FORT KNOX, Ky.- One hundred and forty-two Cadets of Bravo Company, 7th Regiment Advanced Camp, complete Qualification at the weapon range in Fort Knox, Ky.
It is extremely vital to pass qualification during Cadet Summer Training. Not only does the Cadet need to graduate with this but they also need to know how to shoot when in combat situations.
“It’s pretty vital, because your Cadets are your future officers and you want them to qualify with basic Soldiers skills,” said 2nd Lt. Melissa Churchill, Lewis University.
Cadets are required to hit 23 pop-up targets out of 40 to qualify. If they don’t, Cadets are able to qualify with paper targets, alternative targets. In order to pass qualification, Cadets need to score a 25 on the paper targets.
7th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets participated in weapons qualification training at Fort Knox, Ky., on July 8, 2017. (Photo by Nicholas Bafia)
Once Cadets are given the briefing on how to complete qualification, they are told to receive their magazines, one-20 round and two-10 round, their ear/eye protection and to be checked by Cadre members to make sure their weapons are in the right setting.
Once checked, Cadets are escorted onto the firing line and prepare to fire. Cadre on site tell Cadets when to go pass the firing line to position their paper target. Once positioned, Cadets go back to the firing line to assume their firing position.
7th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets participated in weapons qualification training at Fort Knox, Ky., on July 8, 2017. (Photo by Nicholas Bafia)
There are two positions Cadets need to fire from. The first is prone position, where they are lying flat on their stomach. The second position is where Cadets go into the foxhole. After two rounds in prone position, Cadets go to foxhole position. Each of these positions signifies two different positions that most Soldiers are in when under fire.
When given the go-ahead, Cadets are to proceed with shooting. When they are finished, Cadets are to retrieve their targets and go back behind the firing line where Cadre grade the Cadets targets and determine if they qualified. For those who qualified, they are taken to a separate location. Those who haven’t, continue to shoot.
“Even though we have our different majors or different branches we want to go into, mine personally is medical services, whenever it comes to your military life you are Soldier first. If you don’t know how to use your weapon then what good are you?” said Cadet Kimberly Harris, Marshall University.
Cadet Summer Training is just getting started for 7th Regiment, by the end of the training these Cadets will know how to lock and load in their sleep.
