FORT KNOX, Ky. –Advanced Camp 9th Regiment Cadets learned the fundamentals of Preliminary Marksmanship Instructions (PMI) July 16, during the annual Cadet Summer Training (CST) at Fort Knox, Kentucky.
Advanced Camp 9th Regiment Cadets learn the importance of minute of angle (MOA). One of the three stations of the PMI pit, July 16, at Fort Knox, Ky. (Photo By: Jordyn McCulley)
Cadets learn the fundamentals of shooting the Army’s M4 Carbine. Three stations were set up for the Cadets to cycle through, teaching them basic rifle marksmanship skills.
“We split them up into three platoons, 1st platoon goes to positions and fundamentals, 2nd platoon goes to ballistics, trajectory and minute of angle and 3rd platoon goes to maintenance,” said Specialist Ronnie Cummings, 3rd Calvary Regiment. “Throughout the afternoon the platoons will rotate through all of the stations.”
The first station, fundamentals and positions, is where the Cadet learn breathing techniques to steady their aim and shooting positions to help improve supported and unsupported firing. There are three positions that they learn, prone supported and unsupported, kneeling supported and standing supported.
The next station is ballistics, trajectory and MOA; the Cadets need to be able to find the right distance of the target and be able to evaluate what they need to do to hit the target. This station goes hand in hand with the fundamentals and positions, Cadets need to be able to accommodate their situation and apply the proper adjustments. KY. (Photo by Amber Vincent)
The final station is maintenance; Cadets learn how to take apart their rifle and how to put it back together. They also learn the name, function and what not to do with each of the pieces; some of the names the Cadets learn are charging handle, buttstock and firing Pin, to name a few.
Advanced Camp 9th Regiment cadets learn were they need to place their fingers, July 16, at Fort Knox, Ky. (Photo By: Jordyn McCulley)
“I expect the Cadets to properly learn how load and unload their weapon, the different positions they will need to shoot, and the basic fundamentals of marksmanship,” said Cummings.
Cadets practice these different stations for when the time comes they know that their weapon is clean, ready to shoot and is put together correctly.
After today the Cadets will head to the rifle range and practice the techniques they learned, then they will head to the qualification range to be tested and need to pass to graduate. A passing grade would be either a 24 out of 40, and for a Cadet to still be in the running for the RECONDO badge they would need to score a 36 out of 40.
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
