By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 7th Regiment, Advanced Camp, arrived at Assembly Area Baker, July 10, to complete their written land navigation test during Cadet Summer Training. Land navigation involves reading a physical map and being able to navigate terrain without technology, using compasses and protractors. “The written test demonstrates their knowledge of terrain features, distance and direction on a map, the difference between grid north, magnetic north and true north,” said Capt. Ron Gooding. Cadets spent the morning studying and reviewing information before their exam. While waiting, Cadre answered questions and coached Cadets in improvised areas. Areas of [...]

By: Mattie Cook Fort Knox, Ky., – Cadets of 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp tackled the challenges of the Field Leader Reaction Course (FLRC) on Fort Knox, Ky., July 9 in search of building trust among teammates. FLRC consists of 12 obstacles, all with varying levels of difficulty, designed to build teamwork and trust among participants. Obstacle number five, the destroyed bridge, has a record of stumping Cadets by its seemingly easy appearance. Destroyed Bridge supervisor, Sgt. Jose Montoya, 399th of Fort Knox, says the obstacle is harder than it looks. Cadet Jackson Baker, the Citadel, N.C., played a key role in [...]

By: Mattie Cook Fort Knox, Ky.,- Day eleven of Cadet Summer Training (CST) for 5th Regiment, Basic Camp involved day land navigation; exercises they say would not be successful without the guidance of non-commissioned officer (NCO) Cadre. Cadets plot points on a map they then must find in the depths of Fort Knox terrain using a compass. A successful mission includes finding three out of four plotted points within the allotted time. Before starting, Cadre give a brief on the do’s and don’ts of land navigation for safe and successful missions. Staff Sgt. Barlowe Branch says they help guide Cadets. “If [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.- One hundred and forty-two Cadets of Bravo Company, 7th Regiment Advanced Camp, complete Qualification at the weapon range in Fort Knox, Ky. It is extremely vital to pass qualification during Cadet Summer Training. Not only does the Cadet need to graduate with this but they also need to know how to shoot when in combat situations. “It’s pretty vital, because your Cadets are your future officers and you want them to qualify with basic Soldiers skills,” said 2nd Lt. Melissa Churchill, Lewis University. Cadets are required to hit 23 pop-up targets out of 40 to qualify. If they [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Advanced Camp 8th Regiment Cadets reported to Fort Knox, Kentucky, July 6, for their training on becoming future leaders in the U.S. Army. Cadets go through in processing when they arrive at the pit. The Cadets “get off the bus that transported them from Louisville International Airport, they line up standing at parade rest while they receive a short brief from the cadre about what is expected of them,” said Sgt. 1st Class Justin Butler, University of Southern Maine.“Cadets are then broken down into their companies once we have a 100 percent accountability. When they get into [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp, successfully completed the Rappel Tower and Confidence Course at Fort Knox, July 6, during Cadet Summer Training. Despite rainy weather conditions, Cadets were still able to perform admirably during both the Confidence Course and the Rappel Tower. “The rappel tower is a 64-foot tower. It has two different sides. It has a walled side and an open side. Cadets will rappel off both sides to the ground. The walled side, you use your feet more and the open side you use more of your hand break techniques,” said Sgt. Morgan [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – On the Fourth of July, 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp, Cadets gathered in Waybur Theater for a very special occasion; End Of Camp Commissioning. There, in the theater, commissioning Cadets became what they have worked for through training, 2nd lieutenants. “This ceremony marks the culmination of years of rigorous and intensive academic, military, and physical training for the Cadets seated before you today,” said 2nd Lt. Nathan Dawes, narrator of the event. “The Corps has served as a test of their leadership ability and their potential to serve as commissioned officers. They have successfully emerged [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Advanced Camp 3rd Regiment Graduation took place in the Natcher Fitness Gymnasium, July 5, as a sign to the Cadets that their training at Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky has come to an end. Advanced Camp 3rd regiment has four platoons, Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta; making up over three hundred Cadet who are set to graduate. Before Cadets graduate they recognize certain Cadets who have done extraordinary during their training. They recognized four Cadets for RECONDO award. The RECONDO award stands for reconnaissance commando, the Cadets who are receiving this award achieved a 90 [...]

