FORT KNOX, Ky. - Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox is home to one of the largest training events in the U.S. Army. Approximately 10,000 Cadets attend either Advanced or Basic Camp every summer, and ensuring their safety is a top priority. Task Force Med is one of the key elements in providing a safe training environment.

FORT KNOX, Ky. - Every year Soldiers and Civilians come to Fort Knox from across the country to facilitate Cadet Summer Training. Some act as Cadre for the Cadet regiments, some handle command and control or logistics, and some form task forces with specific purposes. Task Force Wolf from the 104th Training Division is comprised of U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers that attend CST every summer to prepare Cadets to becoming future officers.

FORT KNOX Ky. – The Cadre of 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp, participate in the Observer Coach Trainer Academy to properly distinguish how to assess Cadets going through camp at Fort Knox, Ky., June 12, 2023.

On the early morning on July 29, 2021, when the moon was still high in the sky above Fort Knox, Ky., the Cadets of 11th Regiment, Advanced Camp donned their rifles and rucksacks, strapped bright red safety lights to their heads and took to the vacant streets to complete a six-mile march of endurance. “This is a ruck march, this is to test their endurance, and to just make sure that they’re prepared to move themselves and their equipment across the battlefield if they have to,” said Capt. Harrison Coch, of the University of Wisconsin, Steven’s point. “They can expect to [...]

On the morning of July 21, 2021, the Cadets of 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp were set loose in the forests of Fort Knox, Ky. with a map, a set of coordinates, and a time limit. “They’re somewhere in the woods—find them using plotted points,” said Cadet Orkhun Ismayil of Virginia Tech. “You’re given four, and you have to get at least three in four hours.” The four grid coordinates that were given to each Cadet corresponded to a real-world objective, which were comparatively small orange and white squares suspended about six feet above the ground on a street sign post. Each [...]

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 [...]

The Occupational Physical Assessment Test, or OPAT, is a physical fitness test that has been used by the Army to determine the fitness levels of recruits for years. Although the Army Combat Fitness Test, or ACFT, is beginning to become the new norm, the OPAT is still relevant for the future. On July 14, 2021, the Cadets of 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp took on the OPAT for themselves at Fort Knox, KY. “This is the test that they use to put people in their MOS (Military Occupational Specialty,)” said Major Peter Ahching of Georgia State University. “So far these guys are [...]

