FORT KNOX, Ky. – 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets challenged themselves, while learning the importance of motivation at the Rappel Tower and Obstacle Course at Fort Knox, Kentucky July 13. Climbing, rappelling, falling and scaling, the Cadets face challenges of personal courage and dexterity while developing interpersonal and communication skills required to achieve greatness in the US Military. “The main thing we want them to get from the confidence course is that they can face these obstacles,” Capt. Kyle Gellhaus, Army Reserve, stated. “A lot of times they have a fear of heights, they don’t think they can do it and [...]

By: Mattie Cook Fort Knox, Ky.,- The 556 Cadets of 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp finished Cadet Summer Training with Graduation on Brooks Field. Nine Cadets of the regiment received the RECONDO (Reconnaissance Commando) certificate from Maj. Gen. Hughes, Commanding General of Cadet Summer Training and Fort Knox. Regimental Awards were given to twelve Cadets for outstanding performances at CST. Cadet Emily Gallagher, Dequesne University, received the Armed Forces Services Corporation Award for achieving the highest female score on the Army Physical Fitness Test. Her parents, Laura and Ed were there at graduation waiting to congratulate her. “We’re extremely proud of her. [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Hidden in the forests behind the rappel tower looms its counterpart, the confidence course. Made up of several different obstacles like The Tough One, The Weaver and The Confidence Climb, the course rightly performs its purpose: instilling true confidence in the Cadets of 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp August 8. That statement is more than true for Cadet Milynel Ortiz, a student from the University of Central Florida. While working through The Weaver, a towering, pyramid-like obstacle that doubles as a ladder, Ortiz carried herself with accuracy and speed to the top.  She said having some innate confidence [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from Advanced Camp 9th Regiment headed to George Blair Shooting Range for weapon qualification, July 17, during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky. The day before qualification the Cadets go through Preliminary Marksmanship Instruction (PMI) to help them hold the weapon, know the parts of the weapon, and the different positions they will be shooting from. “I do believe that PMI prepared me for today, it just goes over the basic fundamentals that every shooter needs to become a great shooter, said Cadet Jared Neeb, University of Louisiana in Lafayette, from New Orleans, La Weapon [...]

By: Mattie Cook FORT KNOX, KY.,- Cadets of 9th Regiment Advanced Camp cleared their sinuses at the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) chamber on Fort Knox, Ky., July 19. Cadets were first trained in proper care and use of gas masks and mission oriented protective posture (MOPP) gear. In order to be properly equipped and ready, they must be able to put on their gear and seal their mask in eight minutes or less. After their gear is secured, it’s time to go through the chamber. “My face was on fire, my lungs were on fire, I wanted to breathe [...]

By: Mattie Cook FORT KNOX, Ky.,- Cadets of 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp endured high heat indexes to learn squad battle drill tactics in preparation for their Field Leader Training Exercise (FTX) coming up in less than a week. Cadets of Advanced Camp will be returning to their universities as military science level fours and will be commissioning as Second Lieutenants when they graduate. Important for each, the ability to lead by example and tell their soldiers or fellow students they ‘why’ of training and preparation. Cadet Dustin Harper, Augusta University, GA., explained squad battle drills. “We’re out here practicing Squad Battle [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadet Tori Richison, a student at University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, says she feels well-prepared for the mission that’s sure to be a challenge: land navigation. “It’s a little nerve-wracking just because you’re on your own, and it’s at night, too,” the Osceola, Wisconsin native said. Richison, along with the other Cadets of 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp, is required to successfully navigate alone from one location to another through the daunting, critter-infested forests of rural Fort Knox. She says knowing how to physically lead through any type of terrain is “very important.” “As a platoon leader, [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Keeping them in the running for the RECONDO badge, three Cadets from 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp qualified expert on their M4 carbine at George Blair Range. Cadet Christian Nelson explained how qualification works. “Out here we were qualifying with an M4 rifle on the marksmanship range,” said Nelson, “We have pop up targets out here. If you’re not going for RECONDO you have two chances at this. After that you go to an Alternate Qualification course. For RECONDO, they have four other tries after that.” Weapons qualification is an event that has seemed to knock many Cadets [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. –Advanced Camp 9th Regiment Cadets learned the fundamentals of Preliminary Marksmanship Instructions (PMI) July 16, during the annual Cadet Summer Training (CST) at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Cadets learn the fundamentals of shooting the Army’s M4 Carbine. Three stations were set up for the Cadets to cycle through, teaching them basic rifle marksmanship skills. “We split them up into three platoons, 1st platoon goes to positions and fundamentals, 2nd platoon goes to ballistics, trajectory and minute of angle and 3rd platoon goes to maintenance,” said Specialist Ronnie Cummings, 3rd Calvary Regiment. “Throughout the afternoon the platoons will rotate through [...]

by: Mattie Cook Fort Knox, Ky.,- Arriving as strangers, Cadets of 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp completed the Field Leader Reaction Course (FLRC) on day two of Cadet Summer Training (CST) to learn about each other, build teamwork and create bonds that will last through the rest of training. Cadets of Charlie Company, 2nd platoon, first squad set themselves apart from others by hitting each obstacle as if they had known each other forever, operating with communication and adaptability; not to mention fast completion times. Cadet Amber Rose, University of New Mexico, said getting the job done no matter what isn’t the [...]