On an unpredictable battlefield, only nine seconds, and a good set of gear, can be the difference between mild irritation and suffocation. This was taught to Cadets of 7th Regiment, Advanced Camp through an uncomfortably hands-on method on July 7, 2021, during their Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear training, or CBRN, at Fort Knox, KY. After being given extensive lessons on their JSLIST (Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology) suits, a set of protective clothing to wear over their uniforms, as well as the M50 Protective Masks, Cadets formed lines and charged into a small, unventilated concrete building in the woods. […]

For millennia, humans have navigated the world using the stars and maps. Unfortunately, most people nowadays can’t find their own home without using their cellphones or some other form of assisted navigation. While many have lost or abandoned this ancestral ability, the art and talent of navigating using traditional means remains an important part of being a Soldier.  “It is a very important skill because we can’t rely too much on technology,” said Gabriel Cordero-Velasquez, a Cadet from the University of Puerto Rico Mayagüez. “We’re not always going to have technology there to assist us.” Cadet Summer Training prepares Cadets to […]

Advanced Camp at Cadet Summer Training on Fort Knox, Ky is a rigorous 37-day camp full of complex and challenging training events, designed to assess a Cadet’s ability to demonstrate proficiency in basic officer leadership tasks. Having any prior knowledge or experience would be most advantageous to have in this stressful training environment.  Well this is exactly what Cadet Kanesha McGraw possesses. McGraw attends Marion Military Institute in Marion, Alabama where she’s been studying the same concepts taught here at Advanced Camp for the past two years. McGraw is also prior enlisted. She is currently in her third year of service […]

Only ten days into Basic Camp, and 1st Regiment is beginning to adapt to life in the Army. It’s tough, but they are not alone. On July 5, 2021, 1st Regiment took their introduction to the Army Combat Fitness Test, or ACFT. The ACFT is the Army’s new physical fitness assessment to determine a person’s general readiness for combat. It consists of six parts: deadlifts, hand-release pushups, a sprint-drag-carry, power throws, leg tucks, and finally a two-mile run. This training created a stage to display a large part of life in the Army, which is the support and bonding from peers […]

Imagine the tension of hanging in a roller coaster car during that slight pause at the top of the first vertical drop, anticipating the ride down. This is similar to what the Cadets of 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp experienced today on July 3, 2021, except there was no car, and they were hanging by a rope with their legs supporting them against a flat wall before jumping off and rappelling 64-feet down. The rappel tower is meant to push Cadets to overcome their fears, and to build up trust in their gear and procedures. The stakes felt high, but these Cadets […]

When the Cadets of 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp, arrived to the Warrior Skills training site on Thursday, July 1, the excitement could be felt in the air. Smiling faces bounced around scouting every inch of the green military tents in the distance. For the Cadets, Warrior Skills is the first hands-on training event of their Cadet Summer Training, and the place where they learned to save lives and provide indirect fire support for ground troops. Cadets started the event by receiving a mandatory safety brief from the Cadre staff and later split into platoons to challenge the Call for Fire lane […]

A compass, a map and a protractor are a Cadet’s only companions during Land Navigation. While the journey may seem long and strenuous, Cadets possess all they need to succeed. Land Navigation is often one of the most daunting for Cadets as a must-pass event during Cadet Summer Training. Battling the elements of the Kentucky wilderness and humidity is only one part of that challenge. Every Cadet is tasked with finding three out of four assigned points on a map within four hours. 6th Regiment Advanced Camp Charlie and Delta Companies braved the rain in the early morning on July 1, […]

First there was the silence of aiming. Next the first couple gunshots of the eager. Eventually, the shots cascaded from the lined-up Cadets so fast that it sounded reminiscent of the opening drum solo of Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher.” Although it sounds like fun, 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp’s Weapons Group Zero training was a serious event that demanded intense concentration. Each Platoon took a prone-supported position on a shooting range at Fort Knox, KY, and fired volleys of five rounds from their M4 rifles at a target approximately twenty-five meters away. The goal: grouping their shots together, and adjusting their […]

