Cadet Hoang Tran, University of California Davis, helps unload an M249 light machine gun during the refit day before 11th Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets depart for the Grizzly portion of their Field Training Exercise (FTX), Fort Knox, Ky., Aug. 7, 2019. | Photo by Kyle Crawford, CST Public Affairs Office.
Cadets from 11th Regiment, Advanced Camp, arrived at Assembly Area (AA) Densberger for a refit day to prepare for their transition from Area of Operations (AO) Panther to AO Grizzly. Grizzly is the final portion of their Field Training Exercise (FTX).
During a refit day, Cadets take a shower, switch out laundry, and get some much-needed rest.
During the Panther phase of the FTX, cadets went four days and three nights without a shower. Cadet Vest Timothy, a student at Jacksonville State University, explained that it felt really good to get cleaned up for a bit before going back out into the field.
Cadets from 11th Regiment, Advanced Camp, sort through laundry bags during their refit day prior to the Grizzly portion of their Field Training Exercise (FTX), Fort Knox, Ky., Aug. 7, 2019. | Photo by Kyle Crawford, CST Public Affairs Office.
“It feels really nice and refreshing,” Timothy, said. “The showers are definitely a high motivator and morale boost for sure.”
Throughout the refit day, the weather was consistently overcast with a high of 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Cadet Dakaylia Cofield, a student at the University of South Carolina Upstate and a part of Wofford College’s ROTC program, said the cloudy weather was perfect for a refit day.
“The weather today is amazing,” Cofield said. “The last refit day was super-hot, so once we took a shower… we were like, we’re just going to sweat it off. It was still relaxing, but today is going to be even more relaxing. Because the weather is not too hot or cold, and the wind is blowing. So, I think everybody is going to benefit from this refit day.”
Cofield said she enjoyed taking a shower, but she was most excited to catch up on some sleep during the refit day.
Cadets from 11th Regiment, Advanced Camp, head toward the showers during their refit day prior to the Grizzly portion of their Field Training Exercise (FTX), Fort Knox, Ky., Aug. 7, 2019. | Photo by Kyle Crawford, CST Public Affairs Office.
“Getting into my sleeping bag and going to sleep,” Cofield said. “I just need at least three hours… three hours and I’ll be alright (laughs).”
Tomorrow the Cadets of 11th Regiment, Advanced Camp, will begin their final FTX missions at AO Grizzly. Leaving just three more days out in the field and a 12-mile foot march back to the barracks.
