By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp, and 7th Regiment, Basic Camp, Cadets welcomed Ambassador John Limbert at Olive Theater, August 3, during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox. Ambassador John Limbert was invited to speak to Cadets about a variety of topics including advice for Cadets when they commission as second lieutenants as well as opening the floor for questions. In his opening statements, Ambassador Limbert thanked Cadets. “Let me thank you today for choosing a career of public service. There are rewards, frustrations and dangers, but it’s something I did … and it was never […]

 By: Mattie Cook Fort Knox, Ky.,- Cadets of 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp participated in their final must pass event Wednesday, the 64-foot rappel tower. Nervous energy surrounds the tower as many Cadets battle a fear of heights, like Cadet Alex Marshall, Gannon University, PA. “I’ve rappelled before at my school so that wasn’t really new. I think it’s cool because I’m afraid of heights but rappelling is easy; you just trust your equipment and your Cadre,” he said. “Everything in place here is to protect Cadets, from the NCOs up at the top of the tower to your equipment and belay. […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – After a rigorous 31 days, Cadets of 6th Regiment celebrated the long-awaited completion of Basic Camp with a graduation ceremony on Brooks Field August 2. Looking back, Cadet Alexander Ayres of the University of Northern Colorado says his experience at Basic Camp was more enjoyable than it was difficult all thanks to his peers in Alpha Company. “It was kind of a culture shock transitioning from my civilian life to basic summer training. I made a bunch of friends and I’ve made lots of new battle buddies and they really helped me pull through thick and thin. […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – For anyone who has watched Netflix’s original series, “Stranger Things,” you know that mornings are for “coffee and contemplation.” For the Cadets from 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp, something similar could be said (minus the coffee). Starting at 3:30 a.m. on Aug. 1, Cadets participated in their final must-pass event: the 12-mile ruck march. Although there was not a drop of coffee in sight, Cadets had plenty of time to contemplate and reflect on their time at Cadet Summer Training. Four hours, to be exact. In order to pass their final event, Cadets must complete the 12-mile march […]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 7th Regiment, Advanced Camp, Cadets graduated from Cadet Summer Training, August 1, on Brooks Field at Fort Knox. Five-hundred sixty-nine Cadets graduated and received a graduation certificate and a ribbon, signifying the completion of Advanced Camp during CST. Though every Cadet who meets the criteria receives a completion certificate, some Cadets receive special awards commending different achievements. Cadets who received Regimental Awards are as follows: Cadet Jeremy D. Jones, California Lutheran University, earned the AUSA Warrior Ethos Award. This award is presented to the top Cadet in each Regiment, as determined by the Regimental […]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp, Cadets performed weapons maintenance on their issued M4 rifles, July 31, during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox. Maintenance is an essential part of training as CST starts to come to a close for 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp, Cadets. “We’ve got them cleaning their weapons out. They’ve been out in the field for about two weeks now. So, their weapons have a lot of carbon, tar and other stuff in them,” said 2nd Lt. Willie Walker. “They’ve been shooting a lot for the past couple days and it’s just a […]

By: Mattie Cook Fort Knox, Ky.,- Cadets of 7th Regiment, Advanced Camp rounded up all their equipment, cleaned everything and headed to the Central Issue Facility, July 30. “Today at CIF we are turning in all the equipment we got at the beginning of camp which is the final stage of camp for us,” said Cadet Nicholas Christopher, University of Louisville, Ky. Unique to other Advanced Camp Cadets, Christopher has had his equipment for two months, instead of the normal 30 days. He and a few others in his regiment arrived to Fort Knox, 30 days prior to their training to […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – With sounds of gunfire and shouting in the distance, Cadets from 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp, Alpha Company, 2nd squad participated in Squad Tactical Exercises (STX) on July 28. In STX, Cadets apply the skills they’ve acquired during their time at CST to execute exercises such as reconnaissance, ambush and recovery. “We’re executing on a platoon size, which means we’re taking smaller elements and focusing on bigger sizes to see how Cadets respond to training,” said 2nd Lt. Jeffrey Prol. “The Army occupies and trains in three phases of training: crawl, walk and run,” said Prol. “Right now […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – With the final days of Cadet Summer Training approaching fast Cadets from 7th Regiment, Advanced Camp took on the Rappel Tower on July 28, Fort Knox, Ky. Cadets are put to the test by rappelling down 64-foot wall twice. Once on the wall side; once on the no wall side. Some Cadets had no problem going down but others had questionable thoughts about rappelling. “I don’t have a phobia of heights but I was definitely uncomfortable,” said Cadet Brianna Russell, Western Michigan University. “As soon as I stepped out on the ledge I was more scared than […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 5th Regiment, Basic Camp had the opportunity to do branch orientation on July 25, at Fort Knox, Ky., to help them decide which branch they would like to serve in once they become Army Officers. “Basic Camp gets a minor orientation, the Cadre from each tent just give them a brief overview of what they do and this is the reason why you might want to join our branch,” said 2nd Lieutenant Matthew Booker, Alumni to Canisius College, Buffalo, New York. “Once they get to Advanced Camp they do this again but they select the […]

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. – 8th Regiment, Basic Camp, Cadets executed their Individual Task Testing, July 28, during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox. ITT is a course evaluation where Cadets take their culminated knowledge from training and apply it to a practical, real-life situation. “The ITT testing we’re doing today is basically a check on knowledge to say, ‘hey, for the last week and a half, you all have been learning these things. Now that we give you a scenario, a real world scenario, can you apply the knowledge that you’ve learned and use them like building blocks’,” […]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – Second lieutenants, working as Cadre for 6th Regiment, Basic Camp, arrived at the Central Issuing Facility, July 27, to turn in equipment and gear during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox. Gear is issued to Cadre and Cadets alike to make sure that they are taken care of while out in the field training. “We got to turn in our gear that we used during camp. We basically had to take all of our gear that we used such as our rucksacks and assault pack, cleaned them up and make sure it was clean […]

