FORT KNOX, Ky. — Fourth Regiment, Basic Camp, Cadets put their marching skills to the test today during the platoon and regimental drill and ceremony (D&C) competition.
Cadets competed in two different competition; a platoon-level D&C competition, where the six platoons from 4th Regiment performed in front of Cadre who chose the wining platoon, and a regimental D&C competition, where Cadets are individually competing to win.
Cadets from 4th Regiment, Basic Camp, compete in the platoon drill and ceremony (D&C) competition on Aug. 3 at Fort Knox, Kentucky. D&C teaches the Cadets discipline and personal confidence. | Photo by Reagan Zimmerman, CST Public Affairs Office
Over the past 28 days, Cadets learned Army customs and courtesies, how to march and conduct themselves in a professional manner.
“The purpose of this competition was to test the culmination of everything they learned over the past four weeks,” 4th Regiment Drill Sgt. Justin Standifer said.
Standifer believes D&C as something bigger than just learning how to march and salute. He sees it as training that teaches them discipline.
“D&C is the basic discipline that instills further discipline throughout their careers. It is the backbone of the military,” Standifer said.
If there is one thing Standifer hopes his Cadets take away from Basic Camp, it is to focus on their discipline and always hold themselves to the highest standard.
“It’s the military bearing standard,” Standifer said. “It’s not showing anything on your face and not wearing your emotions on your sleeve.”
In the Zone
Arizona State University Cadet Joel Tedone focused on his military bearing and won the regimental competition.
Cadet Joel Tedone (left), from Arizona State University, and Cadet Sherise Sharpe (right), from Old Dominion University, compete as the final two Cadets in the regimental drill and ceremony (D&C) competition on Aug. 3 at Fort Knox, Kentucky. D&C teaches the Cadets discipline and personal confidence. | Photo by Reagan Zimmerman, CST Public Affairs Office
“It is all about the way you react to what you have been told and being able to follow orders,” Tedone said regarding his success.
When asked what his trick to success was, he said it was all about mentality.
“In your mind you have to think, I have to follow what’s commanded to me,” Tedone said. “So, get in that zone, because if you have anything distracting you, you are not going to be able to perform the way you are supposed to.”
Together.
The Cadets believe having a strong sense of personal discipline ultimately helped with their unit cohesion.
Since day one, the Cadets march together, eat together, learn together, make mistakes together and get disciplined together.
Cadets from 4th Regiment, Basic Camp, compete in the platoon drill and ceremony (D&C) competition on Aug. 3 at Fort Knox, Kentucky. D&C teaches the Cadets discipline and personal confidence. | Photo by Reagan Zimmerman, CST Public Affairs Office
“It’s doing all of those things together that makes us be able to work together,” Tedone said. “And in this environment, there has to be cohesion.”
Without unit cohesion, they would not have been unable to communicate or be able to accomplish anything.
“The only person you have next to you is that Soldier so it is always about finding a way to communicate with those people, work well with those people and work affectively with those people,” Tedone said.
Standifer has seen a change in his regiment since their arrival.
“There has been a dramatic improvement. It is amazing to see them change from day one to day thirty-one,” Standifer said. “Their overall standards have improved dramatically.”
He hopes the Cadets took away the overall Army product from Basic Camp.
“What I mean by the overall Army product is how to conduct yourself in certain situations, customs and curtsies, because they are going to be trained more on this at Advanced Camp and [Basic Officer Leadership Course].”