by: Cpt. Samuel D. Sellers edited by: Mattie Cook Fort Knox, Ky.-U.S. Army Cadet Command Cadre members from over 20 different Senior ROTC programs and 40 recently commissioned active duty 2nd Lieutenants assembled on Fort Knox, Ky., June 11 to learn about the proper use of pyrotechnics during Cadet Summer Training (CST). Each Cadre member and newly commissioned officers represent a variety of branches within the Army. CST, comprised of Basic and Advanced camps, combines all eight brigades within U.S. Army Cadet Command and will produce the Army’s newest officers. Basic Camp cadets, comprised of Military Science one and two students, learn [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Advanced Camp 3rd Regiment Cadets prepare to graduate by returning all their equipment to the Central Issue Facility, July 3, at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The CIF building is where Cadets go to receive and return their equipment that they sign for. They go through the same 10 stations that they did when they arrived at Cadet Summer Training. Cadets received things that they didn’t think they would needed in the field and would wonder why they would need it. “The Entrenching Tool (E-Tool) I’ve never used outside of Cadet Summer Training, but I needed it pretty much [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Advanced Camp 4th Regiment took on their final day, June 23, at the Situational Tactical Exercise lanes before heading onto more training for their annual Cadets Summer Training at Fort Knox. Cadets are on the STX lanes for four days, they sleep, eat and execute their missions all out in the woods. This lane the Cadets were training at was cadre run, Cadre are the Platoon leaders and Squad leaders. The Cadre first make sure the Cadets get a feel for the different training since the Cadets have been doing other things before getting into the field. [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.- Basic Camp 2nd Regiment Families came out to see their Cadets after the 30 day Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The families met at the Gaffey Hall in the Haszard Auditorium where they got a taste of what the Cadets did over the past month. At the end of the briefing parents would walk out to all of the Cadets standing at attention. The Cadets were given the go ahead, many ran straight to their families. One particular mother Jo Rieck, the mother of Daniel Reick, was egger to see her son. “I’m excited to see [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – After 31 days of training, 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, Cadets completed Advanced Camp at Cadet Summer Training, graduating at Brooks Field at Fort Knox, June 30. “This ceremony marks the culmination of 31 days of rigorous and intensive training for these young men and women. For them, Advanced Camp served as a test of their leadership abilities and potential to be an officer. They have emerged from this challenge, confident in their ability to assume the tremendous responsibilities of being an Army officer,” said 2nd Lt. Nathan Daws, commonly called ‘Pipes’, the narrator for [...]

By Mattie Cook Fort Knox, Ky.-The ranks of the United States Army were joined by ten new 2nd Lieutenants during the End of Camp Commissioning Ceremony for 1st Regiment Advanced Camp on Fort Knox, Ky., at Waybur Theatre, June 24. These Lieutenants spent the last 30 days on Fort Knox in Advanced Camp of Cadet Summer Training, learning new tactical and soldiering skills, leadership techniques and learning how their own leadership styles will contribute to the total Army. Lt. Gen. Sean B. MacFarland addressed the Cadets before taking the stage for the oath, noting the importance of their decision to become [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, arrived at Harmon Hall, the Central Issuing Facility, June 28, to return equipment and gear used during Cadet Summer Training. If gear was not issued to Cadets by their host program, the CIF issued gear and equipment so Cadets could obtain the most experience during CST. “Today, we’re basically just doing gear turn in. So, stuff that we didn’t have, they were nice enough to issue it here. Then, we have to work really hard to make sure it’s clean because, if it’s not, they will make us clean it [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 5th Regiment, Basic Camp, arrived at Fort Knox, June 27, for Cadet Summer Training for in-processing and to settle into the barracks before training begins. Cadets sift through their belongings, fill out paperwork and are briefed about what is expected of them during the next 30 days of training. As they waited in lines, Cadets spoke about their feelings toward the training ahead of them. “We’re super excited and nervous about what to expect,” said Cadets Emily Tran, College of Charleston, Greenville, S.C., and McKenzi Wenninger, Minnesota State University Mankato, Luverne, Minn. “I feel [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, arrived at Smith Gym, June 22, for Platoon photos. Cadet Summer Training is centered around the Cadets and creation of future leaders by making graduates into 2nd lieutenants. With their training almost complete, there are very few things left for them to complete. There