Small Unit Tactics
This skill set basically involves learning how a group of military folks move from point to point in the field and what to do if we come under fire. We practiced a few different formations (line, wedge, etc) and learned the responsibilities of each person in the line (first guy is Point, second is Navigator, third is Squad Leader...). We learned how to "bound" (i.e. move away from bad guys), as well as how to do flanking movements on an enemy position. Keeping an eye on your particular field of fire was important here too (i.e. left side or right side).
Land Navigation
In Boy Scouts, we called this Orientation. We learned how to plot points on a map and calculate distances and headings. Then we went out into the field and hit those points. This involved, among other things, keeping a pace count (tip: if you're going 500 meters, pick up 5 stones and drop one every 100 meters. When you're out of stones, you're there). I enjoyed this part quite a bit.
TCCC (Tactical Care under Combat Conditions)
There was no Boy Scout equivalent of this, although First Aid came close, and let me tell you, it wasn't as much fun as Land Nav. The TCCC module was all about helping an injured person while the shooting is still going on. Lesson 1: superior firepower is the best medicine. Basically, this involved running out to a "wounded" person while your buddies lay down cover fire, then dragging or carrying the injured person back behind cover, then doing the first aid thing. The trick is to have one or two draggers do the heavy work, then pass the casualty along to someone else for first aid while the draggers try to catch their breath. Remember, we're all wearing body armor and carrying rifles while doing this, so it's pretty intense.
Convoy Operations
This is where we got to drive around in humvees and see the Texas countryside. Much less physically demanding than TCCC, and if you're the gunner in the turret, the view is pretty nice. Turns out Camp Bullis is pretty big. Along with driving, we had to watch for simulated IED's, navigate from point to point and communicate with our radios.
IED Identification
The instructor had set up a "petting zoo" of different types of IED's, so we could see how they were constructed, how they functioned, etc. Very instructive to get all up close and personal with these nasty little devices. Then we went out and drove around looking for them. At first, it was amazing how often we'd drive right past one, even though they weren't really concealed very well at all. By the end of the training, we got really good at spotting them.
Urban Operations
This was sort of like Land Nav through a town. The course had a mock villiage and we practiced getting into a building while being shot at, then getting back out. Most of the time the instructors were shooting blanks, but a few times paintballs were involved. That meant we had to wear these terrible neoprene masks and goggles, which made it hard to see and hard to breathe. It also meant anyone who got hit in the leg ended up with a pretty impressive bruise. I collected two while I was there.
To be sure, this was the Skills 101 course, very much an introductory level designed to give us basic familiarization. As more than one instructor said, they're not trying to make us into ninjas. But at the same time they really put us through the paces. A more advanced course would be longer, giving us more practice and more nuances, but as far as I can tell, CAST covered the skills pretty well. Ask me again when I'm in Kabul.
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