By Savoury Jacobson
FORT KNOX, Ky-7 Regiment Basic Camp Cadets headed outdoors to practice drill and ceremony on June 9, 2017 at Fort Knox, Ky.
Drill and ceremony is one of the first events Cadets participate in after their arrival at Fort Knox. Everyone is required to show up and practice following orders, learning how to march and respond correctly to leadership. This is the time where new Cadets can receive their first taste of army culture.
Cadets and Cadre engage in drill and ceremony on June 9, 2017 at Fort Knox, Ky. (Photo by Savoury Jacobson.)
The history of drill and ceremony goes way back to the Revolutionary War. According to Staff Sgt. Gene Lucas, Chaplain’s office and Army Sustainment Command color guard,
“The importance of drill and ceremony is rooted in tradition during the Revolutionary War from Baron von Stueben…drill and ceremony is…our lineage… [and] the next generation and the generations to come.”
Cadets line up in formation and learn to work in coordination with their fellow teammates. Things as simple as marching must be practiced so they can be executed with flawless perfection. Moving as a group comes into play for anything military from important ceremonies to mobilizing during times of war. Coordination at a most basic level is what keeps the unit safe during combat and also makes the unit feel united: a force that can move in unison towards whatever is coming.
Cadets put away their water canteens to practice drill and ceremony on June 9, 2017 at Fort Knox, Ky. (Photo by Savoury Jacobson.)
Cadet Jeffery DeGuzman from Northern Illinois University explained that, “The training that we [have] going on today is…focused on… putting their equipment together. This morning they got all their equipment issued to them and now we’re just teaching them how to lace the straps [and] make sure all the buckles are correct…”
Cadet DeGuzman went on to say that some of the additional things that were covered included facing movements, marching, and staying in time.
Cadet Summer Training will bring around 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
