By: Savoury Jacobson
FORT KNOX, Ky. – On May 25, Cadet Summer Training officially commenced at Fort Knox. The leaders of tomorrow, in every sense, are being trained during the summer of 2017. Over 9,000 Cadets from all over the nation fly into the heat of Kentucky to complete a thirty-one day course that will equip them for the future.
A Cadet stands alert during field training at Fort Knox, Ky. (Photo by Breanne Ward.)
There are ten Advanced Camp regiments, each with an average of five hundred and fifty to six hundred individuals. The first phase involves reception, staging, and onward movement. These eight days lay the foundation for training and help Cadets adjust to military systems. Preliminary things are covered like basic rifle marksmanship and an Army physical fitness test. The second phase of Integration involves several things like squad battle drills and land navigation, preparing the Cadets for their upcoming deployment to ‘Atropia’. This simulated deployment experience is the first opportunity Cadets have to completely lead without cadre involvement. The regiment will live out in a make shift village for a certain amount of days and cover things like small unit tactics, patrol base operations, and a twelve-mile foot march. The final, and last phase of Advanced Camp training is redeployment and reintegration. Cadets return from the field to complete things such as a regimental run and branch roundtables, where the Cadets will discuss which branch he or she would like to join. The regiment will also experience a family day, along with end-of-camp commissions and graduation. After Advanced Camp, Cadets who have completed all commissioning requirements graduate as Second Lieutenants in the United States Army.
Equipment is issued when Cadets arrive to Fort Knox and will last them through all phases of either Basic and or Advanced Camp. (Photo by Emily Peacock.)
Eight Basic Camp regiments will also complete a thirty-one day course. The Cadets going through this process are mostly contracted, along with some selected others. They are typically freshman or sophomores, with each regiment containing three hundred and fifty to four hundred individuals. The course starts out with reception where the Cadets are processed and have sexual assault (SHARP) and equal opportunity briefings. Basic things such as drill and ceremony are also covered, along with a physical and counseling. The next phase is indoctrination; where the Cadets learn about army values and army history, practice drilling and handling their weapons correctly (WPN immersion). The next phase is individual task development where map reading/land navigation is practiced. First aid is also covered along with radio training and CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) among other things. The fourth phase of Basic Camp is tactical.
Working as a team at Fort Knox and succeeding isn’t always a somber affair. (Photo by Lindsey Crown.)
Field training exercises, movement techniques, planning and orders process, are all covered. Final phase is recovery and goal setting, where the Cadets go through a high ropes course, a regimental run, and branch orientation, among other things. Just like Advanced Camp, all Basic Camp regiments have a family day and graduation at the completion.
Leadership is something that can be executed well or extremely poorly. It is a concept that takes time to learn and even more time to master. Team building, planning, decision-making, and the skills to survive as a Soldier are all learned at Fort Knox during Cadet Summer Training (CST). To be a good leader is the conclusion, to train in that vein is the goal. It is during summer training at Fort Knox that the Soldiers of tomorrow are made.
A Cadet from Basic Camp, 2nd Regiment, Alpha Company practices lying in prone position during PMI (preliminary marksmanship instruction). June 9 at Fort Knox, Ky. (Photo by Emily LaForme)
Cadet Summer Training will bring around 8,200 Cadets through Basic and Advanced Camp this summer on Fort Knox. These camps are designed to help challenge, grow and improve various skills and leadership qualities within the Cadets. If you think you have what it takes to be a Cadet or if you are interested in a job after college click the following link: https://my.goarmy.com/info/rotc1/index.jsp?iom=IP08-AUTO-R1NA-BR-XXX-XX-XXX-MO-XX-X-BRCMAC:IP08
