“Oh my gosh, my blood is pumping. I’m ecstatic. Over there, I was yelling ‘Can we do it again?’ I want to do it again. It was so much fun,” Cadet Nicole Darland from the University of Kentucky said. 1st Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets, complete the Night Infiltration Course. This is a confidence building training exercise where Cadets crawl a 100 meters while live ammunition is fired over their heads and simulated explosions erupt on the ground around them. While some Cadets felt nervous, Darland felt nothing but excitement to tackle the course. “I was kind of excited. I didn’t know […]
“Wake up everyday to give the best leadership to those soldiers that you have the privilege of being in front of,” said Lt. Gen. Gary Brito, Deputy Chief of Staff, United States Army. Brito gave this advice to 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp, Cadets, at Cadet Summer Training (CST), while visiting Fort Knox. During his visit, Brito interacted with Basic Camp Cadets as they trained at the Engagement Skills Trainer (EST), and Advanced Camp Cadets as they completed the Field Leader Reaction Course (FLRC). He also spoke on the culture at CST. “They learn how to operate in a […]
Special Awards Recipients AUSA Leadership Excellence Award This award is presented to the top Cadet in each Regiment, as determined by Regimental cadre board. Cadet Alec Sisco, University of Memphis First Command Financial Services Award This award is presented to the Cadet who best demonstrates the leadership traits necessary to encourage teamwork, improve unit cohesion, and reinforce mission accomplishment. Cadet Julia Vitale, University of North Dakota USAA Warrior Ethos Award This award is presented to the Cadet who best demonstrates the Army Profession, Ethics, and Officership while best exemplifying the warrior spirit. Cadet Courtney Lucas, University of Colorado-Boulder Armed Forces Bank […]
Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp completed the Engagement Skills Trainer (EST), which allows them to practice firing their weapons in a simulation environment before they attempt a live qualification at the shooting range. For many of these Cadets, this will be the very first time they are firing a weapon. “I’ve never really shot a weapon before, but now that I’ve had my cadre helping me out with trying to perfect my shooting I feel a lot more confident,” Cadet Madison Howard from Clemson University said. Howard recently transferred from the Air Force to Army ROTC where she is experiencing […]
Nothing less than “Leadership Excellence” is expected of ROTC Cadets as they train to undertake the responsibility of becoming a U.S. Army Officer. For Cadet Esther Njoki, from Truman State University, leadership is a familiar concept, with Army ROTC being only one of various leadership roles that she assumes. “I’m originally from Kenya and this is my ninth year in America,” said Njoki. “I’m a biology pre-med and I’m a codirector of an orphanage back in Uganda.” The orphanage, located in Kirembe, Uganda, supports 200 children, providing them with food and education. “It’s not just an orphanage for children who don’t […]
The Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Chamber is one of the most highly anticipated and daunting events of Cadet Summer Training (CST). Fortunately, the Cadets of 9th Regiment understand that this intimidating training event hardly measures up to obstacles they have already overcome. “I think, I’ve been through struggles, I’ve been through pain before. What’s different this time? Why am I going to falter and not stand up to the challenge this time when I’ve done it so many times before,” said Cadet Jack Frus, from Arizona State University, regarding his thought process before entering the CBRN chamber. Frus went on to […]
Special Awards Recipients AUSA Leadership Excellence Award This award is presented to the top Cadet in each Regiment, as determined by Regimental cadre board. Cadet Andrew Williamson, University of Central Missouri First Command Financial Services Award This award is presented to the Cadet who best demonstrates the leadership traits necessary to encourage teamwork, improve unit cohesion, and reinforce mission accomplishment. Cadet Kingsley Ezeokonkwo, Georgia Southern University USAA Warrior Ethos Award This award is presented to the Cadet who best demonstrates the Army Profession, Ethics, and Officership while best exemplifying the warrior spirit. Cadet Austin Scavello, West Chester University Armed Forces Bank […]
The Field Leadership Reaction Course (FLRC) is designed to strengthen the leadership capabilities of Cadets, pushing them out of their comfort zones as they devise unconventional solutions to obstacles in their way. With the course completed, the Cadets of 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp, stopped to reflect on the leaders in their own lives, and the people that inspired them to pursue a leadership role themselves. “My grandfather is what I think of as a leader. Somebody that’s strong and vocal, and can be clear and concise,” said Cadet Jackson Lemmon from Eastern Kentucky University. With his grandfather as a strong role […]
