FORT KNOX, Ky. – Advanced Camp, 7th Regiment Cadets took on their second day in the STX Lanes, in a Cadre lead ambush against OPFOR (Opposing Forces) for their training at Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky.
Advanced Camp 7th regiment comes together for a quick briefing for July 14, Situational Tactical Exercise at Fort Knox, Ky. (Photo By: Jordyn McCulley)
The Situational Tactical Exercise or STX Lanes are a series of four lanes that are staged into different scenarios to help the Cadets learn. The four lanes have different scenarios, Raid and Recon, Ambush, Movement to Contact, and a lane that combines all three of those scenarios that the Cadets must go through.
As it is the second day of their STX lane training the Cadets are still getting the hang of their training they still have a lot to learn. During their STX lanes they switch leadership throughout the four days they are there. The different leaders are Platoon Leaders, Platoon Sergeant and Squad Leader.
“The platoon leader guides that soldiers and makes the decisions of the platoon,” said Tong Wu, Oregon State University. “Its a lot of planning, paying attention to detail and really looking at the small things; be able to bring all the small pieces together to create a bigger picture.”
Platoon leader is normally either a 2nd lieutenant or 1st lieutenant. They are also the highest-ranking, and only officers in the platoon.
Platoon Sergeant is at the rank of a sergeant first class.
A Platoon Sergeant ensures that the Soldiers have everything they need. They report back to the Platoon leader on anything that the Soldiers are missing or out of. The PSG also helps out the Platoon leader giving them guidance as they lead their troops.
Advanced Camp 7th Regiment Cadets come together after the ambush to assess what they could improve, July 14, at Fort Knox, Ky. (Photo By: Jordyn McCulley)
The Squad leader is normally is a Sergeant or Staff Sergeant and “leads a nine man into a controlled element,” said cadet Denton Carman, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico. “Our squad was tasked with being the assault elements of the ambush and I was in charge and keeping accountability of my squad.”
Having these different pieces in the military help the Cadets learn what they might be doing in the future when they do become leaders.
“Its important to understand the roles of the other leaders because it helps the cohesion of the platoon; each person in the Army has their own role to do,” said Wu.
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
