FORT KNOX, Ky., – Cadets from the 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp, faced their fears and rappelled down the 64-foot rappel tower at Fort Knox, Ky., June 21, 2023. The purpose of the rappel tower training is to provide Cadets with the ability to overcome their fears, know how to safely rappel for the future, and build team cohesion. Cadet Kelly Godsey, University of New Mexico, felt ready to conquer the rappel tower. “I felt excited,” Godsey said. “I love rappelling, and I love doing things outside, just doing physical things, so I was really excited to do it.” Godsey has prior [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Imagine that you are a Cadet in 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp, doing the confidence course on a day that the sun stays hidden underneath the cloudy sky. The first course that you do is named the ‘tough one’. It’s called the tough one because you have to climb up a rope to get on top of the obstacle, walk over wooden steps that are spaced out and lead into a tall ladder.  At the end of the ladder is a cargo net for you to climb down. You are getting ready to start the obstacle, but there [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets in 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, rotate through eight stations during their warrior skills training at the Richardson Training Area, June 14, 2023. The eight stations at warrior skills training includes: hand grenades, claymore mines, troop leading procedures, range cards, route planning, direct fire planning, rehearsal types and linear danger area.  A key objective for Cadets during warrior skills training is to become accustomed with combat environments and weapons. Cadets wear protective gear such as gloves, eye protection and advanced combat helmets to ensure safety during each mission. During Cadet Summer Training, the drills that Cadets complete [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky., – 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets complete their weapons qualification at Pells Range, Fort Knox, Ky., June 18, 2023.  Cadets spent the last three days preparing. Prior to making it to weapons qualifications, Cadets must go through the preliminary marksmanship instruction, the engagement skills trainer, and then, group and zero on the days leading up to qualifications day.  Cadets will complete a practice round before participating in the official qualifications round. Cadet Haley Higgins, University of Central Missouri, scored a 23 on the practice round of the qualifications. Cadets must hit a minimum of 23 out of 40 [...]

FORT KNOX,Ky.- 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets completed the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear phase of their Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky., June 19, 2023.  “Today we got to experience CBRN and learn all about the branch, but also what they do and how they help the forces throughout the Army,” said Cadet Brandon Fox, Texas Christian University. “And then we also got to learn to trust our equipment by trying out the gas chamber, which was really fun.”  Cadets were taught about how to react to various forms of attacks, the gear needed to protect them, and went [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the situational training exercise at Fort Knox, Ky., June 19, 2023. The importance of the STX is to train Cadets on how to lead a variety of missions with the help of their Cadre members and to get Cadets ready for when they have to lead missions on their own. Cadets did a raid during the STX, a raid is a form of attack where Cadets come up with a plan using military tactics to destroy the opposing force and their equipment. Three Cadets talked about their experience in leadership [...]

­­­FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets of the 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp, began their weapon group and zero training in the rain at Fort Knox, Ky., June 19, 2023. During group and zero, Cadets shoot five rounds at a 25-meter target and want to aim for a tight shot group in the center mass of the targets. This exercise helps Cadets perfect their sights and aim before they qualify with their M4 carbines later during Cadet Summer Training. Cadet Connor Powers from The Citadel explained that the purpose of group and zero is for Cadets to make sure that their sight and [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky., – The 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets started their morning soaked in rain during the Army combat fitness test at Fort Knox, Ky., June 19, 2023.  The first physical requirement that Cadets completed was the ACFT, which measured their physical fitness. The ACFT consists of six events: the three-repetition max deadlift, the standing power throw, hand-release pushups, sprint-drag-carry, plank and two-mile run. Cadet Alexander Bradley, Texas A&M University Central Texas, is one Cadet who completed the ACFT. “Fitness is one of the most important things that the military looks for,” Bradley said. “It’s essentially a baseline for being [...]

Cadets of 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp, conduct the battle, march, and shoot event after the marksmanship qualification to test if Cadets are ready to operate in a tactical environment at Fort Knox, Ky., June 19, 2023.

FORT KNOX, Ky. – The 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets arrived ready to participate in warrior skills training during a downpour and cooler weather conditions at Fort Knox, Ky., June 19, 2023.   A recent graduate from the University of South Alabama, 2nd Lt. Anna Lane, said that the warrior skills training ‘sets the foundation’ for the wolverine phase of the situation training exercise. Lane explained how the red-robin style training works. Throughout training, Cadets rotate from station-to-station and are given the opportunity to learn about troop leading procedures, mission analysis, and how to cross linear danger areas. Lane said that [...]

FORT KNOX Ky., – Cadets in 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed preliminary marksmanship instruction, June 17, 2023, Fort Knox, Ky. On initial arrivement to PMI, Cadets received 40 minutes of classroom instruction that covered the functionality aspects of weapons ammunition and skills to correctly and safely employ the M4 carbine “The safety tenants for weapons apply to any weapons system, whether in their military career or civilian life, so knowing how to properly handle the weapons is a very important skill,” said Sgt.1st Class Garry Drake, Cadre member. “Being able to employ their weapon as Soldiers is a very key aspect [...]

Cadets of 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, conduct situational training exercises at Fort Knox, Ky., June 18, 2023.