Cadets from 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp completed the Field Leadership Reaction Course (FLRC) at Fort Knox, Ky. This course allowed Cadets to work as a team to complete each obstacle while building leadership skills. “I think it’s definitely important to work as a team. We first came up to this obstacle, none of us really knew how to get across it or what our plan was, but each person kind of had a different idea and together that made us more successful in completing this obstacle,” Guidi said. Cadet Hannah Guidi from Boston University and her squad completed the barrel roll […]
“I’m kind of nervous because I generally have a weak stomach, but I’m also excited because it’s something that all soldiers do, and I haven’t done it yet, so I want to get it done,” DeCristofaro said. 6th Regiment Cadets participated in Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) training as part of Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky. Cadet Marissa DeCristofaro from Sacramento State had never experienced the confidence chamber before. “I don’t want to throw up. I think that’s what I’m most worried about is throwing up,” DeCristofaro said. On the other hand, Cadet Chandler Ard from the University […]
Special Awards Recipients AUSA Leadership Excellence Award This award is presented to the top Cadet in each Regiment, as determined by Regimental cadre board. Cadet Asher Freese, Texas A&M University First Command Financial Services Award This award is presented to the Cadet who best demonstrates the leadership traits necessary to encourage teamwork, improve unit cohesion, and reinforce mission accomplishment. Cadet Raymond Janeczek, University Of New Hampshire USAA Warrior Ethos Award This award is presented to the Cadet who best demonstrates the Army Profession, Ethics, and Officership while best exemplifying the warrior spirit. Cadet Olivia Micalizzi, University of Vermont Armed Forces Bank […]
Cadet Lalia Stallions, from University of Tennessee, Knoxville, said she decided to join the Reserve Officer Training Corps in high school. “When I was a junior in high school I just had a moment where I knew I wanted to join the service in some capacity, but I still wanted to get an education,” Stallions said. Stallions said she heard about ROTC and the military academies and ultimately decided ROTC was the right choice for her. “You get to be a regular college kid and get to have those life experiences, but you also get to serve your country and go […]
The Field training exercises (FTX) that take place at Fort Knox pit Cadets against a multitude of challenges meant to test their planning, coordination, and teamwork in a field environment. The pressures inherent in these exercises force the Cadets to work on their leadership roles as well, with the leadership roles rotating among Cadets throughout the FTX. 4th Regiment Cadet Abigail Lanz from the University of Notre Dame is on her second day going through FTX Panther, where her platoon was responsible for defending a point against simulated enemies. Before going into the exercise, Lanz recalled how her platoon performed in […]
“I felt like I can have a greater purpose in life other than just working an office job, and I can help people and serve my country,” said Army ROTC Cadet Jake Gleason. Gleason said that his desire to join the U.S. Army began when he was four years old. Four years later he when he was given a .22 caliber rifle. From target shooting at home to the ranges at Boy Scout camps, Gleason began his journey as a marksman at the age of eight; eventually leading him to the qualifications range at Cadet Summer Training (CST) at Fort Knox, […]
With modern warfare rapidly evolving, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) training has become increasingly important to Cadet Summer Training (CST) at Fort Knox, Ky. “Your guys’ war is gonna be much different than my war. You need to pay attention to this training,” said Master Sgt. Matthew Hyde, the CBRN noncommissioned officer in charge, during his morning brief to 7th Regiment Advanced Camp. The CBRN Confidence Chamber serves to create a level of trust in the equipment and the Cadets’ ability to properly use the equipment. This is done through thorough training. “We did a lot of practice rehearsals, so […]
5th Regiment Cadets completed their training on the rappel tower and confidence obstacle course at Fort Knox, Ky., June 30, 2022. For some Cadets this training is difficult due to a fear of heights. Cadet Klaudia Abbott, from Slippery Rock University, said her biggest fear is heights. She said she was nervous just looking at some of the obstacles in the course. “When we were walking through getting briefed on each one, I was just like, my jaw was open,” Abbott said. “I was just looking at it like ‘oh boy, how am I going to do this?’ and then with […]
From fleet to field, Sergio Almeida, 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp, made the shift from enlisted Navy Sailor to Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Cadet. “I chose to enlist the first time around for a sense of that typical, wanting to find yourself, wanting independence, wanting to be my own person,” said Almeida. After being the first member of his family to join the military, Almeida trained for a year in San Diego before being stationed in Norfolk, Virginia on the USS Truxton in 2012. “I got to really learn what the military was,” he said. During his six years in […]
