FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the field training exercise at Fort Knox, Ky., June 30, 2023. During the FTX, Cadets conducted a raid, a surprise attack where Cadets destroy or capture the opposing forces. One Cadet talked about their experience during the raid. Cadet Sam Barnhart from Virginia Tech said that he joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps because of his family. He was able to date his family’s history all the way back to the Revolutionary War. “Having that lineage of the military, it’s just in the blood, and I knew I was going [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.- Cadet Jon Waldon, 5th Regiment Advanced Camp, implemented his prior experience as a staff sergeant to help guide him through Cadet Summer Training, Fort Knox, Ky., June 28, 2023. During engagement skills trainer, Waldon worked with fellow Cadets, rotating through the stations that are designed to improve their marksmanship skills. “My experience today was good, I think that the Cadre have done a really good job with this training,” Waldon said. “I’ve been in the military for six years. I haven’t ever seen such attention to detail focused on the foundations.” Waldon worked as an eye specialist in [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 5th Regiment Advanced camp tackled the weapons qualification on the Pells Range at Fort Knox, Ky., June 28, 2023. The weapons qualification challenged Cadets to use the knowledge and training they have received over the last few days to show off their shooting abilities to hit targets at various distances.Cadet Terrence Bryant, Florida A&M University, shared his experience during weapons qualification. “I’m not a stranger behind a gun; I’ve definitely been practicing on my shooting,” Bryant said.“I know I made a few mistakes, but I was able to come on top of it and I’m [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky., – Cadets from 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the Army Combat Fitness Test at Fort Knox, Ky., June 28, 2023. The ACFT consists of six events: the max deadlift, the standing power throw, hand-release pushups, sprint-drag-carry, plank, and two-mile run. “I definitely did better than I was expecting,” said Cadet McKinley Rainey, University of Hawaii at Manoa. “I think I did good because it’s a really positive environment, everybody is cheering each other on.” The ACFT is the first training event that Cadets must participate in after their arrival to camp. The ACFT tests Cadets’ physical and mental [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the field training exercise at Fort Knox, Ky., June 28, 2023. The FTX trained Cadets on how to be a leader and tactically lead a platoon of forty-four Cadets in various missions. During the FTX, Cadets conducted a raid, a surprise attack where Cadets destroy or capture the opposing forces. One Cadet talked about a unique story along with his experience during the raid. Cadet Ernes Selimovic from St. John’s University New York, joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps because of his parents. He said that his parents came to [...]

­FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp, conducted a simulated raid mission as a part of their situational training exercise, known as STX, during Cadet Summer Training, at Fort Knox, Ky., June 28, 2023. At the STX, Cadets worked together as a platoon to practice various combat tactics with simulated field missions. These combat tactics included conducting a mock raid, attack, ambush, reaction to contact, and defensive positions. Cadet Nathan Taake from Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University explained the purpose of the STX lanes. “STX is to keep us trained in the fundamentals of Army tactics and leadership,” [...]

Cadets Nina Huff, Loyola University Maryland, and Antonia Adipietro, Norwich University, from 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp, compared their experience with the 64-foot rappel tower to their expectations for air assault school after camp at Fort Knox, Ky., June 28, 2023.

FORT KNOX, Ky., – Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, spent the day planning and executing field training exercises during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky., June 26, 2023. Cadets will spend a total of 12 days in the field where they will sleep in the woods, test their leadership abilities and run missions like ambushes, raids, attacks, defense, reconnaissance and movement to contact. Cadet Madeline Bryan, Loyola University Chicago, and her platoon executed an attack on an objective. “Everybody communicated with me effectively,” Bryan said. “I got on the objective, I knew I had to shoot, I posted the [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the field training exercise at Fort Knox, Ky., June 26, 2023. During FTX, Cadets conducted a platoon ambush; a platoon ambush is a surprise attack from a concealed position on a moving target.  Cadets applied an excess amount of face paint on and marched their way in the hot sun through the thick terrain and in the mud to the location of the platoon ambush. One Cadet talked about their experience during FTX. Cadet Caroline Courtney from Gannon University joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps because of her brother. She [...]

­­­FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the warrior skills training event during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky., June 25, 2023. The warrior skills training event consists of different exercises that teach Cadets about basic military tactical operations in combat environments before beginning their field training exercises. Warrior skills training includes troop leading procedures, setting up claymore mines, throwing hand grenades, and other essential tasks. The purpose of this training event is for Cadets to work on their individual skillsets while the observer-controller-trainers assess the quality of Cadets’ leadership abilities. Lt. Col. Benjamin Van Meter [...]

­­­FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets of the 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp, participated in the confidence course during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky., June 26, 2023. The confidence course consists of a series of obstacles that are designed to challenge the Cadets’ physical abilities and help build their confidence. The obstacles require Cadets to climb ropes, jump hurdles, perform low crawls and more. Cadet Benjamin Rider of St. Norbert College—University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, explains the purpose of the confidence course. “In order to relate to the troops that we’ll one day be leading, we have to understand, always have confidence, [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Lt. Col. Gary Goodman, Cadre member from the University of Delaware, watches over 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets at the engagement skills training event at Fort Knox, Ky., June 26, 2023. Goodman explained that EST is an important event to hold at the beginning of Advanced Camp because it prepares Cadets for the qualifications test that occurs later on. The 5th Regiment’s Cadets all have had prior experience shooting, but during Cadet Summer Training, every Advanced Camp Cadet must go back to the basics of marksmanship. At EST, Cadets learn about proper shooting positions, weapons manipulation, and [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – After a thunderstorm rolled through Fort Knox, Ky., June 25, 2023, 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets braced themselves for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear training. During CBRN training, Cadets are required to take off their protective gas masks in the confidence chamber. Since completing Advanced Camp last summer, 2nd Lt. Ethan Miles, a recent graduate from the Virginia Military Institute, is now in charge of masking accountability and distribution during CBRN training for the entirety of Cadet Summer Training. Miles has witnessed Advanced Camp Cadets from every regiment make their way through the confidence chamber since the [...]

