FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 7th Regiment, Basic Camp participated in a Drill & Ceremony competition on August 2. D&C consists of the proper way to move and hold oneself while in formation. The competition is a new addition to Cadet Summer Training this year. Cadet Jamie Bridenstine, who completed Advanced Camp this summer, is working as a Military Science III trainer at Basic Camp. Bridenstine, a student at the University of Wyoming, stated that D&C builds discipline and helps people work as a team. She went through Basic Camp in 2016. “We focused on D&C but it wasn’t to […]

Fort Knox, Ky.– As tents were lined up side by side with basic branch Officers within them, Cadets of 7th Regiment, Basic Camp went touring for the many options that the Army has to offer. Within these tents, many Combat Arms including Field Artillery, Infantry and Engineers were beginning to fill up with young and ambitious female Cadets. January 2016 marked a day in history lifting since the ban on women joining combat branches. This achievement allowed female Soldiers to fight next to their male counterparts and equally participate in any event within the Army. “The Military is based on wars […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp ambushed Opposing Forces, also known as OPFOR, during Field Training Exercises on August 1, at Area of Operation Grizzly. When the Cadets woke up that morning, described Cadet Olan Field, they knew that they were going to be conducting an ambush but weren’t exactly sure where. “We had to … go and find out information and then utilize that information that we received into our next mission,” stated Field. Platoon Sergeant Cadet Perry Patton, a student at Harding University, explained that a leader’s reconnaissance element met up with a defector who […]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets executed Situational Training Exercises, STXs, August 2 during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky. “Today is the last day of our STX, Situational Training Exercise. Basically, we are in the crawl phase of what we’re going to do. These are all Cadre run. We’re going through the motions and letting them show us how they want the lane set up and how to properly execute the things that we’re trying to do,” explained Cadet Logan Karsteter, Purdue University, (hometown) Milan, Indiana. Each iteration, or repetition, of the exercise […]

FORT KNOX, Ky – As the beginning of their Field Training Exercises, Cadets from 8th Regiment, Basic Camp spent the day of August 1, 2018 split up by squad, running through various tactical operations. The Cadets started the planning phase of the mission after receiving an initial order. This is when the Cadet in charge, the squad leader, gives a detailed brief of who will be going where and how the operation will unfold, making sure everyone is on the same page. “We were given the op ord. [operation order] that we were going to do a deliberate attack,” Cadet Aaliyah […]

Advanced Camp Cadets endure mud for mission FORT KNOX, Ky.– On a rainy, late July morning, Cadets from 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp slide through mud to conduct a platoon attack. During the first day of their field training exercise, the clouds left no mercy on Cadets preparing for their mission. Weighed down by rucks and wet uniforms, Cadets from Alpha Company trudge through the Kentucky woods in an area of operations known as Panther. This sector of the woods gives Cadets their first taste of field training exercises that are not led by Cadre. “We moved tactically to an ORP [objective rally […]

Ft. Knox, KY– Deep within the vegetation of Atropia, there’s an enemy force that is described as far worse than any other Cadet force known within the Cadet Summer Training program. These enemy forces study their victims every morning and make it their mission to attack at night. These bandits, that wear a natural black mask and fitted gloves seem to be an issue for even the Cadets that play the role of the bad guys.”For the amount of trash they leave and the havoc they have caused, we have never had eyes on these raccoons. Opposing force member Patrick Ewing, […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – With only three days left until graduation, Cadets from 7th Regiment, Advanced Camp must begin asking themselves, “What’s next?” Lucky for them, Branch Orientation provides some answers. During Branch Orientation, Cadets rotate through various tents filled with information on each branch available to them. For some Cadets, selecting a branch is a walk in the park, but for others, selecting a branch will be the hardest decision they ever make. Cadet Anna Farmer from the University of Oregon has a decision to make. As of now, she has narrowed down her selections to Field Artillery, Military Intelligence and […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp conducted a raid on July 30, during the third and final phase of Field Training Exercises: the Grizzly phase. During the Grizzly phase, also known as the run phase, the Cadets conduct the missions themselves as opposed to being guided through them by Cadre like in the Wolverine (crawl) and Panther (walk) phases. Cadet Marc Venditti, University of South Florida, the platoon leader for yesterday’s mission, explained that he utilizes the chain of command to communicate with his platoon. He gives information to his squad leaders, who pass it on to their […]

