Cadet Ethan Kim takes a knee and searches for Oppositional Forces during a Platoon Situational Training Exercise on June 22 at Fort Knox, Ky. (Photo by Emily Peacock)
FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp conducted a Platoon Situational Training Exercise yesterday at Area of Operation Wolverine during the initial Cadre-led phase of Field Training Exercises.
The Cadets did a run-through of the attack before going it alone. During the exercise, Cadets not currently in Advanced Camp posed as the Opposing Forces to give 2nd Regiment Cadets a realistic enemy to fight.
Cadet Michael Larsen, a student at Pacific Lutheran University, explained OPFOR helps challenge the Cadets conducting missions on the STX lanes.
Cadet Luke Guibord, University of Maine, Opposing Forces, steadies his M240B machine gun as he awaits approaching Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, during a Platoon Situational Training Exercise on June 22 at Fort Knox, Ky. (Photo by Emily Peacock)
Larsen stated the OPFOR’s mission is to defend their objective (the area they’re occupying) and launch a counterassault.
As OPFOR, he learned about digging in and defending an area and how to build a fighting position.
“Being able to see what works and what doesn’t, especially in the realm of communication,” Larsen mentioned, has been his biggest takeaway.
Cadet Luke Guibord, a rising MS III at the University of Maine, volunteered to be OPFOR to enhance training for Cadets at camp and get some training of his own.
Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, participated in a Platoon Situational Training Exercise on June 22 at Fort Knox, Ky. (Photo by Emily Peacock)
“When they make their mistakes, I can learn from that,” said Guibord. “It’ll benefit me when I’m in their shoes next year.”
Cadet Brett Leasure, a rising MS III at Sam Houston State University, similarly expressed his willingness to participate in CST as OPFOR.
“I get to see what Advanced Camp is,” said Leasure. “I get to be a part of it.”
Leasure added, “When you see [a mission] get run over and over again you pick up on small things,” noting he’s glad he knows what to prepare for and and study before going to Advanced Camp next summer.
