[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mb3Pp3ce6VE[/embedyt] Fort Knox, Ky. – Seventh Regiment Cadets spent the day hoping to hit the mark at George Blair Range for weapons qualification. For some Cadets, this morning was nerve-racking while for others like Cleveland State University Cadet David Kullik, from North Olmsted, Ohio, this was a morning full of excitement. “I am actually really excited,” Kullik said. “It is always fun to throw rounds down range and be with your friends. It is fun testing yourself. Marksmanship is an important soldiering skill, everyone needs to know it. It is really fun to put it to the test and compete […]

FORT KNOX, KY – Third Regiment, Basic Camp, Cadets arrived Monday afternoon at Fort Knox, Kentucky, on Day Zero to start their Cadet Summer Training (CST). On the day of arrival, Cadets began with checking-in, organizing and accounting for their equipment. Belongings were checked to ensure the safety of the Cadets, and to make sure they did not bring any contraband items. Cadre went through these procedures to get the Cadets ready to set up their lockers and make sure everything is squared away. As Cadets arrived the air was filled with many different emotions. Some Cadets were excited for the […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgYYGbzCBIY[/embedyt] Third Regiment Cadets endured 29 days of high temperatures, monsoon rainstorms and nights in the woods during Advanced Camp at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Through those 29 days of harsh conditions, Cadets from 3rd Platoon, B Company, 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp, learned to persevere as a team. “A lot of the conditions for this summer have been horrendous rain and thunderstorms, so from start to finish, as a platoon, they learned to adapt and apply everything they learned [over] the last three years in adverse situations,” Capt. Jonathan Dieckman, an ROTC instructor at Bowling Green State University, said. Coming together […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12Zw73W0L-M[/embedyt] Sun beaming down, heat category rising, Cadets from the 8th Regiment, Delta Co., of Advanced Camp were training for Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TC3) nonetheless. Monday morning, July 1, brought 8th Regiment Cadets their first real day of Advanced Camp training. In-processing over with, it was time to get into the nitty gritty of the U.S. Army. TC3 brought them that grit. How to Save a Life “We do a scenario where they take fire and their battle buddy goes down,” Lt. Col. Danielle Rodondi, professor of military science at Augusta University and the Officer in Charge (OIC) for […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – “By virtue of the fact that you are all sitting here right now means you are infinitely successful,” said Lt. Col. Daniel Gregory, from The University of Hawaii, to the Cadets of 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp, Bravo Company. “You have different experiences and backgrounds which means that you have a different way of viewing the world based on those prior experiences.” 8th Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets had to work in squads to complete the Field Leadership Reaction Course (FLRC), this morning, as part of their leadership development. “So far, the only thing Cadets have had to do […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hw7AaXFOYXc[/embedyt] Fourth Regiment, Advanced Camp, Cadets conducted an attack on a group of Opposing Force (OPFOR) at approximately 8:15 a.m. today. “Today, they were focused on the first mission, which was an attack. An attack to defense,” Clarkson University Instructor, Master Sgt. James Prescott said. The attack was the first lane 4th Regiment was scheduled to complete for the Field Training Exercise I (FTX I), but the lane did not go as planned. The Cadets ended up defending their position after an ambush from the OPFOR team. Trouble stirred when information was not communicated correctly and the platoon got off […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0hauZP5z1w[/embedyt] Basic Camp Cadets of the 1st Regiment, Bravo Co., completed the High Ropes Course at Forest Hills Climbing Complex this morning, June 30. The Climb With the sun beaming down, Cadets were divided out amongst three obstacles: the Rock Wall, the Alpine Tower and the Rudder’s High Ropes Course. Each obstacle presented its own challenges, and each Cadet overcame those challenges in their own way. From swinging a certain way to leaping off one section of an obstacle to a completely new section, Cadets tackled every single task. “It’s a mixture of, they’re learning about themselves, they’re obviously nervous, […]

