FORT KNOX, Ky. – Advanced Camp, 2nd Regiment Cadets navigated through the woods with small teams to find certain locations during the annual Cadet Summer Training (CST) at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Cadets first did Land Navigation with a partner, same course different locations. They are then required to do the same course by themselves with no help besides a compass, protractor and the knowledge they were
Cadets are instructed by 2LT Laboy on where to go to get their check point sheets graded upon finishing their Land Navigation course. June 9 at Fort Knox, Ky. (Photo by Amber Vincent)
given before hand.
This course is required for graduation, it does help when the Cadets get commissioned and get real world missions. Cadets found some differences when it came to navigating with partners versus themselves.
“You learn how to do things on your own than rely on others to delegate it,” said Cadet Khory Wheat, Eastern Kentucky University, Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky.
The Cadets learned different leadership skill by doing land navigation alone. “Being a life long learner is an attribute that we learn, its able to be present,” said Wheat.
“Cadre did a really good job preparing us over the past few days, we’ve been going over a lot of things, I think going in with that knowledge has really helped me on the course today,” said Cadet John Myrtle, Citadel University, Charleston, South Carolina, Norfolk, Virginia.
Land navigation is important to a Soldier, for if a Soldier is in a combat zone and gets separated from their
Cadets wait to have their check point sheets graded upon finishing their Land Navigation course. June 9 at Fort Knox, Ky. (Photo by Amber Vincent)
platoon, they will be able to navigate to a predetermined safe place so they wont become disorientated and lost, as maybe Cadets found out during this Land Navigation exercise.
“Between the bush and the hills, I found myself going off path and finding myself very disorientated, but I would always go back to my known location and recalculate my next move,” said Cadet Noah Conner, McDaniel College, Maryland, Hurlock, Maryland. “Knowing land navigation and where you are at helps make you more of a successful leader,” said Conner
Later that night the Cadets will be conducting land navigation at night starting from different locations, by themselves.
“The mission will never come to you, you have to go to the mission,” said Myrtle.
Cadet Summer Training will bring 8,200 Cadets through Basic and Advanced Camp this summer on Fort Knox. These camps are designed to help challenge, grow and improve various skills and leadership qualities within the Cadets. If you think you have what it takes to be a Cadet or if you 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
