FORT KNOX, Ky. — One thing that distinguishes Basic Camp from other levels of Army training is the number of Cadre who oversee the training. A lot of the basic camp instruction is given by drill sergeants and newly commissioned officers, but there is another group helping with the basic camp regiments: MSIII trainers. MSIII stands for Military Science 300, and it is made up of ROTC Cadets in college who have completed their junior year of school and graduated advanced camp this summer. After graduating, some opted to stick around in Fort Knox for basic camp and work as mentors […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Cadets from 5th Regiment, Basic Camp, competed in a drill and ceremony (D&C) competition today to test their marching and military bearing skills. The competition tested the basic foundations of D&C on how you march and conduct yourself in a formation. For the first portion of the competition, each platoon in the regiment created a routine that included numerous required elements and commands. Cadre graded Cadets on how well they conducted their platoon D&C routines and how well they maintained their military bearing. Maintaining a strong military bearing is holding and conducting yourself in a well-disciplined manner. […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. –Cadets of 6th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets learned Introduction to Battle Drills instruction at tactical training area Saber August 6th during Cadet Summer Training. Introduction to Battle Drills train the Cadets through different scenarios that occur consistently in the battle-space during war fighting. Some to name a few is reacting to sudden and direct enemy fire, reacting to ambushes, close ambushes, conducting assaults on key terrain and hasty defense.   These drills are conducted multiple times with Cadets filling in different rolls each iteration to ensure all Cadets get a turn in leadership. After each iteration, an after-action […]

