By Michele Brisco and Joel Polarek At 5:30 a.m, most college students roll over in a warm bed, drooling on their pillow. For Cadets in 7th Regiment, Advanced Camp, 5:30 a.m. means it’s time for their APFT – Army Physical Fitness Test. Cadets must pass benchmarks for push-ups, sit-ups, and a two-mile run. “It takes a lot of preparation, especially since we’ve had a few days of just eating MREs, as well as not really having an opportunity to work out.” Cadet Christopher Pirrie from the University of Tampa shared. “Just know that your score might drop a little bit due to that.” [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Families collected at Fort Knox Parade Field to mark the end of 1st Regiment, Basic Camp’s 31-day training. Cadre, Cadets, and loved ones felt the weight of today’s duty, honor, and pride in country echoed in every sonic blast of the cannonade across Brooks Field. Even the wind seemed to know its place this morning, as it brought flags to a light flutter. The General’s Surprise Speech… Maj. Gen. John Evans took hold of the microphone for an impromptu speech, reaching out into the audience to give a stronger perspective of today’s meaning. “So, this is the unscripted part [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Military families learn to treasure small moments in between leaves. In many ways, those times become that much sweeter. 1st Regiment, Basic Camp graduates tomorrow, bringing their 31-day stay at Fort Knox to a close. Today, families, significant others, and Cadets reunited, trading embraces, kisses, and congratulations. “We love getting her back, but we are so proud of what she did,” Steve Friedrich said. “Giving her a hug, that was the main thing I wanted to do today.” His daughter, Cadet Madison Friedrich, thanked God and Jesus for being back with her family. Basic Camp is the first step [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Cayenne pepper is a season of choice for many, but purposely breathing it in is not. CS gas feels as if ground cayenne pepper is in your airways, sinuses, eyes, and on your skin. Your mind can only focus on the pain flanking you from every angle. The NBC Chamber took center stage Monday during 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp’s CBRN contamination training. While this was a painful experience, it does not compare to exposure from a stronger substance. CBRN training covers chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear events. America’s enemies have no problem using these warfare tactics. In an effort [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Black silhouettes peeked out across the pop-up range. The challenge is not where they are going to appear, but when. 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets shot M-4s in the prone supported, prone unsupported, and kneeling positions, changing aim to keep the target in sight. Cadre use this exercise to familiarize Cadets with the pop-up mechanism and enhance their basic marksmanship skills. They will encounter the pop-up range often as Lieutenants. Between using blanks in Field Training Exercises and live-rounds on the pop-up range, Cadets have come as close as possible to understanding organized combat tactics thanks to these [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Seeds sprout even in harsh environments. However, a greenhouse creates a climate where seedlings thrive. These seedlings are fortified, strong, and ready to rise above the rest. Some degree of leadership lives in us all, but Basic Camp is a greenhouse where leaders are grown. On June 30, 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp ran introduction scenarios in Squad Formation Order of Movement. Advanced Camp Cadet Trainer Blair Berry from Pacific Lutheran University explained the exercise. “This is a hasty linear ambush on a moving target,” he said. A target is going to come down the road, and they are getting [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Instructors rattled out instructions in a well-rehearsed, free verse poem. Nervous ears listened carefully, hoping to gain only a fraction of the Cadre’s confidence. Eyes strained in the light, looking at the top of the 64-foot rappel tower. On June 28, 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets rappelled. A Cadre member leaned out and introduced himself. Then, he leaned into the “deep-seated L” position over the edge of the tower. Three bounds, and three 4-point checks later, his feet touched the ground. “Notice how they are extending their arm straight back, looking over their brake-hand shoulder,” the instructor said rhythmically. [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Randy is having the worst day of his life. With sucking chest wounds and femoral artery hemorrhages, Randy’s skin has already gone rubbery and lost all color. Luckily for him, his battle buddies—every Cadet in 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp—dragged him to safety and treated his wounds. Cadets simulated real, fatal trauma and learned the TC3, Tactical Combat Casualty Care, methods needed to treat them. Every “saved” Randy helps create another competent lifesaver. On-site, approximately 28 Randy’s showcased four severe injuries. Cadre provided scenarios, and Cadets worked through treatment, announcing and explaining their decisions. At one testing station, “we are [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Every exercise at CST provides Cadets an opportunity to explore the roles of leader and follower. Every one of these Cadets in 3rd Regiment, Basic Camp will take on a leadership role, then give it up to another Cadet. While negotiating obstacles at the Team Development Course, our future officers are learning how to navigate ever changing team dynamics. Throughout an officer career, they will be asked to give and follow orders. The physical challenges and constraints are stressors which test the leader’s decisiveness and followers’ humility. At “Sgt. Yestremski’s Crossing,” Cadets had 12 posts, four lengths [...]

Movie physics has spoiled us! Directors demand ridiculous situations to wow audiences and drive movie sales, yet inadvertently, they implant false understandings of how firearms function.  “I got a lot of questions from my students back in the day, ‘Sergeant, can you curve a bullet?’” Sgt. 1st Class David Morris recollected. “Every time I shoot, the trajectory is parabolic in nature.” Which is to say, bullets do not travel left or right, but up and down. “In the past, we’ve had a couple of individuals state very firmly that they don’t believe in gravity—that the bullet moves in a straight line [...]

