FORT KNOX, KY. — Cadets from 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp complete their Cadet Summer Training journey by setting out on a 12-mile ruck at Fort Knox, Ky., July 18, 2023. The 12-mile ruck is the last event Cadets must finish before they graduate from Advanced Camp. It allows Cadets a time to reflect on their experiences at CST, the lessons they learned, and the connections they have made along the way. “The 12-mile ruck is basically a battle march from our last phase of the field, the Grizzly phase,” said Cadet Meghan Shelatz, Liberty University. “We walk as a whole entire [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky., – Cadet Agnelo Lopes, Columbia State University, from 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp, decided at a young age that he was going to serve in the Army. At around 7 years old, Lopes had traveled two miles from Jersey City, New Jersey, for a school field trip to the Statue of Liberty. The day of this field trip was September 11, 2001 — a day that changed Lopes’ life trajectory as well as the United States.  “I was actually on a field trip to the Statue of Liberty when the twin towers went down,” Lopes said. “I always wanted [...]

“Without the support of commands like Cadet Summer Training here at Fort Knox, we don’t have the blood that we need and we find that here,” Navy Capt. Leslie Riggs, the Division Chief for the Armed Services Blood Program said.  Riggs became devoted to the program after discovering the challenge of continuing the blood supply. “I want to ensure that our military members that go down range come back,” Riggs said. “They are given the best possible opportunity if they’re injured, that they get the ability to come back to their families.” Cadet William Koleszar from Liberty University saw the importance [...]

DOWNLOAD Program Special Awards Recipients AUSA Leadership Excellence AwardCadet Jeffery Newton, University of Louisville Military Order of World Wars AwardCadet Phillip King, McDaniel College Military Officers Association of America AwardCadet Lydia Young, Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis First Command Financial Services AwardCadet Brandi Brooks, Bowie State University USAA Warrior Spirit AwardCadet Hailey Sundblom, Kansas State University Armed Forces Bank AwardCadet Serigne Cisse, City College of New York Reserve Organization of America AwardCadet William Mitchell, Middle Tennessee State University National Guard Association of the United State AwardCadet Mitchell Bauer, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Bold Leader Spirit AwardCadet Kinley Frazier, SUNY-Brockport [...]

5th Regiment Cadets had the opportunity to learn about their rifles and shooting during Preliminary Marksmanship Instruction (PMI) at Cadet Summer Training Advanced Camp in Fort Knox, Ky on June 23, 2021. At PMI, Cadets learned shooting positions, how to care for their rifles, fundamentals of shooting and even how math plays a role in their accuracy. One lesson in particular focused on the fundamentals of shooting, such as breath control and trigger squeeze.  “When you’re shooting, breathing is important because whether you either inhale or exhale, it will affect where the rifle is,” said Cadet Kalley Magel, from University of [...]

Out of the frying pan and into the fire, the Cadets of 5th Regiment got off the bus at Fort Knox, KY on June 12th, 2021 ready to begin the trials of their summer training.  With these Cadets coming from all walks of life and all parts of the country, they were very out of their element as they got their things in order and fell into formation, however they seemed to greet the situation with an optimistic determination, and a desire to seize the day. “I’m just ready to meet new people, maybe pick up some skills and tricks, become [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gm-ABbPk7ro[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – “The Army will come and go, but family will always be there,” said CSM Timothy Guden, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command, to Cadets from 5th Regiment, Basic Camp, at their graduation on August 11.  Family and loved ones traveled from near and far to see their Cadets graduate. For some Cadets, military service is a familial legacy which they are now continuing.  “I am not the first in my family to join the military. I am joining a long line of family members in service. It’s a family business,” said Cadet Cameron Cloutier. In [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 5th Regiment, Basic Camp walked away from branch orientation enlightened and excited, August 8.  Branch orientation is an opportunity for Cadets to learn about the different branches of the Army from non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and officers in those branches. It may be the first time that Cadets are exposed to the array of potential careers available to them after they commission.  Cadet Emily Heil, attending Murray State University, decided to attend the special operations branch brief because of a pamphlet she had received.  “I am studying medicine at my university,” said Heil. “Apparently there is [...]

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. — 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=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 [...]

  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 [...]

