what to expect for sapper course

The US Army's Sapper Leader's Course is a beast. Considered one of the most difficult leaders schools in the Army, graduates of Sapper School are considered masters in the basics of combat patrols, combat demolitions, and mountaineering. If you are planning to attend Sapper School, we've got you covered!

Full Answer

What does a sapper course instructor do?

Sapper course instructors teach the students mountaineering, water operations, conventional and expedient demolitions, urban breaching, airborne operations, and many other engineer related tasks.

What is the PT like at sapper school?

Each one is terrible in its own way, PT at Sapper School doesn’t improve your physical fitness, rather it seems designed to smoke you and build a team within your squad. There are several different runs you do at sapper there is the 3, 5 and 6 mile runs and then there is a 3 mile boot run. The standard for the runs is an 8 minute mile.

What happens if I fail a course at Sapper?

If you fail either the General Subjects (GS) phase or Patrolling you will be granted one recycle. You need an exception to policy memo in order to not recycle so keep in mind if you recycle both phases you can expect to be at Sapper school for up to 8 weeks.

What is the best schedule for classing up for sapper?

Sapper always has a report date that falls on a Thursday with the initial PT test hitting at 0500 on Friday and the Ruck march Saturday at 0200. Both of these events are prereqs to classing up. Adjusting the rest days to account for this schedule would help.

What can I expect at Sapper school?

In a 28-training-day course at Fort Leonard Wood sapper students learn demolition, knot-tying, rappelling, urban combat tactics, and they also brush-up their hand-to-hand combat techniques.

How long is the sapper course?

28 dayThe 28 day course, held at the US Army Engineer Center at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, is extremely fast paced and challenging. The Sapper Leader Course is the premier leadership course for the Engineer Regiment. It trains confident and competent leaders to thoroughly plan and aggressively execute combat engineer missions.

Is sapper school harder than Ranger school?

"Sapper school was very demanding. It's a much shorter course than Ranger School but it's very intense. It's very taxing knowledge-wise," she said. "There's a lot of tests and everything's point based, so you don't know a lot of the time what you're getting graded on."

What is the sapper physical fitness test?

SPFT. The Sapper Physical Fitness Test (SPFT) is graded IAW current ACFT guidelines. The three events are: Hand-Release Push-Up, Leg Tuck, and the Three Mile Run.

Are sappers elite?

A sapper — also known as an elite combat engineer — is a combatant skilled in a variety of military engineering duties such as minefield placement or clearing, bridge-building, demolitions, field defenses, and road and airfield construction.

What is the Best Sapper competition?

The Best Sapper Competition began in 2005 as a means for service members to show off their skills. The three-day competition is open to Soldiers and Marines, SPC and above, serving in the 12-series career field (1371 for USMC).

Why is sapper school so hard?

The Knots test at Sapper School is notorious, and one of the most difficult parts, mostly due to the time suck. You have to put in considerable study hours to pass, hours that you don't have while at school. Fortunately, you can master them before you attend, saving yourself a lot of stress. The second is Demolitions.

How hard is it to get a Sapper tab?

About four out of ten candidates who start the Sapper Leadership Course before completing all 28 days of training. The course awards points for the tasks and tests candidates perform throughout training, with a minimum score of 700 required to earn the Sapper Tab.

How many female Sappers are there?

Cadet Micala Hicks paved the way for future women Sappers as the first female Sapper Leader Course graduate in June 1999. Since then, 125 females have taken the course, some of them more than once.

How do I train for Sapper school?

Here is the general training Schedule:Monday: AM – SPFT Work & PM – Ruck intervals (2-a-day)Tuesday: Short Work Capacity, Core Strength, Durability.Wednesday: AM – Sandbag Get up Intervals & PM – Running Intervals.Thursday: AM – SPFT Work & PM – Ruck intervals (2-a-day)Friday: Work Capacity, Low Back Fitness.More items...

Can any MOS go to Sapper school?

"It reminded me of why I joined the Army in the first place; it made me proud to be a Soldier." According to the official Sapper Leader Course Web site, the course is open to enlisted Soldiers in the rank of specialist and above, cadets, and officers in the rank of captain and below.

How many promotion points is sapper school?

40 promotion pointsPromotion Points for Ranger, Special Forces, and Sapper Courses. You can be awarded 40 promotion points for completion of Ranger, Special Forces, or Sapper courses, but you must complete all phases of the courses to earn these points.

How long is the Sapper Leader course?

The following is a sport-specific 8-week program is specifically designed to prepare athletes for the Sapper Leader Course. The plan includes a 1-week taper, and is designed to be completed the 8 weeks directly prior to your course start week.

How to train for rucking?

Use this training plan to get your rucking dialed – including boots, pack loading (weight high instead of low seems to help), pacing, nutrition, and hydration dialed. Ruck in the same boots you’ll take to selection. Refuel the same way you’ll refuel at selection, etc. One tip for the Rucks – a run/walk split will help you cover ground, for example, Run 3 Minutes, Walk 1 Minutes. Also, work to increase the frequency of short strides to increase speed, rather than stretching out your stride.

