FORT KNOX, Ky. – Soldiers from all different parts of the Army come to Fort Knox, Ky., to support Cadet Summer Training.   Staff Sgt. Lidia Zavalza came to Fort Knox from Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington to cook in one of the mobile kitchen trailers, making food for Cadre while they are on the job.  Zavalza joined the Army 10 years ago as a 92G, also known as a Culinary Specialist.  “I joined the Army because I grew up with my dad’s side of the family all being in the military, and I wanted to try it too,” Zavalza said. “My […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 6th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed their preliminary marksmanship instruction in preparation for their weapons qualification during Cadet Summer Training, Fort Knox, Ky., June 30, 2023.  Cadets spend a few days working through PMI, the engagement skills trainer, and zeroing before they must qualify with their M4 carbines.  For some Cadets, such as Cadet Dynasty Esposito, City College of New York, CST is their first exposure to the Army’s weapons training. “I’m a little nervous since this is my first weapon qualification,” Esposito said. “Hopefully, I get a 40 out of 40, which I’m pretty confident […]

FORT KNOX, Ky., – Cadets from 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed their land navigation test for Cadet Summer Training, Fort Knox, Ky., June 26, 2023.  For the day test, Cadets must find at least three points out of four within the four-hour time limit.  Cadet Brooke Hawkins, University of Denver, said she felt confident going into her test.  “My program really prepared me,” Hawkins said. “There’s also a lot of gravel trails out here, which is nice, so you don’t have to dead ruck the entire thing. It’s so pretty out here, so it’s also a plus when you’re doing land […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Cadets from 5th Regiment, Advanced Camp learned about teamwork and leadership while completing their field leader reaction course training, Fort Knox, Ky., June 25, 2023.   Cadets train on the FLRC, working together to solve problems and complete simulated missions on various obstacles.  Maj. Brian Alexander, professor of military science, University of Massachusetts Amherst, said the course helps Cadets learn to delegate tasks and trust their teammates, as a leader.  “The field leader reaction course is important because it introduces complex problem sets to these small unit teams, and it requires these Cadets to kind of think […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets completed their training on the engagement skills trainer for Cadet Summer Training, Fort Knox, Ky., June 23, 2023.  This training allows Cadets to learn how to handle their weapons properly before they move onto their group and zero training, weapons qualification, and their battle march and shoot.  “Well, today we’re doing EST, the electric range, so we went out there and we practiced ‘dot 40,’ we did stage five and stage six, and we’re qualifying,” said Cadet Joel Frederickson from Missouri University of Science and Technology. “We’re getting ready for grouping and […]

FORT KNOX, Ky. – 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets completed the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear phase of their Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky., June 19, 2023.  “Today we got to experience CBRN and learn all about the branch, but also what they do and how they help the forces throughout the Army,” said Cadet Brandon Fox, Texas Christian University. “And then we also got to learn to trust our equipment by trying out the gas chamber, which was really fun.”  Cadets were taught about how to react to various forms of attacks, the gear needed to protect them, […]

FORT KNOX, Ky.- 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets completed a simulated raid mission as part of their platoon tactics training during their situational training exercises, Fort Knox, Ky., June 18, 2023.  Cadet Faith Miller, from University of Texas at Austin, acted as one of the squad leaders during the training exercises.  “We are out here running platoon lanes,” Miller said. “We’re getting ready to go into Panther and Grizzly phase. So walking through them, making sure everybody’s comfortable in the platoon and working as a team and all that good stuff.”   These training exercises in the field are one of […]

FORT KNOX, Ky., – The 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets completed their confidence course training for Cadet Summer Training, Fort Knox, Ky., June 16, 2023.  Cadet Hilda Sanchez from James Madison University said teamwork was important for completing the confidence course. She credited her squad’s motivation with helping her finish the training. “They just kept saying ‘Sanchez, you got this, you can do it,’” Sanchez said. “And, I’d be like ‘no, I’m too small.’ They’re like ‘no don’t even think about it, don’t even say you’re gonna try, you’re gonna do it,’ and they just kept motivating me and then, helping […]

FORT KNOX, Ky.- 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets marched four miles to Schroder Range to complete their battle march and shoot training, Fort Knox, Ky., June 11, 2023.   “We did a tactical road march in full kit, so we had our 45-pound rucks on, our eight-pound rifles and our 10-pound ACHs, which are Army combat helmets,” said Cadet Luke Bausler from the University of San Francisco. “It’s supposed to be a stress and shoot, so the four mile is supposed to stress you out, and then, by the time we get to the range, you should be pretty tired and then, […]

2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp Cadets completed the field leader reaction course portion of Cadet Summer Training Fort Knox, Ky., June 10, 2023. This training teaches Cadets to work together as a team and is one of the first events they complete after their in-processing days. Many Cadets experience the Army for the first time through the Reserve Officer Training Corps and especially CST. However, for some Cadets such as Cadet Ian Valente from Central Michigan University and Cadet Nick Nolan from Texas A&M University, the Green to Gold program allows them to commission as officers after serving as enlisted service members.  […]