FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadet Anna Johnson from Michigan State University, Advanced Camp, 8th Regiment, recovers after the Field Training Exercise, at Densberger, Fort Knox, Ky., August 2, 2023. While cleaning her M-4 Carbine Rifle, Johnson described the pressure she felt while working together with her entire platoon to complete tactical missions in the field. “When you’re under stress or under pressure, you start to see a different side of people and how they develop as leaders,” Johnson explained. “At the baseline everyone has to know these tactics and the basics of being a Soldier, so working as a whole not [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – During Cadet Summer Training, Cadets from Advanced Camp, 7th Regiment, donate blood at the Armed Services Blood Program’s blood drive at Smith Gym, Fort Knox, Ky., July 31, 2023.   Throughout CST, the Armed Services Blood Program hosts multiple blood drives, giving Cadets the opportunity to potentially save lives through their blood donations. Sgt. Andrew Smith III from Fort Moore, Ga., explained why the blood drive is an important activity for Cadets to participate in. “These Cadets are going to be our future leaders, so we want to get it in their mind that once they become [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadet Malachi Gilbert from Alabama A&M University, Basic Camp, 3rd Regiment, smiled as he turned in his target during Group and Zero training at Fort Knox, Ky., July 26, 2023.  At Group and Zero training, Cadets apply the fundamentals of shooting while aiming to improve upon their individual marksmanship skills. Gilbert described his experience shooting at the range.  “I tried to take it minute-by-minute, second-by-second,” Gilbert said. “The gunfire coming from the person next to me startled me a little bit, but at least I was able to focus on my target.”  Group and Zero puts’ Cadets [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadet Triston Eddlemon from Western Illinois University, Advanced Camp, 9th Regiment, watches his fellow squad members practice their first aid skills during Tactical Combat Casualty Care training at Fort Knox, Ky., July 24, 2023. During TCCC, Cadets learn about the standard procedures and practices they would use in the event of a medical emergency involving a casualty. “Currently the Cadets are running through lanes where they are assessing a casualty for possible injuries, addressing those injuries, and treating them,” Eddlemon explained. “You never know when something bad is going to happen. If somebody sustains an injury, you [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. –- Cadet Jillian Strong from the University of Pittsburgh, 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp, works with her fellow squad members after completing Engagement Skills Trainer at Fort Knox, Ky., July 23, 2023. At the EST, Cadets learn how to safely handle their weapons, while working on their shooting positions and trigger manipulation. Strong said that after completing the EST, she is going to go into future marksmanship training feeling more confident. “The EST was super interesting because it was as realistic as you could get to a gun range from the inside of a building,” Strong said. “In any [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky – Cadet Keyoate Allen from Georgia Military College, Cadet Kylie Anderson from Georgia Military College and Cadet Nathan Nantasai from Valley Forge Military Academy, Basic Camp, 1st Regiment, mentally prepared themselves for the Forest Hills Climbing Course at Fort Knox, Ky., July 20, 2023. While they waited to begin training, Sgt. 1st. Class Justin Golder from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University explained that the course contains two different sections that Basic Camp Cadets must complete. He went on to describe the design of the FHCC. “The first side is the alpine tower and climbing wall side, where we have a [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Advanced Camp Cadet Gabrielle Frankenfield from West Virginia University, 7th Regiment, led her squad deep into the woods during their situational training exercise at Fort Knox, Ky., July 19, 2023. The STX gives Advanced Camp Cadets extra time to work on their tactical skills. Cadets must build cohesion within their platoons during the first phase of Cadet Summer Training, so they can avoid mistakes when they are graded on their performance later on.   Frankenfield described the challenges she faced as squad leader. “This was a rough lane,” Frankenfield said. “I always want to make sure my [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Basic Camp Cadets from 1st Regiment, were issued their safety vests after they arrived at the Night Infiltration Course at Fort Knox, Ky., July 16, 2023. Staff Sgt. Kevin Davelaar, one of the Cadre members who helps run the course, described what the Cadets were about to experience as they waited for further instruction at the bleachers. “In pure darkness, the Cadets have live machine gunfire over their heads,” Davelaar said. “This is about as close as you can get to what you would actually experience in combat.”   