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 […]

It started around 3:30 am on July 12, 2021. The Cadets of 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp took position in the middle of the deep woods and got to work planning. Treating their Field Training Exercise as if it was a real mission, stealth was a priority. Whispers, red lights, and crawling through mud were the norm at Fort Knox, KY’s Panther Phase. Most apparent however, was the waiting. After the planning started, most of 1st Platoon, C Company stayed mostly still for hours. They would secure a well-fortified perimeter, then would lay vigilant on the ground, despite rain and bugs 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 themselves to the test on July 8, 2021, in the Confidence Course: a set of eight obstacles in the woods of Fort Knox, KY. The obstacles were designed to force Cadets to learn to manipulate their bodies in difficult and unconventional ways to prepare them to navigate an unforeseen environment. But more than this, completion of the Confidence Course would get these Cadets to question what […]

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 […]

Special Awards Recipients AUSA Leadership Excellence AwardCadet Chloe Brown, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Military Order of World Wars AwardCadet Vincent Carney, Niagara University Military Officers Association of America AwardCadet Reiss Mika, Colorado State University USAA Warrior Spirit AwardCadet Tabitha Seigley, Newberry College Armed Forces Bank AwardCadet Chloe Brown, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Reserve Organization of America AwardCadet Malleigh Ebel , Saint Mary’s University National Guard Association of the United State AwardCadet Jaron Palmer, Southern Utah University Bold Leader Spirit AwardCadet Timothy Canane, Austin Peay State University First Command Financial Services AwardCadet Austin Gabriel , University of North Georgia Armed Forces Services Corporation […]

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 […]

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 Halen’s “Hot for Teacher.” Although it sounds like fun, 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp’s Weapons Group Zero training was a serious event that demanded intense concentration. Each Platoon took a prone-supported position on a shooting range at Fort Knox, KY, and fired volleys of five rounds from their M4 rifles at a target approximately twenty-five meters away. The goal: grouping their shots together, and adjusting their […]

“Initially there is always that little bit of nervousness anytime you get thrown into a leadership role,” said Cadet Jared Dieckman, a student at the University of Wisconsin, Lacrosse.

On June 19th, 2nd Regiment Cadets participated in their first Field Training Exercise (FTX) at Advanced Camp 2021. The FTX’s are separated into different stages: Wolverine, Panther and Grizzly. Cadets have to attend the three stages before leaving Fort Knox.  Cadets are using the “crawl, walk, run” method of training, which guarantees that every stage is more difficult and complex than the one before.  The 2nd Regiment is in the Wolverine stage. During the FTX, Cadets perform various Situational Training Exercise (STX) lanes, which are simulated combat scenarios. They have the chance to use the information and techniques they have learned […]

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 academia of having a nose buried in the book,” said Kelby Woodard, Headmaster of Saint Thomas Academy. “I think seeing how it actually is done on the ground, in action, is really important, for academia in particular, or else they get out of touch.” Woodard, along with a handful of other faculty members of various schools and universities, was chosen to visit Cadet Summer Training at […]

Walking up to the confidence course on the morning of June 18, 2021, you’d likely hear Cadets of 3rd Regiment cheering each other on as they complete each mentally and physically challenging obstacle within the woods of Fort Knox, Ky during their Cadet Summer Training Advanced Camp.  The purpose behind the confidence course is in the name. Cadets have to set aside any fears or negative thoughts and build that confidence within themselves to get through the obstacles.  Probably one of the biggest fears that pop up during the confidence course is heights. However, one Cadet faced the problem by talking […]

“I can’t see myself doing anything else,” said Cadet Sabiel Anderson. He always knew that he was supposed to be a part of the military. He was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, and watched his parents serve in the Jamaica Defence Force. Following his graduation from high school, he received a full-ride scholarship in the United States for track and field. Anderson ran track professionally for two years.  However, he still held on to his dream of joining the armed forces and pursued this path instead. “I have always been drawn to the military,” Anderson elaborated.  Following in his parent’s […]

On June 14, 2021, 4th Regiment Cadets attended Fire and Maneuver training at Fort Knox, Ky. Every Cadet learns how to effectively provide cover from enemy fire, for themselves and their battle buddy, using suppressive fire and maneuver techniques. Though live rounds are not used for this exercise, Fire and Maneuver training ensures that, if ever faced with a real combat situation, Cadets would know how to efficiently communicate and provide cover for a comrade in arms.  Cadet Marcellus Forbes said, “It gives us a better perspective to what our troops will be doing in real life.” When he’s not attending […]

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 Warrior Skills training are Call for Fire and Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TC3). Although not all Cadets are going into infantry service, these infantry skills are vital to becoming an officer. Call for Fire involves using radio communication to artillery positions. Cadets worked in pairs with their battle buddies to demonstrate their abilities. “What we’re doing here is getting the basics down, so that if we ever find […]