Lt. Col. Bryan Dunker spent the morning of June 22 in Point Mugu, California, 2,000 miles away from his South Carolina home. He swam 1500 meters in the wide-open Pacific Ocean, biked 40 kilometers along that same coast, and ran 10 kilometers through harsh winds to the finish line of the 2019 Armed Forces Triathlon Championship. The Armed Forces Triathlon Championship is an annual event that brings together all branches of the military, and those passionate about the sport. Dunker, a professor of military science (PMS) at Wofford College, won second place in the Master’s Division, and celebrated with his fellow […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XykzDVmKtsc[/embedyt] Fort Knox, Ky. – Cadets from 8th Regiment arrived yesterday and geared up today for the upcoming training events that make up Advanced Camp. “I am pretty excited,” Cadet Reilly Andresen, from Brookings, South Dakota, who attends South Dakota State University, said. “We are on day two so we haven’t done a whole lot yet, but we are about to get into it all.” The Cadets went through Central Issue Facility (CIF) where they received gear they needed and inspected their bags for deficiencies in their equipment. The goal of the day is to ensure Cadets are prepared for […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – A desolate confidence course is abruptly rushed by 5th Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets ready to train, June 27. The confidence course involves a series of obstacles Cadets complete with their battle buddies prior to braving the rappel tower. “They are tested on three primary competencies: confidence, courage, and teamwork,” said Capt. Patrick O’Neil, from Central Michigan University. “It’s about maintaining squad integrity and encouraging each other.” 5th Regiment Cadets were by no means short on encouragement. While they waited for their turn to attempt each obstacle, Cadets cheered for their battle buddies who were completing their attempts. “It’s pretty […]

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 […]

  For the first three weeks of Advanced Camp, Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Cadets of 1st Regiment established a trusting relationship with each other. They worked together to accomplish feats such as rappelling down a 64-foot tower and walking through a chamber filled with CS gas during Cadet Summer Training (CST). Then, 40 United States Military Academy (USMA) Cadets were suddenly integrated into several platoons of 1st regiment for the Field Training Exercise (FTX) portion of Advanced Camp. As part of an initiative to unite the two commissioning sources, USMA at West Point Cadets arrived at Fort Knox, Kentucky to […]

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 […]

Fort Knox, Ky. – Living out in the woods for several days brings out a whole new side of people. Cadets in the 3rd regiment are hoping the three-part training Field training Exercise (FTX) will showcase their leadership abilities. The FTX is broken up into three phases. The ‘crawl, walk, run’ model allows Cadets to learn and practice the tactical and leadership skills being assessed. The Panther Phase is the ‘walk’ phase of the training, during which Cadets are actively being evaluated. The exercises allow Cadets to fill various leadership roles as well as practice tactics, regardless of what the weather […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yMPg0P6lRw[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. — Basic Camp Cadets begin their first steps in their training in the classroom to gain helpful tips in overcoming the ahead. Jon Walker is the Lead Performance Expert at Fort Knox and one of the leaders from the R2, Ready and Resilient, Performance Center running the 1st Regiment Basic Camp Cadets’ Performance Training. Described by Walker as, “PT for the mind,” this training focuses on five mental toughening skills to help the Cadets prepare for their month here at basic camp. Confidence, concentration, composure, goal setting/motivation and integrated imagery are all things the Cadets are […]

Cadets of the 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp made the eight-mile ruck march this morning, June 24. The March Foot marches are hard work, there’s no question about it; 35 pounds on your back, decked out in full battle attire, marching for eight miles straight. They’re hard work, indeed. “Every ruck has its challenges,” Cadet Connor Sloan, from Kalamazoo, Michigan, and attending Michigan State University, said. These Cadets all train in different environments when they are back at their home university. From hills to flat land, training on a different type of land can increase the difficulty of that ruck, but that’s […]

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 […]

