FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the Confidence Course at Fort Knox, Ky., July 28, 2023.  The Confidence Course consists of ten obstacles that are designed to physically and mentally challenge Cadets. Despite how intimidating the obstacles may look, the purpose of the Confidence Course is to build confidence in Cadets.   One of the obstacles from the confidence course was named the belly over. It’s where Cadets have to get their stomach on top of a log, then roll over to the opposite side. Cadet Alexis Rivera from Central Michigan University talked about her personal experience [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the confidence course training where they rappelled off a 64-foot tower at Fort Knox, Ky., July 23, 2023. Cadets learned how to properly rappel, the safety of rappelling, and how to tie a rappel seat, called a Swiss Seat, before rappelling off the rappel tower. The purpose of the rappel training is to have Cadets gain confidence in themselves and overcome their fears. Cadets made their way to the slant wall to practice rappelling before walking up the stairs to the rappel tower. Cadet Amy Beaden from Northern Arizona University, [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the Team Development Course at Fort Knox, Ky., July 22, 2023. The FLRC consists of different obstacles that are designed to mentally and physically challenge Cadets. They must learn to critically think, solve problems, and work together as a team to find the solutions to the obstacles. The purpose of the FLRC is to train Cadets how important communication is within a team and to build confidence in one another. Cadet Catherine Saumell from Texas State University, trained on an obstacle that consisted of tall heavy blocks of wood that [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the Battle March and Shoot at Fort Knox, Ky., July 21, 2023. The BMS consisted of a four mile tactical road march to the Schroeder Range. When Cadets arrived, they fired two rounds at ten targets to zero at different differences.  The purpose of the BMS is to train Cadets on how to shoot accurately while under stress and maintaining their fundamentals of shooting.  Cadet Rachel Oliva from University of Pittsburgh, talked about her experience during the BMS while having her battle buddies by her side.  “Once we stepped off [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 1st Regiment, Basic Camp, completed the Team Development Course at Fort Knox, Ky., July 20, 2023. The TDC consists of different obstacles that are designed to mentally and physically challenge Cadets. They must learn to critically think, solve problems, and work together as a team to find the solutions to the obstacles. Cadet Caitlyn Devaney from Georgia Military College trained on the PBT Hang Garner’s Bridge obstacle. This obstacle consisted of a destroyed bridge where Cadets were provided three wood planks to build a bridge on top of the posts in order to send their [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the confidence course training where they rappelled off a 64-foot tower at Fort Knox, Ky., July 16, 2023. Cadets learned how to properly rappel, the safety of rappelling, and how to tie a rappel seat, called a Swiss Seat, before rappelling off the rappel tower. The purpose of the rappel training is to build confidence in yourself, have trust in your people, and your equipment. Cadets tied their rappel seats, checked their safety knots, and headed to the slant wall, which is a short version of the rappel tower where [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 7th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear training at Fort Knox, Ky., July 14, 2023. During the CBRN training, Cadets learned how to properly use their protective gear before entering the confidence chamber, which is filled with 2-chlorobenzylidene malononitrile. The purpose of the training is to teach Cadets how to react whenever they are caught in a situation with CS gas and how to react to it. Upon arrival there were classes set up for each squad to learn about CBRN. This was Cadet Clayton House from Texas A&M University’s first experience [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 1st Regiment, Basic Camp, completed the Team Development Course at Fort Knox, Ky., July 13, 2023. The TDC consists of different obstacles that are designed to mentally and physically challenge Cadets. They must learn to critically think, solve problems, and work together as a team to find the solutions to the obstacles. Cadets had 10 minutes to plan and 20 minutes to execute the plan. Cadet Alex Poynter from Tarleton State University, 1st Regiment, Basic Camp, mentioned what obstacle he faced during the TDC. “We did event number four, which was the destroyed bridge,” Poynter [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the Field Training Exercise at Fort Knox, Ky., July 12, 2023. During the FTX, Cadets first start the training mission at the objective rally point, where they plan for the attack using the troop-leading procedures in order to destroy or defeat the opposing forces, and seize, and secure terrain. Cadet Cassandra Pichardo from Olivet Nazarene University mentioned her role during the attack. “My role was alpha team leader,” Pichardo said. “I was taking care of my people, and making sure that they were all ready to go.” Cadets take 2-3 [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the field training exercise at Fort Knox, Ky., June 30, 2023. During the FTX, Cadets conducted a raid, a surprise attack where Cadets destroy or capture the opposing forces. One Cadet talked about their experience during the raid. Cadet Sam Barnhart from Virginia Tech said that he joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps because of his family. He was able to date his family’s history all the way back to the Revolutionary War. “Having that lineage of the military, it’s just in the blood, and I knew I was going [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the field training exercise at Fort Knox, Ky., June 28, 2023. The FTX trained Cadets on how to be a leader and tactically lead a platoon of forty-four Cadets in various missions. During the FTX, Cadets conducted a raid, a surprise attack where Cadets destroy or capture the opposing forces. One Cadet talked about a unique story along with his experience during the raid. Cadet Ernes Selimovic from St. John’s University New York, joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps because of his parents. He said that his parents came to [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the field training exercise at Fort Knox, Ky., June 26, 2023. During FTX, Cadets conducted a platoon ambush; a platoon ambush is a surprise attack from a concealed position on a moving target.  