FORT KNOX, Ky. – On this cool morning at Fort Knox, Ky., 4thRegiment, Advanced Camp Cadets seized the morning and took the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). The APFT is a mandatory event. There are three events within the APFT; sit-ups, push-ups and a two mile run. Cadets must do the number of repetitions of push-ups and sit-ups for their age and gender within two minutes. For the two-mile run, their passing time is also based on their age and gender. “I respect the work ethic more than the number,” said Maj. Timothy Patterson, a ROTC instructor at Alabama A&M. “It […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Before any Cadet walks onto a range at Cadet Summer Training (CST), they must first attend PMI or preliminary marksmanship instruction.  For some Cadets from the 4th Regiment, today might have been the first time they have held a weapon, specially an M4 Carbine rifle. Master Sgt. Jose Trevino, an ROTC instructor at the University of Texas at Brownsville, led one squad’s training.  “There’s a lot of things that go with this. The first thing is safety. You always have to make sure they’re safe because most of them have never fired a weapon or a weapon […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Second Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets spent the last three days on marksmanship training and put that training to the test today during Weapons Qualification on George Blair Range. To successfully qualify a Cadets must hit at least 23 of the 40 targets that pop up in their lane. Targets are as close as 100 meters and as far away as 300 meters. They pop up as a single target or in pairs. The shooter fires 20 rounds from the prone supported position and 10 rounds each from prone unsupported and kneeling position. “Today was the best I […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na9yhkK8pUQ[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – Hundreds of Cadets of 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp simulated different combat scenarios early this morning in preparation for their upcoming Field Training Exercise (FTX). The FTX is a vital part of Advanced Camp for these Cadets. They are able to practice the various skills they’ve learned from previous training during the 14 days in the field. Capt. Patrick Harvey, a logistics officer, explained the purpose of field preparation today. “The purpose of the training today is to basically go over the squad battle drills,” he said. “What that means is the squads are breaking down […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iu0RXx1s8lU[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets of 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp attempted to sing “Baby Shark” as CS gas (tear gas) burned their eyes, throats and skin during their chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) training. This 4-hour event is part of Cadet Summer Training, where all Cadets must learn the procedures involved in CBRN safety. While the most anticipated part of this training is going through the confidence chamber, Cadets also must learn how to properly adjust protective clothing, don a gas mask, recognize different CBRN dangers and more. After going through the entire process, several Cadets shared their […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8MZcQbE3lQ[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – The Delta Co., 3rdRegiment Cadets went through the Confidence Course yesterday, June 8, with the motivation of their squad encouraging them the whole way. The Course The Confidence Course is made up of nine different obstacles meant to challenge the Cadets’ strength, both physical and mental. Each obstacle presents a new problem to overcome, and some are harder than others. Whether it’s climbing a rope to scoot across wooden planks or swinging yourself up onto a log, all encompass their own difficulties. The nine obstacles are The Tough One (known as being the most difficult), […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Throughout Cadet Summer Training, there are many events that Cadets are fearful of or struggle to complete.  It may be getting lost during land navigation, rappelling off a 64-foot tower, or shooting a rifle, but for many, this fear comes out at the live hand grenade range. That fear surfaced for 2nd Advanced Camp Regiment Cadets this morning at Christensen Range.  Each Cadet has their own way of facing their fears.  Cadets David Hall and Kenneth Walker handle their fears by focusing on their families and the sacrifices made to get them where they are today. The […]

[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 […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMWMvid0Z10[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. — Weather may have kept 3rd Regiment Delta Company out of the confidence chamber, but it did not keep them from learning. While the Confidence Chamber may be the exciting part of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) defense training, 3rd Regiment Delta Company learned there was a lot more that went into CBRN and what it means for the Army. Staff Sgt. Scott Dimmick of the 22nd CBRNE (Explosive) unit out of Fort Bliss, Texas, oversaw the training today. “I think it’s important for the Cadets to learn, so if they choose to go CBRN […]

FORT KNOX, Ky – There was a break in the rain at Fort Knox when Advanced Camp 3rd Regiment began its Land Navigation testing. Although it was cloudy, muddy and 7 a.m., Cadets wore a smile on their face and were excited to start the day. Just like the 1st and 2nd Regiment, Cadets received a map, points to plot, and then tasked with finding these given points within a four-hour period. Cadets must locate three points to pass the event, but to stay in the running for RECONDO, they must find all four of their points. Within the four hours, […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnJI_kefGkc[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. — Before Cadets go out for Land Navigation (Land Nav) they have to make sure they know how to use the equipment so they don’t lose themselves out in the almost 1,800-kilometer training field. Cadets from 3rd Regiment Charlie and Delta Company were given a test today to make sure they understood how to read a map and use the equipment they will be given for the practical testing later on in Advanced Camp. Maj. Earl Roloff, an Assistant Professor of Military Science at the University of Arkansas, was the Cadre overseeing the test. He expanded […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBGMrcIJVf8[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – If you’re a Cadet doing First Aid Training during Advanced Camp, Randy is a great partner to practice on. He’s not likely to complain or move around as you treat him. Rescue Randy is the nickname given to the mannequins used during First Aid Training. Cadets of 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp separated into small groups and surrounded a “Randy.” Then, trainers explained how to perform several different medical procedures on the life-size mannequin. First, Randy had to be treated for an arterial bleed right above the knee. Randy was in a lot of pain and […]

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, […]

