By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 7th Regiment, Advanced Camp, arrived at Assembly Area Baker, July 10, to complete their written land navigation test during Cadet Summer Training. Land navigation involves reading a physical map and being able to navigate terrain without technology, using compasses and protractors. “The written test demonstrates their knowledge of terrain features, distance and direction on a map, the difference between grid north, magnetic north and true north,” said Capt. Ron Gooding. Cadets spent the morning studying and reviewing information before their exam. While waiting, Cadre answered questions and coached Cadets in improvised areas. Areas of […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — 592 Cadets graduated from Cadet Summer Training on July 10, 2017 in the 4th Regiment of Advanced Camp. Col. McRae had a few simple takeaways for the Cadets – listen, learn and lead – his three L’s. “First, listen. Communication is key in our line of work and it all starts with listening. It’ll build trust in your organization and create a positive, transparent unit climate,” said McRae. A sense of trust and a positive climate were seen throughout 4th Regiment’s time in Advanced Camp. “Trust equipment. Trust your teammates. Just trust everything around you,” said Cadet […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from Fifth Regiment, Advanced camp spent their evening exploring the different branches the U.S. Army has to offer at Branch Orientation on Sunday, July 10. Branch orientation slightly resembles a career fair, where men and women with years of service in a specific field come and speak about their experience and what Cadets can expect, should they choose to go a certain route. However, where traditional job fairs are usually held in convention centers with rows of employers asking, “do you think you have what it takes?” branch orientation is devised into a three-hour rotation period […]

By: Mattie Cook Fort Knox, Ky., – Cadets of 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp tackled the challenges of the Field Leader Reaction Course (FLRC) on Fort Knox, Ky., July 9 in search of building trust among teammates. FLRC consists of 12 obstacles, all with varying levels of difficulty, designed to build teamwork and trust among participants. Obstacle number five, the destroyed bridge, has a record of stumping Cadets by its seemingly easy appearance. Destroyed Bridge supervisor, Sgt. Jose Montoya, 399th of Fort Knox, says the obstacle is harder than it looks. Cadet Jackson Baker, the Citadel, N.C., played a key role in […]

FORT KNOX, Ky.- One hundred and forty-two Cadets of Bravo Company, 7th Regiment Advanced Camp, complete Qualification at the weapon range in Fort Knox, Ky. It is extremely vital to pass qualification during Cadet Summer Training. Not only does the Cadet need to graduate with this but they also need to know how to shoot when in combat situations. “It’s pretty vital, because your Cadets are your future officers and you want them to qualify with basic Soldiers skills,” said 2nd Lt. Melissa Churchill, Lewis University. Cadets are required to hit 23 pop-up targets out of 40 to qualify. If they […]

Fort Knox, Ky., – One of the last steps of completing Cadet Summer Training is to return to the Central Issuing Facility where equipment is cleaned, inspected, and returned to the warehouse. Advanced Camp 4th Regiment Cadets cleaned and processed their borrowed equipment at CIF in preparation for their departure from Fort Knox. Cadet Christian Ramsay, student at Florida International University, native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, returned his equipment at CIF without a hitch. “Before you get to CIF you need to go ahead and clean your equipment as best as you can. You need to get any dirt, grime, anything […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Advanced Camp 8th Regiment Cadets reported to Fort Knox, Kentucky, July 6, for their training on becoming future leaders in the U.S. Army. Cadets go through in processing when they arrive at the pit. The Cadets “get off the bus that transported them from Louisville International Airport, they line up standing at parade rest while they receive a short brief from the cadre about what is expected of them,” said Sgt. 1st Class Justin Butler, University of Southern Maine.“Cadets are then broken down into their companies once we have a 100 percent accountability. When they get into […]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp, successfully completed the Rappel Tower and Confidence Course at Fort Knox, July 6, during Cadet Summer Training. Despite rainy weather conditions, Cadets were still able to perform admirably during both the Confidence Course and the Rappel Tower. “The rappel tower is a 64-foot tower. It has two different sides. It has a walled side and an open side. Cadets will rappel off both sides to the ground. The walled side, you use your feet more and the open side you use more of your hand break techniques,” said Sgt. Morgan […]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – On the Fourth of July, 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp, Cadets gathered in Waybur Theater for a very special occasion; End Of Camp Commissioning. There, in the theater, commissioning Cadets became what they have worked for through training, 2nd lieutenants. “This ceremony marks the culmination of years of rigorous and intensive academic, military, and physical training for the Cadets seated before you today,” said 2nd Lt. Nathan Dawes, narrator of the event. “The Corps has served as a test of their leadership ability and their potential to serve as commissioned officers. They have successfully emerged […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Advanced Camp 3rd Regiment Graduation took place in the Natcher Fitness Gymnasium, July 5, as a sign to the Cadets that their training at Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky has come to an end. Advanced Camp 3rd regiment has four platoons, Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta; making up over three hundred Cadet who are set to graduate. Before Cadets graduate they recognize certain Cadets who have done extraordinary during their training. They recognized four Cadets for RECONDO award. The RECONDO award stands for reconnaissance commando, the Cadets who are receiving this award achieved a 90 […]

