FORT KNOX, Ky. – A successful mission in the field is determined by a series of moving parts. If there is miscommunication, misinformation, or lack of direction then a mission can quickly crumble.  For a carefully planned mission to be successful, training and practice is a must.

At Cadet Summer Training, cadets are provided with the chance to complete simulated missions in the field. The Field Training Exercise is a three-phased event that allows cadets to test the skills they’ve learned throughout camp.

“FTX is about working with your team and being able to communicate properly. Learning how to maneuver around obstacles and situations that one might face and overcome anything that comes your way,” says Cadet Ava Bender, an Austin Peay State University student, assigned to 6^th Regiment, Advanced Camp.

Starting in the initial Wolverine phase of FTX, these 6^th Regiment cadets have just started their field experience. Each Regiment is split up into their platoons to tackle varying missions with each squad having a specific focus. There being a security, assault one, assault two, and weapons squad with a leader for each one. Cadet Victoria Konkus, a Lehigh University student, assigned to 2^nd Platoon, 6^th Regiment, Advanced Camp serves as 1^st squad’s leader.

Konkus expressed that “The biggest [responsibility of the role] is accountability and communication with your team leaders and making sure that everybody is well cared for.”

As a leader, one is expected to lead by example. If they work towards listening to everyone’s ideas and doing their best, the leader can take and create a central focus and goal. A team can then focus on the end goal and trust each other to follow through with their orders. Those that end up following one strategy can then help to ensure a good mission, without infighting or indecision on what idea would be better.

“Communication is key, because it allows things to run smoothly and without it things can fall through and won’t work properly. But if you communicate properly, you’ll be able to maneuver through anything and everything as a team because you can’t just expect someone else to know what you’re thinking,” said Bender.

Working as one and talking to each other about every stage and angle helps to unite everyone. As a team you are in it together, so making sure everyone is in agreeance and knows every step is crucial.

“For a lot of people, this might be their longest time in the field, so we need to bound together and work together so we can complete the mission,” stated Cadet Treyvon Lopez, a University of Georgia student, assigned to 6^th Regiment, Advanced Camp.

If everyone works towards a common goal and strategy, then with effective leadership a team can successfully fulfill a mission. It’s important to understand all the information at hand like time, weather, and location. So that the mission approach is thought out thoroughly alongside a group’s unified front.

Bender believed the key was “Communication, being able to talk to one another, teamwork, being able to have empathy with one another [and] not get frustrated and allow patience to work within the team. So, [an] understanding of one another can just let things flow and trickle down the line.”