Perspective.  A term that Cadets Teata Gutierrez, Michael Bock, Kendra Curtice and Calvin Dally used often when reflecting on their trip to Latvia through the Cadet Coalition Warfighter Program (CCWP); previously known as the Cultural Understanding and Leadership Program (CULP).  Gutierrez, Bock, Curtice, Dally and thirty-nine other Cadets travelled to Latvia as part of the CCWP. There, they immersed themselves into Latvia’s military infrastructure, European history and culture. Military to Military U.S. Cadets interacted with Latvian military personnel at Camp Adazi and the NCO Academy.  At the academy, U.S. and Latvian Cadets were grouped together and given a mind or strength […]

When most people think of Peru, they think of the Amazon Rainforest, Machu Picchu or the Andes Mountains.  Cadets who were accepted into the Cadet Coalition Warfighter Program (CCWP) had a different experience on their trip to this South American country. Cadets stayed at the Escuela Militar de Chorrillos, the Peruvian Military Academy, where they spent their weeks training with the Peruvian military and their weekends exploring the diverse city of Lima.  Although Cadet Daniel Perez, from the University of Texas El Paso, found their training similar to that of the United States, he believed that the Peruvian training was more […]

Seven-hundred Cadets. Each from their own school. Their own hometown. Their own story.  These seven-hundred Cadets make up 7th Regiment Advanced Camp, who began Cadet Summer Training (CST) yesterday at Fort Knox. “It’s an amazing opportunity. After I joined, I think I became a better man.  Discipline, order, cleanliness, patience and just being comfortable with being uncomfortable are all traits I acquired,” said Gilyard, who completed Basic Camp at Fort Knox last year. Something Gilyard struggled with at Basic Camp was completing land navigation and climbing the rope on the confidence course.  Like most Cadets, the fear of not passing an […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Advanced Camp, 5th Regiment Cadets enhanced their M-4 Rifle skills at Group and Zero on Canby Hill Range today. Group and Zero is just one day in the four-day process of basic rifle marksmanship training.  It falls after primary marksmanship instruction and is the first of three days with live ammunition. Cadets make adjustments to the weapon based on the location of hits on a paper target 25-meters away. “Grouping is allowing a tight niche of bullets that go through the same directional path and not having too much deviation from your original target,” said Cadet Wynnjones Mbwambo, […]

Fort Knox, Ky. – Normally the weapons qualification range is filled with the thundering boom of live ammunition. Today the booming noise was actual thunder. The first round of Cadets were beginning to shoot as the storm rolled in putting a temporary halt to the range activity. “It was pretty bad weather before, we did not know if it was going to be canceled or not,” Cadet Mitchell Sanford, from Lagrangeville, New York, and a student at State University of New York Cortland said. A few hours later the storm passed and weapons qualification carried on as normal, in bright daylight. […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Nearly three hundred Cadets arrived at Fort Knox yesterday for Basic Camp. Over the course of the next thirty-one days, 1st Regiment Basic Camp Cadets will be tested on various activities such as going off the rappel tower, experiencing Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear defense (CBRN), and getting familiar with weapon systems. Most Cadets were anxious to arrive at training, as they are taking their first steps in becoming an Army Officer. Cadet Taylor Richardson explains, “There are a lot of emotions going through my head. First day of summer, first time on a plane, first day ever […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jjK6DVjnfE[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp woke up bright and early this morning to tackle the six-mile ruck march. The six-mile ruck march is a must pass event. Cadets still in the running for Reconnaissance and Commando badge, RECONDO, had to finish the six-miles within an hour and half. For the others their time must be under two hours. “I finished in an hour and ten minutes but I’m not in the running for RECONDO anymore, land navigation got me,” said Cadet William Norman who attends University of North Georgia. Cadet Grady Gosselin who attends Gonzaga […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – It was a nice windy day for the 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets as they conducted their Situational Training Exercise by rehearsing Platoon Operations today. Platoon Operations are the different combat patrols that Cadetsundertake during their upcoming Field Training Exercise.  They will spend the next 12 days living and operating in the Ft. Knox training area, the culminating event of Cadet Summer Training. The training is not new as the Cadets practice these patrols and maneuvers on their campus during their labs and FTXs. “We get a lot of the Situation Operations Procedures [SOPs] out of the Ranger […]