­­­FORT KNOX, Ky. – After finishing up their field training exercises, Cadets from 3rd Regiment, Basic Camp, participated in an early morning 10K road march during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky., August 10, 2023. The Cadets spent two days out in the field for the FTX, then woke up at around 2:30 a.m. to march a little over six miles back to the barracks. Once the road march was over, Cadet Grant Schaefer from Norwich University said that he had a good experience and felt motivated and energized. “It was cool to see everyone doing it all together,” Schaefer […]

­­­FORT KNOX, Ky. – After sleeping outside in the early morning hours, Cadets from 3rd Regiment, Basic Camp, participated in the field training exercises during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky., August 8, 2023. The FTX lanes simulate real-life tactical scenarios that allow Cadets to improve their skills and gain more practical field experience. The three lanes they enact are squad ambush, squad attack and movement to contact. Cadet Racquel Wilson from Florida Atlantic University said that the purpose of these exercises is for Cadets to take what they learned in the classroom and physically put it to the test […]

­­­FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 3rd Regiment, Basic Camp, participated in the Forest Hills Climbing Complex during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky., August 2, 2023. The FHCC is meant to help Cadets overcome their fears and gain confidence in themselves and their equipment while completing different climbing obstacles. These obstacles include the Moore’s Mountain rock-climbing wall, the Alpine Towers and the Rudder’s Ropes Course. Despite not having any prior experience with climbing, Cadet Amaya Bradford, Towson University, said that she completed the course a lot better than she thought she would. “I was pretty nervous coming up and […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 3rd Regiment, Basic Camp completed the high ropes course at the Forest Hills Climbing Complex on Fort Knox, Ky., August 1, 2023. The high ropes course consists of the Rudder’s Rope Course, two Alpine towers and a rock wall. Each course is designed to help Cadets overcome their fears in a fun and challenging way.  “First, we did the Rudder’s Rope Course which involves a lot of climbing, crawling across ropes and then a little zipline at the end,” said Cadet Jason Dzik, University of Delaware. “Then, we went to these Alpine towers, which is […]

Special Awards Recipients Military Order of the Purple Heart Badge of Merit AwardCadet Troy Bannister, Florida State University Military Order of the World Wars AwardCadet William Breen, Benedictine College Military Officers Association of America AwardCadet Maia James-Daniels, Florida A&M University AUSA Warrior Ethos AwardCadet Jordan Smith, University of Nebraska at Lincoln First Command Financial Services AwardCadet Rachel Oh, San Jose State University Armed Forces Bank Performance AwardCadet John Powers, Central Texas College Reserve Organization of America AwardCadet Delilah Kitsakos, New Mexico Military Insitute Society of American Military Engineers AwardCadet Louise Bonnimond, The Citadel Bold Leader Spirit AwardCadet Rosean Rhone, University of […]

FORT KNOX Ky. – Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp, participated in the Military Blood Drive at Fort Knox, Ky., August 3, 2023. The Military Blood Drive allows Cadets to have their blood drawn which is tested and collected to be given to service members, Department of Defense employees and civilian families in need. Cadet Melissa Esswein from the University of Michigan shares her thoughts pertaining to the blood drive. “I think the blood drive is important because it’s a great way to give back to the community,” Esswein said. “In a military setting, accidents happen, people get injured, and it’s […]

FORT KNOX, Ky., – Cadets from 3rd Regiment, Basic Camp, completed their daytime land navigation exercise on Fort Knox, Ky., July 30, 2023. Land navigation acts as a tool to teach Cadets to maneuver through various terrains while locating the intended checkpoints. “Land navigation is the practice of finding where you’re going from your current location,” said Cadet Robert Esgro, Penn State. “We don’t know where we’re going, so every step is a step into the unknown.” This exercise exists so that Cadets can develop their planning skills as well as learn to think more critically about the situations they are […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – U.S. Army Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp, participated in the Team Development Course during Cadet Summer Training on Fort Knox, Ky., July 22, 2023. The TDC is designed to enhance teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills among participants. It involves a series of challenging and physically demanding exercises that require collaboration and cooperation to accomplish specific objectives. Cadet Jessica Stanfill from The University of Denver shares her experience at the team development course. “I think that it has been a good change of pace, the first 17 days we have basically done drill and ceremony and […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Working together in teams of two and three, Cadets from 1st Regiment, Basic Camp completed the Forest Hills Climbing Complex at Fort Knox, Ky., July 21, 2023. The FHCC is made up of three parts, the Rudder’s Rope Course, the Alpine Towers, and the rock wall. It challenges Cadets physically and mentally to overcome their fears and become confident in themselves, their peers, equipment and their Cadre. “You’re really learning to trust your equipment, being able to know it all works, and then trusting your peers because they’re the ones that are helping you get up and […]

