FORT KNOX, Ky. — 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets performed their last mission during the Field Training Exercise July 16, 2018.
All the Cadets are required to go through the Field Training Exercise as a culminating event of their summer training for preparation prior to commissioning.
5th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets performed their last mission during the Field Training Exercise. (Photo by Angela Yin)
The Field Training Exercise is created to build unit cohesion both at the platoon level, squad level, and company level.
Cadets were placed into several teams assigned with a sergeant to tests the Cadet’s ability to operate as a team during challenging missions. All units were given mission tasks on security patrols, command post exercises, and reconnaissance, summarized in a brief to the commander.
Most of them have learned basic principles or skills at their college. However, most Cadets come from different schools with a different learning experience.
5th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets performed their last mission during the Field Training Exercise. (Photo by Angela Yin)
Various perspectives makes it more difficult for them working together in the same team. It made Joshua Kest from Texas Tech University feel challenged dealing with each other here.
“We all come from a different background with different personalities; small things can matter at first,” Kest said. “It’s really important to put personal bias aside on the mission.”
During the last three weeks, these Cadets were living in the woods, doing mission after mission and a bunch of different challenges.
Being out in the field takes all the Cadets out of their comfort zone and has them doing things they normally wouldn’t do. It assists these Cadets in building their tactical and leadership skills, as well as developing their confidence.
5th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets performed their last mission during the Field Training Exercise. (Photo by Angela Yin)
“You were going out there, losing a little bit of physical strength, and lowering sleep and lowering food,” Philip Morrone, Florida Southern University, said. “But that’s just part of the Army.”
“You body might be losing something it has, but you are getting much tougher and building up more mental agility out here,” he said.
