FORT KNOX, Ky – With all due respect to country-superstar Garth Brooks, the thunder rolled and the lightning struck while the 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp put their bodies to the test during the Army Physical Fitness Test today. The weather did not put a damper on the Cadets spirits. “Being super hype and getting everyone else hype as well, I was able to exceed that mental barrier and just push as hard as I could beyond the physical capability that I had,” said Michael Vieda, a Cadet from Florida Atlantic University. Before the APFT, Vieda was a bit nervous with how […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — The humidity was beating down on the Cadets from 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp on the last day they did buddy team live-fire during Cadet Summer Training. Today, Cadets navigated through the buddy team live-fire lane working on their communication skills and “using individual movement techniques or IMTs to maneuver down to our objective,” said Cadet Carolyn Williams, Missouri Western State University. The 100-meter lane requires the Cadets to move forward seeking cover from wooden barriers and logs. While one moves the other provides covering fire.  Last week’s rain created mud pits, often where a Cadet finished his three-five second […]

Rain. Lightening.  A broken LOMAH system. None of these events stopped Cadets from the 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp from fine tuning their marksmanship skills this morning.  Cadets were scheduled to practice these skills before their weapons qualification tomorrow. The Rain.  Cadets arrived at George Blair Range as a thunderstorm hovered over them.  Although the rain was uncomfortable, causing some puddles and heavy ponchos, training was scheduled to begin on time; that is until a lightning bolt struck a tree near the Cadets. The Lightening. “We were lined up for chow and then there was a big lightning strike and we took […]

Cadets from Advanced Camp, 4th Regiment, Delta Company took part in the Field Leadership Reaction Course (FLRC) to build camaraderie and leadership skills within their platoons. Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Hankins, who is a member of Cadet Command, explained the course. He said, “Field Leadership Reaction Course is (several) obstacles designed to challenge squad sized cadets. They will take turns in leadership positions. The intention is to challenge and make them work together for teamwork, communication, adaptability, and decision-making.” Hankins shared his advice for the Cadets, “A good plan executed violently right after planning phase is better than a perfect plan […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp partnered up today for a dry run of the buddy team live-fire range during Cadet Summer Training. Cadets navigated the course today using blank ammunition, working on their communication and movement techniques.  Tomorrow they’ll negotiate the same 100-meter lanes firing live rounds.  Throughout their run down the lane the Cadets engage targets while moving to cover provided by wooden walls and logs. Cadet Brian Driscoll from Wilks University explained how they run through the lanes in buddy pairs; they run individually while your partner covers you. They low crawled and high crawled […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=npKGAiYCatU[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, KY. — “Be flexible and be ready for anything,” said Cadet Zaw Aung, from the University of Pittsburgh, “you have no idea where anyone is coming from.” The Field Leader Reaction Course (FLRC) helps prepare Cadets for this. During their third day at Cadet Summer Training, Cadets had to overcome six different obstacles at FLRC. They were given 17 minutes for each of the obstacles they faced. During this training, Cadets learn how to lead effectively or listen to the squad member in charge. Cadet Thomas Booth, from Ohio University, said that the obstacles, “are meant to […]

The Cadets from 1st Regiment, Alpha Company took part in Field Training Exercises (FTX) to showcase the skills they have learned in Advanced Camp. FTX is a graded mission where Cadets are assessed on how they handle certain leadership positions and the mission itself. The Cadets have just completed day one of the walk phase, which is a part of the crawl, walk, run development technique used to teach information that builds upon each other. Tyler Sisson, 2nd Lt. who graduated from University of Alabama explained the grading process. He said, “So the grading process is we go assess Cadets from […]

FORT KNOX, Ky – Before 2nd Regiment Advanced Camp tackles its rigorous Field Training Exercise (FTX), platoons worked together today going over their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). An SOP is a plan Cadets will use in the FTX while conducting missions. With an SOP in place, everyone is on the same plan and it will be easier for the platoon to defend its territory against the enemy Second Regiment’s Cadre allowed platoon leaders to take charge of their Cadets develop plans and review combat tactics. Delta Company’s 1st platoon leader, Cadet Dylan Lanting, from University of North Georgia, took advantage of […]

