Command Sgt. Maj. Lamont Christian, prior to speaking about the training
Soldiers to fight in World War One during the post's Centennial Lecture Series Nov. 22 at the NCO Club. (U... VIEW ORIGINAL
It's not everyday Soldiers are transported back in time to see a historic military figure, but they witnessed Gen. John "Black Jack" Pershing speaking to the 81st Infantry Division in 1917, during part of the Centennial Lecture Series, Nov. 22.
As part of Fort Jackson's yearlong celebration of its 100th birthday, the post is conducting a series of lectures aimed at highlighting its past.
Pershing, as played by Dane Coffman, said troops heading to World War I will need, "general health and body vigor, muscular strength and endurance, self reliance, smartness, activity, and precision."
Coffman is a World War One enthusiast and former flight attendant from Leesburg, South Carolina known for portraying different Great War personalities.
Pershing led all U.S. forces in Europe during the war while insisting upon autonomous command for American troops.
Training for war in Europe included chin up exercises, marching at the quick and double time, running, climbing, jumping and personal hygiene.
But foremost in the training is rifle marksmanship, he said.
"You will be able to fire your rifle and hit target up to 600 yards," he said. "Soldiers of the Wildcat Division you will become proficient with the bayonet and the Huns will flee."
Growing leaders during the race to build the country's fighting forces was also a challenge.
"Yes, it's true we started this war with only 6,000 regular officers," said "General Pershing." "The Army has provided the Wildcat Division with confident and capable leaders. On average, there will be one officer for every 20 men … By the time our Army is filled we will have almost 20,000 officers.
That is a lot of officers and probably more second lieutenants than most of would like to admit."
The training schedule of Soldiers in 1917 is a stark contrast to Basic Combat Training today.
Trainees then were schooled in discipline, marching, bayonet and rifle marksmanship, leadership, development of cohesive teams, open warfare training, entrenchment, specialty training, and trench warfare.
Once "General Pershing" finished speaking, the audience was immediately transported back to the present by Command Sgt. Maj. Lamont Christian who spoke about how drill sergeants changed the way Army trains its Soldiers.
"This thing we call basic training goes all the way back to the beginning when Baron Von Steuben was called on to instill discipline," said Fort Jackson's senior enlisted leader, former commandant of the U.S. Army Drill Sergeant Academy, and drill sergeant. "Whether it is marksmanship training with a musket in 1775 or marksmanship training with an M16 in 1965, or let's go to 3065 with a laser gun -- there is going be a trainer teaching a citizen how to close with and destroy our enemies."
These trainers are drill sergeants, who are "a specially-trained non-commissioned officer and dedicated Soldier determined to train young recruits in military fundamentals to save their lives while serving our country against a mortal enemy," said Christian, quoting a former Fort Jackson commander, Maj. Gen. Perez.
The next lecture in the four-part series about Fort Jackson "mixing it up" is scheduled for 3 p.m. Feb. 10, 2017 at the NCO Club on post.
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