FORT KNOX, KY. – Basic Camp Cadets will train in the air, in the woods, on the range and even on the track but today 5th Regiment will train in the classroom. Cadets spent the morning training in Map Reading and Terrain Association. Cadet Brenden Gleeson, from Valley Forge Military College said he was enjoying the break from Kentucky’s midsummer heat and humidity. “Training is going pretty good,” the Ridgefield, Connecticut native said. “It is nice that we are in an air-conditioned building considering its very hot outside.” Cadet Michael Vannote, a student attending Valley Forge Military College, also enjoyed the [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — On July 19, 6th Regiment Basic Camp Cadets spent their days in the air running through various obstacles at the Forest Hills Climbing Course. The course is composed of three different sections: a 55-foot tall rock wall comprised of nine lanes, two different alpine towers that stretch 40 feet high, and the Rudders High Ropes Course which has heights up to as 32 feet. Basic Camp Cadets have the chance to attempt each of these challenges. The intent of this daunting set of obstacles is to help Cadets learn to work through their fears, to grow their [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUkESwRqd08[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. — Fifth Regiment Cadets took another step toward commissioning as Army Officers today as they graduated from Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Cadets spent the last 37 days completing Advanced Camp. Advanced Camp is the training they must complete in order to continue in their university’s ROTC program and eventually commission as an Officer. The training gave Cadets experience in everything from basic soldiering skills, like rappelling, to organizing and executing platoon operations during the 10-day Field Training Exercise (FTX). After 37 days, Cadets were eager to have finished and head back home. “I’m excited [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YA5hvhCuCk[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – 5th Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets were reunited with their families before officially graduating from Cadet Summer Training, July 18. Family members rejoiced in seeing their Cadets on family day after having been separated from them while they trained. While family day warrants Cadets a free pass to leave Fort Knox in the company of loved ones, it also marks the eve of advanced camp graduation. “I’m very excited to be done with camp,” said Cadet Benjamin Sorg. “It’s been a long time coming. It feels good.” Before being released to see their Cadets, family members [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfK89G9SGGs[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets learned more about Army branches at Branch Orientation Day July 16, during Cadet Summer Training. Branch Orientation Day is for Cadets to be exposed to all the branches, or jobs, the military has to offer. The Cadets spend a good portion of the day shifting from one branch to the next on controlled rotations. They move tent-to-tent, receiving branch specific merchandise and a representative explains the branch they represent to the Cadets. There are many potential options a Cadet has to consider when listing their preferred branches. The Cadets must [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtAWlwT3APs[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – Advanced Camp, 5th Regiment Cadets, tried to stay cool in the heat category five weather, while they were performing a defense exercise at Grizzly Field Training Exercise (FTX) lanes. FTX lanes are a part of Cadet Summer Training to help enhance the Cadets leadership skills at Fort Knox, Ky., July 9. For this exercise the Cadets had a general idea of where the opposing forces (OPFOR) were coming from. They had to secure the patrol base from all angles to ensure the Cadets were able to see the OPFOR coming. “Objective Firefly is a terrain that [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuA0zCGhWKA[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – Advanced Camp, 5th Regiment Cadets tracked through the woods as part of Field Training Exercise (FTX) during Cadet Summer Training, at Fort Knox, Ky., July 5. Cadets had to execute a move to contact exercise. A move to contact exercise has the Cadets dropped off in the woods where they must make their way to a certain point along the route on the map they have. The platoon leader along with the platoon sergeant and squad leaders huddle together to make a plan of action. Once the platoon leader has a strategy of how they [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Fifth Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets completed rappel tower training today to push themselves to tackle fears and improve personal courage. Cadets were required to complete three variations of the rappel tower; the slight incline, the wall and the open face rappel. They were meant to not only teach the Cadets but test them as well. “Each one is building up off of what we previously did,” Cadet John Manning, from Overland Park, Kansas, and attending Marquette University, said. “The slant tower is to make sure we know the basic skills. The wall side is so we can [...]

Fort Knox, Ky. – Cadets give up a lot to be here at Advanced Camp. One Cadet is missing time with his son and watching him to grow. Cadet Alexander Graham is from Gainesville, Florida, and is attending the University of South Carolina. The 5th regiment Cadet enlisted in the Army in 2015 after earning his undergraduate degree in business. “I joined the Army after getting an undergraduate degree because it was tough to find work at home and I come from a military family,” Graham said. “My father was in the Army and retired after 20 years, my brother is [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ihy-87vdX1o[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets of the 5th Regiment, Alpha Co., Advanced Camp made their way to the Woods II Range this morning, June 25, for their first day of Buddy Team Live Fire training. A New Experience For many of these Cadets, this event is their first time moving while they fire. Most are accustomed to a pop-up range or unmoving paper targets. Both options allow the Cadets to be still on the lane. The first day consists of a run using blanks rather than live ammunition. “This was really something new for me,” Cadet Spencer Rapp from [...]

Fort Knox, Ky. – It was a sunny morning on the George Blair Range for the 5th regiment Cadets at weapons qualification today. The Cadets shot at pop-targets with the goal of shooting 23 out of the 40 targets, at a minimum. For some Cadets, this was a first exposure to pop-up targets. For Cadet Justin Larson from St. Simons Island, Georgia, who attends the University of Georgia, shooting at pop-up targets was a completely new experience. “This is my first time shooting on a pop-up range,” Larson said. “Honestly, I was nervous because I had never qualified on a pop-up [...]