FORT KNOX, Ky.- Basic Camp 2nd Regiment Families came out to see their Cadets after the 30 day Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The families met at the Gaffey Hall in the Haszard Auditorium where they got a taste of what the Cadets did over the past month. At the end of the briefing parents would walk out to all of the Cadets standing at attention. The Cadets were given the go ahead, many ran straight to their families. One particular mother Jo Rieck, the mother of Daniel Reick, was egger to see her son. “I’m excited to see [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – After 31 days of training, 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, Cadets completed Advanced Camp at Cadet Summer Training, graduating at Brooks Field at Fort Knox, June 30. “This ceremony marks the culmination of 31 days of rigorous and intensive training for these young men and women. For them, Advanced Camp served as a test of their leadership abilities and potential to be an officer. They have emerged from this challenge, confident in their ability to assume the tremendous responsibilities of being an Army officer,” said 2nd Lt. Nathan Daws, commonly called ‘Pipes’, the narrator for [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, arrived at Harmon Hall, the Central Issuing Facility, June 28, to return equipment and gear used during Cadet Summer Training. If gear was not issued to Cadets by their host program, the CIF issued gear and equipment so Cadets could obtain the most experience during CST. “Today, we’re basically just doing gear turn in. So, stuff that we didn’t have, they were nice enough to issue it here. Then, we have to work really hard to make sure it’s clean because, if it’s not, they will make us clean it [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 5th Regiment, Basic Camp, arrived at Fort Knox, June 27, for Cadet Summer Training for in-processing and to settle into the barracks before training begins. Cadets sift through their belongings, fill out paperwork and are briefed about what is expected of them during the next 30 days of training. As they waited in lines, Cadets spoke about their feelings toward the training ahead of them. “We’re super excited and nervous about what to expect,” said Cadets Emily Tran, College of Charleston, Greenville, S.C., and McKenzi Wenninger, Minnesota State University Mankato, Luverne, Minn. “I feel [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, arrived at Smith Gym, June 22, for Platoon photos. Cadet Summer Training is centered around the Cadets and creation of future leaders by making graduates into 2nd lieutenants. With their training almost complete, there are very few things left for them to complete. There is one thing, however, that was done that was centered around  helping others; the donation of blood. The Armed Services Blood Program held the first CST blood drive, June 22. The ASBP set up everything required in Smith Gym including chairs, interview stations, recovery stations and [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed the Rappel Tower and Confidence Course at Fort Knox, June 26, for Cadet Summer Training. The Rappel Tower is a 64-foot tower that challenges Cadets through heights as well as rappelling skills and tying the Swiss seat. The Confidence Course is a set of obstacles for Cadets to push themselves to their limits. “Today, we are Rappelling and doing the Confidence course which is like an obstacle course where there’s different challenges and obstacles that you have to get over. There’s a lot of physically challenging stuff from climbing [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 1st Regiment, Basic Camp, attended Branch Orientation near the Patton Museum at Keyes Park, June 23, during Cadet Summer Training. During the event, different branches and specialties of the Army came to give Cadets information about the options and opportunities available to them after graduating. “It’s really just to give them a familiarization of what’s out there in the Army so they can set their expectations now rather than find out last minute what the Army has to offer. We’re just trying to educate the Cadets on what jobs are there in the Army [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from Fifth Regiment, Advanced Camp strapped on their gas masks and braved the CS chamber on June 24. The purpose of the CS chamber is to build Cadets’ confidence in the defensive equipment they would use in the case of a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear attack. For this reason, the exercises preformed in and around the CS chamber are referred to as CBRN. “Confidence here could be the difference between life or death,” said Staff Sergeant Katie Shaw. “Cadets need to know that the equipment issued to them by the government will protect them in [...]

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 [...]

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. – 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 [...]

