An Army of Change: Transforming Civilians into Soldiers
Drill Sergeants want you to know it’s not like the movies, at least not anymore. While some things will always stay the same — like respecting authority, physical training and reciting the soldier’s creed — today’s...
Marching in the Moonlight
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...
Fighting as a Team
“Front Contact!” The squad barely has time to respond before hearing the whistle of incoming indirect-fire, followed by the punch of an explosion. As the plume of smoke rises in front of them, they all drop to the...
Finding Needles in a Very Large Haystack
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...
Leading America’s Most Precious Treasure
Fort Knox, Ky., — Cadets from 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp, received a motivational boost from Gen. Paul E. Funk II during his visit to their Field Training Exercise (FTX) at AO Wolverine on July 19. “I was busy...
Navigating the Old Way
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 First Great Challenge
For the first couple of days of Cadet Summer Training, Cadets spend most of their time taking care of paperwork, getting to know each other and preparing for the challenging days ahead. These initial events...
Leveling Up: Engagement Skills Training
9th Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets, especially those who love video games, showed off their marksmanship skills during Engagement Skills Training (EST) on July 16, 2021. Much like immediate feedback from a gaming...
Finding the Fittest Way to Fitness
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,...
Faith in the Field
Catholics everywhere have an obligation to attend Sunday Mass, but how can they do this in a military setting? Cadets of 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp, specifically the Catholic Cadets, were in luck when there was a...
1st Regiment Basic Camp Introduction to Land Navigation
Cadets from 1st Regiment Basic Camp were introduced to the concept of Land Navigation on July 11, 2021. For most Basic Camp Cadets, this was the first time they learned to find their way without a phone or GPS....
Weapons Group & Zero: Train & Retrain
As 1st Regiment Basic Camp Cadets exited their required 10-day COVID-19 monitoring period, they entered Handiboe Gun Range, firing live rounds with their M4’s while learning how to properly group and zero their...
Confidence Course: The Name Says It All
Being an Army officer requires a person to devote themselves to the tasks at hand, both physically and mentally. To do this requires more than just will; it requires confidence. Cadets of 7th Regiment put...
Shallow Breaths, Happy Thoughts
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...
ACFT 101: Leadership and Strength
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,...
Hanging in the “Zone”
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...
Practice Makes Perfect
On April 22, 1915, German troops wrote a gruesome new chapter in the book of modern warfare with the deployment of poison gas on the unsuspecting Allied troops defending Ypres, Belgium. Since then, the use of...
The Labors of Sharp-Shooting
First there was the silence of aiming. Next the first couple gunshots of the eager. Eventually, the shots cascaded from the lined-up Cadets so fast that it sounded reminiscent of the opening drum solo of Van...
ACFT and the Power of Group Motivation
The moon was still bright in the sky on July 1st, 2021, when the Cadets of 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp were already gathering outside to put their bodies to the Army’s test. Not so much the crack of dawn, but...
Camp COI: Strengthening the Bond Between Institutions and the Army
Army ROTC prides itself on finding the best and brightest students in the country, but this mission cannot be accomplished without proper mentorship at the university level. “I think that there is a danger in...
How to Save a Life
Two soldiers are out on patrol in a combat zone walking side by side. A burst of enemy fire erupts and one falls to the ground limp. Yelling to their fallen partner, the other soldier gets no response. With no...
Building a New Generation of Warriors
There is a lot that goes into being a warrior, and it isn’t always what you’d expect. This is what the Cadets of 5th Regiment Advanced Camp made apparent in their ‘Warrior Skills’ training. The two halves of...
“Slow and Steady…”: 6-mile Ruck March, 2nd regiment
“We spent all day at the range and that was pretty exhausting mentally and physically and then we had to stay up and pack our rucks,” said Cadet Jamar Carlisle, a student from at Georgia State University. “That...
The CBRNE Experience
1st Regiment had the chance to step into a gas chamber and breathe in tear gas during their protective gear and Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives (CBRNE) training on June 12 while at Cadet...
Revert Back to the Basics: Weapons Group Zero—1st Regiment, A Company
“This is a calm, steady environment for them to be able to shoot calmly, get their weapons zeroed and be able to confirm their zeros so that whenever they are in a war fighting situation they don’t have to worry...