Last Updated: June 30th, 2021By

Fort Knox, Ky. — Cadets from 4th Regiment spent day 25 of Advanced Camp  tackling another field training exercise, July 2.

Cadets fought through a sticky heat as they took an assault objective at 8:30 a.m.

Cadet Zachary Turner, University of Central Missouri, gives orders to Cadet Irving Davis, Norfolk State University, during a 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp assault field training exercise at Fort Knox, Ky, June 2, 2019. | Photo by Dustin Massengill, CST Public Affairs Office.

The goal was a clear — set up a defense in a open, red-clay field encircled by three car-sized mounds covered in trees and small foliage. Oppositional forces stay nestled into the greenery.

Acting platoon sergeant, Cadet Brian Velez, from Florida State University, said the mission started last night during the planning phase.

“Last night we started planning the mission, concept of operations and at the beginning I thought we had a solid plan,” said Velez, “but as any exercise out here [in field training exercises] goes once the plan gets moving you start hitting bumps in the road.”

Cadets left late for their mission and met multiple obstacles before reaching the objective. Multiple linear danger areas, spaces that leave the flanks exposed slowing team movements, and constantine wire, large coil razor wire, slowed their already late approach.

A Cadet from 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp takes captures an “enemy combatant” during an assault field training exercise at Fort Knox, Ky, June 2, 2019. | Photo by Dustin Massengill, CST Public Affairs Office.

The constantine wire was the pivotal issue for the platoon. It left cadets in the assault element exposed long enough for them to take fire from the oppositional forces to open fire, resulting in one simulated casualty. However, Velez felt the positive communication help them recover and ultimately complete the objective.

Cadet Erin Blanchard, Louisiana State University, echoed Velez saying, “All together we have great communication, both verbal and nonverbal, we do a very good job of making eye-contact and using hand signals.”

The cadets where able to clear the full objective. They neutralized two oppositional forces and took one captures an “enemy combatant” .

4th Regiment, Advanced Camp cadets have three more days of field training before they will take on their 12-mile ruck march and prepare for graduation on July 14.