  FORT KNOX, Ky. – 4th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets graduated on Brooks Field August 6 after completing Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky. Cadets completed numerous exercises to build themselves not only as leaders and teammates, but also to build their confidence in themselves and each other. After graduating and officially completing their training, Cadets expressed their feelings after walking off of Brooks Field. One Cadet was excited to demonstrate their skills learned throughout camp. “Just feeling really excited to get out of here and learn with all this knowledge that I’ve learned since I’ve been here. This is […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxBnI5dkCfc[/embedyt] Fort Knox, Ky. – Cadets from 6th Regiment, Basic Camp, practiced tactics and communication during simulated combat situations with squad formation drills, Aug. 5, 2019. The Cadets will be out in the woods later this week for their culminating training event, the Field Training Exercise (FTX). Squad formation drills help Cadets put into practice the tactics they’ve recently learned and to get adjusted to operating out in the field. The squad formation drills involved reacting to indirect fire and making contact. Both of these situations are hectic and communication is key for success. Cadet Echo Kent, a student at […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — “COVER ME WHILE I MOVE!!!” “I GOT YOU COVERED!!!” These two phrases were a common consistency on Aug. 4 at Mill Creek Range, when 6th Regiment of Basic Camp went through the Fire Team Movement drill. Similar to the Buddy Team Live Fire exercise Advanced Camp Cadets undergo, the Fire Team Movement drill requires Cadets to take turns advancing along different points of cover, with their partners providing cover fire behind them. It is performed to grow Cadets’ communication skills, increase their confidence in advancing to cover, and progress the relationships of battle buddies. One group of […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNNzeYQXSfU[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – After being trained in Army fundamentals for the past month, 4th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets had the opportunity to engage with Cadre – and even some equipment – during branch orientation, August 4. For most Cadets, finding a branch that interested them was not so difficult. One Cadet from Norfolk State University plans to pursue a career in the medical services branch because of his passion for medicine and serving others. “Growing up I had family that served in the medical field. I am studying medicine in school right now,” said Cadet Nathan Foster. “I […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — After 24 days at Basic Camp, 5th Regiment Cadets took on the 10k Foot March this morning to test their physical and mental endurance. Foot marches challenge Cadets with walking long distances at a fast pace with weight in their rucksacks. “It is mostly mental,” Cadet Mason Aldridge, from Birmingham, Alabama, and attending the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said. “Coming out here and doing this ruck march is to prove that you can go further than you think you can.” The Cadets began the march at 4 a.m. The purpose of this was to not only […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVrJrDR9tmQ[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. — Fourth Regiment, Basic Camp, Cadets put their marching skills to the test today during the platoon and regimental drill and ceremony (D&C) competition. Cadets competed in two different competition; a platoon-level D&C competition, where the six platoons from 4th Regiment performed in front of Cadre who chose the wining platoon, and a regimental D&C competition, where Cadets are individually competing to win. Over the past 28 days, Cadets learned Army customs and courtesies, how to march and conduct themselves in a professional manner. “The purpose of this competition was to test the culmination of everything […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZlGrPxV5lU[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – 6th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets tackled the team development course (TDC) as part of their leadership development, August 3. The course evaluates Cadets on their ability to plan and execute objectives in simulated tactical scenarios with limited resources. The TDC is challenging as it requires Cadets to remain cohesive within their squads. “Everyone has different ideas and is capable of different movements,” said Cadet Christy Morales, attending the University of Central Arkansas. “We eventually got specific people to do specific things and others just followed as needed.” Throughout the course, squad leadership rotates giving more […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – 5th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets conducted training at the Field Training Exercise (FTX) Badger, August 3rd, during Cadet Summer Training. Military training operates in three phases, crawl walk, and run. The crawl phase is the initial portion of training where Cadets are taught the fundamentals of operating in a field environment. The walk phase is rehearsal focused where Cadets on a small-scale walk through a myriad of maneuvers. Finally, the run phase is the action stage where Cadets display their domain knowledge during a live training event. These events are usually held at FTX’s. Cadet Emma Haynes, […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG_zAZ_2GNE[/embedyt]   FORT KNOX, Ky. — Cadets from 6th Regiment, Basic Camp spent the day at the range to get the first-time experience of sighting and shooting their M4 rifles. This training may seem basic to many, but it reinforces the idea that no matter where the Cadets end up, they are a rifleman first. Eastern Washington University Cadet Justin Mebes, may not be new to shooting, but his take on the mantra, “Every Soldier, a rifleman,” drew an interesting comparison to another. “I want to be a Ranger,” Mebes said. “My dad was a Ranger, and they say that […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4uEox8Cw7c[/embedyt]   FORT KNOX, Ky. — Every Cadet comes to a point where they may not be able to push any further, but, as the Basic Camp Cadets learned, that’s when the motivation from those behind them can push them beyond their limits. The Obstacle Course 6th Regiment took on today was filled with challenges of varying difficulty, that tested the Cadets physical and mental abilities. After they completed all of the obstacles, Cadets took a moment to reflect on what they had faced and how they were able to push past those difficulties. Cadet Lacy Pemberton, from Virginia Wesleyan […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOEz1ltN7nc[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – “You made it. You can be justifiably proud of your accomplishments this past month,” said Gen. Paul E. Funk II, August 1. Graduation for the 3rd Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets was both a culmination and beginning event as Funk, commanding general, United States Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), noted. “Your training is far from complete,” Funk told the Cadets. “My promise to you, as the TRADOC commander, is that we will maintain a laser focus on preparing you to be warriors and leaders that soldiers deserve.” In his commencement speech, Funk offered the Cadets some leadership […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – 5th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets conducted Fire Team Movement training July 30 during Cadet Summer Training. Fire Team Movement training is uses by the military to increase teamwork, team cohesion and condition personnel to be comfortable operating in small teams in combat. While Cadets move, loud noises from machines simulate gunfire and explosions while Cadets move through the course. Cadets run this course learning to shoot, move and communicate with their fellow teammates. This is all new to the cadets as Lt. Col. Matthew Stanley Regimental Tactical Officer, and PMS of Eastern Michigan explains, “This is their […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v14e-c37SW0[/embedyt]   FORT KNOX, Ky. — Going into the field for the first time for Field Training Exercise (FTX) may be scary, but Cadre made sure the Cadets were ready. Fire Team Movement works as a refresher course for the Cadets, but also as a way for Cadre to know the Cadets know the basics like the back of their hands. That way they don’t have to worry about forgetting anything when the real test begins. Cadet Ivan Torres, of Rowlett, Texas, noted that these basics are things he and the Cadets should be able to do automatically, and the […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbzx06Nyz9U[/embedyt] Fort Knox, Ky. – Cadets from 6th Regiment, Basic Camp spent the early morning hours at Morgan Riley Range zeroing their sights and practicing their marksmanship skills. Prior to today, the Cadets were in the classroom studying marksmanship basics and how to safely use their M4 Carbines during their primary marksmanship training (PMI). However, for many of the Cadets in Basic Camp this was the first time they had ever handled an M4 Carbine or shot a weapon at all. “It was all just brand new to me,” Cadet Daryl Urbina, a student at the University of Central Florida, […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOqCY8yYSSA[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – 4th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets conducted a Field Training Exercise (FTX) July 29, during Cadet Summer Training. An FTX is the most crucial aspect of a training cycle. This event is the assessment phase of training and allows the instructors to see what their trainees have learned. MS3 Leader Trainer (Cadre) Dakota DeSantis, from Saint Louis University, said, “This training is important to give them a little taste of what Cadet Summer Training is like and what Advance Camp is going to be like.” Cadets will conduct movement to contact, engage in attacks on opposition […]

