By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp, performed Individual Task Testing (ITT), June 16, during Cadet Summer Training (CST) at Fort Knox, Ky. ITT is testing for Cadets which evaluates the skills they have learned up to this point in their training. “Today, we’re getting tested on everything we’ve learned up to this point. We’re making sure we know how to load a weapons system, do system checks on it and, if there’s a misfire, how to take care of it. We’re also being tested on first aid as well as different carries and how to treat [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – Advanced Camp Regiment 4 received their MILES (Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement Systems) gear at Assembly Area Baker at Fort Knox, Ky. on June 15 during Cadet Summer Training (CST). MILES gear is a three-part system consisting of a sensor vest, a helmet sensor called a halo and a laser system for rifles. “There are sensors that detect lasers that are shot from the rifles and also a laser system that is attached to their rifle or the machine gun. When a blank round is fired from the weapon, it shoots a laser out,” said [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – Advanced Camp, 4th Regiment, arrived June 9 at Fort Knox, Kentucky for Cadet Summer Training (CST).  Cadet arrival is a hustle and bustle kind of day. Many things need to be accomplished upon arriving as a Cadet. Things like settling into the barracks and preparing for the training ahead. Other activities include packing and unpacking their belongings. Why? While waiting to go up to the barracks, one Cadet answered this question. “It’s just for inspection to make sure you have everything. Last thing you want, while you’re out in the field, is to not [...]

“My heart is racing, but in a good way,” said Vivek Sarin, Executive Officer of Kentucky Cabinet of Economic Development, after his tandem sky dive jump. “Beautiful. Just incredible! It’s so peaceful up there.” Sarin jumped in honor of a taskforce called Work Matters that was recently launched by the governor of Kentucky. It assists disabled veterans, foster children, disabled people and anyone with a criminal record. “It’s an initiative to help those folks get jobs,” Sarin said. Sarin is part of a group called Centers of Influence that is on Ft. Knox to witness the training of ROTC Cadets in [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky.- Advance Camp 3rd Regiment braved it out in the Chemical, Biological, Radiation and Nuclear (CBRN) gas chamber June 12, as part of the Cadet Summer Training (CST) at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Cadets learn the importance of their equipment before they head into the CBRN chamber. They learn the different hazardous gases they may face in the combat zone. “CBRN helps us learn the resilience of ourselves and to see how far we can push our bodies,” Cadet Catherine Gimbert, Dickinson College, McCain, Virginia. “It causes us to trust our equipment.” Cadets also learned the first aid procedures for [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Advanced Camp, 2nd Regiment Cadets navigated through the woods with small teams to find certain locations during the annual Cadet Summer Training (CST) at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Cadets first did Land Navigation with a partner, same course different locations. They are then required to do the same course by themselves with no help besides a compass, protractor and the knowledge they were given before hand. This course is required for graduation, it does help when the Cadets get commissioned and get real world missions. Cadets found some differences when it came to navigating with partners versus themselves. [...]

Cadets went through Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Threat Training on June 8 at the CBRN Chamber. They learned how to defend themselves from chemical attacks, and cadre members taught them how to put their equipment on, put their mask on and how to seal their mask before entering the chamber. “We have to trust the people in charge of us and trust that they have our best interest in mind,” said Cadet Braden Hayes of Bravo Company Third Platoon from the University of Scranton. The goal is for Cadets to be able to put on their masks in nine [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – Blood can be a squeamish topic for most people. For others, it is a part of their every day life. Blood is essential to the human body and serves many purposes. It is also essential for military personnel. The military has a special program called the Armed Services Blood Program. The people who work for the Armed Services Blood Program work with blood and patients on a daily basis. The ASBP is an official provider of blood and blood products in the military as well as its branches such as the Army, Navy and [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – 3rd Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets learned the fundamentals of Preliminary Marksmanship Instructions (PMI) June 8 during the annual Cadet Summer Training (CST) at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Cadets learn the fundamentals of shooting the Army’s M4 Carbine Rifle. Three stations were set up for the Cadets to cycle through, teaching them basic rifle marksmanship skills. “The three stations we have set up for the Cadets are the fundamentals and positions, ballistics and trajectory and minute of angle (MOA), and the last station is maintenance,” said, Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Baeza, 4th Squadron, 3rd Calvary Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas. [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – Ranger candidates completed the Combat Water Survival Assessments June 8 during Cadet Summer Training in preparation for Ranger School. CWSA, also called Combat Water Survival Test is comprised of three different tests which all must be passed to complete training. “We did a 15-meter swim test with keeping our rifle above the water. We did a 3-meter blind drop. So, we had a blindfold over us and we had to hold our rifle out and jump off of the high dive. Then we had an equipment ditch. So, we had our LBE (Load Bearing [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 3rd and 4th Squad Cadets of 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, were trained and tested on Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) environments June 7 during Cadet Summer Training (CST). This required training is to educate Cadets on CBRN environments should they arise during deployment. “It’s important because the current environment that we might be going into, we might face it one day. So, making sure that we’re properly prepared and ready for it is something that, I think, future officers should know when getting ready to lead their troops,” said Cadet Angel Rivas, University of [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – The Charlie and Delta Companies of First Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed their Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear, CBRN, training on June 4 during Cadet Summer Training, CST. This training helps educate the Cadets should they encounter a chemical environment. “Any kind of energy source that would cause a hazard, we have to be able to take care of it. Also, if you come upon an unknown substance, liquid or gas, it could cause a lot of harm. Since we don’t know everything that exists, we need to be able to prepare for it and test [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – Potential Ranger candidates gathered at Fort Knox, Kentucky on June 4 to complete a voluntary, preliminary Ranger Physical Fitness Test (RPFT) to see not only what they excel at, but also what needs improvement. There are several tasks that the candidates must complete. Candidates are tested on how many push-ups, sit-ups and pull-ups they could do in two minutes. The candidates also had to complete a five-mile run in less than 40 minutes to qualify. “What we’re doing here to day is giving them a shot at trying it out, seeing how it goes [...]