Cadets applied an excess amount of face paint on and marched their way in the hot sun through the thick terrain and in the mud to the location of the platoon ambush. One Cadet talked about their experience during FTX. Cadet Caroline Courtney from Gannon University joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps because of her brother. She [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the situation training exercise at Fort Knox, Ky., June 23, 2023. During the situation training exercise, Cadets did a deliberate attack. A deliberate attack is when Cadets destroy or defeat enemy forces, seizes, and secures terrain. Two Cadets talked about their experience during the situation training exercise.  Cadet Cleveland Williams from Texas A&M University Central Texas has been an active duty member of the U.S. Army for four and a half years. His military occupational specialty was an 88M. An 88M is a transport operator. He said that he joined [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed group and zero at Fort Knox, Ky., June 22, 2023. Cadets had magazines filled with 30 rounds of 5.56 millimeter ammunition and shot 5 rounds at a time in a tight shot group. Then they adjusted their M68 close combat optic sight on their M4 rifle to move the shot group to the center of the target. These adjustments are important because they prepare Cadets to be ready for the individual weapon qualification tomorrow. For many Cadets this is their first time group and zeroing. Two Cadets gave advice on [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Imagine that you are a Cadet in 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp, doing the confidence course on a day that the sun stays hidden underneath the cloudy sky. The first course that you do is named the ‘tough one’. It’s called the tough one because you have to climb up a rope to get on top of the obstacle, walk over wooden steps that are spaced out and lead into a tall ladder.  At the end of the ladder is a cargo net for you to climb down. You are getting ready to start the obstacle, but there [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the situational training exercise at Fort Knox, Ky., June 19, 2023. The importance of the STX is to train Cadets on how to lead a variety of missions with the help of their Cadre members and to get Cadets ready for when they have to lead missions on their own. Cadets did a raid during the STX, a raid is a form of attack where Cadets come up with a plan using military tactics to destroy the opposing force and their equipment. Three Cadets talked about their experience in leadership [...]

“You gotta want it; if you don’t want it, you’re not gonna get it,” Cadet John Babbitts, College of William and Mary.  FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the battle march and shoot at Fort Knox, Ky., June 16, 2023. Cadets woke up around 4:00 a.m. before stepping off for the 4-mile ruck to the battle march and shoot. A ruck is a backpack that Cadets are required to have at Cadet Summer Training. The minimum weight for a ruck is 35-40 pounds, and the point of the ruck is to provide Cadets’ with important military [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the confidence chamber at Fort Knox, Ky., June 15, 2023. Cadets were taught a class on CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear), where they learned how to trust in their equipment which consisted of gas masks and protective suits. Cadet Andrew Weston, Virginia Military Institute said that he joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps because he wanted to continue his family’s legacy and give back to his nation. Weston said that his nation has provided him with wonderful things, places he’s seen and experienced. Before entering the gas chamber, Weston [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the first aid training at Fort Knox, Ky., June 14, 2023. During the first aid class, Cadets learned how to do tactical combat casualty care, care under fire, tactical field care, and tactical evacuation care. This trains Cadets on how to properly treat a wounded Soldier during combat and how to use an advanced system improvement program radio to call up a 9-line medical evacuation helicopter. Cadet Paul Zimmerman from Austin Peay State University is an active-duty member of the U.S. Army, and his military occupational specialty is 89D, an [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the field leader reaction course at Fort Knox, Ky., June 12, 2023. The FLRC challenged the Cadets today on thinking critically, solving problems, working under pressure, and learning more about each other as a leader. Some obstacle courses had a solution, and some did not have any solution, but the whole point of the FLRC is to teach Cadets on how to work together as a team while assimilating the Army values. Staff Sgt. Matthew Hernandez is an active-duty member of the U.S. Army. His military occupational specialty used to [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp completed the confidence course where they rappelled off a 64-foot tower at Fort Knox, Ky.,  June 11, 2023. Some Cadets came with a fear of heights, and some did not. Regardless if they had a fear of heights or not, what helped them all get through the course today was having each other and knowing that everyone is in it together. Cadet Violet Doolittle from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire said that she joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps to build herself up as a leader, meet new people, and build [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the engagement skills trainer at Fort Knox, Ky., June 8, 2023. The EST is a virtual shooting simulator that allows Cadets to practice how to properly handle an M4 rifle while going through the motions of reloading their magazine and conducting the three firing positions that they must conduct in prone supported and prone unsupported.  The three firing positions consist of prone, kneeling, and standing. Cadets have to know how to effectively perform these positions before qualifying for the range where they use live ammunition later this week and have [...]