By Cadet Michael Hoffmann, Virginia Military Institute We five ROTC Cadets arrived at the Alexandria Airport in Louisiana, anxious to begin what would prove to be an unforgettable experience. Two officers wearing pressed olive green field uniforms and maroon berets crested low over their eyebrows, the distinctive uniform of the 1st Battalion, 509th Infantry Regiment, soon arrived and took us to Fort Polk. The 1/509th, or “Geronimo” Battalion, was activated in 1941 and possesses a rich history, including the Army’s first combat jump during World War II in November 1942. Today the 509th serves as the Opposing Force (OPFOR) at the […]