By Lindsey Crown FORT KNOX, Ky – “FLRC is all about team building,” said Staff Sergeant Steven Jordan, Fort Campbell. Advanced Camp, 7th Regiment faced the Field Leadership Reaction Course. Cadre members brief the squad leader on what the mission is going to be, what safeties they have to go by and what kind of penalties they face, Jordan said. They are allotted 25 minutes to complete each obstacle. Penalties are either a 15 second pause or the Cadet will “die” for the remainder of the obstacle. “This is to get them to realize what kind of real situation they could […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Advanced Camp 3rd Regiment Cadets prepare to graduate by returning all their equipment to the Central Issue Facility, July 3, at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The CIF building is where Cadets go to receive and return their equipment that they sign for. They go through the same 10 stations that they did when they arrived at Cadet Summer Training. Cadets received things that they didn’t think they would needed in the field and would wonder why they would need it. “The Entrenching Tool (E-Tool) I’ve never used outside of Cadet Summer Training, but I needed it pretty much […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Advanced Camp 4th Regiment took on their final day, June 23, at the Situational Tactical Exercise lanes before heading onto more training for their annual Cadets Summer Training at Fort Knox. Cadets are on the STX lanes for four days, they sleep, eat and execute their missions all out in the woods. This lane the Cadets were training at was cadre run, Cadre are the Platoon leaders and Squad leaders. The Cadre first make sure the Cadets get a feel for the different training since the Cadets have been doing other things before getting into the field. […]

By Lindsey Crown FORT KNOX, Ky – “You train as you fight,” said Cadet Joseph Rodenay of Orlando, Florida. “If you don’t group and zero, you won’t be able to hit anything.” Rodenay explained the importance of group and zero for Cadets of 6th Regiment Advanced Camp, Bravo Company, based on his deployments in the past. The purpose of grouping and zeroing is to prepare your weapon and make sure that your weapon function properly without any deficiencies, and so you know what to correct, he said. You make the arrangement to properly pinpoint your bullet. This is something that’s done […]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Cadets of 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp, zipped, shimmied and built their ways to becoming future leaders at the Alex Field Leader Reaction Course. “We work in squad-based teams and we are conducting a leadership exercise to best navigate obstacles as a group.” explained Cadet Alex Northington, Virginia Military Institute, “The objective is to increase communication and best accomplish each obstacle by working together with hopes of bonding the group through teamwork.” Northington acted as Squad Leader during Station 7, Cliffhanger, and he was able to brief his team as well as observe how his team worked together to problem solve […]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Cadets of Advanced Camp, 5th Regiment, built leadership skills, June 16, at Alex Field Leadership Reaction Course. “We are still in the getting-to-know-you process, so we are trying to work together and build better relations so that when we get out to the field, we can work better as a unit.” said Cadet Apoorva Parab, University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, Texas. The Cadets on Parab’s team were at Station 10, Rope Bridge, and were required to get the entire team across without anyone falling through the bridge within the allotted time. They were able to finish with almost […]

