[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2oYFEZ13PM[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, KY.– “Some [college ROTC programs] focus solely on planning, [and] some programs focus more on execution,” 2nd Lt. Megan Brown, from the University of New Haven said. “It is important to learn how to blend those two together to create a solid plan and execute well.” Cadets from the 2nd Regt. Advanced Camp were able to learn how to blend these two very different learning techniques when they went through their first day of Area of Operations (AO), Grizzly at today’s Field Training Exercise (FTX). Cadets executed a hasty raid due to weather concerns. A hasty raid […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpCvT6K_U-k[/embedyt] Cadets from the 2nd Regt. Advanced Camp were in their second day of Field Training Exercise (FTX) here at Fort Knox where they learned how to properly ambush an enemy. “This is entry-level tactic, in the Army you are expected to be able to be deployed in combat at a moment’s notice,” said Cadet Grant Leonard, from the University of Maryland. “Learning something like this is vitally important because it is the foundation of what the Army is built upon.” Cadets travel through the woods to an Objective Rally Point (ORP) so they can reassess how they will successfully […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_lntJCEp9s[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. — With the end in sight, 1st Regiment puts all they have learned to the test at the Situational Training Exercise (STX) lanes. Cadets from 1st Regiment began their first day of Field Training Exercise (FTX) by going through the six different STX lanes. Each lane was set up to put the Cadets in six different situations that tested how well they could operate tactically as a squad. Master Sgt. Conrad Vasquez, from the University of Oregon, has been a part of the Cadet Summer Training (CST) Team at the Wolverine area of operations for three […]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Na9yhkK8pUQ[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – Hundreds of Cadets of 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp simulated different combat scenarios early this morning in preparation for their upcoming Field Training Exercise (FTX). The FTX is a vital part of Advanced Camp for these Cadets. They are able to practice the various skills they’ve learned from previous training during the 14 days in the field. Capt. Patrick Harvey, a logistics officer, explained the purpose of field preparation today. “The purpose of the training today is to basically go over the squad battle drills,” he said. “What that means is the squads are breaking down […]

Fort Knox, Ky. – Cadets from 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp role-played as the Opposing Forces, also known as OPFOR, during Field Training Exercises, FTX, Aug. 5 at Area of Operation Panther. The OPFOR Cadets were conducting a defense mission against American forces that are trying to take the mortar tubes they have at the OPFOR patrol base. This helps the Cadets who are the American forces learn how to properly carry out and complete an objective and mission. Also, it teaches the OPFOR cadets proper defense techniques when they are in the offensive side. Prior enlisted Cadet Mike Powell, from University of […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — We ruck through life trying to figure out the lessons along the way, hoping we are becoming a better version of ourselves. Cadets from 9thRegiment, Advanced Camp reflect on why they’re at Cadet Summer Training and what they’ve learned during Field Exercise Training. Today, the Cadets originally planned to conduct a hasty attack. Cadets set up a defensive position and switch over to an offensive position. However, things change. “We did get ambushed,” Cadet Lauren Martinez, University of Kentucky, said. “So…that changes the plan, right? We have to think on our feet.” Field Training Exercises throw curveballs […]

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. — 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 – It was a rough morning for Cadets from 2nd Platoon, C Company, 7th Regiment, Advanced Camp, as they lost a third of their platoon in a defensive battle exercise July 23, 2018. “Yesterday, we had taken a mortar position from some Op-For (opposing forces),” Cadet Eric Ward, University of Minnesota, explained  “Today our mission was to defend that position for a period of time, from 0900 in the morning to 2000 tonight.” They had been expecting the enemy to come any time from 0900 onward. As they waited, people were starting to fall asleep. However, platoon leader […]

FORT KNOX – 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets faced off against other Cadets today as part of their Field Training Exercise at Fort Knox, Kentucky July 16. The Cadets mission was to protect their patrol base. For an added challenge, Cadets would have to hold their perimeter for hours while it rained over them. The Cadets had multiple methods of limiting how wet they would be getting. Some Cadets wore their rain gear, while some decided to manipulate the rain gear to make tents or simply used them as blankets. Before dawn broke on the wet morning, a small figure, perhaps […]

Fort Knox, Ky. – Cadets with 1st Regiment, Basic Camp conducted squad level situational training exercise lanes on June 27th, at Area of Operation Badger. They are conducting these STX lanes during their field training exercise. For the FTX, the Cadets spend five days in the woods while conducting practical classes, moving tactically, and living in patrol bases. They set up a patrol base by securing an area so that they can maintain their weapons, eat, and prepare for their missions. They maintain a level of security at all times and attempt to mitigate their signature while living in the field. In […]

FORT KNOX, KY. —“We’ve been in the woods for at least a week minimum, but I’m losing track of [the] days,” Cadet Amber Presto from Florida Southern College laughed. Presto’s Advance Camp Regiment has been in the field for 15 days. They have entered the final half of their stay here at Fort Knox. The Kentucky climate keeps Cadets damp, but they learn how to keep themselves in good spirits by savoring the small things. “There’s a lot of times when you’re just not motivated,” Abe Mitchell from Indiana University shared. “Then, the sun comes out, and you get to dry […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Today’s game of high-tech laser tag brought all the bark of a battle to 1st Regiment Advanced Camp, but none of the bite. Several scenarios ran at the same time during the field training exercises, but this one involved an illegal checkpoint. The Cadets’ goal was to raid it. An active-duty Army unit came out this summer to support CST by acting in these exercises. “These guys are meant to be bad guys who are stopping vehicles and maybe stealing stuff,” Lt. Col. Dennis Faulkner, Professor of Military Science at Indiana University, said. Cadets and Cadre used […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Into the field they go. 7th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets are executing battle tactics out in the wilderness of Fort Knox as part of their field training exercises July 28. Cadet Micah Griffith, a Citadel student and a resident of Saluda, South Carolina, says the purpose of the field training exercise is to give Cadets a sense of what it’s like to conduct actual mission operations against enemy units.   “It gives us an idea of what we’re supposed to be doing,” Griffith shared.   Cadet Michael Vilker of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign says it’s […]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 7th Regiment, Advanced Camp, Cadets completed Field Training Exercises, July 25, during Cadet Summer training at Fort Knox. FTX is training done out in the field where Cadets spend eight days running drills and employing their culminated knowledge to develop leadership skills. “So, over the last eight days, they’ve been out in the field working on platoon small unit tactics against a pretty aggressive bad guy out there. They got a lot of good training in small unit tactics and it enabled the Cadre to evaluate their leadership potential,” said Lt. Col. Joel Thomas. […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – It was a little past 11 o’clock at night when Cadet Mercedes Hayes of New Mexico Military Institute reminded herself that she was over halfway done. There were only 3.2 miles remaining. “I came up with a little mantra to tell myself – that I’m a strong person, everyone else is doing the same thing I am, and no matter what, it’s just about finishing,” she said as she sat to take a water break with the other Cadets of 5th Regiment, Basic Camp. “I feel like I want to sleep, honestly. But I feel that I […]