Special Awards Recipients AUSA Leadership Excellence Award This award is presented to the top Cadet in each Regiment, as determined by Regimental cadre board. Cadet Connor Hodes, Colorado State University First Command Financial Services Award This award is presented to the Cadet who best demonstrates the leadership traits necessary to encourage teamwork, improve unit cohesion, and reinforce mission accomplishment. Cadet Mariah Brelsford, University of Alaska Anchorage USAA Warrior Ethos Award This award is presented to the Cadet who best demonstrates the Army Profession, Ethics, and Officership while best exemplifying the warrior spirit. Cadet Jared Webb, Virginia Tech Armed Forces Bank Award […]
A telltale sign of the average Army ROTC Cadet participating in Cadet Summer Training is their youth and relative inexperience with the military; CST being their first major excursion into Army life. However, there are those among the ranks who have called the Army home for much longer. Among a sea of Cadets attending CST was one that had a history with the Army going back over a decade. The man’s uniform was covered in patches denoting his past experience, which told stories of his time serving and deploying as an Army engineer. “Everyone refers to me as either grandpa, the […]
1st Regiment Cadets graduated from Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky., June 29, 2022. The ceremony started with a formation of the troops. It also included an invocation, honors to the nation, a Cadet cannonade, the Cadet Creed and more. Cadets who earned awards during their time at Cadet Summer Training were recognized and presented with an award during the ceremony. Cadet Jessi Harmon from Northern Arizona University, received the Bold Leader Spirit Award. She said she felt happy to receive the award. “I feel like it’s kind of nice to get a little validation after we all put in […]
2nd Regiment Cadets completed field training exercises at Fort Knox, Ky., June 27, 2022. The exercises, which are part of Cadet Summer Training, take place in the field and teach Cadets how to plan and carry out various simulated, tactical missions. Cadet Asher Freese, from Texas A&M University, was the squad leader during one of the missions. He said his job involved making sure his squad followed the platoon leader’s orders. “I’m in charge of about 10 people, I’m making sure they know what’s going on, and I’m making sure they do exactly what the platoon leader wants them to do,” […]
Having freshly arrived at Fort Knox the day before, Cadets from 1st Regiment, Basic Camp, woke up bright and early to practice drill and ceremony (D&C) in front of their barracks. The Cadets were drilled on the basics of marching by cadre responsible for preparing them for the drill sergeants that will be training them later in the week. “Some of these Cadets never did D&C,” said 2nd Lieutenant Jaunn Caldwell. “They never did drill ceremony, they don’t know how to present arms, no customs and courtesies. It was just the basics, the fundamentals.” This day is the perfect opportunity to […]
5th Regiment Cadets worked on grouping and zeroing M4 carbines at Fort Knox, Ky., June 26, 2022. Cadet Ryan Miller from Rutgers University, said they were zeroing their weapons in preparation for their upcoming weapons qualification. He also said this was not his first time completing the M4 weapons qualification. “It’s my second time ever qualifying with this weapon, so I’m not too nervous since I have previous experience,” Miller said. Miller said his first time qualifying was at Basic Camp last year. “I got a lot of good training from drill sergeants, a lot of good tips and tricks,” Miller […]
Having entered into their second week of Cadet Summer Training (CST), the Cadets from 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp, were ready to take on the Engagement Skills Trainer (EST). This training is the second phase in preparing Cadets for the task of qualifying on a range with their M4A1 carbines. The Cadets will take what they learn from the EST and apply it to group and zero training later in camp. Despite having half a decade of prior Army experience as a behavioral health specialist, Cadet Raynika Williams, from Fayetteville State University, was anxious about EST. “I was very nervous with qualifying […]
“Go…Go…Go…” was heard in the cold, quiet, hours before dawn, as Cadets from 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, stood lined up in front of the wooded trail that marked the beginning of their 12-mile foot-march route. Cadre member, 2nd Lt. Hailey Hutton stated that the 12-mile march serves to signify the Cadets’ last mission in the field, following their time at the Field Training Exercises (FTX). After 12 days in the field and waking up at 2 a.m. the Cadets were already tired, making morale important. For Cadet Madison Nygren, from the University of Southern California, motivation came from thinking of her […]
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