By Lindsey Crown FORT KNOX, Ky – Cadets of 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp are learning to zero and qualify. They’re doing so with an M4 rifle, said Cadet Michael Hammond. Cadets are sighting in their weapons to make sure their bullet is going in the direction the rifle says it’s going, said Lieutenant Thomas Sicree. The purpose of this mission is so that tomorrow they can qualify on a pop up range, which is a requirement for graduation, Sicree said. This is some of the Cadets first time handling a weapon, he said. Each target has a silhouette of what it […]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – After 31 days of training, 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, Cadets completed Advanced Camp at Cadet Summer Training, graduating at Brooks Field at Fort Knox, June 30. “This ceremony marks the culmination of 31 days of rigorous and intensive training for these young men and women. For them, Advanced Camp served as a test of their leadership abilities and potential to be an officer. They have emerged from this challenge, confident in their ability to assume the tremendous responsibilities of being an Army officer,” said 2nd Lt. Nathan Daws, commonly called ‘Pipes’, the narrator for […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – After returning from days in the field, Cadets from Fourth Regiment, Advanced Camp broke into platoons to prepare for their next round of field exercises on June 29. During the troop leading procedures (TLPs), Cadets gathered to discuss their course of action for their next few days and the importance of decisiveness, personal discipline and aggressiveness in the field. “The point of planning is so that everyone knows where they need to be,” said Platoon Leader Sara Febbo, Clemson University. “It’s not easy but it’s important and necessary.” As Platoon Leader, Cadet Febbo oversees the roles and […]

By Lindsey Crown FORT KNOX, Ky. -“What we’re looking for is Cadets that don’t just meet the minimum standards, but excel and lead the way,” said Colonel Lance Oskey, task force leader and 7th brigade commander of ROTC. Advanced Camp 6th Regiment faced the Army Physical Fitness Test, which is a baseline of fitness that the army uses and will continue to use throughout a Cadet’s career, he said. “I’ve ran with all of the regiments just to set an example and inspire and challenge Cadets to maintain their fitness as I do as a 46 year old Colonel, so twice […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Advanced Camp 2nd Regiment Commission ceremony took place, June 29, at the Waybur Theater on Fort Knox, Ky. The commissioning ceremony starts off with the Cadets marching up to the stage to be sworn in with the Oath for Commissioning Officers. After they finish the oath and they are sworn in the cadets march back to their seats where they begin the process of pinning the Cadets Gold bars, which represent the rank and position they received. By tradition the silver dollar is the only coin given in exchange for the first salute. To new officers it […]

By Mattie Cook Fort Knox, Ky.-The ranks of the United States Army were joined by ten new 2nd Lieutenants during the End of Camp Commissioning Ceremony for 1st Regiment Advanced Camp on Fort Knox, Ky., at Waybur Theatre, June 24. These Lieutenants spent the last 30 days on Fort Knox in Advanced Camp of Cadet Summer Training, learning new tactical and soldiering skills, leadership techniques and learning how their own leadership styles will contribute to the total Army. Lt. Gen. Sean B. MacFarland addressed the Cadets before taking the stage for the oath, noting the importance of their decision to become […]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, arrived at Harmon Hall, the Central Issuing Facility, June 28, to return equipment and gear used during Cadet Summer Training. If gear was not issued to Cadets by their host program, the CIF issued gear and equipment so Cadets could obtain the most experience during CST. “Today, we’re basically just doing gear turn in. So, stuff that we didn’t have, they were nice enough to issue it here. Then, we have to work really hard to make sure it’s clean because, if it’s not, they will make us clean it […]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, arrived at Smith Gym, June 22, for Platoon photos. Cadet Summer Training is centered around the Cadets and creation of future leaders by making graduates into 2nd lieutenants. With their training almost complete, there are very few things left for them to complete. There is one thing, however, that was done that was centered around  helping others; the donation of blood. The Armed Services Blood Program held the first CST blood drive, June 22. The ASBP set up everything required in Smith Gym including chairs, interview stations, recovery stations and […]

By Lindsey Crown FORT KNOX, Ky. – “The purpose of this mission is familiarization with an ambush,” said Cadet Joe Pearman, University of Minnesota Twin Cities. Cadets from 5th Regiment Advanced Camp learned how to set in the various elements of an ambush- security, support and assault, he said. “We learned how to move across an area once we’ve bush wacked the bad guys, clear the bodies and tend to any of our own injured and withdrawal,” Pearman said. Cadets perform these squad situational tactical exercises with the assistance and direction of Cadre in preparation of field exercises that they must […]