FORT KNOX, KY. – Cadets finished the Team Development Course (TDC) at Fort Knox on June 4.
“We did a lot of team building within our platoon, especially with our squads,” said Cadet Alexis Fitzgerald of Bravo Company First Platoon from Princeton University. “We were able to work together and become a cohesive unit.”
Two, 1st Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets devise a plan to complete an obstacle as part of a teamwork training exercise during CST at Fort Knox, Ky., on June 4, 2017. (Photo by Nicholas Bafia)
Cadets went through multiple obstacles as a squad to develop their teamwork and leadership skills.
“By presenting a problem to the squad in the form of an obstacle, one person cannot do it by themselves,” said cadre member Sgt. 1st Class William Richards from West Virginia University. “You combine all of these different personalities, and it creates the cohesiveness of a team.”
Cadets were given 10 minutes to prepare for the obstacle and 20 minutes to execute their plan. They had to work together and communicate with each other effectively in order to complete their tasks.
“With every exercise, we kept building our communication skills and become more effective,” Fitzgerald said. “We were arguing less and less and putting people in positions to be effective.”
A 1st Regiment, Basic Camp Cadet traverses a rope as part of a TDC obstacle during CST at Fort Knox, Ky., on June 4, 2017. (Photo by Nicholas Bafia)
Cadre members taught Cadets about marksmanship and land navigation after TDC was complete. This was done to prepare Cadets for further training.
“This gives us a feel for how we like to meet, how we input our opinions and coming up with an effective plan so we can accomplish our future missions,” Fitzgerald said.
Cadet Summer Training will bring over 8,000 Cadets through Basic and Advanced Camp at Fort Knox this summer. The camps are designed to help Cadets become future leaders in the Army. If you think you have what it takes to be a Cadet or are interested in a job after college, click the following link: https://my.goarmy.com/info/rotc1/index.jsp?iom=IP08-AUTO-R1NA-BR-XXX-XX-XXX-MO-XX-X-BRCMAC:IP08