Davelaar said NIC was designed to be a [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky., — Distinguished visitors from learning institutions all over the nation received an inside look at Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky., July 12-13, 2023. The distinguished visitors participated in the Forest Hills Climbing Course, rappel training, and the Field Leader Reaction Course during their visit. These training events are the same events that Cadets complete while at CST. Lt. Col. Daniel Laasko from the University of Cincinnati explained the importance of having the distinguished visitors experience CST for themselves. “It’s important that they are able to see what the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Course provides outside of [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – The Cadre running the lanes at Group and Zero training watch over Advanced Camp Cadets from 7th Regiment as they adjust their rifles at Fort Knox, Ky., July 9, 2023. Like every single Cadet that participates in Cadet Summer Training, every Cadre comes to Fort Knox with their own story. Advanced Camp Cadets often base their personal leadership styles based off how the Cadre guides them through CST. “I know what type of leader that I want to be as I’ve learned from trial and error from other people’s failures and successes,” said Cadet Austin Herrman from [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadet Gina Lucciono from 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp, played the role of a squad leader at the elevation station during the Field Leader Reaction Course at Fort Knox, Ky., July 7, 2023. Being the only Cadet to be given instructions from the Cadre, it was up to Lucciono to communicate specific directions to the rest of her team. “I had to give out the information and pass it down accordingly,” Lucciono said. “I had to make sure everyone’s on the same page so we can actually execute the plan properly.” The FLRC teach Cadets how to work [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 7th Regiment, Advanced Camp, descended a 64-foot tower for rappel training at Fort Knox, Ky., July 7, 2023. A recent graduate from University of Central Florida, 2nd Lt. Hayley Blatt, explained the process Cadets participate in throughout rappel training. “First, we do a demonstration, then we assist with tying seats, [next] the Cadets go down the slant wall,” Blatt said. “After the Cadets complete the slant wall, they go down the closed side, then the open side of the tower.” After completing every step of the process, Cadet Sydney Honeycutt from Xavier University described how [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Lt. Col. Gary Goodman, Cadre member from the University of Delaware, watches over 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets at the engagement skills training event at Fort Knox, Ky., June 26, 2023. Goodman explained that EST is an important event to hold at the beginning of Advanced Camp because it prepares Cadets for the qualifications test that occurs later on. The 5th Regiment’s Cadets all have had prior experience shooting, but during Cadet Summer Training, every Advanced Camp Cadet must go back to the basics of marksmanship. At EST, Cadets learn about proper shooting positions, weapons manipulation, and [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – After a thunderstorm rolled through Fort Knox, Ky., June 25, 2023, 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets braced themselves for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear training. During CBRN training, Cadets are required to take off their protective gas masks in the confidence chamber. Since completing Advanced Camp last summer, 2nd Lt. Ethan Miles, a recent graduate from the Virginia Military Institute, is now in charge of masking accountability and distribution during CBRN training for the entirety of Cadet Summer Training. Miles has witnessed Advanced Camp Cadets from every regiment make their way through the confidence chamber since the [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Squads of Bravo Company’s 1st Platoon Cadets from 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp, took turns playing the role of either medic or radio personnel during Tactical Combat Casualty Care training at Fort Knox, Ky., June 24, 2023. Within their squads, Cadets practiced the standard procedures they would use to check over a casualty in the event of a real-life emergency. Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Seys from California State University Fullerton explained that this training event is designed to encourage Cadets to learn ‘the building blocks’ of first aid without applying too much pressure on them. “The Army has [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – While absorbed in lively conversation, 2nd Regiment Cadets’ Noah Scott from Norwich University, Kyle Sopplar from Clarkson University, and Hannah Yun from Loyola University of Chicago put on their camouflage in attempt to blend in with the rest of the forest during their situational training exercise at Fort Knox, Ky., June 23, 2023. Yun said she is ‘shocked’ by how close she has gotten with her fellow ‘teammates’ in such a short period of time. “We’ve all met each other two weeks ago, and I think I’m just surprised by how easy it was for us to [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – The 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets arrived ready to participate in warrior skills training during a downpour and cooler weather conditions at Fort Knox, Ky., June 19, 2023.   