2nd Regiment Basic Camp Cadets participated in First Aid training July 10 here at Cadet Summer Training. Spc. Orrin Crenshaw explained the mission for the day. “Our objective today is to make sure the Cadets coming in, being that they are Basic Camp, making sure that we are prepping them for their Advanced Camp. So, making sure they kind of have an idea, so when they come in they are not coming in blind,” he said. “And also, to make sure that they are getting something out of first aid, so if someone gets hurt they can apply some of these [...]

During Cadet Summer Training the Cadets are the main focus, but there are also Active Duty Soldiers who spend their time developing these future leaders. During Field Training Exercises (FTX) there are active duty infantry Soldiers who work as the Opposing Force (OPFOR) against the Cadets. One unit in particular, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment have come to Fort Knox from Fort Wainwright, Alaska. For one day they let me observe them while they went through their procedures. These Soldiers work in four-day shifts. They spend four days in the field during the day helping create scenarios for the Cadets. Then [...]

2nd Regiment Basic Camp Cadets participated in terrain association/map reading July 8. 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 [...]

Fort Knox, Ky.–Cadets from 9th Regiment Advanced Camp completed Field Leadership Reaction Course (FLRC) to build their compatibility as a squad. 2nd Lt. David Parker, who commissioned this year from Wheaton College explained how the Cadets are being assessed. “So right now, going through the FLRC lanes we are mainly choosing a squad leader, and for that squad leader we are looking for certain attributes and competences that the Army define in ADRP6-22. So, as a Lieutenant I am looking for those attributes and competences, some of those include character, how they lead others, and things they achieve, for example. Cadet [...]

Basic Camp Cadets participated in Drill & Ceremony to hone their skills in a formation. Drill Sgt. Matt Archer, from the 8th Brigade, 95th Division, explained what they are being taught. “Currently what we are going over is proper wear of the uniform, followed by D and C. Which is just basic movements form.” Drill and Ceremony is an event that was introduced to the 2nd Regiment Cadets on Day 2 of Basic Camp. Cadet Dylan Deston, who attends University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, said that Basic Camp has been a culture shock for him. His Regiment has done Drill & Ceremony every [...]

1st Regiment Cadets graduated from Advanced Camp today on June 29, 2019 and get to begin the next phase of their careers. Before they were sent off to join their families they received advice from the guest speaker Maj. Gen. Gary Johnston. He told the Cadets, “What took me years to experience, you could experience in your first assignment. So, buckle up.” The Cadets seemed prepared and eager for that task. They have all passed Advanced Camp are in the driver seat toward their commission into the U.S. Army. Cadet Mikael Proper attends the University of Nevada, Reno, and was the winner [...]

Fort Knox, Ky.–1st Regiment Cadets at Advanced Camp were reunited with loved ones on Family in the midst of graduation tomorrow. Nearing the end of their time here at Fort Knox, some of the Cadets reflected on their journey and experience. Cadet Jacob Stedleim, who attends Virginia Tech, said, “I’ve definitely learned a lot more than I thought I would. I kind of came in thinking we were just going to get evaluated and I wouldn’t learn a lot tactically. I even learned more about myself leadership wise, but at the end of the day I learned a lot about tactics [...]

Basic Camp 1st Regiment Cadets participated in Drill & Ceremony to begin learning how to operate as a unit. Sgt. 1st Class Alonzo Banks, who oversees Alpha Company, explained what Drill & Ceremony is and why it is important to teach to the brand new Cadets, “Drill & Ceremony helps build a core within the unit. It’s also used to move from your element, from one location to another location in an expedient manner. Being able to keep command and control over the entire unit while in movement.” Cadet Weston Landon, who attends the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, described the day [...]

The Cadets from 5th Regiment completed their Land Navigation assessment June 17, 2019. The Cadets did a trial run before their test because of the rain and lightning the night before. Capt. Caitlin Moore, who oversees 5th Regiment, Bravo Company, explained the objective of Land Navigation. She said, “Out here at Land Nav, we are having the Cadets take a set number of coordinates and plot them on their map. Then navigate physically on the course to that point to collect that point, and then they bring it back and we grade them.” Moore also provided context for the scouting phase [...]

Cadets from Advanced Camp, 4th Regiment, Delta Company took part in the Field Leadership Reaction Course (FLRC) to build camaraderie and leadership skills within their platoons. Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Hankins, who is a member of Cadet Command, explained the course. He said, “Field Leadership Reaction Course is (several) obstacles designed to challenge squad sized cadets. They will take turns in leadership positions. The intention is to challenge and make them work together for teamwork, communication, adaptability, and decision-making.” Hankins shared his advice for the Cadets, “A good plan executed violently right after planning phase is better than a perfect plan [...]