FORT KNOX, KY. – Cadets finished the Team Development Course (TDC) at Fort Knox on June 4. “We did a lot of team building within our platoon, especially with our squads,” said Cadet Alexis Fitzgerald of Bravo Company First Platoon from Princeton University. “We were able to work together and become a cohesive unit.” Cadets went through multiple obstacles as a squad to develop their teamwork and leadership skills. “By presenting a problem to the squad in the form of an obstacle, one person cannot do it by themselves,” said cadre member Sgt. 1st Class William Richards from West Virginia University. [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – The First Regiment Cadets, Advanced Camp, completed the Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear, CBRN, training on June 2 during Cadet Summer Training, CST. CBRN is training where the Cadets are exposed to Corson Stoughton, CS, gas. CS gas, commonly known as tear gas, causes certain symptoms such as runny nose, watery eyes, some difficulty breathing and, in some extreme cases, vomiting. This training is required by all Soldiers of the Army. “The CS chamber is a basic level task that every Soldier has to conduct in the Army. It’s the same as taking a PT [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – The 2nd regiment of advanced camp Cadets arrived at Fort Knox, Kentucky on May 30 for 2017 Cadet Summer Training, (CST). Upon arrival, Cadets are required to do a gear layout to ensure that they have the equipment necessary for the training ahead of them. “It’s pretty much you take all your gear out, you put it on the ground and see what you have and what your deficiencies are. That’s the point, to ensure you have the proper equipment for the upcoming training event.” Said Cadet David Nelson, University of Alaska, from Sanford Florida. This step [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – The 1st regiment Cadets arrived at the Copple Center on May 26 for in processing, paperwork and assignments for Cadet Summer Training (CST) 2017. “They go through a series of events where they’re getting their gear inspected, make sure they brought everything, getting their assignments for platoon and company they’re in, getting the stuff they need to live in the barracks, getting barracks assignments, mostly administrative.” Said Master Sgt. Randy Angel. Cadets in processing, while they waited outside, went through their Cadet handbook, highlighting and putting in sticky notes in the key pages for quick reference. Some [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – The 1st regiment of advanced camp Cadets arrived for registration on May 25 for Cadet Summer Training (CST) 2017. During registration, Cadets were required to go through their clothing, equipment and other items to ensure that they packed enough for the upcoming training. This is to, “make sure they have everything they’re required to have, because if you get out in the field and suddenly you don’t have a poncho and it’s raining twelve out of fourteen days, you’re going to miss it.” Said 2nd Lt. John Altman, a Cadre member who will be training Cadets during [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadet Summer Training (CST) cadre rehearsed a medical evacuation May 23 before Cadets arrive for their summer training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The purpose of the exercise was to prepare the CST Tactical Operations Center (TOC) for a medical emergency. This validation was, “to test all systems on post for medical evacuation and land assets. We’re bringing in air methods and testing the redundancies in our systems so that not only will there be air evacuation assets coming to an emergency, but also ground evacuation at the same time,” said Col. Jason Nelson, deputy chief nurse of [...]