FORT KNOX, Ky – Cadets from 7th Regiment, Advanced Camp woke up in the early morning hours of July 30th, 2018 to step off for the 12-mile ruck march, the last critical event before graduation. “I’m about to knock out this 12-mile ruck march with 35 pounds on my back,” Cadet Jhory Miller, Norfolk State University, declared. For this ruck march, the Cadets carry a minimum of 35 pound of gear from the field. This prepares them for future combat situation where they will be carrying larger rucks for long periods of time. “Sometimes in warfare we have to live out […]

Fort Knox, Ky.- Today, the 6th Regiment, Alpha and Bravo Company Basic Camp Cadets graduate Cadet Summer Training 2018. Proud family members from all across the country gather together to witness the inspiring ceremony. These Cadets have all come a long way and yet this is only the beginning. Day in and day out they trained rigorously, overcame tremendous fears, and strengthened themselves to achieve their highest level of excellence. There has been outstanding growth from the day they first arrived. Throughout each exercise completed they acquired leadership characteristics, teamwork and accountability for one another, and the strength and stamina to conquer all tasks. Excitement is in the […]

Ft. Knox, KY– Within the crowd of Cadets in 3rd Platoon, Bravo Company, 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp, there was one Cadet that Cadre was able to easily identify. “The Ranger boy is getting all the attention, that’s what happens when you’re an E-7,” Captain Dylan Gallagan jokingly added. Marc Venditti, University of South Florida, a prior enlisted soldier, has quite an impressive résume when put up against his battle buddies, including Cadre members.   With all of his experience, Venditti commented that he usually gets pointed out by Cadre members in every lane. “It starts to get old,” he said with […]

FORT KNOX, Ky – Before moving on to their first field training exercise, Cadets from 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp ran through their final Cadre assisted situational training exercise on July 29, 2018. The Cadets’ assignment was to execute a raid, infiltrating a group of oppositional forces holding a position deep within the forests of Training Area 12. “It was initially a recon,” Cadet Joshua Westerhaus, Coastal Carolina University, stated. “Then we got a frago (a redirected order), once we got here, that we were going to do a raid…So, we went back to the ORP (Objective Rally Point), the platoon leader […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. –  6th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets explored the different branches of the Army during the Branch Orientation in Keyes Park July 29, 2018. After completing the Advanced Camp in the Army ROTC program , graduated Cadets will be commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the U.S. Army and will embark on specialized training in their first Army branch. At Branch Orientation, Cadets were free to attend any tent that interested them, talk to people and ask questions.  It allowed Cadets to learn about all different branches and makes every opportunity available to everybody. Tents, and military vehicles lined the field of […]

Ft. Knox, KY- Smiles spread in waves as the Cadets of 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp marched their way to Waybur Theater to greet their families and friends. With their heads held high, and the happy dance seen throughout the formation, Cadets started to straighten out their uniforms and check their phones to see the time tick down to noon, the time that family members would be released to see them. Just seconds before noon, Cadets were put into attention, sounded off with an almighty  ‘Train to lead’, and were immersed into the waves of family members looking for their Cadets. With […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – What started out as a calm morning in the woods turned into a high-speed attack for 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets. This morning (27 July), the Cadets were given a mission to later conduct an attack on a Linear Danger Area. With only a grid location and a time, the Cadets moved meters from the op-for and set up an objective rally point. Once they got the objective rally point set up, they sent out a leaders recon to scout out a position to get eyes on how many enemy personnel were there and what weapons they had. […]