FORT KNOX Ky. – Cadets from 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp, engage in chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear training in Fort Knox, Ky., June 24, 2023. The CBRN chamber is a concrete, enclosed building that creates a simulation for the Cadets to experience using their gas masks against tear gas. The production of the gas is made by burning two chemical filled capsules inside the chamber. Prior to entering the gas filled room, Cadets take in-depth classes learning about the equipment and how to properly apply it. The Cadre also ensure a proper seal of their masks beforehand. Cadre member 2nd Lt. [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadet Emily Jackson from 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp, plans to commission as an active duty nurse for the Army. While at Cadet Summer Training, she shared that her experience in the National Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps furthered her passion towards caring for others at Fort Knox, Ky., June 22, 2023. “I’ve always been super interested in the medical field, and I’m also really passionate about kids and babies,” said Jackson. “So while doing research about [the medical field], I got super interested in labor and delivery and just the whole delivery process itself.” Jackson is from [...]

The 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets prepare for Wolverine, the first phase of the field training exercises, by going through a series of stations at the warrior skills training event at Fort Knox, Ky., June 24, 2023.

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the situation training exercise at Fort Knox, Ky., June 23, 2023. During the situation training exercise, Cadets did a deliberate attack. A deliberate attack is when Cadets destroy or defeat enemy forces, seizes, and secures terrain. Two Cadets talked about their experience during the situation training exercise.  Cadet Cleveland Williams from Texas A&M University Central Texas has been an active duty member of the U.S. Army for four and a half years. His military occupational specialty was an 88M. An 88M is a transport operator. He said that he joined [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. –  On June 23, 2023., Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, engage in situational training exercises (STX) starting off at the Wolverine phase as part of Cadet Summer Training. They will move though three phases, Wolverine, Panther, and Grizzly. The STX are meant to put the Cadets in a fast-paced environment where they plan and communicate as a team to successfully complete the mission at hand. Cadets camp out in the woods for three days. STX prepares the Cadets for a bigger event called the field training exercise (FTX). Cadet Zoe Routh, University of Oklahoma, is following the [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – While absorbed in lively conversation, 2nd Regiment Cadets’ Noah Scott from Norwich University, Kyle Sopplar from Clarkson University, and Hannah Yun from Loyola University of Chicago put on their camouflage in attempt to blend in with the rest of the forest during their situational training exercise at Fort Knox, Ky., June 23, 2023. Yun said she is ‘shocked’ by how close she has gotten with her fellow ‘teammates’ in such a short period of time. “We’ve all met each other two weeks ago, and I think I’m just surprised by how easy it was for us to [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky., – Cadets from 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp, tested their leadership abilities at the Field Leader Reaction Course, Fort Knox, Ky., June 22, 2023.  Cadets go through five of the 16 obstacles at the FLRC choosing a new squad leader each time. This gives the ability for more Cadets to practice being leaders. Cadet Evan Harper, University of San Francisco, described the FLRC as a team building event. “We’re doing these events and different challenges together, seeing how we work as a team, and also, how we react to challenges and adversity,” Harper said. “It really shows how well [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.-  Cadets in the 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp, trekked in a four-mile march from Logistics Support Area Baker to Schroder Range at Fort Knox, Ky., June 21, 2023. Once Cadets arrived at Schroder Range, Cadre instructed them to shoot for two rounds at pop-up-targets. This event is better known as battle march, and shoot. The objective of battle march, and shoot is for Cadets to receive a simulated combat experience. Cadet Kaitlyn Sheridan from Ohio University stated how she felt during the training under such poor weather conditions. “The road march here was pretty challenging due to the weather,” [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from the 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp, participated in preliminary marksmanship instruction during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky., June 22, 2023, that taught them various lessons on marksmanship. The different lessons at PMI include understanding the basic operations of the M4 Carbine, how to change magazines, proper body positions while firing and the correct way to squeeze the trigger. Cadet Aaron Myles from Florida Southern College explains how PMI is important for all Cadets, despite what they may or may not have already learned about marksmanship at their Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program before [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed group and zero at Fort Knox, Ky., June 22, 2023. Cadets had magazines filled with 30 rounds of 5.56 millimeter ammunition and shot 5 rounds at a time in a tight shot group. Then they adjusted their M68 close combat optic sight on their M4 rifle to move the shot group to the center of the target. These adjustments are important because they prepare Cadets to be ready for the individual weapon qualification tomorrow. For many Cadets this is their first time group and zeroing. Two Cadets gave advice on [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – The 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets took the land navigation practical exam during Cadet Summer Training in Fort Knox, Ky., June 21, 2023. In order for Cadets to pass the exam, they must locate at least three of the four grid coordinates within a four-hour time period. Cadet Lindsay Smutka from St. John’s University explained what tools Cadets were given and how they could use them for the exam. “We’re given a map, a compass, and a protractor, which we can use to actually plot the points on the map using the grids, and you can use [...]

Cadets of 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp, spend the day preparing for marksmanship qualification and received a virtual glance at what the real test will look like at Fort Knox, Ky., June 21, 2023.