As Cadets of 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp, advanced their way through Cadet Summer Training (CST), they quickly realized the importance of teamwork, focus, and utilizing tools around you during the Field Training Exercises (FTX) I: Panther. “At least in Wolverine phase, we had a lot of issues with us not using individual movement techniques, not using face paint or using foliage,” Cadet David Jeffe, from the University of Chicago, noted as the reasoning behind his platoon being spotted by the enemy. “So, it’s important to be camouflaged so that the enemy doesn’t detect you. We have all of our foliage in. [...]

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 [...]

“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.

“Trust is very important especially as a leader,” said Cadet Henry Mulli, a student at Loyola University Maryland. “You have to trust your subordinates especially when disseminating information so everybody knows what’s going on.”

Fort Knox, Ky. – Living out in the woods for several days brings out a whole new side of people. Cadets in the 3rd regiment are hoping the three-part training Field training Exercise (FTX) will showcase their leadership abilities. The FTX is broken up into three phases. The ‘crawl, walk, run’ model allows Cadets to learn and practice the tactical and leadership skills being assessed. The Panther Phase is the ‘walk’ phase of the training, during which Cadets are actively being evaluated. The exercises allow Cadets to fill various leadership roles as well as practice tactics, regardless of what the weather [...]