  FORT KNOX, Ky. — 3rd Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets attended Branch Orientation at Keyes Park July 30 during Cadet Summer Training. “We are at Branch Day. So, we are getting an opportunity to visit with representatives from each of the basic branches that we may choose or put on our lists after we commission,” said Cadet Karen Yurek, Queens University of Charlotte. Master Sgt. Christopher Parker, Senior Military Instructor at Florida International University, explained that Cadets have a certain number of branches they must visit. “They’ll have nine rotations in which two of the rotations they must visit the Reserve […]

FORT KNOX, KY. – Obstacle Courses can bring out the best and worst in people. It definitely gives Basic Camp Cadets the opportunity to practice leadership and teamwork. Cadets from 5th Regiment, Basic Camp spent today going through the Dunagan Team Development Course at Fort Knox. “Today has been awesome,” Cadet Thais Rodriguez, from Puerto Rico, and attending the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez, said. “We started a little bit rough, but it always starts rough and you get better.” As they maneuvered their way through the obstacles Cadets started noticing some struggles. “One of my biggest struggles so far […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Basic Camp Cadets from 2nd Regiment spent their last morning celebrating their successful completion of Cadet Summer Training at Brooks Field. “You will fondly remember your squad leaders and team members who helped you succeed here at Fort Knox, while you battled the ticks, the bugs and probably even the occasional snake,” said Maj. Gen. Donna Martin. Martin is the commanding general of the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood, and was the guest speaker during the graduation. When Cadets arrived 26 June, many of them had no military experience and after 31 days […]

  FORT KNOX, Ky. — 5th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets learned how to group and zero their M-4 rifles at Morgan Riley Range July 26 during Cadet Summer Training. “We started with grouping and zeroing. Grouping is just get all of your shots to be together in a little group – hence grouping. Zeroing is just trying to get them as close to the center of the target as possible,” explained Cadet Gregory Cottrell, Virginia Commonwealth University. When explaining what group and zero was, Cadets created a few different similes. One Cadet found that group and zero could be explained in […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TczHHkkbvo[/embedyt]   FORT KNOX, Ky. – 5th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets conducted training on the First Aid techniques July 25 during Cadet Summer Training. 5th Regiment Cadets learned Combat Life Saving (CLS) techniques and first aid. These skills taught today makes the Cadets take another step towards becoming a professional Soldier. Furthermore, as stated by the lane Cadre, this training saves lives and is almost more important than any other training. Cadets are instructed at different stations and rotate to new stations to be tested or receive more instruction in order to ensure the lesson has been understood. This training […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — 4th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets progressed through training as they were introduced to Small Unit Tactics July 25 at Mill Creek Range during Cadet Summer Training. “We just went through the IMT lanes (Individual Movement Tactics) that’s basically you moving in the buddy system. The first buddy is supposed to yell out ‘Cover me while I move,’” explained Cadet Tanner Delphin, Northwestern State University. “They move and the other buddy is supposed to simulate cover fire and once that first buddy who moved is set, they’ll say ‘Set.’ Then the buddy who was laying down cover fire […]

FORT KNOX, KY.— “The Army has a lot of high-tech tools, but if something were to happen, we need to know how to navigate through the land, figure out terrain and be able to stick together to help each other out,” said Rachel Hickey, from Carson-Newman University. On July 23, 2019, 5th Regiment Basic Camp Cadets got a hands-on learning experience on how to navigate through woods and terrain. These classes help prepare Cadets for their Land Navigation tests later in the day. The Day Land Navigation test will occur after lunch and Cadets must locate four out of five points. […]