FORT KNOX, Ky. – 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets participated in the engagement skills trainer during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky., June 18, 2023. The EST is a virtual shooting simulator that allows Cadets to practice their shooting accuracy before qualifying their weapons later during CST. During this training, Cadets participate in different exercises that help them practice changing M4 carbine magazines and moving between the four proper firing positions. The four firing positions are kneeling, standing and prone (supported and unsupported). It is important for Cadets to know how to perform these positions before qualifying their weapons at [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – The Cadets from 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, worked on practical skills during the squad tactical exercise in Fort Knox, Ky., June 17, 2023. The squad tactical exercise, also called STX, is where Cadets are challenged in the field to work together as a squad to practice tactics, firing and maneuvering by teams and reacting to unexpected situations. Cadet Ryan Struss, University of Illinois, enlisted in 2018 as a human intelligence collector and linguist for the Army. “I chose that at the time because it gave me an opportunity to do what I really wanted to do,” Struss [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from the 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp, practice their shooting accuracy gushing an engagement skills trainer at Fort Knox, Ky., June 16, 2023. Here, they get the opportunity to learn about their weapons. Similarly, Cadet Landon Dugas, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, is in the same regiment as Smith. Dugas comes from a military family, and he has decided to follow in the footsteps of his father. During training, they learn different skills such as shooting positions, changing magazines, and practice using their sights. The sight produces a red dot on the targeted area, ideally providing for [...]

Cadets of 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp, focus on mastering their skills with the M4 rifle at the group and zero portion of marksmanship at Fort Knox, Ky., June 17, 2023.

FORT KNOX, Ky. – During field leaders reaction course training at Fort Knox, Ky., June 17, 2023, small squads from the  2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets learned how to come together as they rotate from one station to the next. Capt. Eric Engel from the University of Cincinnati explained that FLRC is designed in a way that forces Advanced Camp Cadets to work together as a unit. “We have 16 lanes of squad obstacles here, and they approach each one from their own squad’s perspective, and one squad leader receives a mission brief,” said Engel. “They make decisions and communicate, and [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – The field leadership reaction course, known as FLRC, puts Cadet’s strength, quick thinking and teamwork to the test. Cadet Lauren Alexander, Indiana University, is doing her best to move as a member of a team during FLRC, June 15, 2023. “I think we are working extremely well, especially given that this is our first tactical event where people are switching leadership,” said Alexander.   Cadets must complete as many obstacle courses as possible within the four-hour time limit. A team leader receives a briefing from Cadre about the obstacle, then they inform their teammates about the rules [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky., – The 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets completed their confidence course training for Cadet Summer Training, Fort Knox, Ky., June 16, 2023.  Cadet Hilda Sanchez from James Madison University said teamwork was important for completing the confidence course. She credited her squad’s motivation with helping her finish the training. “They just kept saying ‘Sanchez, you got this, you can do it,’” Sanchez said. “And, I’d be like ‘no, I’m too small.’ They’re like ‘no don’t even think about it, don’t even say you’re gonna try, you’re gonna do it,’ and they just kept motivating me and then, helping [...]

“You gotta want it; if you don’t want it, you’re not gonna get it,” Cadet John Babbitts, College of William and Mary.  FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the battle march and shoot at Fort Knox, Ky., June 16, 2023. Cadets woke up around 4:00 a.m. before stepping off for the 4-mile ruck to the battle march and shoot. A ruck is a backpack that Cadets are required to have at Cadet Summer Training. The minimum weight for a ruck is 35-40 pounds, and the point of the ruck is to provide Cadets’ with important military [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Although the 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets had to scale down a 64-foot rappel tower solo, no Cadet felt truly alone during rappel tower training in Fort Knox, Ky., June 16, 2023. Whether it be through securing somebody’s rope harness or cheering loudly, the 3rd Regiment Cadets found various ways to support one another throughout the entirety of training. Master Sgt. Joshua Geery from the University of Kansas has enjoyed watching the Cadets build bonds with one another during Cadet Summer Training. Geery works as a member of the platoon training officer team, and one of his [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the confidence chamber at Fort Knox, Ky., June 15, 2023. Cadets were taught a class on CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear), where they learned how to trust in their equipment which consisted of gas masks and protective suits. Cadet Andrew Weston, Virginia Military Institute said that he joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps because he wanted to continue his family’s legacy and give back to his nation. Weston said that his nation has provided him with wonderful things, places he’s seen and experienced. Before entering the gas chamber, Weston [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – 2nd Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets went through their last application hand-off range training before qualifying their weapons later today at Fort Knox, Ky., June 15, 2023. Capt. Aaron Ryan, 3rd Brigade United States Army Cadet Command, explains what Cadets must do during this training. “There’s three targets: the 300-meter target, the 150 and the 70-meter,” Ryan said. “There’s three magazines with 10 rounds each, and you want to put all 10 rounds into those targets to confirm your zero.” Ryan also explained that the 2nd Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets went through group and zero training yesterday, where [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky., – U.S. Army 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, Cadets participated in the chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear chamber at Fort Knox, Ky., June 14, 2023. The Cadets go through gas chamber training to learn how to properly put on their gas masks and to do so in the correct timeframe. The training helps to prepare them for a possible enemy attack in combat. Cadet Serena Williams, Minnesota State University, Mankato, has been through a CBRN chamber before. Williams went though basic training in 2021 and is a part of the Minnesota State National Guard. “I was excited. I’ve done [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the first aid training at Fort Knox, Ky., June 14, 2023. During the first aid class, Cadets learned how to do tactical combat casualty care, care under fire, tactical field care, and tactical evacuation care. This trains Cadets on how to properly treat a wounded Soldier during combat and how to use an advanced system improvement program radio to call up a 9-line medical evacuation helicopter. Cadet Paul Zimmerman from Austin Peay State University is an active-duty member of the U.S. Army, and his military occupational specialty is 89D, an [...]