52). Candidates graduate from the NCO program during the graduation ceremony (24:58).
Beginning in 1967 at Fort Benning, Georgia, the US Army Non-commissioned Officer Candidate Course (NCOCC) was a Vietnam-war era program developed to alleviate shortages of enlisted leaders at squad and platoon level assignments, training enlisted personnel to assume jobs as squad leaders in combat. Based loosely on the Officer Candidate School (OCS), NCOC was a new concept (at the time) where high performing trainees attending basic infantry combat training were nominated to attend a two-phased course of focused instruction on jungle warfare, and included a hands-on portion of intense training, promotion to sergeant, and then a 12-week assignment leading trainees going through advanced training.
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