FORT KNOX, Ky.—Cadets from 1st Regiment, Basic Camp, completed the Team Development Course at Fort Knox, Ky., July 21, 2023. TDC is designed to challenge Cadets as they complete various obstacles in order to strengthen their teamwork skills. “This is a part of our training because the military is not an individual thing,” said Cadet Janyah Robinson, South Carolina State University. “Everybody is a team, everybody is working together. We all represent one thing.” During their time at Cadet Summer Training, Cadets are given many opportunities to get to know each other and grow together. “We all knew each other’s weaknesses […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 1st Regiment, Basic Camp, completed the Team Development Course at Fort Knox, Ky., July 20, 2023. The TDC consists of different obstacles that are designed to mentally and physically challenge Cadets. They must learn to critically think, solve problems, and work together as a team to find the solutions to the obstacles. Cadet Caitlyn Devaney from Georgia Military College trained on the PBT Hang Garner’s Bridge obstacle. This obstacle consisted of a destroyed bridge where Cadets were provided three wood planks to build a bridge on top of the posts in order to send their […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – U.S. Army Cadets from 1st Regiment, Basic Camp, participated in the Field Training Exercises as part of Cadet Summer Training on Fort Knox, Ky., July 19, 2023. During the FTX, Cadets engage in realistic training scenarios in a field environment to enhance their tactical abilities and teamwork skills. It is vital that Cadets receive realistic training in order to build their skillset and their overall confidence. Cadet Stephen Swope from New Mexico Military Institute shares his experience at the FTX. “It’s going great, we woke up a little early this morning,” Swope said. “We had a briefing […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Basic Camp Cadets from 1st Regiment, were issued their safety vests after they arrived at the Night Infiltration Course at Fort Knox, Ky., July 16, 2023. Staff Sgt. Kevin Davelaar, one of the Cadre members who helps run the course, described what the Cadets were about to experience as they waited for further instruction at the bleachers. “In pure darkness, the Cadets have live machine gunfire over their heads,” Davelaar said. “This is about as close as you can get to what you would actually experience in combat.”   Davelaar said NIC was designed to be a […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 1st Regiment, Basic Camp challenged the Forest Hills Climbing Complex on Fort Knox, Ky., July 13, 2023. FHCC is a part of training to help Cadets overcome their fears and gain confidence in themselves while completing the different obstacles. “Most people would say that it’s important because it teaches you not to be scared of heights,” said Cadet Dean Grassi, Penn State University. “I think it actually teaches you to overcome obstacles like your fear.” The course is comprised of a rock-climbing wall, two vertical alpine towers, and the high ropes course. All of these […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 1st Regiment, Basic Camp, completed the Team Development Course at Fort Knox, Ky., July 13, 2023. The TDC consists of different obstacles that are designed to mentally and physically challenge Cadets. They must learn to critically think, solve problems, and work together as a team to find the solutions to the obstacles. Cadets had 10 minutes to plan and 20 minutes to execute the plan. Cadet Alex Poynter from Tarleton State University, 1st Regiment, Basic Camp, mentioned what obstacle he faced during the TDC. “We did event number four, which was the destroyed bridge,” Poynter […]

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 […]

As Cadet Summer Training (CST) 2022 comes to a close and 10,000 freshly graduated Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Cadets depart Fort Knox, Ky., it is time to take a look back at some of the successes from Advanced and Basic Camp.  From the moment Cadets got boots on the ground they were prepared and willing to put in the work. “I was very impressed with how Cadets showed up here physically ready to operate,” said Col. Douglas Thompson, Commandant, U.S. Army Cadet Summer Training, something he credited to each Cadet’s individual ROTC program at the over 900 universities they […]