The moon was still bright in the sky on July 1st, 2021, when the Cadets of 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp were already gathering outside to put their bodies to the Army’s test. Not so much the crack of dawn, but rather in the middle of the night, platoons marched in perfect formation, flags flying, ready to give their all to the ACFT. The ACFT, or Army Combat Fitness Test, is the Army’s new test administered universally to Soldiers and Cadets alike to assess their general readiness for combat situations. The six assessments are deadlifts, power throws, hand-release pushups, a sprint-drag-carry, hanging […]

Fort Knox, Ky. — It is time to celebrate the first graduation of Cadet Summer Training 2021. 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets graduated on Brooks field at 9 a.m. on June 29, 2021.  As they prepared to leave Fort Knox, Cadets reflected on their time in Advanced Camp.  Cadet Brendon Edwards, Prairie View A&M University, said he feels he has learned a lot in his training both in soldering skills and about leadership. “The biggest thing I have learned is that everyone has their own leadership style,” Edwards said. “Every interaction with people can be different. Certain things will work with […]

“We are in the crawl phase for the CST cadets to practice how to conduct their missions and battle drills in order for them to move on towards the real evaluations where they are evaluated,” said Manglona.

Army ROTC prides itself on finding the best and brightest students in the country, but this mission cannot be accomplished without proper mentorship at the university level. “I think that there is a danger in academia of having a nose buried in the book,” said Kelby Woodard, Headmaster of Saint Thomas Academy. “I think seeing how it actually is done on the ground, in action, is really important, for academia in particular, or else they get out of touch.” Woodard, along with a handful of other faculty members of various schools and universities, was chosen to visit Cadet Summer Training at […]

5th Regiment Cadets had the opportunity to learn about their rifles and shooting during Preliminary Marksmanship Instruction (PMI) at Cadet Summer Training Advanced Camp in Fort Knox, Ky on June 23, 2021. At PMI, Cadets learned shooting positions, how to care for their rifles, fundamentals of shooting and even how math plays a role in their accuracy. One lesson in particular focused on the fundamentals of shooting, such as breath control and trigger squeeze.  “When you’re shooting, breathing is important because whether you either inhale or exhale, it will affect where the rifle is,” said Cadet Kalley Magel, from University of […]

Unlike most college students on summer break who likely sleep in, Cadet Erin Gustafson from Texas A&M University finished her Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) at 5:30 a.m on June 21. Gustafson, who is part of Alpha Company, 4th Regiment, is currently attending Advanced Camp, which is part of Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky.  The ACFT is the newest physical test for the Army, replacing the previous Army Physical Fitness Test. The new test revolves around combat-related stresses, such as being able to jump over obstacles, reacting quickly to fire, or pushing a disabled vehicle. Most Cadets are training […]

Traversing unfamiliar terrain is one of the biggest hurdles for Cadets to overcome at the Land Navigation tests, but with some careful planning anyone can succeed. Cadets from 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp trekked across varying terrain features of the Fort Knox, Kentucky, wilderness to find three of four points in under four hours as part of the Land Navigation (Land Nav) Test. For those unfamiliar to the area, the high brush, dense woods, and critters can sabotage and cause them to fail, especially when all you have is a compass and a map to aid you. Cadet Gabrielle Meyo, from Creighton […]

By: Anna Pray 4th Regiment Cadets were taught how to disassemble and reassemble their weapons by Cadre on June 17, 2021 during their Preliminary Marksmanship Instruction at Cadet Summer Training Advanced Camp in Fort Knox, Ky. Some Cadets, whether they had previous experience with weapons or no experience at all, enjoyed the lesson on how to take apart, clean, and put back together their weapon.  “Learning the insides of it, how it functions, and why it functions that way is pretty cool,” said Cadet Cimiya Duffin, from Morgan State University in Maryland.  “It’s almost like Lego pieces,” said Cadet Tyler Rowe, […]