FORT KNOX, Ky – As the sun peeked out from the rain clouds at Fort Knox, 2nd Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets focused their eyes on their target as they fired their weapons during basic rifle marksmanship training yesterday. Keeping platoon integrity, Cadets in Alpha and Bravo Company were separated into two groups on Canby Hill and Handiboe Shooting Ranges. To be successful during the day’s training, each Cadet was required to group together five rounds of ammunition in the diamond located in the center of their target sheet. Regardless of how long it took and how well they did in their […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EFg7aCW7Kc[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadre members run a Casualty Evacuation Exercise at Christensen Range. The CASEVAC exercise is to make sure they are prepared in high-risk environments like the live grenade range. The exercise was all Cadre members. This specific CASEVAC scenario had two Cadre members in the grenade pit when a grenade went off. Both personal were hit with shrapnel in the legs. They were then treated by three of the five medics that were on hand. Once they were stable they moved them to the helicopter location. They would be airlifted out of Fort Knox up to […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ubpwh2mb6E[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – 1st Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets tested there throwing skills at the live, fire grenade range, which is a new event for Cadet Summer Training. The live, fire grenade range was brought to CST this year to give these future officers the same experiences Soldiers they’ll lead someday. Since Cadets will be throwing live grenades they went through training before they were able to throw anything. First Cadets learned about the grenade, the proper throwing motion and safe handling. Handling the grenade includes the following: the sweep of safety clip, twisting confidence clip, pulling the pin out […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1QV_lBkji8[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. — Leading people is hard, but leading your peers is even harder as the Cadets of 3rd Regiment found out today at the Field Leadership Reaction Course (FLRC). The FLRC training the Cadets tackled was a course that was comprised of 12 different obstacles of which the Cadets are asked to attempt and or complete six. The idea behind these obstacles is to build teamwork between these Cadets who have only known each other for about 72 hours, as this is the first time the Cadets get to face a problem as a unit rather than […]

Fort Knox, Ky. – The decision to join Army ROTC is one that changed Advanced Camp Cadet’s lives forever. For Cadet Matthew Clark, from Hilliard Ohio, attending Ohio State University, the decision was made in high school. Despite growing up with no military background, Clark said he always had in interest in the military and the Army. He made the decision to pursue a career in the Army through ROTC his sophomore year of high school. Clark wants to be an emergency room or trauma nurse specifically for the Army because of the experience he would gain and the ability to […]

FORT KNOX, Ky – George Blair Range was in full use around 7 a.m. today as the 1st Regiment conducted their weapon qualification.  Cadets had spent the previous two days honing in on their marksman skills to prepare for this morning’s qualification. “We spent the last 48 hours detailing, zeroing and adjusting the clicks, knobs and turns so that we could come out here and qualify,” said Eric Jones, a Cadet from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.  Zeroing in a weapon involves aligning sights in a sight picture and then aligning aiming points at a target.  Jones explained, “You spend […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from the 2nd Regiment Advanced Camp overcame their insecurities and became more self-assured at the Rappel Tower and Confidence Course today.  In order to complete their training at Fort Knox, Cadets must complete these two events. While Company C began learning how to tie a Swiss seat harness for the Rappel Tower, Company D began its day at the Confidence Course.  Through each of the nine obstacles on the Confidence Course, Cadets tested not only their mental endurance, but also used their upper-body and core strength. Some obstacles included The Weaver, where one has to maneuver […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ow2VHG__nE[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – The Alpha and Bravo Co., 2nd Regiment Cadets, tested their night land navigation skills late Sunday night on Ft. Knox. Cadets were given a map with two points that they were to find. Points are marked with orange and white, reflective signs posted on a stake. To pass, and this is a must-pass event, they only need to find one of those points within the two-hour time limit. To make RECONDO, they need to find both points within that time limit on their first try. Along with the map, Cadets are given a compass and […]

FORT KNOX, Ky – Everyone has a different reason they join the Army for the common goal of protecting the United States. Cadets from all walks of life around the United States report to Fort Knox for Cadet Summer Training to form the 3rd Regiment of Advanced Camp. Many Cadets enlist and gain prior military experience before they decided to join ROTC at their universities. Cleveland Braswell III, a Bowie State University Cadet, was previously enlisted as a 74D, which is a Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear specialist. He wanted to become an officer to progress his long-term military career. “I’m […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVjwphfhd8g[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. — During the Daytime Land Navigation training the Cadets from 2nd Regiment Alpha and Bravo Companies were tasked today to find three of four points provided to them in the approximately 1800 sq. km. training area and be back at their starting point in four hours. In one word, describe this training. Capt. Deshon Sims from the University of Arkansas was one of the Cadre members overseeing the course. He was one of the many who found this event built on more than just the crucial navigation skills. “It builds confidence for them to know how […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3h96knghbc[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – The Cadets of 1st Regiment, Bravo Company practiced a patrol base operation last night during their ninth day of Cadet Summer Training near George Blair Range. This “practice” patrol base operation prepares the Cadets for the three-phase field training exercise toward the end of Advanced Camp. Capt. Winston Simmonds, the training officer for the 2nd Platoon, explained the reason for this exercise. “Basically, it’s a stationary position for where they can continue mission prep, they can plan other missions or they can also take the opportunity to refit, work on weapons maintenance,” Simmonds said. “If […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vS1KMrXmTk[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky – The Alpha and Bravo Co., 1st Regiment Cadets moved to their third day of marksmanship during Basic Rifle Marksmanship training on Saturday morning on the George Blair Range at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. Weapons training is done at a pop-up course, new this summer to Advanced Camp. Previously, Advanced Camp has been 31 days long, focusing the marksmanship training on a paper course. The paper course focuses the shooting at paper targets that are constant and unmoving. Now, Advanced Camp is 37 days long, specifically to work more on the Cadets’ marksmanship ability. This has brought […]