By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed weapons qualification at the Pells/George Blair Range, June 21, at Fort Knox during Cadet Summer Training. Weapons qualification is training where Cadets shoot live ammunition on a range at pop-up targets. “Yesterday, they did their grouping and zeroing to get their shot group closer and closer to the center of the target. Today, they’re going out onto the range and they shoot their targets and qualify,” said 2nd Lt. Michaela Bauman. Before going out to qualify their M4 Carbine Rifle, Cadets must go through several steps. “To get ready […]

FORT KNOX, Ky.- Day 22, Basic Camp 2nd Regiment Cadets tracked through the Field Training Exercise lanes, June 22, to learn the foundation of combat tactics, for the annual Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky. FTX lanes help the Cadets set up Objective Rally Points (ORP), different types of missions, patrol bases and focuses on the tactical part of the mission. Cadets first spend a few nights in Tent City where they learn the different types of ambushes they will be conducting and they get an overview of what they will be doing in the field. “We learn about the […]

By Mattie Cook Fort Knox.,- 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets spent day 13 of Cadet Summer Training (CST) out on Platoon Situational Training Exercise (PLT STX) lanes learning proper patrol and enemy engagement techniques. With faces painted, Cadets trekked through the dense Kentucky foliage in an attempt to maneuver silently and surround the enemy. Abby Kingery, University of South Florida, Fla. explains the scenario. “We just did a movement to contact. You come across an enemy and are trying as quickly as possible to use the element of surprise, surrounding them and using natural barriers like roads and hills to catch […]

FORT KNOX, Ky.- Advanced Camp 1st Regiment took a leap of faith and descended down a 64-foot rappel tower, June 21, as they have four days left of their Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky. Cadets are required to rappel down both sides, wall and no wall, to graduate. The rappel tower is the first half of the confidence mission; the other half is the obstacle course. “It’s designed to have the Cadets overcome their fear of heights,” said Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Yocom. The rappel tower is all about trust, “we are going to properly rig them up into […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – 2nd Regiment Basic Camp completed their training for introduction to battle drills June 20 in Fort Knox, Ky. There are eight lanes that Cadets need to complete; each of them had different scenarios. Within each lane Cadets are given 10 minutes to plan out the attack using a hand-made map using various items to symbolize what they will come into contact with. After Cadets plan, Cadre then lead them to where the enemy should be. The Cadre within the Regiment then plays the enemy. Cadets are told how to walk in formation, having the Squad Leaders lead […]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 3rd Regiment, Basic Camp, completed the Beaudoin Obstacle Course as platoons and squads, June 20, during their Cadet Summer Training. The Beaudoin Obstacle Course is a set of 13 different obstacles that challenge Cadets in many ways. These obstacles include: low crawl, the ditch, lanes to change directions, the wall, balance beam, hurdles, balance logs, maze to change direction, tunnels, low rail, fence, cargo net, horizontal traversing (also known as monkey bars). “This is a way to show them that if they put each other first and work together as a team, they can […]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – Centers of Influence attended the Summer of Fort Knox Visit, June 13. COIs are community partners from the eight brigades in the United States Army, which operate under Cadet Command. COIs were invited to the Summer of Fort Knox Visit with the intent to spread the word about the benefits, opportunities and options offered by Army ROTC. While at Fort Knox, COIs attended a number of informational meetings. They also participated in exercises Cadets experience during Cadet Summer Training, including the Field Leadership Reaction Course. “What’s going to be happening is they’re going to […]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp, participated in weapons zeroing and weapons qualification June 12 at Canby Hill Range at Fort Knox, Kentucky during Cadet Summer Training. This training is for Cadets to better understand their weapon in terms of safety and proper use. “Right now, they’re getting qualified on the M16. They are getting confidence in grouping, zeroing and basic familiarization at this point. Some of them have never shot a weapon before and so that’s the experience that they’re getting,” said 2nd Lt. Aurora Alejos. Cadet Patrick Spencer, Texas Christian University, Indianapolis, Indiana, explained […]

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 […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets of 3rd Regiment Advanced Camp practices Situational Training Exercises in prep for their Field Training Exercise June 18 at Fort Knox, Ky. During STX Cadets are given different situations to act upon. One of the situations is mock raid on the nearby village because of the intel received. Each situation was simply a simulation of what Soldiers go through when deployed. “We were area reconnaissance it to see what type of person we were looking for, a specific type of personnel. This guy named Abdul Whali, we were looking to find him on this objective and […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from First Regiment Basic Camp trudged through murky terrain and put their leadership and communication skills to the test at the field training exercise lanes (FTX) on June 16. With three weeks of Cadet Summer Training under their belts, Cadets were able to apply the various skills they’ve leaned through different exercises, such as the team development course (TDC) and the field leader reaction course (FLRC) in an interactive training environment. “Cadets are given a mission, they’re assigned leadership positions within their squad and they then have to react to different scenarios that we’ve been coaching […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Alpha Company of the 2nd Regiment Basic Camp completes the Army Physical Fitness Test early morning, June 17 in Fort Knox, Ky. Part of APFT is to complete two minutes of pushups, sit-ups and end with two-mile run. Each gender has a minimum and maximum amount of pushups and sit-ups Cadets have to complete. It’s up to the Cadet how many they would like to complete before two minutes is up. Each Cadet receives points for every pushup or sit-up they complete. As Lt. Col. Elvis Coronado noticed each Cadet struggling he would motivate them to finish. […]