By: Anna Pray Day Land Navigation did not start off well on the morning of June 16, 2021, but that did not stop 3rd Regiment Charlie Company 4th Platoon from finding an interesting way around that during their Cadet Summer Training Advanced Camp in Fort Knox, Ky. After their safety briefing, the Cadre needed to find a tracking device that was given to one of the Cadets that no longer worked. This process ended up taking over an hour. Rather than letting the anticipation of starting Land Navigation and the frustration of waiting ruin their day, one Cadet in particular decided […]

“Gas! Gas! Gas!” yelled Cadre. Much like a boxer taking a surprise upper-cut, Cadets scrambled to react. They only had nine seconds to let technique take over. “It punches you in the face as soon as you take that mask off,” said Cadet Jakob Jasperson of Pittsburg State University, Kansas. “My face burns, almost instantly you start crying, and your nose, it just runs so fast … you start coughing, and you can’t control your breathing.” Cadets of 3rd Regiment Advanced Camp were trained to be ready for the worst on the morning of June 17th, 2021. CBRN (commonly pronounced “see-burn”) […]

There is a lot that goes into being a warrior, and it isn’t always what you’d expect. This is what the Cadets of 5th Regiment Advanced Camp made apparent in their ‘Warrior Skills’ training. The two halves of Warrior Skills training are Call for Fire and Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TC3). Although not all Cadets are going into infantry service, these infantry skills are vital to becoming an officer. Call for Fire involves using radio communication to artillery positions. Cadets worked in pairs with their battle buddies to demonstrate their abilities. “What we’re doing here is getting the basics down, so that if we ever find […]

Just one week after their arrival at Fort Knox, KY, the Cadets of 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp marched to their hand grenade training on the sunny morning of June 14, 2021. Despite having been strangers when they got here, these Cadets had been spending almost every minute of every day together for the past week, and it showed in their behavior. No Cadet seemed out of place, and they used every minute of down time to make conversation. “Delta company, fourth platoon feels like family already,” said Cadet Liberty Henson from the University of Central Florida. “At first it was kind of […]

Out of the frying pan and into the fire, the Cadets of 5th Regiment got off the bus at Fort Knox, KY on June 12th, 2021 ready to begin the trials of their summer training.  With these Cadets coming from all walks of life and all parts of the country, they were very out of their element as they got their things in order and fell into formation, however they seemed to greet the situation with an optimistic determination, and a desire to seize the day. “I’m just ready to meet new people, maybe pick up some skills and tricks, become […]

1st Regiment had the chance to step into a gas chamber and breathe in tear gas during their protective gear and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) training on June 12 while at Cadet Summer Training Advanced Camp in Fort Knox, Ky. “The purpose is for them to have confidence in their protective gear,” said Staff Sgt. Paville Simpson, who ran the training inside the chamber and is from the 172nd CBRN Company. “In the event that someone wants to use chemical weapons against us, they know how to properly use their mask. Like how to properly put it on, […]

“In those moments you have those negative thoughts, but in the end, I kept telling myself that I can do this," said Hoyle. "This is only the beginning of a long path, a long journey that I can continue if I’m willing to push forward and keep going and not give up.”

Packing their bags and moving to Fort Knox alone, Cadets almost have no choice but to become good friends with one another before Cadet Summer Training Advanced Camp ends. After all, they do everything and spend nearly every minute together during camp at Fort Knox, Ky.  During a hand grenades exercise and test on June 9, 2021, the closeness between the Cadets in 3rd Regiment, Charlie Company, was obvious.  When Cadets were lined up in the testing lanes to throw the practice hand grenades, there were cheers coming from behind them by others in the platoon who were watching and waiting […]

Five, four, three, two, one, Cadets can be heard joining in on the countdown for the six-mile ruck. Some out of fear, some out of anticipation but all with the drive to pass. GO! 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets had an early start the morning of June 9th, as they faced the six-mile ruck march. A must pass event for the Cadets, they have two hours to carry 35 lbs. of gear on their backs if they want to continue on to graduation. Cadet Mary Coverdale, from Norwich University, gave her thoughts as she pushed forward one foot at a time. […]