“The range is hot,” yelled different Cadre as the Cadets began firing their rifles.  Last week, 4th Regiment completed Preliminary Marksmanship Instruction (PMI) training where they familiarized themselves with their M4 Carbines.  Today, they gathered at Canby Hill Range to zero their rifles. For some Cadets, zeroing their weapon is an unfamiliar skill they have yet to practice, but many Cadets from the 4th Regiment have had a wide-range of experience with rifles.  Today allowed each Cadet to make adjustments to zero their weapon, based on the shots they fired at a target. Cadet Sinai Erazo arrived at Fort Knox around […]

The night of June 14 was one for the books, as the U.S. Army marched into its 244th year, commemorating the day with the annual cake cutting. Each year, the Army’s birthday is celebrated with the cutting of a birthday cake, done by the youngest and oldest soldiers present. This year, 18-year-old Pfc. Zachary Partridge and 61-year-old Chaplain (Col.) Timothy Walls were given the honor of wielding that saber. Celebrating the Army’s birthday is about much more than age, though. “I think it’s important that we remember the Army colors, the guide on that has the United States Army’s emblem on […]

FORT KNOX, Ky – “Many people celebrate their birthday sleeping in and eating cake, but not us,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Mario Terenas. Fort Knox didn’t sleep in late this morning but began it with a three-mile run and a Streamer Ceremony marking the Army’s 244th birthday. As the fog and morning dew blanketed Brooks Field, Soldiers and civilians from evert command across the base listened as Maj. Gen. John R. Evans, commanding general, U.S. Army Cadet Command and Fort Knox, gave his ‘hooah’ birthday speech. “Starting at Bunker Hill all the way through Baghdad, there’s nothing like us anywhere,” said […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91OsmDLJ4tY[/embedyt]   FORT KNOX, Ky. — Fort Knox’s training ground for Land Navigation is wet, heavily forested and teeming with wildlife, but it’s also where the Cadets of 4th Regiment prove they have what it takes to find points in the wild without the help of technology. Sgt. Jonathan Shyrock, of the 3-61 Cav 4th ID, is the non-commissioned officer (NCO) officer in charge (OIC) at the communications station for the area, and has been enlisted in the Army for eight years. So he has seen his fair share of courses. He noted that the course may not be hard […]

U.S. Army Cadets spent just over three weeks in Thailand as part of the Cadet Coalition Warfighter Program (formerly the Cultural Understanding and Leadership Program, or CULP). The purpose of this program is to immerse future U.S. Army officers in the lifestyle of another country, while forming positive relationships with that country’s military. The selected Cadets who traveled to Thailand went through the entire military deployment process. They got any necessary immunizations, completed preparatory assignments and did research on the country. Cadet Justin Humphreys, an economics major at the University of Southern Mississippi, said he didn’t know much about the country […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnqIf5IOxvg[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – Advanced Camp, 3rd Regiment Cadets aimed to pass their weapons qualification, June 14, at George Blair Range. Weapons Qualification is a must pass event for Cadet Summer Training. Basic Rifle Marksmanship training is a four-day process, starting with preliminary marksmanship instruction and culminating with weapon qualification. Over the course of the four-days Cadets built their confidence and skill with their assigned M4 Carbine. “The four-day progression model that we have starts very basic, PMI teaches them how to take it [the rifle] apart and how to handle it,” said Master Sgt. Don Oakes who is an […]