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: Mattie Cook Fort Knox, Ky.- Cadets of 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp battled the feats of Beaudoin Obstacle Course on Fort Knox, Ky., June 15 as part of their Cadet Summer Training (CST). The obstacle course is designed to challenge those who brave it’s stations, but Cadets say working together as a team is key. Cadet Joel Mock, University of Central Florida, Fla., agreed teamwork was the best part of the course. “The bars were definitely the hardest part for each platoon so just cheering each other on was a really good experience, really motivated and I enjoyed it,” said Mock. […]

By: Mattie Cook Fort Knox, Ky.- Cadets of 3rd Regiment, Basic Camp put their exploration skills to the test during day land navigation on Fort Knox, June 15. During land navigation, Cadets are expected to find plotted points. Cadet Tyler Derr, Shippensburg University, Pa., explains that process. “You plot your points on a map and find the direction of the points that you want to go to next; find how far it takes you to get there and just travel,” Derr said. “It was awesome because it was my first time doing land navigation. It was a success because we both […]

FORT KNOX, Ky.- Advanced Camp 5th regiment collected items, June 15, from the Central Issue Facility that they will need for their annual Cadet Summer Training, Fort Knox, Ky. CIF is a warehouse that Cadets go to collect items that they were unable to bring from their home station It’s a quick and easy process, the Cadets first line up in alphabetical order, then by groups of five they enter the warehouse where there are stations for them to go through. “It’s hard to tell what they will need to use in the field, its important for them to have these […]

By: Mattie Cook Fort Knox, Ky.- Cadets of 3rd Regiment, Basic Camp put their exploration skills to the test during day land navigation on Fort Knox, June 15. During land navigation, Cadets are expected to find plotted points. Cadet Tyler Derr, Shippensburg University, Pa., explains that process. “You plot your points on a map and find the direction of the points that you want to go to next; find how far it takes you to get there and just travel,” Derr said. “It was awesome because it was my first time doing land navigation. It was a success because we both […]

by: Mattie Cook Fort Knox, Ky.- Cadets of 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp battled the feats of Beaudoin Obstacle Course on Fort Knox, Ky., June 15 as part of their Cadet Summer Training (CST). The obstacle course is designed to challenge those who brave it’s stations, but Cadets say working together as a team is key. Cadet Joel Mock, University of Central Florida, Fla., agreed teamwork was the best part of the course. “The bars were definitely the hardest part for each platoon so just cheering each other on was a really good experience, really motivated and I enjoyed it,” said Mock. “I […]

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 […]

by Mattie Cook FORT KNOX, Ky.- Cadets of 5th Regiment Advanced Camp arrived at Fort Knox, Ky., for day zero of Cadet Summer Training (CST) June 14. These Cadets will spend the next 30 days developing leadership skills, tactical skills and character to become the Army’s newest 2nd Lieutenants. 2nd Lt. Joshua Jackson, commissioned from Central State University, Ohio, hopes to use his experiences from Advanced Camp to relate to Cadets. “I’m going to make sure they understand that I was also in this situation and training and give them that look on what Cadets are and aren’t suppose to do. […]

FORT KNOX, Ky.-Representatives from corporate America and academia across the United States acted as ambassadors as they visited Fort Knox, Ky., June 12-13, to take part in a Center of Influence (COI) tour of the Cadet Summer Training (CST) mission. The sophomore and junior Cadets from Reserve Officer Training (ROTC) programs attend summer training missions annually. During the first day of the tour, the ambassadors learned about resiliency, or the ability of a Cadet to bounce back from a stressful situation or environment, and how it applies to Cadets during their summer training. “Our employees need to understand the training that […]

FORT KNOX, KY. – Cadets from Fourth Regiment Advanced Camp applied their map and mathematics skills while participating in call for fire training on June 13. “Call for fire training is an integral part of army military reconnaissance tasks,” said Cadet Joshua Jones, Murphy, N.C., Jacksonville State University. “Cadets are learning how to properly apply an artillery round to engage long range enemy targets.” The training included learning the basic terminology associated with Calling for Fire, mapping the coordinates of targets, an interactive audio/visual representation of the call for fire, a pre-test as well as a final exam to test their […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Third Regiment Advanced Camp test their Map Reading skills with a written exam June 13. Each Cadet received a Military Map, protractor, string and written test. This test was pass-fail; Cadets need to pass the test in order to pass the camp. “Today we took a written Land Navigation test, so its all about our ability to read a map. Including intersection, resection, finding where you are, finding where other things are, identifying terrain features on a map and plotting distance,” said Cadet Rebecca Dykhoph, College of St. Benedict and Saint John’s University, Maple Grove, Minn. Prior […]

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. […]