Advanced Camp 4th Regiment CST, completes Alt-C Rifle qualification At Camby Hills Range 2018. Photo by John Kello.

FORT KNOX, KY – The Cadets of 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp completed ALT-C rifle qualifications with their M16A4 rifles on, on June 24th, at the Canby Hills Range.

“I feel that I’ve had my persistence tested,” said Cadet Candace Cole from the University of Texas at San Antonio. “I personally had to retrain and shoot multiple times to qualify, and I’m glad I didn’t give up.”

The ALT-C qualification is the Army’s 25-meter Alternate Course for rifle qualification. The Cadets are required to shoot at targets containing 10 silhouettes, scaled to represent distances ranging from 50 to 300 meters. They are evaluated on their timed performance when shooting from three firing positions. Cadets must fire 20 rounds in 120 seconds while in the prone supported position, then 10 rounds in 60 seconds in the prone unsupported, and 10 rounds in 60 seconds in the kneeling position.  Cadets must place a minimum of 23 of the 40 shots on the silhouettes to qualify. Scores are classified as the following, 0-22 is Unqualified, 23-29 is Marksman, 30-35 is Sharpshooter, and 36-40 is Expert.

Advanced Camp 4th Regiment CST, completes Alt-C Rifle qualification At Camby Hills Range 2018. Photo by John Kello.

Capt. Charles Dib, an assistant professor of military science, Washington University in Saint Louis, took time on the range to help retrain Cadet Cole. “I tried to help trouble shoot and make adjustments so she could succeed. She was keeping a very positive attitude and handled her frustration well.”

After qualifying, Cadet Nila Hayes from Towson University (host school Loyola University) shared an important observation from her Advance Camp experience, “You will be surprised by the connections you make with Cadets here. It’s such a diverse group and you don’t know anyone too well starting off, but you get to know who people for who they really are.”

The learning doesn’t end after class. Over the course of their training, Cadets will learn many lessons that will shape them as future leaders.