A recent graduate from the University of South Alabama, 2nd Lt. Anna Lane, said that the warrior skills training ‘sets the foundation’ for the wolverine phase of the situation training exercise. Lane explained how the red-robin style training works. Throughout training, Cadets rotate from station-to-station and are given the opportunity to learn about troop leading procedures, mission analysis, and how to cross linear danger areas. Lane said that [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky., – Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, knew that once they climbed up the stairs of the 64-foot rappel tower in Fort Knox, Ky., June 18, 2023, there was no turning back. The only way a Cadet can get off the tower is by rappelling. At Advanced Camp, having a fear of heights is not an option because every Cadet is required to rappel down the tower during training. However, the safety instructors and Cadre members on site were ready to support every Cadet that descends the tower. Rappel safety instructor Terry Bras from the University of South [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – During field leaders reaction course training at Fort Knox, Ky., June 17, 2023, small squads from the  2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets learned how to come together as they rotate from one station to the next. Capt. Eric Engel from the University of Cincinnati explained that FLRC is designed in a way that forces Advanced Camp Cadets to work together as a unit. “We have 16 lanes of squad obstacles here, and they approach each one from their own squad’s perspective, and one squad leader receives a mission brief,” said Engel. “They make decisions and communicate, and [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Although the 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets had to scale down a 64-foot rappel tower solo, no Cadet felt truly alone during rappel tower training in Fort Knox, Ky., June 16, 2023. Whether it be through securing somebody’s rope harness or cheering loudly, the 3rd Regiment Cadets found various ways to support one another throughout the entirety of training. Master Sgt. Joshua Geery from the University of Kansas has enjoyed watching the Cadets build bonds with one another during Cadet Summer Training. Geery works as a member of the platoon training officer team, and one of his [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – On June 12, 2023, during observer controller training, the Observer Coach Trainer Academy instructors of Fort Knox, Ky., laid out the expectations they had for the Cadre with the 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp, who will be in charge of the incoming U.S. Army Cadets at Cadet Summer Training. Lt. Col. Dan Hurd from the University of North Carolina explained why OCT takes place before Cadre receive their assigned Cadets.  “Today’s training is to get them onboarded onto this process, so they learn the technical and tactical tasks that they need to teach Cadets,” said Hurd. Hurd explained [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – The 1st Regiment Cadets started off their day with a battle march and shoot in Fort Knox, Ky. June 11, 2023. BMS starts at 5:30 a.m. with a four-mile tactical road march and ends with stringers of shooting practice. The BMS tests the Cadets marksmanship skills while under pressure. The BMS is just one of multiple smaller-scale training events Advanced Camp Cadets experience before the qualification test. After having multiple opportunities to work on their skills, the Cadets are beginning to thrive out at the range. Sgt. Maj. Andrew Porch from Georgia Military College commented on the [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — ‘Don’t hit the civilian,’ was the Cadres interesting way of saying ‘aim correctly’ out on the Group and Zero training range in Fort Knox, Ky., June 9, 2023. During Group and Zero training, the 1st Regiment put their knowledge of the fundamentals of shooting to the test. Although the Cadets are not being graded, the Cadre do not forget about mistakes. “From personal experience, it can be overwhelming with all the cues happening at once and also trying to remember all your fundamentals of shooting. I think in an effort to make sure they’re doing everything right, [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – The 2nd Regiment Cadets at Advanced Camp arrived to the preliminary marksmanship instruction range in Fort Knox, Ky., early June 10, 2023 for a refresher course in marksmanship. During PMI, nobody is above the basics of marksmanship. Even the most experienced Cadets must go back to basics and work on their technique. Before the 2nd Regiment Cadets get released to their stations, the Cadre give a briefing over the four pillars of weapon safety. The instructor explained to the Cadets that the key to a smooth shot is keeping a position that is stable. The instructor also [...]

Fort Knox, Ky. — ‘Don’t hit the civilian,’ is the Cadres interesting way of saying ‘aim correctly’ out on the Group and Zero training range in Fort Knox, Ky., June 9, 2023. During Group and Zero training, the 1st Regiment Cadets put their knowledge of the fundamentals of shooting to the test. Although the Cadets are not being graded, the Cadre do not forget about mistakes. “From personal experience, it can be overwhelming with all the cues happening at once and also trying to remember all your fundamentals of shooting. I think in an effort to make sure they’re doing everything [...]