FORT KNOX, Ky.—Cadets of 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp, were further conditioned in their future leader training in the Call for Fire Trainer on June 18. “Call for Fire Trainer is used to test and teach Army ROTC Cadets the skill of how to call in indirect fire. It’s a skill that’s required that can help save their lives and the lives of their Soldiers one day.” said Lt. Col. Larry Rentz, Officer in Charge. The overall objective was that Cadets would walk away with an understanding of the call and purpose for fire as well as the process, radio transitions and [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—4th Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets were on the Fort Knox instillation for three days before their leadership skills were put to the test on Monday during the Field Leadership Reaction Course (FLRC). “These are situations that we have to think critically and have very limited supplies,” said Cadet Courtney Eisma, Rutgers University, South Brunswick, New Jersey. “You have to use whatever you have to your advantage and it is super important to communicate what you want very clearly to your team and get feed back.” Eisma and her team were at a station in the course that did not [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Cadets of 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp took on their weapons qualification July 3 at George Blair range. “What’s required of Cadets is discipline and the fundamentals of shooting such as the firing position, the trigger squeeze, the breathing and also target acquisition, which is identifying the target.” said Staff Sgt. Austin W. Bowles, Range Safety Officer, Fort Hood, Texas. Bowles expressed that he felt as though it would be difficult for Cadets who were not familiar with firearms to qualify given that marksmanship can be a tedious task to master. Bowles also shared his advice on how he believed [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Cadets of 4th Regiment, Basic Camp, put their physical fitness skills to the test bright and early during the Army Physical Fitness Test July 2. “To be honest, it’s tough, but its nice having the other Cadets around.” said Cadet Mikayla Blaska, Princeton, “We are all going through the same thing. Its nice to have unity and be going through the struggle together.” During the APFT, Cadets are required to complete push-ups, sit-ups and a 2-mile run to complete the entire test. Cadets were required to be awake well before dawn for the APFT, which is strenuous for most. [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Cadets of 1st Regiment, Basic Camp, were introduced to new tactics on Tuesday, June 12, at the Christensen Range, Fort Knox, Ky. The training focused on small unit tactics. The training was broken down into three rotations: individual movement training (IMT), hand grenade training, and a classroom style briefing. Cadets dressed in their field gear and used camouflage face paint, branches and leaves to blend in with their surroundings. “What we are doing here today is infantry training. A lot of the Cadets are given blanks and are being put in a situation where they are going to be [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Basic Camp Cadets learned the importance of the Center of the Army Profession and Ethics (CAPE) Sunday afternoon, June 11. Cadets were briefed in a classroom setting on the values of trust, morals and ethics. These are key to having a successful profession in the Army. Following the briefing, Cadets were given a scenario to put what they had learned into effect. “It’s basically a team building exercise which will continue over into the Bravo Company,” said 2LT Jessica Turner, platoon leader, of Alcorn State University, Woodridge, Virginia, “You get to see what they really think about this as [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Cadets of 4th Regiment, Basic Camp, Alpha Company, were instilled with the seven key Army values June 18, taking a break from the heat with some indoor training. Sergeant Victor Jimenez, originally from Cayey, Puerto Rico, is one of the Drill Sergeants from the Reserve drill sergeant unit stationed in St. Petersburg, Florida. He will be assisting with Cadet Summer Training until July 7. “You are getting a weird opportunity to train your supervisors.” said Jimenez. “Our oldest Cadets are going to commission and become platoon leaders, so we want to instill the basic mentality of the Army’s values, [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—History is defined by Merriam-Webster Dictionary as the whole series of past events connected with someone or something. Cadets of 6th Regiment, Basic Camp, learned July 8 that there is much depth to the Army’s history that relates to each and every one of them. 2LT Olivia Combs, Slippery Rock University, helped to instruct Cadets on Army as a profession and assisted with the Army History class. “We want to establish a knowledge for the Cadets to understand the difference between joining the Army as a profession and being a professional and expert in their field as opposed to [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Cadets of 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp, became more than just Cadets on Saturday, July 1; they became Basic Camp graduates. “It’s a big relief.” said Cadet graduate Logan Berghoefer, Pacific Lutheran University. “The past month has not been necessarily difficult skills-wise, but mentally, emotionally, it has been rough. I’m glad that it’s finally over.” Berghoefer was excited to have completed Basic Camp and to have built many long-lasting relationships with those in his platoon. He expressed that he felt as though he would be leaving Basic Camp with a greater sense of self-discipline that he could further bring into [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Cadets