By: Mattie Cook FORT KNOX, Ky.,- Cadets of 6th Regiment, Basic Camp started the first of their out-processing events today at the Central Issue Facility (CIF) where they returned all the equipment they were issued at the beginning of camp. The CIF sees thousands of Cadets and Cadre throughout the summer, making sure each individual has the necessary equipment they need to be successful throughout training. CIF is set up in stations of specific equipment items, where personnel check for cleanliness and imperfections. “Today we’re turning in all of our gear we checked out; cleaning it and re-cleaning it, hoping it’s […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – If you ever ask someone who’s recently completed a marathon or even a Spartan Race what they’re looking forward to most now that they’re training and hard work has paid off, they might tell you that they’re looking forward to eating an entire pizza or taking time off to recover. For one Cadet in Advanced Camp, she might have told you something a little different. Meet Cadet Lakoda Kissee, a rising senior at the University of Mississippi, a Cadet from 7th Regiment, Advanced Camp and a Spartan. Out of the nearly 4,000 participants that participated in Reebok’s […]

By: Mattie Cook FORT KNOX, Ky.,- Cadet Summer Training (CST) came to an end for the General Carl W. Stiner Regiment, 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp, with nine Reconnaissance Commando (RECONDO) awards; the most of any regiment to date. The RECONDO award is given to Cadets who scored a 90% or higher in all pass-required events such as land navigation, marksmanship and the field training exercise. Guest speaker, Maj. Gen. James (Boe) Young, Commanding General of 75th Training Command, Houston, TX., addressed Cadets not only as an officer with over 30 years of experience, but as a father to graduating Cadet Elizabeth […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – By now, most Cadets from 5th Regiment, Basic Camp, know that Cadet Summer Training is no walk in the park. But how about a walk on rope ladder suspended almost 25 feet or higher in the air? With their bright red safety helmets strapped around their chins and harnesses secured tightly around their waists, Cadets from 5th Regiment faced their fears at the Forest Hills Confidence Course on July 26. “A lot of the Cadets that come out here have a fear of heights, which translates into a fear of falling,” said Sgt. 1st Class Barry Ray. […]

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. […]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 8th Regiment, Basic Camp, Cadets zeroed and qualified with their M16 rifles at Canby Hill Range, July 24, during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox. At this course, Cadets used live rounds to practice firing at paper targets, which simulate varying distances from 50 meters to 300 meters. “They’re going through basic marksmanship instruction. For a lot of Cadets, it’s the first time they’ve ever shot a weapon. First, they have to zero the weapon. So, get a couple rounds close together on the target where they’re aiming. Then they’re going to qualify, where […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets were in for a treat when the Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky, Jenean Hampton, paid a special visit to Fort Knox July 21.   She was accompanied by her chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, the executive director of the Kentucky Commission on Military Affairs, and two interns studying political science.    Hampton’s visit began with a trip to the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) chamber where Cadets of 5th Regiment, Basic Camp were learning how to trust their equipment during the gas mask confidence course. During the stop, Cadets asked questions spanning an array […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Advanced Camp 6th Regiment along with Basic Camp 5th Regiment attended the ROTC Cadet Summer Leadership Training, July 24, Fort Knox, Kentucky. Commanding General of TRADOC David G. Perkins spoke to Cadets throughout the day by going to different training areas they were at. He then gave an inspiring speech at Olive Theater, Fort Knox, Kentucky; to the 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp and 5th Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets about how he obtained his four stars through leadership. “He explained how TRADOC worked and what his general function within our lines was,” said Cadet Cameron DeLaigle, Texas A&M, […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadet William Binning of Texas A&M University says being out in the field for about 14 days has taken a toll on everyone in his platoon. “People are tired.  It’s hard to motivate them.  People are hot and exhausted from the lack of sleep and running around everywhere,” he expressed.    After rigorous days of conducting battle exercises in the wooded forests of Fort Knox, however, an exhausted Cadet Binning and the other Cadets of 7th Regiment, Advanced Camp, received an encouraging morale boost from Gen. David G. Perkins, Commanding General of United States Army Training and […]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp, Cadets completed their 12-mile ruck march test, July 21, during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox. The goal is to complete the 12-mile ruck march under four hours. For RECONDO candidates, it must be completed under three hours. “We completed a 12-mile ruck march with a minimum 35-pound ruck. Some Cadets had more or less. That was up to them. The minimum requirement was 35 pounds. I rucked with 40,” said Cadet Jacob Roberts, Florida State University, Tampa, Fla. “The Army standard for these ruck marches is typically 35. That’s […]

By: Mattie Cook Fort Knox, Ky.,- 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets are nearing the end of camp with just equipment turn-in and Family Day to go; but before swinging into graduation, they had to conquer their last event: the confidence course and rappel tower. The 64-foot rappel tower consists of a wall side rappel and a free rappel. Cadets go off both sides of the tower not only to learn rappelling technique but to test their confidence and trust in their equipment and Cadre. Cadet Torrence Hass, Colorado State University, Co., said he was nervous all morning in anticipation. “I’m afraid […]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – Lt. Gen. Charles D. Luckey visited 8th Regiment, Basic Camp, Cadets at the Dunagan Teamwork Development Course, July 20, during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox. Luckey’s visit covered multiple courses and multiple regiments of Cadets training. “We’ve been looking at all kinds of different training venues, First Aid, Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear training events. Spent a little time in the confidence chamber, an Army euphemism for gas chamber,” stated Luckey. “We put on masks, jumped around, did some jumping jacks, breathe deep for a while and, if you’re me after about 45 seconds, […]