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. [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Army Marksmanship Unit Trains Cadre for Advanced Camp’s Basic Rifle Marksmanship Training Fort Knox, KY – Basic Rifle Marksmanship standards have changed within the past year, which will now affect the incoming Advanced Camp Cadets this summer.  Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU) instructors came to Fort Knox, KY to train the Cadre on the updated standards so that those Cadre could later train the Advanced Camp Cadets.  Basic Rifle Marksmanship (BRM) covers the basics on how to shoot with a rifle. It covers learning how to position, how to find and hit a target, and how to be accurate.  With previous standards, [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets attended Branch Orientation, a time where the different branches of the Army hold informational briefs to showcase different career paths, July 21 during Cadet Summer Training. “They’re just giving us an overview of career paths that we can choose from along with guard and reserve options. Basically, we get to active, reserve, and guard officers about what they do and it helps us figure out what we want to do,” explained Cadet Austin Pfennig, Eastern Washington University. Cadets glean new information as they visit each branch’s tent and listen to the Cadre [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — 1st Regiment, Basic Camp held an inter-regimental Drill and Ceremony (D&C) competition July 19 during Cadet Summer Training. “We just completed a drill and ceremony competition, otherwise known as D&C,” said Cadet Maabendu Sirleaf, New Mexico Military Institute. “D&C is getting uniformity and helping us dress across each other because that’s really essential in the Army, that uniformity, and that’s what D&C teaches us.” The first part of the competition was between companies and held in the form of a knockout drill as Cadet Erin Wolfe, an attendant of New Mexico Military Institute, explained. Cadets were given [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — 1st Regiment, Basic Camp performed Field Training Exercises in their “run” phase July 14 during Cadet Summer Training. The “run” phase of an exercise consists of cadre taking a step back and providing feedback during the exercise when absolutely necessary to Cadets. The exercise Cadets from Alpha company, 3rd platoon, 3rd squad performed was an ambush. “We just conducted an ambush on the objective, which was a linear ambush on the road. We had two enemy and were a squad element. We were directed by our squad leader to form up and I was on Bravo Team, [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=82XI4JoJRUM[/embedyt] Cadets of the 4th Regiment of Basic Camp were taken through the General George Patton Museum of Leadership the afternoon of July 12. Artifacts from a time long lost, but not quite forgotten, inhabit the museum grounds. From armor to uniforms, an old dog collar to a 48-Star American flag, protest art to a firetruck used in 9/11, the Patton Museum has it all. A Moment of Inspiration For many of the Cadets, this experience was one that would shape them as future Army Officers. “I am the first person in my family to be in the military,” Cadet [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets of the 2nd Regiment of Basic Camp completed the High Ropes Confidence Course at the Forest Hills Climbing Complex this morning, July 5. Climb On The Forest Hills Climbing Complex is comprised of three different courses: The Alpine Tower, the Rock Wall and Rudder’s High Ropes Course. Each obstacle comes with its own challenges. Some challenges may be easier to fight through than others, but the mental challenge of overcoming those obstacles can be the toughest that the Cadets encounter at this event. Sgt. Dylan Dalton, with the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment in Fort Carson, [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets in the 3rd Regiment closed out their training time at Advanced Camp with the 12-mile ruck march this morning, July 3. It was a victorious moment; cadences were shouted, hands were raised to the sky in triumph, smiles were plastered on every face. From Cadet to Cadet, words of encouragement were shared as they marched nearer and nearer to the “Mission Accomplished” banner that flew at their ending point. With “Eye of the Tiger” playing, the 3rd Regiment crossed the finish line. Rucks were plopped on the ground as Cadets fell to their knees in relief. [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TmwTXuMlbI[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets enhanced their tactical skills and defense strategies at their Field Training Exercise, FTX, June 30 during Cadet Summer Training. The first two objectives, including gathering intelligence and performing reconnaissance on the base as well as capturing the base from the opposing forces, were executed with precision, according to Capt. Talisa Dauz. “They knocked it out of the park. It’s probably one of the best missions we’ve done so far,” said Dauz. “Once they attacked the enemy, they were able to seize this terrain and the mission. They are currently on [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0hauZP5z1w[/embedyt] Basic Camp Cadets of the 1st Regiment, Bravo Co., completed the High Ropes Course at Forest Hills Climbing Complex this morning, June 30. The Climb With the sun beaming down, Cadets were divided out amongst three obstacles: the Rock Wall, the Alpine Tower and the Rudder’s High Ropes Course. Each obstacle presented its own challenges, and each Cadet overcame those challenges in their own way. From swinging a certain way to leaping off one section of an obstacle to a completely new section, Cadets tackled every single task. “It’s a mixture of, they’re learning about themselves, they’re obviously nervous, [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKpqAJ7qPEA[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from the Alpha Co., 4th Regiment were hand-grenade trained today, June 18, each of them booming with excitement. An Add On Handling and throwing live grenades is an entirely new addition to Advanced Camp. “It’s part of a series of events that are being brought in an attempt to replicate aspects from Basic Training,” Capt. Daniel Snow, assistant professor of military science for Kansas State University, said. The Commanding Gen. of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) has decided that all soldiers, enlisted and commissioned alike, should train in the same tasks, [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFCJY15WUIM[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, KY. – “These are just basic Soldier skills that everyone in the Army just needs to know,” said Cadet Joseph Marcos, from Seton Hall University, “Not everyone is going to be in combat but you may find yourself in that position where you may have to execute some of these tasks.” Cadets started the day by practicing with mock hand grenades then moved on to live hand grenades. After learning how to operate one, 2nd Regtiment Advanced Camp Cadets learned how to use it to their advantage. Once Cadets completed these two trainings, they went down to [...]

[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), [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5QkXVfclLs[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – The Delta Co., 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets lead their way through the Field Leader Reaction Course yesterday, June 6. The Field Leader Reaction Course (FLRC) puts Cadets, separated into squads, through obstacles that are modeled after situations that Soldiers have come across in historical American wars. To successfully complete an obstacle, the Cadets must get specific equipment through, as well as each squad member. With each new obstacle, a new Squad Leader is appointed. This offers a change in team dynamic with each different challenge. Some leaders take charge, others try to open more [...]