FORT KNOX, KY. —“We’ve been in the woods for at least a week minimum, but I’m losing track of [the] days,” Cadet Amber Presto from Florida Southern College laughed. Presto’s Advance Camp Regiment has been in the field for 15 days. They have entered the final half of their stay here at Fort Knox. The Kentucky climate keeps Cadets damp, but they learn how to keep themselves in good spirits by savoring the small things. “There’s a lot of times when you’re just not motivated,” Abe Mitchell from Indiana University shared. “Then, the sun comes out, and you get to dry [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Today’s game of high-tech laser tag brought all the bark of a battle to 1st Regiment Advanced Camp, but none of the bite. Several scenarios ran at the same time during the field training exercises, but this one involved an illegal checkpoint. The Cadets’ goal was to raid it. An active-duty Army unit came out this summer to support CST by acting in these exercises. “These guys are meant to be bad guys who are stopping vehicles and maybe stealing stuff,” Lt. Col. Dennis Faulkner, Professor of Military Science at Indiana University, said. Cadets and Cadre used [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — The classroom resounded with the unsynchronized clicks and clacks of M16 assembly, disassembly, and functions check. Yesterday, 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets were issued their rifles. “For some of them, this is the first time that they have touched a weapon,” 1st Lt. Chaplin Maritza Curet explained. Drill sergeants helped Cadets recognize each part of their firearms. Cadre and Cadet Trainers walked the aisles providing one-on-one instruction. “It can be a little tricky,” Cadet Chloe Cline from Louisiana State University said. “There are a lot of little pieces; it can be frustrating.” As with all exercises, the trainers [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — It’ll never be home, or entirely dry or clean, but when in the field, can these luxuries even be expected? Yesterday, during field craft tactic classes, 1st Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets learned basic protection from the elements. “If I could sum it up in a few words, it would be ‘how to be comfortable in the field and in the outdoors,’” Cadet James Iaia, Widener University surmised. “It’s not necessarily your survival skills per se.” Properly packing a rucksack, applying convincing facial camouflage paint, and pitching a poncho lean-to, all work to fulfill each Cadet’s goal of [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Early this morning, drill instructors introduced Army Physical Readiness Training (PRT) to the Cadets in 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp. Physical Readiness “is the ability to meet the physical demands of any combat or duty position, accomplish the mission, and continue to fight and win,” according to the Army Public Health Center’s website. Intro PRT familiarizes new Cadets with exercise techniques, which build the strength, endurance, and mobility needed for combat. “The PRT that the Army has adopted has a good set of drills, stretches and routines that properly prepare the Cadets and Soldiers,” Lt. Col. Matthew Stanley, Professor of [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Two hundred ninety Cadets arrived at Fort Knox on June 10 with a mix of enthusiasm and nervousness radiating from the group. After getting off the bus, the group moved to a nearby overhang to ground their gear and prepare for inspection. All items lay on the gravel to be combed through by Cadre. Cadet Stephanie Martino from the University of Kentucky shared her feelings during arrival. Martino joined ROTC upon completion of her bachelor’s degree and is continuing into a Master’s program. “It was kind of an adrenaline rush, which that’s something I’ve missed for a while,” Martino [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – “You could have been home enjoying your summer,” shouted one drill sergeant from atop the raised platform. “Why are you here?” Rising Freshman, Sophomores, and Juniors fresh to ROTC and the Military lifestyle woke up bright and early June 9 to learn the basics of Physical Readiness Training (PRT). All Cadets face two questions: “Why am I here? What’s my personal motivation?” Lt. Col. Jason Eddy from 1st Regiment Basic Camp observed from the side. “This is our first day of real training,” Eddy explained. “Many of them do not have prior military experience or training back [...]

U.S. Army Cadets deployed to Cape Verde in the Cultural Understanding and Leadership Program (CU&LP) to gain new perspectives on the people and history of Cape Verde and stronger cultural skills. The Cape Verde islands are about 400 miles off the western coast of Africa, with the official language being Portuguese.  Cadets in this country did service projects with schools and orphanages, community engagement, and Military to Military training all in an effort to maintain a good relationship with the Cape Verdean people and Military. Now you’re speaking my language. First Lt. Matthew Miller, 1st Brigade, 10th Mountain Division, lead the CU&LP [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets come to Fort Knox to give it their all, but Fort Knox summers are historically hot and humid. With that in mind, Cadet Summer Training (CST) Leaders held a mass casualty evacuation exercise on Friday, June 1, to prepare for the upcoming 12-mile ruck march, a must-pass event for advanced camp cadets. How Cadets do during training will determine where they finish on a national merit list, so many of them will push themselves to extremes, explained CST Chief of Staff Col. Scott Sonsalla, who observed Friday’s exercise. “When you hit that heat cat [category] 5, [...]