The Sapper Training Company

Sapper Leader Course: The United States Army's Premier Engineer Leadership course that trains and certifies the Engineer Regiment's next generation of Engineer Leaders.

Vision

Known as the Premier Engineer Leadership Course committed to providing the most professional training to the Engineer Regiment.

Mission

Train and certify the next generation of Sapper Leaders to serve as members of Combined Arms team through training in small unit tactics and Combat Engineer Battle Drills in a physically demanding, stressful, and austere environment.

Where is Sapper School?

Sapper school is a 28 day leadership course based at Ft. Leonardwood Missouri. It is open to all mos but with a focus on 12 series and specifically 12A and 12B. This guide will try and cover most of Sapper school; it also includes some of my personal feelings about the course.

How long can you recycle at Sapper School?

You need an exception to policy memo in order to not recycle so keep in mind if you recycle both phases you can expect to be at Sapper school for up to 8 weeks. The amount of time you are a hold over if you recycle can range from 12 hours to two weeks depending on when the next class starts the phase you recycled. There are a couple of classes that do not allow recycles such as the last class before holiday block leave and best sapper, so if you fail any phase of these classes you will be sent home.

What day is day 0 in Sapper School?

Day 0 is the report date for Sapper school typically a Thursday. There are no formal events, you just go by the head shed and sign in on the roster and fill out the info sheet to bring to the pt test the next day. In addition you can find a bed in one of the barracks and have the medics check your paperwork.

How long after patrolling do you do a 12 mile?

Don’t fail because no one wants to do a 12 mile after 7 days of one or two meals a day. Once the ruck is done you shower and now Sapper School starts for real.

Does Sapper School improve physical fitness?

Each one is terrible in its own way, PT at Sapper School doesn’t improve your physical fitness, rather it seems designed to smoke you and build a team within your squad. There are several different runs you do at sapper there is the 3, 5 and 6 mile runs and then there is a 3 mile boot run.

Can you jump in front of privates at Sapper?

For the most part the drill sergeants will let you jump in front of the privates. Also any sort of custom and courtesy and drill and ceremony is incredibly lax at Sapper. All you wear is your name tape and US Army and no one cares if you walk with your hands in your pockets or boots unbloused.

Is the Sapper School a small community?

Sapper School and to an extent the engineer regiment are small communities. If you make a fool of yourself the instructors in the next phase and your unit will hear about it. It is also very true that your performance when you are not in leadership is taken into account in your patrolling evaluation.

What is the Sapper Leader Course?

The Sapper Leader Course is the premier leadership course for the Engineer Regiment. It trains confident and competent leaders to thoroughly plan and aggressively execute combat engineer missions. The training is challenging, but its rewards are great. Both individual Soldiers and units benefit from the training.

How long can a soldier return to the Sapper Leader Course?

The Soldier can return no earlier than six months after dismissal.

What are the two areas of skill that soldiers must be proficient in before attending the course?

There are two areas in which Soldiers must be proficient before attending the course; physical conditioning and the technical skills listed in section IX. Most of our attrition is due to inadequate physical conditioning and an inability to satisfactorily perform the aforementioned technical skills.

When did the Sappers and Miners receive instruction in erecting field works?

On May 27, 1778 , Congress authorized three companies of Sappers and Miners to receive instruction in erecting field works  the first step toward technical education  and to direct fatigue parties, repair damaged works and erect new ones.

Can you take the CWST at the Sapper Leader Course?

The CWST will not be conducted at the Sapper Leader Course. All students must have at least attempted the CWST before attending Sapper Leader Course. ATTENDANCE. Individual course allocation requests must be submitted through the Army Training Requirements and Resources System (ATRRS).

Left the Air Force after 6 years for the Army. Here's some main differences I've noticed

Left the Air Force after 6 years for the Army. Here's some main differences I've noticed.

New Trash Culture

What is with this new crop of lower enlisted soldiers? I've been at my new unit only for 4 or 5 months and from day one I've never seen anything like what I see here on a daily basis.

Why are MPs so butthurt the rest of the Army hates them?

Sorry dude, I thought you could take a joke when I called you "lame" for being an MP. But then you had to explain how "you do the same stuff we do" and you are a "real soldier too". If you are a real soldier then stop pulling me over on my way to a 0300 weapons draw.

Nco asking for dick pics

Sgt (male/gay)asked my good friend who is a CPL (male/straight) that’s married with a kid for dick pics and a bunch of sexual messages over Snapchat.

What are so unwritten rules you use in the Army?

One of mine is the 15 minute rule. The gist of it is that a Soldier's barracks room should always be neat enough that in the event I want to inspect it they can have it presentable in 15 minutes. Take the trash out, collect dirty laundry, and straighten up in general.

Not even in the army yet and already having a bad time

Shipping date was yesterday, going to Ft Sill. Excited, finally going to BT. Just need to go to MEPS one more time and finally i can start being a soldier.