Texas State! Hampton! V.M.I. ! One by one Cadets lined up and shouted their University name before completing the hand grenade qualification course at Christensen Range.  After 3rd Regiment threw their two live grenades, they returned to the practice grenades to execute a simulation on a course with six different stations. For most of these Cadets, today was the first time they handled grenades. This is true for Tazman Briganti.  The Cadet from Virginia Military Institute has never thrown a grenade before this training.  His brother, father, two uncles, and grandfather all have military careers in the Navy, but Briganti is […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuUvbaZKYzQ[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. — With Buddy Team Live Fire finished, the Cadets of 2nd Regiment, Charlie and Delta Company, prepare for their final task of Cadet Summer Training (CST), the FTX. Buddy Team Live Fire tasked each Cadet to trust their battle buddies as they moved down a lane towards a goal. And with it now completed they get a chance to reflect on all their training and time here at CST before they leave the comfort of their barracks and head to the woods for FTX. Kyle Delaney, an Elon University Cadet, is one of the many Cadets […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2kPPSQI1po[/embedyt] Fort Knox, Ky. – It was a long climb up the stairs for the 4th Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets this morning. From the ground to the top of the 60-foot rappel tower it’s 80 steps. Depending on one’s anxiety level it was either a quick walk up or a slow shuffle. Cadet Jacob Drobney, from Atlanta, Georgia, who attends the University of North Georgia, said the signs with Army values motivated his climb. “As you are walking the stairs up you can see the leadership qualities like loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity and personal courage,” Drobney said. […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mM9d2Zvh_yc[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, KY. — “Being brave is not about not being afraid of anything. It is about being afraid of something and going through with it anyway,” said 1st Sgt. Justin Davis, as he stood in front of the 64-foot rappel tower here. Cadets from the 2nd Regt., Advanced Camp took on the daunting tower, in what some say is the one event Cadets dread most about CST. Before Cadets conquer the rappel tower, they first learned to tie a swiss seat which is how Cadets rappelled the wall and free-fell. “[The swiss seat], is a super tight knot […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Cadets from 2nd Regiment Charlie and Delta Company took part in training that was brand new to the Cadet Summer Training (CST) here at Fort Knox. While Buddy Team Live Fire is a new addition to CST, it is a basic tenant to be a Soldier and officer in the Army. Two Cadets, or Battle Buddies, take turns moving down a lane and firing at pop up targets before tossing a dummy grenade at an objective. The training is broken up into two different phases: blank firing and live ammunition. Today was the blank firing phase. The […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_lntJCEp9s[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. — With the end in sight, 1st Regiment puts all they have learned to the test at the Situational Training Exercise (STX) lanes. Cadets from 1st Regiment began their first day of Field Training Exercise (FTX) by going through the six different STX lanes. Each lane was set up to put the Cadets in six different situations that tested how well they could operate tactically as a squad. Master Sgt. Conrad Vasquez, from the University of Oregon, has been a part of the Cadet Summer Training (CST) Team at the Wolverine area of operations for three […]

Fort Knox, Ky. – Fourth Regiment Cadets spent their morning wandering through the woods during the daytime portion of Land Navigation. Cadets received a map, a compass and a protractor to help them locate specific points. After plotting their points they were released into the woods to navigate to those points. Cadets had four hours to find at least three of the four points. Land Navigation Officer in Charge (OIC) Capt. Deshon Sims said the training not only taught Cadets navigation skills, but also confidence and perseverance. “It is important because it teaches them the skills to plan, time management, to […]

Fort Knox, Ky. — At 16 years of age most people are worried about getting their driver’s license, Cadet Daniel Cole was finding a place to live and trying to join the Army. Cole is from Fayetteville, North Carolina and attends the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. Growing up with his father in the military, Cole always had an interest in joining the military, but his route to Advanced Camp, Cadet Summer Training was anything but traditional. “I come from a military family, my dad was in the military,” Cole said. “It was always the plan that I was either going […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp took a deep breath as they prepared their minds and bodies for the confidence chamber. The confidence chamber is also commonly referred to as the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) gas chamber. The purpose for CBRN is to prepare Cadets in case an adversary uses a toxic substance against them and their Soldiers.  “We learned how to put the gear on properly, the different types of gases and how to identify them,” said Tyler Hudson, from DePaul University. With that knowledge and practice, the Cadets are then taken to the […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJlF-4DeDAM[/embedyt] “My favorite part about this training is that you are not limited to how many bullets you get to shoot,” said Stacey Estrada, from Weber State University, “If you are not doing so great and you need extra practice, we have the supply here to keep practicing and to keep getting better.” And practice they did.  For the last two days Cadets from the 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp shot round, after round, after round improving their shooting skills at the George Blair Shooting Range. All their practice leads to their weapons qualification tomorrow. Fort Knox uses a location of […]

The Cadets from A Co., 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp completed the Hand Grenade Qualification Course June 11, 2019. Sgt. 1st Class James Nichols, from 4th Infantry Division, described the course. He said, “This course is the hand grenade qualification course. They are going to have one lane with six stations, they need to get a go, that is (passing) four out of six stations. It’s all graded on a go or no-go basis, depending on alternate throwing positions from knock out a bunker, to knock out a mortar pit, to taking out a vehicle.” The Cadets were optimistic about completing the […]