Fort Knox, Ky. — “I got you covered,” is a simple phrase, but for the Cadets it carries so much more. Fire Team Maneuver tasked the 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets with working together in pairs to cover each other with their M4 Carbines, move down a lane, and reach their target safely. Running in front of another person who would be firing rounds past you takes a lot of trust, and Sgt. Owen Brooks from Fort Hood, Texas, helped give some tips for Cadets on how to build trust with each other and their future soldiers. “I would say two […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faKxSnEioGI[/embedyt] FORT KNOX Ky. — Advanced Camp’s 8th Regiment underwent Buddy Team Live Fire (BTLF) training on July 13th. The training consists of battle buddies alternately bounding toward a simulated enemy while providing cover along the way. Training with a purpose “The purpose of this training is to build trust in one another,” Cadet Patton Weak of the University of Montana said. “So, when we’re down range, we can efficiently and effectively move ourselves and our troops, and be able to have that knowledge of not only what we should be doing, but what the people we are in charge of […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w642xhM1cNU[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, KY.— “Shoot, move and communicate,” according to Cadet Ezequiel Zaragoza, from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, these are some of the fundamentals that 1st Regiment Basic Camp Cadets learn at the Buddy Team Live fire. Cadets had to navigate through different obstacles while trusting that their battle buddy would cover them as they moved. Cadets had to do both and high and low crawl to different obstacles while holding onto their rifle and a mock grenade. This training prepares Cadets for when they go through this course again the next day with live ammunition. Cadre […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4f6QwUCCLg[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – After three days of preparation, 6th Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets shot live ammunition on their final day of buddy team live-fire training, 3 July.  “We prepare the Cadets to do what is called a buddy team live fire, which is basically moving and shooting with a fellow soldier,” explained Sgt. Matthew Rinen, an instructor on the range and . “It is meant to improve their confidence, teach them to communicate as a pair, move down a battlefield to an assaultive objective and ultimately throw a grenade.” With cadre by their sides acting as safeties, Cadets […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets successfully accomplished the Buddy Team Live Fire course July 1 during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky. After completion, Cadets shared their favorite thing about Buddy Team Live Fire. My favorite part about Buddy Team Live Fire is: “Being able to work with my battle buddy and see our hard work pay off.” — Cadet Saebyuk Lee from the University of Nevada Rino. “Being able to send rounds down range being with somebody who has the same drive and dedication toward a common goal.” — Cadet Scottie Huggins from Santa Clara […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ihy-87vdX1o[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets of the 5th Regiment, Alpha Co., Advanced Camp made their way to the Woods II Range this morning, June 25, for their first day of Buddy Team Live Fire training. A New Experience For many of these Cadets, this event is their first time moving while they fire. Most are accustomed to a pop-up range or unmoving paper targets. Both options allow the Cadets to be still on the lane. The first day consists of a run using blanks rather than live ammunition. “This was really something new for me,” Cadet Spencer Rapp from […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCnp9qzdzo0[/embedyt] “Battle Buddy, cover me while I move,” a Cadet yelled during the Buddy Team Live Fire. “Communication is key in anything you do in the Army and in general,” said Cadet Alex Counter, from Boise State University, “This is a true test of how you communicate on the battlefield and stress environments.” Cadets from the 4th Regt. Advanced Camp learned how to communicate with a teammate while under stressful situations at the Buddy Team Live Fire range, June 22. Cadets moved in pairs while firing blank rounds down the 100-meter lane.  One provided covering fire while the other advanced.  […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — The humidity was beating down on the Cadets from 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp on the last day they did buddy team live-fire during Cadet Summer Training. Today, Cadets navigated through the buddy team live-fire lane working on their communication skills and “using individual movement techniques or IMTs to maneuver down to our objective,” said Cadet Carolyn Williams, Missouri Western State University. The 100-meter lane requires the Cadets to move forward seeking cover from wooden barriers and logs. While one moves the other provides covering fire.  Last week’s rain created mud pits, often where a Cadet finished his three-five second […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp partnered up today for a dry run of the buddy team live-fire range during Cadet Summer Training. Cadets navigated the course today using blank ammunition, working on their communication and movement techniques.  Tomorrow they’ll negotiate the same 100-meter lanes firing live rounds.  Throughout their run down the lane the Cadets engage targets while moving to cover provided by wooden walls and logs. Cadet Brian Driscoll from Wilks University explained how they run through the lanes in buddy pairs; they run individually while your partner covers you. They low crawled and high crawled […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuUvbaZKYzQ[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. — With Buddy Team Live Fire finished, the Cadets of 2nd Regiment, Charlie and Delta Company, prepare for their final task of Cadet Summer Training (CST), the FTX. Buddy Team Live Fire tasked each Cadet to trust their battle buddies as they moved down a lane towards a goal. And with it now completed they get a chance to reflect on all their training and time here at CST before they leave the comfort of their barracks and head to the woods for FTX. Kyle Delaney, an Elon University Cadet, is one of the many Cadets […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Cadets from 2nd Regiment Charlie and Delta Company took part in training that was brand new to the Cadet Summer Training (CST) here at Fort Knox. While Buddy Team Live Fire is a new addition to CST, it is a basic tenant to be a Soldier and officer in the Army. Two Cadets, or Battle Buddies, take turns moving down a lane and firing at pop up targets before tossing a dummy grenade at an objective. The training is broken up into two different phases: blank firing and live ammunition. Today was the blank firing phase. The […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_uoAWE-KnM[/embedyt] Fort Knox, Ky. – Cadets were instructed to shoot, move and communicate as they navigated down range today during the Buddy Team Live Fire training exercise. The exercise is designed to teach skills and Army values to Cadets, such as teamwork, self-reliance and communication. Woods II Range Noncommissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) Master Sgt. Kirby Odom said the training was added to Advanced Camp this year to prepare Cadets for future careers. “We are ensuring that the Cadets get a little bit more of a taste like their privates would [get]  going through basic training,” Odom said. “When they […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOXsyDM9aOs[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – Through the rain and muddy terrain, Cadets from Advanced Camp, 1st Regiment swam their way through the buddy team live fire range this morning during Cadet Summer Training. Buddy team live fire training is a two-day event; the first day is a dry run through with their battle buddy. The second day is when they shoot real rounds. The overall goal of this training is for the Cadets to be able to work with their battle buddy and communicate with them while in a stressful environment. “The focus is to have full control of your movements […]

Fort Knox, Ky.—Teamwork and trust are not values unique to the Army but they certainly are highly emphasized. 1st Regiment Cadets spent the past two days going through the Buddy Team Live Fire training exercise. Yesterday, the Cadets went down the range practicing with blanks while today, the Cadets moved down range using live ammunition. Through the exercise Cadets are paired with a partner to work with to effectively and safely move down range while engaging targets. These pairs of battle buddies now had to put their trust of one another to the test. For Cadet James Harding, from Plainfield, Massachusetts, […]