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: 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 [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Advanced Camp 1st Regiment Cadets do a practice raid to learn Situational Tactical Exercise (STX) skills in a three-day course at the annual Cadet Summer Training (CST) June 7 at Fort Knox, Kentucky. During the three-day STX Lane course they learn three different scenarios raid, ambush and movement to contact. Before they do each lane they devise a plan, which is then executed. After they finish the lane the Cadets are evaluated on how they did and what they can do to improve. “ This is the first phase the Cadets come to get their initial training [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – Blood can be a squeamish topic for most people. For others, it is a part of their every day life. Blood is essential to the human body and serves many purposes. It is also essential for military personnel. The military has a special program called the Armed Services Blood Program. The people who work for the Armed Services Blood Program work with blood and patients on a daily basis. The ASBP is an official provider of blood and blood products in the military as well as its branches such as the Army, Navy and [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – 3rd Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets learned the fundamentals of Preliminary Marksmanship Instructions (PMI) June 8 during the annual Cadet Summer Training (CST) at Fort Knox, Kentucky. Cadets learn the fundamentals of shooting the Army’s M4 Carbine Rifle. Three stations were set up for the Cadets to cycle through, teaching them basic rifle marksmanship skills. “The three stations we have set up for the Cadets are the fundamentals and positions, ballistics and trajectory and minute of angle (MOA), and the last station is maintenance,” said, Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Baeza, 4th Squadron, 3rd Calvary Regiment, Fort Hood, Texas. [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – Ranger candidates completed the Combat Water Survival Assessments June 8 during Cadet Summer Training in preparation for Ranger School. CWSA, also called Combat Water Survival Test is comprised of three different tests which all must be passed to complete training. “We did a 15-meter swim test with keeping our rifle above the water. We did a 3-meter blind drop. So, we had a blindfold over us and we had to hold our rifle out and jump off of the high dive. Then we had an equipment ditch. So, we had our LBE (Load Bearing [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 3rd and 4th Squad Cadets of 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, were trained and tested on Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) environments June 7 during Cadet Summer Training (CST). This required training is to educate Cadets on CBRN environments should they arise during deployment. “It’s important because the current environment that we might be going into, we might face it one day. So, making sure that we’re properly prepared and ready for it is something that, I think, future officers should know when getting ready to lead their troops,” said Cadet Angel Rivas, University of [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – The Charlie and Delta Companies of First Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed their Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear, CBRN, training on June 4 during Cadet Summer Training, CST. This training helps educate the Cadets should they encounter a chemical environment. “Any kind of energy source that would cause a hazard, we have to be able to take care of it. Also, if you come upon an unknown substance, liquid or gas, it could cause a lot of harm. Since we don’t know everything that exists, we need to be able to prepare for it and test [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – Potential Ranger candidates gathered at Fort Knox, Kentucky on June 4 to complete a voluntary, preliminary Ranger Physical Fitness Test (RPFT) to see not only what they excel at, but also what needs improvement. There are several tasks that the candidates must complete. Candidates are tested on how many push-ups, sit-ups and pull-ups they could do in two minutes. The candidates also had to complete a five-mile run in less than 40 minutes to qualify. “What we’re doing here to day is giving them a shot at trying it out, seeing how it goes [...]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – The First Regiment Cadets, Advanced Camp, completed the Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear, CBRN, training on June 2 during Cadet Summer Training, CST. CBRN is training where the Cadets are exposed to Corson Stoughton, CS, gas. CS gas, commonly known as tear gas, causes certain symptoms such as runny nose, watery eyes, some difficulty breathing and, in some extreme cases, vomiting. This training is required by all Soldiers of the Army. “The CS chamber is a basic level task that every Soldier has to conduct in the Army. It’s the same as taking a PT [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – The 2nd regiment of advanced camp Cadets arrived at Fort Knox, Kentucky on May 30 for 2017 Cadet Summer Training, (CST). Upon arrival, Cadets are required to do a gear layout to ensure that they have the equipment necessary for the training ahead of them. “It’s pretty much you take all your gear out, you put it on the ground and see what you have and what your deficiencies are. That’s the point, to ensure you have the proper equipment for the upcoming training event.” Said Cadet David Nelson, University of Alaska, from Sanford Florida. This step [...]

Fort Knox, Ky.,—First Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets develop their leadership skills through team building challenges at the Field Leadership Reaction Course (FLRC). Alpha and Bravo Company tackled physical and mental challenges while incorporating communication and improvisation skills to overcome various obstacles. Sgt. Percell Jackson, stationed at Fort Knox, is an instructor at the FLRC for CST. “This training is a building block and stepping stone. The Cadets do not know each other, they may have seen each other around, but when we put them together they get to learn about the different leadership skills and build on it,” said Jackson. “They [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – The 1st regiment Cadets arrived at the Copple Center on May 26 for in processing, paperwork and assignments for Cadet Summer Training (CST) 2017. “They go through a series of events where they’re getting their gear inspected, make sure they brought everything, getting their assignments for platoon and company they’re in, getting the stuff they need to live in the barracks, getting barracks assignments, mostly administrative.” Said Master Sgt. Randy Angel. Cadets in processing, while they waited outside, went through their Cadet handbook, highlighting and putting in sticky notes in the key pages for quick reference. Some [...]