The Cadets from 1st Regiment, Alpha Company took part in Field Training Exercises (FTX) to showcase the skills they have learned in Advanced Camp. FTX is a graded mission where Cadets are assessed on how they handle certain leadership positions and the mission itself. The Cadets have just completed day one of the walk phase, which is a part of the crawl, walk, run development technique used to teach information that builds upon each other. Tyler Sisson, 2nd Lt. who graduated from University of Alabama explained the grading process. He said, “So the grading process is we go assess Cadets from [...]

The Cadets from A Co., 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp completed the Hand Grenade Qualification Course June 11, 2019. Sgt. 1st Class James Nichols, from 4th Infantry Division, described the course. He said, “This course is the hand grenade qualification course. They are going to have one lane with six stations, they need to get a go, that is (passing) four out of six stations. It’s all graded on a go or no-go basis, depending on alternate throwing positions from knock out a bunker, to knock out a mortar pit, to taking out a vehicle.” The Cadets were optimistic about completing the [...]

Leadership. It is a word that the Army prides itself upon. The Army is made up of thousands of Soldiers who live and give their lives for their country. The job is not for everyone. You have to have a certain desire and tenacity to serve and lead for a higher calling. Leaders by definition are “the person/people who lead/s or command/s a group, organization, or country.” Here at Cadet Summer Training (CST), Soldiers take on the task of preparing and making the future leaders in our country’s Army. Capt. Vernita Handsborough, who teaches at Georgia Military College, gave her definition [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0DIMJAD98g[/embedyt] Cadets participated in a six-mile ruck march assessment at 4 a.m. on June 9, 2019 to prepare themselves for their 12-mile ruck march at the end of Advanced Camp. The Cadets have to complete the six-mile trek in two hours in order to maintain the required pace. Lt. Col. Michael Marchetti Company Commander of Bravo Company 3rd regiment explained the ruck process.  He said, “A ruck is a backpack that soldiers wear that carries all of their equipment. For this ruck, the required weight is 35 pounds.” He continued, “Ruck marches are important because the Army moves on its [...]

Fort Knox, Ky.–Cadets at Advanced Camp made history June 3, 2019, by being the first Cadets to throw live hand grenades during their time here at Cadet Summer Training. The Cadets were briefed on hand grenade procedures and then were given the task to practice with training grenades. Once they passed the training portion, they were taken down to Christenson Range where each Cadet had to complete two safe throws with live grenades. Maj. Edward Adams, an ROTC instructor at Gonzaga University, said the live hand grenade event is a way to make the Cadets training more rigorous. “It used to [...]

Cadets from First Regiment took part in the WPN Qualification at George Blair Range to test their marksmanship capabilities. 1st Lt. Mike Marta from Apache Company 212 said the course has, “40 targets that they (Cadets) can hit, anywhere from 50 to 300 meters. To qualify they need to hit 23 out of 40.” Marta explained that if they don’t hit 23 out of the 40 targets, the Cadets will be sent to a retrain tent. “They will be trained by two AMU, the Army Marksmanship Unit, certified NCO’s,” he said. Cadet Michael Lugowsai attends Slippery Rock University, and is fromPittsburgh,Pennsylvania, [...]

Fort Knox, Ky.–The Tactical Operations Center (TOC) is coming to the end of their preparations for Cadet Summer Training (CST) which will provide a well-run experience for the Cadets. The TOC is staffed by Cadre from different states who are stationed at Fort Knox for the summer for CST. They run the day-to-day operations of Advanced and Basic Camp. Capt. Evan Adams from Maverick Battalion, a Military Science instructor at University of Texas-Arlington, stressed the importance of being a cohesive unit. He said, “People come from all over the states, so we really have to integrate amongst each other.” Adams said [...]

Fort Knox, Ky.–The Cadre participated in an event called Alternate Course of Fire (ALT-C) at Schroeder shooting range. In this event they practiced on a Known Distance Range, a range that allows the participants to shoot at 100, 200 and 300 meters to test their lethality and grouping. Task Force Lethal and the Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) led the training. Task Force Lethal is a unit from Fort Carson, Colorado who came to Fort Knox to teach Cadets for the summer. The Army Marksmanship Unit is a part of the Army that provides arms training for the soldiers. First Lieutenant Adrian [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAcqG0b6XNg[/embedyt] Fort Knox, Ky. — First Regiment Cadets were put through their first Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) to see if they meet the basic required physical standards. The first APFT is a way to see if the Cadets are in top physical shape when they arrive at Advanced Camp. The Cadets will hopefully only have to take the test once, however, they will get the opportunity to re-test if they fail. The test covers these three events: push-ups, sit-ups, and a two-mile run. Maj. Edward Adams, an ROTC instructor at Gonzaga University, said “We generally would like for them [...]