Fort Knox, KY– A chilly morning for the Cadets of 4th Platoon, Bravo Company, 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp as they learned the basics to conducting a raid. As Cadets took notes and listened attentively, a lane instructor walked through ‘must-do’ events for key leaders such as knowing where heavy weapons, such as the M240 machine gun and M249 squad automatic weapon are at all times, locating target reference points, terrain analysis and knowing sectors of fires for each person. According to the Cadet Hand Book, a resourceful guide issued to each Cadet at the start of their Regiment, raids are surprise […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp began Situational Training Exercises on July 27, entering the crawl phase of Field Training Exercises. This phase of training is heavily guided by Cadre and serves as instruction for Cadets. Cadet Karli Ring, a student at George Washington University, called what the Cadets were being taught the “doctrine, know-how” way to carry out the mission set before them. As a small group of Cadets set off for a leader’s reconnaissance patrol, Ring explained, the Cadre had the rest of the Cadets follow and observe rather than post security, as would normally […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Stay low Cadet, stay low! 8th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets motivated each other through the Beaudoin Obstacle Course July 27th, 2018. Obstacles like the low crawl, cargo net wall and balance beams, teach the Cadets what to expect later in the field while also testing their physical fitness. Cadet Spencer Jerome, University of Arkansas, explains how the Obstacle Course is a challenge to Cadets in Cadet Summer Training. “We’re running through different types of obstacles to test different physical capabilities, whether that be balance, upper body capabilities or the low crawl,” he continues, “Usually the obstacles have some […]

Fort Knox, Ky.- Today, 7th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets completed a portion of their FTX training at Tactical Area 5 on Fort Knox, Ky. When the Cadets arrived, they received an OP order for their mission, after that they go through the troop leading procedures which help them plan and prepare for the mission. This procedure is an eight step process: receive the mission or OP order, issue the warning order to their subordiante leaders, make a tentative plan, start necessary movement, reconnoiter, complete the plan, issue the complete order, and finally supervise. Once completed, they conduct a patrol where they […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 5th Regiment, Basic Camp huddled around cell phone cameras before camp graduation on July 26, trying to see how their group photos with fellow Cadets turned out. 2nd Lt. Kasey Greenfield, a graduate of Texas A&M University, noticed an extraordinary difference in the demeanor of a lot of the Cadets – particularly their sense of pride – between the beginning of camp and graduation. Towards the end of camp, Greenfield stated, “a lot of them would stand up straighter,” and just wear the uniform a little differently. Between the homesickness, drill sergeants, and physical standards […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Another obstacle out of the way! Cadets from 8thRegiment, Basic Camp tackled the Beaudoin Obstacle Course July 26. The course consists of eight obstacles designed to test the Cadets’ strength, endurance, confidence and leadership.    Like any other obstacle the Cadets face throughout their training, comradery is what keeps the Cadets pushing forward. Throughout their 31 days at Fort Knox, each Cadet pairs with a Battle Buddy, a person responsible for boosting morale and holding the other accountable. For this training in particular, Battle Buddies are their most important team member.    “It’s a mutual relationship, and […]

FORT KNOX, Ky – As the first taste of field training, Cadets from 7th Regiment, Basic Camp began learning the basics of tactical operations July 25, 2018 during Squad Formation Order of Movement. The day started off with an early morning wake-up, an MRE breakfast, and a short trek to Training Area 7, where the Cadets were briefed and split up for individual squad training sessions. The Cadets sat in small clearings in the forest, listening to play-by-play instructions of the operation they would be conducting. “We were taught a hasty assault, which is coming up on an enemy when you […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — 7th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets conduct a new mission during the Field Training Exercise July 26, 2018. A Field Training Exercise describes a coordinated exercise conducted by military units for training purposes. It assists Cadets getting prepared for leadership programs they must complete to graduate as commissioned officers. The exercise is usually carefully planned out by officers, in order to give Cadets a taste of battle and allows instructors to look for mistakes and correct them. Without disclosing any plans or information beforehand, it creates a more unpredictable and realistic situation for Cadets during the training. Cadet Jake […]

FORT KNOX, KY. — Pushing yourself mentally and physically is an enormous part of being in the U.S. Army. Cadets from 8th Regiment, Basic Camp woke up early this morning July 26th, 2018, to take part in the Army Physical Fitness Test. The APFT is a way to determine whether or not Cadets are in peak physical shape during CST. Cadets are required to do a specific number of push-ups, sit-ups and a two-mile run in a certain amount of time according to their gender and age. According to Cadet Kobe Kupp, Eastern Washington University, keeping up with personal physical fitness is […]