[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y1HjOfDnRQ[/embedyt] FORT KNOX, Ky. – Rain pouring down, a cloudy, overcast sky watched over the gobbling turkeys making their way across George Blair Range the morning of July 17. Cadets of the 10th Regiment of Advanced Camp spent their morning qualifying on their M-4 Carbines. While qualifying is difficult even on a bright, clear-sky day, the rain brought with it some extra challenge. This wouldn’t stop the Cadets from reaching success, though. With the quote of the day being, “I’ll be hooah my whole life,” said by Cadet Cady Carpenter, attending the University of Texas at El Paso, the challenge […]

A bullet from an M4 travels to its target at a rate of 2,970 ft/s. The impact of that bullet on the target is relative to the impact it has on a soldier’s career. Cadets from 8th Regiment, Advanced Camp improve and test their weapons training during Weapons Qualification at the George Blair Range July 16, 2018. “They’ve already received their primary block of instruction, or PMI as we call it, which is classroom time,” stated Staff Sgt. Murray, the assistant to the Range Safety Officer. “…Then they come out here to apply those lessons learned.” “They have three shooting iterations. […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. — The classroom resounded with the unsynchronized clicks and clacks of M16 assembly, disassembly, and functions check. Yesterday, 2nd Regiment, Basic Camp Cadets were issued their rifles. “For some of them, this is the first time that they have touched a weapon,” 1st Lt. Chaplin Maritza Curet explained. Drill sergeants helped Cadets recognize each part of their firearms. Cadre and Cadet Trainers walked the aisles providing one-on-one instruction. “It can be a little tricky,” Cadet Chloe Cline from Louisiana State University said. “There are a lot of little pieces; it can be frustrating.” As with all exercises, the trainers […]

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: 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 […]

By: Madison Thompson FORT KNOX, Ky. – 7th Regiment, Basic Camp, Cadets executed Alt-C weapons qualification at Canby Hill Range, July 19, during Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox. Cadets worked to qualify by zeroing and grouping the M16 rifle in the controlled setting of the Alt-C course. “Zero involves getting your weapon aimed down sites the right way. Grouping is to make sure that they get a certain amount of shots within a certain area so that they’re consistent in their aiming,” stated 2nd Lt. Justin Atkins, graduate of University of California, Riverside. Cadets practiced these two skills by firing […]

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. – 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 […]