Five, four, three, two, one, Cadets can be heard joining in on the countdown for the six-mile ruck. Some out of fear, some out of anticipation but all with the drive to pass. GO! 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets had an early start the morning of June 9th, as they faced the six-mile ruck march. A must pass event for the Cadets, they have two hours to carry 35 lbs. of gear on their backs if they want to continue on to graduation. Cadet Mary Coverdale, from Norwich University, gave her thoughts as she pushed forward one foot at a time. [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvVlCY0tl2g[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – As the fog lifted from George Blair Range, 8th Regiment Advanced Camp Cadets began their weapons qualification, July 7.  “The objective is for all the Cadets to qualify,” said Capt. Patrick Laine, a cadre on the range. “Before weapons qualification, Cadets were taught how to group and zero their shots. They learned to make adjustments based on how they hit a stationary target.” Unlike their previous practice rounds, Cadets shot pop-up targets from three different positions. Each iteration of weapons qualification began with Cadets lying in the prone supported  position, which provides the most stability [...]

[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1luPUcx_CSE[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. — Throwing live hand grenades is one of the most dangerous things Cadets can do, and so the Cadre make sure Cadets from 7th Regiment Advanced Camp are prepared before ever handling a live hand grenade. Cadets are brought to the Christensen Hand Grenade Range and begin to learn the safety procedures that are paramount to making sure that they stay safe. From the proper steps of arming to the action of throwing, Cadets go through this training upwards of 40-50 times, according to Capt. Jason Rivard. Rivard, a Cadre member from California State University at [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets graduated from Cadet Summer Training after a month of vigorous physical and mental development at Fort Knox, July 30. After 19 days in the wet, humid wilds of Kentucky these future lieutenants were rewarded with a cool-overcast day for their Graduation Ceremony. Col. John Cyrulik, Advanced Camp Tactics, was the guest speaker during the ceremony. Cyrulik thanked the Cadets for their choice to join the ‘profession of arms.’ “I am humbled to be serving alongside such an outstanding group of young leaders, as you, during these exceptionally challenging times,” he said. Cyrulik [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets enjoyed a cool day in with air conditioning during their Call for Fire training at Fort Knox, July 29. The must pass training consists of a 45-minute lecture, followed by practice tests. After the initial training Cadets are given four attempts to pass the written test that follows the training. The training’s primary focus is to teach the Cadets how to call for indirect fire support. Indirect fire is when artillery is used because a Soldier is unable to reach a target with direct fire weapons. 2nd Lt. Devin Hesketh, Arizona State [...]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 5th Regiment, Basic Camp huddled around cell phone cameras before camp graduation on July 26, trying to see how their group photos with fellow Cadets turned out. 2nd Lt. Kasey Greenfield, a graduate of Texas A&M University, noticed an extraordinary difference in the demeanor of a lot of the Cadets – particularly their sense of pride – between the beginning of camp and graduation. Towards the end of camp, Greenfield stated, “a lot of them would stand up straighter,” and just wear the uniform a little differently. Between the homesickness, drill sergeants, and physical standards [...]