The only pole climbing/line work I have done was in the Marines. Med voltage distribution mostly, some com. Most of the training was bare bones, or "field expediant". For instance:
How to set 52' pole...
Man of lowest rank digs 7' hole and 3' adjoined trench.
WHOLE platoon (12-20) carries pole to trench.
Man of lowest rank tars pole at fat end.
Man of lowest rank attaches pull rope 3/4 up. Man of highest rank supervises.
WHOLE Platoon jams pole into hole, and tilts it up, half move to rope. Man of highest rank supervises.
The pole gets plumbed.
Man of lowest rank fills and tamps hole, the rest of platoon jokes about how it was raising the flag a Iwo Jima, man of highest rank supervises. Man of lowest rank wishes he joined the Army, Navy or Air Force where this work would be done with 'equipment'.
Oh, man of lowest rank is usually first to gaff the pole too.