of 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp, zipped, shimmied and built their ways to becoming future leaders at the Alex Field Leader Reaction Course. “We work in squad-based teams and we are conducting a leadership exercise to best navigate obstacles as a group.” explained Cadet Alex Northington, Virginia Military Institute, “The objective is to increase communication and best accomplish each obstacle by working together with hopes of bonding the group through teamwork.” Northington acted as Squad Leader during Station 7, Cliffhanger, and he was able to brief his team as well as observe how his team worked together to problem solve [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Cadets of Advanced Camp, 5th Regiment, built leadership skills, June 16, at Alex Field Leadership Reaction Course. “We are still in the getting-to-know-you process, so we are trying to work together and build better relations so that when we get out to the field, we can work better as a unit.” said Cadet Apoorva Parab, University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, Texas. The Cadets on Parab’s team were at Station 10, Rope Bridge, and were required to get the entire team across without anyone falling through the bridge within the allotted time. They were able to finish with almost [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—On Saturday, June 9, Cadets were issued their Multiple Laser Integrated Engagement System (MILES) gear to gain combat and mission experience in the Army’s learning-geared version of laser tag. “The overall objective is to teach them TTPs (tactics, techniques and procedures), basically their combat roles and how they lead solders in the field,” said Sgt. Timothy Horgan, Hawaii, “it helps with MEDEVAC and other medical purposes because when they ‘die’ they can provide quick reaction to fallen comrades and perform CASEVAC. It makes sure that they’re ready to go in to combat.” The Cadets report to issuing to receive [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Advanced Camp 2nd Regiment’s Charlie Company took on the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) chamber on Friday, June 9. “The propose of the training today is to give the future leaders of the Army confidence in the Army’s equipment. It’s not just the CBRN equipment, it’s all of the Army’s equipment, just to let them know that the Army gives us the best equipment in the world.” said Sgt. 1st Class Jason Nedoroscik, 3rd Calvary Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas. Nedoroscik is a range safety officer (RSO) working to ensure that the Cadets remained safe during their training, especially [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky,–Squad situational tactical exercises (STX) bring teams together to develop problem solving skills and gain real-life experience through scenario training involving Atropia, a mock city setting. “Being an opposing force (OPFOR), I didn’t really think that this would be the most exciting thing, but honestly it’s not that bad. It gives us an opportunity to learn as well as make new friends which is really great.” said Cadet Anthony Hazboun of Dickinson State University-Harrisburg, a Basic Camp Cadet that was helping with the role-play scenarios. Several Basic Camp Cadets were utilized in this exercise to act as the Ariana [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Cadets in the 3rd regiment of Basic Camp arrived to Building 5919 eager to begin their training. “I’m really excited for doing the rappelling wall and learning more about basic solider skills.” Said Cadet Jennifer Vandenbosch, Marquette University, of Appleton, Wisconsin. She hopes to bring home better leadership attributes for her country and leadership skills in general. “I would define leadership as leading people in a good way so that they would want to lead others in a positive manner as well.” Said Cadet Vandenbosch. At Basic Camp, Cadets learn their basic skills of ROTC and leadership before moving [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Basic Camp and Advanced Camp are Cadet Summer Training (CST) programs at Fort Knox designed to instill leadership qualities in all of the Cadets that go though them. As Cadets began arriving for in-processing of Basic Camp, they shared their excitements for the summer as well as their view on what leadership means to them. In-processing is the first step in these Cadets’ journeys to becoming better leaders. Here the incoming Cadets are being checked to make sure that their travel to and from is taken care of as well as having all of their entry paperwork taken care [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Cadet Summer Training (CST) is unlike any other summer camp; as Cadets begin arriving, there are many stations they must undergo before they can begin CST, height and weight being one of the first to ensure that Cadets start the summer healthy. Because of the harsh weather conditions and intense training at Advanced Camp CST, Cadets need to work hard to stay as healthy as possible. “Drinking water is huge. On top of that, get good nutrition all around. You have to eat to maintain good nutrition that you need to keep moving. It’s going to burn a lot [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—The Cadet Summer Training (CST) Medical Tactical Operations Center (MED TOC) team works hard seven days a week to ensure the safety of Cadets and Cadre during CST and prepare to address any emergency that might occur. “The purpose of the exercise was so that everyone could work on their communication for if something actually does happen. When we do exercises like this it helps us to find holes in the plans that we have and hopefully we can patch those up for when the real thing happens.” said Specialist Dwyer Henderson of the MED TOC team. The MED [...]