Recondo Schools Pocket-Patch SamplerAs commanding general of the 101st Abn Div and as commandantof West Point, Westmoreland setup RECONDO training for eachinstitution before authorizing the new RECONDO School inNhaTrang; each with a downward arrow bearing either 101-numeralsor USMA-letters, when the term 'recon-do' was originally claimedto be a contraction of RECONnaissance commanDO, but was laterchanged to mean 'recon+doughboy' in Vietnam, although most staffand students associated the term with the Japanese 'do' for'way', as in judo, aikido, kendo, or bushido. Protocol restrictswear of Recondo pocket patches to the issuing command, althoughcompletion is noted in the servicemember's permanent record.
The only time I ever heard of RECONDO School was from a school ran out of FT Bragg. Now this was in the mid 70s. I was at Ft Lewis, I am not sure if the 9th IN Div ran a school or not. I do remember when our CSM it a point that the badge was no longer authorized to wear.
Not sure if the Big guys got into a pissing contest over it or what. Pretty much disapeared after the late 70s.Yeah, PNCOC-CA, superseded it in late '76. I had to go and look at my diploma and it was dated 12 November, 1976. We were told we were the 2nd or 3rd class to go through under the XIII Corps NCO Academy. It was 4 or so weeks long and I swore it was RECONDO renamed, especially as the Instructors tought at the other.What I now see on that diploma as pretty cool is that Henry E. Emerson, LTG, signed it! Hank 'Gunfighter' as Corps CDR was a kick in the ass era!
Some bad, some great, more bad. Yeah, PNCOC-CA, superseded it in late '76. I had to go and look at my diploma and it was dated 12 November, 1976. We were told we were the 2nd or 3rd class to go through under the XIII Corps NCO Academy. It was 4 or so weeks long and I swore it was RECONDO renamed, especially as the Instructors tought at the other.What I now see on that diploma as pretty cool is that Henry E.
Emerson, LTG, signed it! Hank 'Gunfighter' as Corps CDR was a kick in the ass era! Some bad, some great, more bad.I was assigned to the 82d Recondo School most of '74. It fell under the 82d G-3 Schools Det.
At that time.The Schools Commandant was MAJ 'Rock' Hudson. Interesting in that when I went through pre-SFAS back in 1991, it was a two week course run out at the old 82nd/18th Corps Recondo site.That camp had the sketchiest rapelling / rope-climbing tower I have ever seen. It appeared to have been constructed by Blind Melon Chittlin and his gang of drunken hacks, circa 1942 or so.The climbing rope was (I think) an old fast rope, really fat and slippery.
Coming back down was easy enough.:DIIRC the sign out at Manchester Road said 'Airborne Leaders Course' but everyone still called it the Recondo camp.Good Times! Attended the 18th ABN Corps PNCOC-CA/ Recondo course in '83 when I was in the 82nd.I thought that this was one of the finest junior leadership combinations that the Army ever had.First you went to PNCOC-CA (for you younger guys, this was the predecessor to PLDC. The 'CA' indicates that is a 'combat arms only' course.
No chicks or pogues.)Then after six weeks (I think) you went straight into a 3 or 4 week Recondo school which was very similar to pre-Ranger. It was held out where the ROTC guys came for summer camp.Very nice course to complete as a young Corporal.
HENRY EVERETT EMERSON 'Hank' A retired United States Army Lieutenant General, best known for being the commander of the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea during the mid-1970s when Colin Powell served as a battalion commander, passed away February 4, 2015.General Emerson, who was fraternally called 'The Gunfighter' by his troops, was one of the most decorated officers in the history of the United States Army. See more at: See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.asp. Thanks, Rockville, for the PM. RIP, Gunfighter, you were a hell of a guy.I was selected to be his orderly for the day once.
Recondo Book
Sat around an outer office most of the day. But, come late afternoon, swinging through receptions and going to a boxing smoker at one of the field houses.Also, a FOND memory, was the Friday he had the entire division assembled at the football field by Towle (IIRC). At the end of the talk he says to everyone (15,000 plus or minus paratroopers) and DivCdr Tom Tackaberry, 'Tom, I haven't told you this, but, when I when I say dismissed, I want all you men to leave immediately and enjoy the weekend. Funny as hell watching all the leadership (especially the 1SG's) to try to stop 15,000 mo-fo's! Stopp700, as to your question, 9th Div at N Ft Lewis ran a Recondo School fall 1977 in abandoned railroad cars along the Puget Sound shore I believe one cycle only. Schwarzopf was 1st Bde commander and ordered it up.
Curriculum was done before hand by Capt Howard A 2.75 Rangers (MOH while SF in Nam) Staffed with Vietnam era Ranger/SF and 2 Navy Seals. Must have a PT score of 280+ and run a 4 mile with gas mask on in combat boots and LBE under 30 minutes just to qualify.
Class started with over 400 trying out and if I remember graduated 19. Three weeks and absolutely blew away Ranger School, SERE and any other school I went to for the nasties. And god I got to hate the 4 hr log drills after doing our morning swim in the Puget Sound. Frickin freezing cold. Never did dry out the whole time in school. They disbanded the course right afterwards. Said it got out of control for being sadistic.
I just thought as a 18 yr old it was tough as nails. But hypothermia made a bunch get pulled out and the killing of a cow with a knife only, for our survival classes might have been to much.
Us Army Recondo School Training
3 of us got shipped to JOTC school in Panama the day we graduated and after we got back made us go to mountain warfare school right away in Alaska. I found that odd but never asked why.
They then banned wearing of the patch when we got back. JOTC patch was banned later on also.