“When you’re crawling, it felt like forever,” said Cadet Thomas Damsgard, University of Alabama. “I felt like I was crawling for a mile.”  An obstacle that is approximately 100 meters long stands between Cadets of 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp, and Cadet Summer Training graduation.  The Night Infiltration Course fires live rounds above Cadets while they low crawl the distance under and over obstacles to include logs. Sand makes it into every crevice of their uniform as they drag themselves, as well as the additional weight of a plated vest and helmet through the course.  The extra weight makes it physically exhausting, [...]

“Seeing her cheering me on was making me forget how high I was, and also her encouraging me to do it was like easing me off from being nervous, just making it fun for me,” Cadet Michelle Mercado said. From the University of Southern California, 1st Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets, Michelle Mercado and Chelsea Garcia, tackle the high ropes course at the Forest Hills Climbing Complex in Fort Knox, Ky. Although Mercado and Garcia have been going to the same school for the last two years, they did not meet until the beginning of Cadet Summer Training.  “She’s like a sister [...]

With maps in hand and one goal in mind, the Cadets of 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp, were sent off into unknown terrain to test their land navigation skills.   The Cadets were provided coordinates and tasked with the mission of locating at least one of two points within a two-hour time limit, using only a map, protractor, compass, and pencil.   “We plotted our points and made our plan immediately, and were able to get moving,” Cadet Ryan McClure, from the College of William & Mary, said.   McClure and his fellow squad members, Cadet Justine Ameperosa, Cadet Vincent Bocchetti, Cadet Laura [...]

Basic Camp Cadets packed their rucks and went out to their Field Training Exercise (FTX) during Cadet Summer Training (CST) at Fort Knox, Ky., July 17, 2022.  FTX is done at a smaller scale when compared to Advanced Camp, because for some Cadets this could be a new experience being out in the field. Missions for the Basic Camp Cadets include ambush, attack, and movement to contact.  2nd Lt. Cole Arbaugh, Task Force Badger Cadre, went through CST last summer and returns as Cadre for Basic Camp Cadets. As a future Military Intelligence officer with a branch detail Infantry, the lieutenant [...]

Drill Sergeants and newly commissioned Second Lieutenants helped to direct 3rd Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets through the Rugger’s Rope Course during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky., July 15, 2022. In the mix of these senior leaders were a group of Cadets that have been at CST 2022 longer than most of the Cadre this summer. This group of Cadets recently graduated from CST less than a month ago and now serve as MSIII mentors for Basic Camp.  Prior to graduating from Advanced Camp, senior Army ROTC Cadets have the opportunity to serve as MSIII mentors for Basic Camp regiments [...]

“Oh my gosh, my blood is pumping. I’m ecstatic. Over there, I was yelling ‘Can we do it again?’ I want to do it again. It was so much fun,” Cadet Nicole Darland from the University of Kentucky said.  1st Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets, complete the Night Infiltration Course. This is a confidence building training exercise where Cadets crawl a 100 meters while live ammunition is fired over their heads and simulated explosions erupt on the ground around them.   While some Cadets felt nervous, Darland felt nothing but excitement to tackle the course. “I was kind of excited. I didn’t know [...]

“Wake up everyday to give the best leadership to those soldiers that you have the privilege of being in front of,” said Lt. Gen. Gary Brito, Deputy Chief of Staff, United States Army.  Brito gave this advice to 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp, Cadets, at Cadet Summer Training (CST), while visiting Fort Knox.   During his visit, Brito interacted with Basic Camp Cadets as they trained at the Engagement Skills Trainer (EST), and Advanced Camp Cadets as they completed the Field Leader Reaction Course (FLRC).   He also spoke on the culture at CST.   “They learn how to operate in a [...]

Cadets from 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp completed the Engagement Skills Trainer (EST), which allows them to practice firing their weapons in a simulation environment before they attempt a live qualification at the shooting range. For many of these Cadets, this will be the very first time they are firing a weapon. “I’ve never really shot a weapon before, but now that I’ve had my cadre helping me out with trying to perfect my shooting I feel a lot more confident,” Cadet Madison Howard from Clemson University said.  Howard recently transferred from the Air Force to Army ROTC where she is experiencing [...]

Having freshly arrived at Fort Knox the day before, Cadets from 1st Regiment, Basic Camp, woke up bright and early to practice drill and ceremony (D&C) in front of their barracks. The Cadets were drilled on the basics of marching by cadre responsible for preparing them for the drill sergeants that will be training them later in the week. “Some of these Cadets never did D&C,” said 2nd Lieutenant Jaunn Caldwell. “They never did drill ceremony, they don’t know how to present arms, no customs and courtesies. It was just the basics, the fundamentals.” This day is the perfect opportunity to [...]

DOWNLOAD Program Special Awards Recipients AUSA Warrior Ethos AwardCadet Turner White, Cedarville University Military Order of World Wars AwardCadet Seneca Tsang, University of Richmond Military Officers Association of America AwardCadet Nicholas Hanke, University of Wisconsin – Green Bay Reserve Officers Association AwardCadet Blake Maloblocki, University of Utah American Legion Commander’s AwardCadet Samson Ko, Arizona State University First Command Financial Services AwardCadet Christian Hess, Misericordia University Armed Forces Bank Performance AwardCadet Jacob Mendiola, Marion Military Institute Bold Leader Spirit AwardCadet Cassandra Pichardo, Olivet Nazarene University Society of American Military Engineers AwardCadet Luijay Lagasca, Valley Forge Military College USAA Warrior Spirit AwardCadet Gabrielle [...]