is one thing, however, that was done that was centered around  helping others; the donation of blood. The Armed Services Blood Program held the first CST blood drive, June 22. The ASBP set up everything required in Smith Gym including chairs, interview stations, recovery stations and [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the Rappel Tower and Confidence Course at Fort Knox, June 26, for Cadet Summer Training. The Rappel Tower is a 64-foot tower that challenges Cadets through heights as well as rappelling skills and tying the Swiss seat. The Confidence Course is a set of obstacles for Cadets to push themselves to their limits. “Today, we are Rappelling and doing the Confidence course which is like an obstacle course where there’s different challenges and obstacles that you have to get over. There’s a lot of physically challenging stuff from climbing [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 1st Regiment, Basic Camp, attended Branch Orientation near the Patton Museum at Keyes Park, June 23, during Cadet Summer Training. During the event, different branches and specialties of the Army came to give Cadets information about the options and opportunities available to them after graduating. “It’s really just to give them a familiarization of what’s out there in the Army so they can set their expectations now rather than find out last minute what the Army has to offer. We’re just trying to educate the Cadets on what jobs are there in the Army [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – 287 Cadets from 1st Regiment Basic Camp graduates at Brooks Field June 26 in Fort Knox, Ky.   Their friends/family as well as Brig. Gen. Bennett and Maj. Gen. Hughes accompanied Cadets.   At nine a.m. the graduation ceremony started with Cadet Jonathon Ordonez, Commander of Troops, leading Cadets as the United States Army Band stood beside them. Cadet Ordonez addressed Col. Halloren, Commander of Task Force Warrior, that the troops are ready to start the ceremony. Once address was given, Chaplain Candidate, 2nd Lt. Jimenez, led everyone in prayer.   The key part of the ceremony [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – In Fort Knox, the sun rises promptly at 6:23 a.m. but for Second Regiment, Advanced Camp, this means that the majority of their 12-mile ruck march will be completed in the dark. At 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 25, Cadets were woken and instructed to get ready for their longest and farthest ruck march yet. “We’ve conducted a four mile, six mile and eight mile ruck so far, complete with our 35 lb. rucksacks, weapons and helmets,” said Cadet Lerner Sarno, San Diego State University. Accompanying Cadet Sarno was Cadet Leanne Lautzenhiser, Indiana University – Purdue University [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed weapons qualification at the Pells/George Blair Range, June 21, at Fort Knox during Cadet Summer Training. Weapons qualification is training where Cadets shoot live ammunition on a range at pop-up targets. “Yesterday, they did their grouping and zeroing to get their shot group closer and closer to the center of the target. Today, they’re going out onto the range and they shoot their targets and qualify,” said 2nd Lt. Michaela Bauman. Before going out to qualify their M4 Carbine Rifle, Cadets must go through several steps. “To get ready [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.- Day 22, Basic Camp 2nd Regiment Cadets tracked through the Field Training Exercise lanes, June 22, to learn the foundation of combat tactics, for the annual Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky. FTX lanes help the Cadets set up Objective Rally Points (ORP), different types of missions, patrol bases and focuses on the tactical part of the mission. Cadets first spend a few nights in Tent City where they learn the different types of ambushes they will be conducting and they get an overview of what they will be doing in the field. “We learn about the [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.- Advanced Camp 1st Regiment took a leap of faith and descended down a 64-foot rappel tower, June 21, as they have four days left of their Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky. Cadets are required to rappel down both sides, wall and no wall, to graduate. The rappel tower is the first half of the confidence mission; the other half is the obstacle course. “It’s designed to have the Cadets overcome their fear of heights,” said Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Yocom. The rappel tower is all about trust, “we are going to properly rig them up into [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp, participated in weapons zeroing and weapons qualification June 12 at Canby Hill Range at Fort Knox, Kentucky during Cadet Summer Training. This training is for Cadets to better understand their weapon in terms of safety and proper use. “Right now, they’re getting qualified on the M16. They are getting confidence in grouping, zeroing and basic familiarization at this point. Some of them have never shot a weapon before and so that’s the experience that they’re getting,” said 2nd Lt. Aurora Alejos. Cadet Patrick Spencer, Texas Christian University, Indianapolis, Indiana, explained [...]