On June 10th, 2021, First Regiment Cadets arrived at the Land Navigation (Land Nav) site, ready and prepared to tackle the Day Land Nav course at Fort Knox, Ky.  Lt. Col. Kraig Kline, chief of the Land Nav committee, is responsible for preparing the course beforehand and supporting Cadets during the training event. “We give Cadets a certain number of points,” said Kline. “Cadets take their protractor and compass and figure out, after they have plotted the points, how to actually get to that point on the ground.”  Kline compares the exercise to a ”treasure quest.” He says they’re similar, however, […]

Just one week after their arrival at Fort Knox, KY, the Cadets of 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp marched to their hand grenade training on the sunny morning of June 14, 2021. Despite having been strangers when they got here, these Cadets had been spending almost every minute of every day together for the past week, and it showed in their behavior. No Cadet seemed out of place, and they used every minute of down time to make conversation. “Delta company, fourth platoon feels like family already,” said Cadet Liberty Henson from the University of Central Florida. “At first it was kind of […]

By: Amy Turner and Kyle Crawford Fort Knox KY — Despite an unprecedented past year and a half, Cadet Summer Training (CST) is well underway training future U.S. Army officers. COVID-19 precautions have been put into place such as requiring Cadets to wear masks for a 10-day monitoring period. Cadets will also be tested upon their arrival to Fort Knox. Before exiting the 10-day monitoring period, pool testing methods are used. Pool testing is a method that tests various Cadets from groups composed of the people that interact most closely together. If a certain group has multiple people testing positive then […]

In preparation for Cadet Summer Training (CST) 2021, U.S. Army Medics and Soldiers from the 3rd Cavalry Regiment (3CR), Medical Troop, are hard at work establishing a field hospital to aid this summer’s training.

FORT KNOX, KY. — It’s a bittersweet day, August 17, for families because they get to see their Cadets after 36 days of Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky.  During Family Day it’s always a beautiful moment with the family members running up to their Cadet and hugging them as if they will disappear. But for Cadet Christina Meredith, from the University of Florida, this Family Day is a little more special. Although her biological father was unable to make it – he was sure to be there the next day to watch her graduate.  “It’s pretty awesome, not going […]

“Cadet Summer Training is the largest exercise and leadership development event every year – it is a big deal. The way you truly know that this is a big deal is by the presence of an Army band,” said U.S. Army Cadet Command, Deputy Commanding General, Brig. Gen. Antonio Munera. Close to 50 members from the 100th, 313th, and 208th Army Bands supported Cadet Command and Fort Knox with over 50 ceremonies this summer through tradition and pageantry. Some of these events include Basic and Advanced Camp graduations, where nearly 10,000 people were in attendance and 30,000 watched online via live […]

  FORT KNOX, Ky. – 6th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets examined their potential future career paths during Branch Orientation at Keyes Park August 14, 2019, during Cadet Summer Training. “We’re going around to all of the various branches, 17 in total, of the Army and we’re just seeing which ones we might be interested in, learning more, and, for me especially, I know very little about the Army and what the branches do. So, I’m just taking this as an opportunity to dive into a bunch of them and learn a bunch of stuff,” explained Cadet Reiss Becker, a student at […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets of the 9th Regiment, Advanced Camp graduated and parted ways this morning, August 8. Advanced Camp is a long, tasking 37 days long; challenges present themselves at every corner and Cadets are expected to address and overcome them. Their graduation ceremony is a very welcome event, reuniting them with their family and friends and sending them on their way home. Knowledge that Sticks Out of all they learn at Advanced Camp, many Cadets have something in particular that sticks with them. “The most important thing I’ve learned is just to listen to others and not be […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — One thing that distinguishes Basic Camp from other levels of Army training is the number of Cadre who oversee the training. A lot of the basic camp instruction is given by drill sergeants and newly commissioned officers, but there is another group helping with the basic camp regiments: MSIII trainers. MSIII stands for Military Science 300, and it is made up of ROTC Cadets in college who have completed their junior year of school and graduated advanced camp this summer. After graduating, some opted to stick around in Fort Knox for basic camp and work as mentors […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — Cadets from 5th Regiment, Basic Camp, competed in a drill and ceremony (D&C) competition today to test their marching and military bearing skills. The competition tested the basic foundations of D&C on how you march and conduct yourself in a formation. For the first portion of the competition, each platoon in the regiment created a routine that included numerous required elements and commands. Cadre graded Cadets on how well they conducted their platoon D&C routines and how well they maintained their military bearing. Maintaining a strong military bearing is holding and conducting yourself in a well-disciplined manner. […]

  FORT KNOX, Ky. – 4th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets graduated on Brooks Field August 6 after completing Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky. Cadets completed numerous exercises to build themselves not only as leaders and teammates, but also to build their confidence in themselves and each other. After graduating and officially completing their training, Cadets expressed their feelings after walking off of Brooks Field. One Cadet was excited to demonstrate their skills learned throughout camp. “Just feeling really excited to get out of here and learn with all this knowledge that I’ve learned since I’ve been here. This is […]