Special Awards Recipients Military Order of the Purple Heart Badge of MeritPresented to the Cadet who shows the most improvement in the developmentof Character and Accountability, must meet all stated Basic Camp standards. Cadet Alanis Colon, Texas A&M University Military Order of the World Wars AwardPresented to the Cadet who best demonstrates ability to apply experiences andcapabilities to solve tactical problem sets. Cadet Amiracle Johnson, Marion Military Institute Military Officer’s Association of America AwardPresented to the Cadet who demonstrates superior dedication to duty byaccepting accountability for self and assigned unit through employment ofteam members while applying the fundamentals of leadership. Cadet […]

Special Awards Recipients Military Order of the Purple Heart Badge of MeritCadet Jozylynn Auditor, University of California- Irvine Military Order of the World Wars AwardCadet Zachary Barthel, University of New Hampshire Military Officer’s Association of America AwardCadet Reinaldo Marincruz, University of Puerto Rico- Piedras AUSA Warrior Ethos AwardCadet Sean Adams, University of Georgia First Command Financial Services AwardCadet Andre Brisk, Santa Clara University Armed Forces Bank Performance AwardCadet Alexa Barnes, University of Oklahoma Reserve Organization of America AwardCadet Richard Roberts, Auburn University Society of American Military Engineers AwardCadet Donald Aniekwe, Pennsylvania State University- University Park Bold Leader Spirit AwardCadet Julian Watts, […]

“Look down, but hold your head up, wipe your eyes, keep going,” Cadet Shariana Freeman, from The Fort Valley State University, said.  This advice was given to the Cadets of 3rd Regiment, Basic Camp, as they strapped on their rucksacks and set off on a 10-kilometer foot march in the pouring rain.  Although this march served as the last training exercise standing between 3rd Regiment Cadets and graduation, the weather conditions ensured that it would be no simple task.  “Honestly, me personally, I thought I couldn’t do it,” Freeman said. “You can’t see, there’s stuff in your eyes, you’re just unmotivated.”  […]

Nervous, excited, and thrilled were all words used by Cadets of 3rd Regiment, Basic Camp, to describe their emotions before crawling directly under and toward live M240 machine gun fire.  The Cadets embraced this challenge at the Night Infiltration Course (NIC), a training event at Cadet Summer Training (CST) designed to test physical and mental toughness through the simulation of a combat scenario.  “If you’re in a combat situation and you’re given a mission, you have to complete that mission, otherwise there will be rippling effects through neighboring units,” 2nd Lt. Christian Henderson, commissioned officer from Ball State University, said. “We’ll […]

Special Awards Recipients Military Order of the Purple Heart Badge of MeritCadet Itxel Martin-Huesca, Benedictine College Military Order of the World Wars AwardCadet Anneliese Cowles, Seattle University Military Officer’s Association of America AwardCadet Emme Jennings, University of Houston- Downtown AUSA Warrior Ethos AwardCadet Zachary Ninneman, University of New Mexico First Command Financial Services AwardCadet Sarah Baumann, Pennsylvania State University- University Park Armed Forces Bank Performance AwardCadet Jessielyn Reyes, University of Illinois- Chicago Reserve Organization of America AwardCadet Serena Dingman, University of Texas- San Antonio Society of American Military Engineers AwardCadet Phillip Zombro, University of Alabama- Birmingham Bold Leader Spirit AwardCadet Israel […]

“Electric. I felt no muscle fatigue, nothing,” said Cadet Trevor Corso, from George Mason University.  This invigorating feeling stemmed from the encouragement he received as he raced against his peers of 3rd Regiment, Basic Camp, toward the final challenge of the Beaudoin Obstacle Course.  The course consisted of 13 events designed to test physical capability and boost morale.  “I was up there motivating everybody. I loved the energy coming back to me too,” Corso said. “Giving everybody high-fives on both sides coming through, because they knew I was the last one.”  Corso was the final member of his squad to attempt […]