DOWNLOAD Program Special Awards Recipients AUSA Warrior Ethos AwardCadet Joyce Nieves Lopez, Interamerican University of Puerto Rico at Aguadilla Military Order of World Wars AwardCadet Darius Johnson, Fort Valley State University Military Officers Association of America AwardCadet Katherine Flores Vazquez, Turabo University Reserve Officers Association AwardCadet Hugo Calderon, California State University – Los Angeles American Legion Commander’s AwardCadet Matthew Chang, Texas A&M University First Command Financial Services AwardCadet Christina Diaz, Barry University Armed Forces Bank Performance AwardCadet Rudolf Muradov, City University of New York – City College Bold Leader Spirit AwardCadet Abigail Dodson, University of Tennessee at Knoxville Society of American [...]

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Life is a journey, not a destination.” This quote can be applied to ROTC as well. It’s not always about commissioning and becoming a second lieutenant. in the United States Army. Sometimes what’s more important is the journey you took to get there.  Cadets Juancarlos Simmonds and Kayin Shabazz, both from Florida A&M University, decided to take a unique journey on their path to commissioning by attending Basic Camp this summer.  “My purpose for coming to camp was that I never had any experience with the military before,” Simmonds said. “I knew that whenever I come [...]

One dream, one team–– moving as a unit. Two companies of second regiment basic camp competed by platoon in a Drill and Ceremony Competition.  Drill and Ceremony is where Cadets are commanded by their platoon sergeant to step and perform in sync with precision. The drill sergeants judged based on how many of the 41 commands were performed correctly and together. Cadet Angel Teagle’s, a student at Elizabeth City State University, role in the competition was the platoon sergeant for Delta company super platoon. The team was made up of the most proficient Cadets at drill sequences from each platoon to [...]

“Front Contact!” The squad barely has time to respond before hearing the whistle of incoming indirect-fire, followed by the punch of an explosion. As the plume of smoke rises in front of them, they all drop to the ground and scramble for cover. Luckily, they are prepared to handle this battle. Thinking quickly, they hurry to take different positions to cover their rear and flanks, shouting to keep communication the whole time. Returning fire, this squad is confident that their training has prepared them to win the fight. On the morning of July 27, 2021, 3rd Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets learned [...]

DOWNLOAD Program Special Awards Recipients Military Order of World Wars AwardCadet Scott Winchell, Auburn University Military Officers Association of America AwardCadet Jesus Rodriguez Ayala, University of Puerto Rico – Río Piedras Reserve Officers Association AwardCadet Zachary Hines, Austin Peay State University American Legion Commander’s AwardCadet Malka Trujillo, The University of Alabama AUSA Warrior Ethos AwardCadet William Montavon, The University of Alabama First Command Financial Services AwardCadet Grace Hofer, University of Pittsburgh Armed Forces Bank Performance AwardCadet Nicholas Darrow, University of Central Florida Bold Leader Spirit AwardCadet Marianna Aho, Gustavus Adolphus College Society of American Military Engineers AwardCadet Gabriela Lozada Lopez, Turabo [...]

For Cadets who joined ROTC during their sophomore or senior years, or college students looking to take a peek into the military, Cadet Summer Training (CST) prepares a 31-day Basic Camp to introduce them to the Army.   One of the tasks Cadets learn during this Basic Camp is the Buddy Land Navigation; a basic soldiering skill that trains them to use rudimentary tools to find their way in case their GPS or electronic communications fails them. “Doing it in an area that you’re familiar with such like a field at your school and doing it in the real wild are [...]

“Having our group of four with me really helped out because when one of us was getting down or one of us was getting frustrated we were able to hold each other accountable and keep the mission in mind,” Mendiola said.

Entering the Kentucky wilderness, 3rd Regiment Basic Camp Cadets participated in Field Craft Training on July 21, 2021, where they learned tips and tricks for their upcoming Field Training Exercise (FTX). Cadets first learned how to set up a patrol base, a temporary area with a security perimeter where Soldiers spend less than 24 hours and are assigned specific tasks. Patrol bases are typically used to eliminate movement in dangerous areas, to plan and issue orders, to account for weapons and equipment, and to eat and rest. Cadets practiced nonverbal communication cues and set up their security in a triangle pattern, [...]

“Most people have a fear of heights,” Cadet Michael Cavil, from the University of South Florida, said. “Personally, my biggest fear is loud sounds. So for me my overcoming was range day.” 

Trudging through the mud and ducking under thick branches, the Cadets of 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp spent the morning of July 18, 2021 in the forests of Fort Knox, Ky. doing their Buddy Team Land Navigation training. The purpose: teaching Basic Camp Cadets how to use maps, compasses, and other simple objects to find precise locations in rough, off-road terrain. Cadets were sent out in small teams with the objective of finding pre-placed posts hidden in the forest, marking the locations, and returning to base camp for evaluation within a limited time frame. 2nd Regiment took this training with a fair [...]

“I think I really do well under pressure, like moving, making sure I’m not frozen in place when I hear gunshots," Roberts said. "I’m trying my best to get to the next cover. I think that’s my biggest strength so far.”

“They have to accomplish something as a team,” said Staff Sgt. Jamie Mrazek. “We assign a team leader or a squad leader. They utilize the equipment that they have to traverse the obstacle, whatever the goal is whether it's to go over a wall or utilize a rope to get from obstacle to obstacle.”

“My grandpa was a second lieutenant in the Army. I’m named after him, my first name is Roberto, his first name was Roberto,” Ortega said. “My grandma, she said I looked like him a lot and we have the same type of personality so I think that was a great motivation to join the Army and follow his steps. He’s always been a motivator for me since I was a little kid and I always looked up to him.”