2nd Regiment Basic Camp Cadets participated in terrain association/map reading July 8.
Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp walk along a 100 Meter route in order to obtain their pace count during their Land Navigation training at Fort Knox, Ky., July 8, 2019. Land Navigation is an essential skill for all Soldiers, and will be a vital skill to these Cadets after they commission as an Officer. | Photo by Kyle Gallagher, CST Public Affairs Office
This begins with knowing the standards for the course.
Maj. Bruce Pauley, the officer in charge of the range, said, “The task is to get from one point to another while dismounting. They have to get three out of four points during the day for a go. We have verified all the points out there and they have to go find them.”
Cadet Collin Apape attends the University of Northern Iowa and is from Arlington Heights, Illinois. He put the days objective in his own words. “Our objective is to find points based off of our starting point, and navigate the woods with only a map, compass, and protractor.”
Apape had high praises for the Cadre at the range. He said, “Our cadre come to us as if we are novices and don’t have any previous experience, and just teach us the basics that we need to know to get the objective done.”
Cadet Kyra Sucharski, from the University of Delaware, echoed Apape’s statements. The Laurel Maryland native said, “I have been in my program for a year, but I missed my first two years. So, it’s really really great being around a lot of people who are in the same boat. And having Cadre that have a lot of experience with all of this information that can really get hands on with you and teach you about all of the military knowledge you may be missing.”
Sucharski broke down the methods that the Cadre use to teach the Cadets.
Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp have their plotted map points checked during their Land Navigation training at Fort Knox, Ky., July 8, 2019. Land Navigation is an essential skill for all Soldiers, and will be a vital skill to these Cadets after they commission as an Officer. | Photo by Kyle Gallagher, CST Public Affairs Office
“They are focusing on the basics and they just want to make sure that everyone knows what they are doing. So, if you are struggling they will come over and help you, hands on,” she said. “If you need a little more guidance they will help you, maybe give you someone who knows a little bit more about what you are doing. If you know what you are doing, they will just check you off and let you help others. Which I think is really great. “
A Cadet from 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp plots points on his map during his Land Navigation training at Fort Knox, Ky., July 8, 2019. Land Navigation is an essential skill for all Soldiers, and will be a vital skill to these Cadets after they commission as an Officer. | Photo by Kyle Gallagher, CST Public Affairs Office
Cadet Warren Metrailer, from Georgia Military College, said events like these have helped him gel within his platoon. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native said, “This is day 12. Since I got here it’s been interesting. At first, I was very home sick. I was really upset, especially with all the discipline and trying to get used to it and trying to find ways to fit in. But after awhile you start to bond with the people around you, and it starts to feel a lot better and you begin to enjoy yourself and find the fun in all this stuff.”
The Basic Camp Cadets will continue the fun, as they continue to plot their way to graduation July 27.
