A big talking point at Cadet Summer Training is how to communicate with one another. There is no such thing as a single-person squad, and Cadets going through the program must learn how to effectively communicate with each other, or else risk failure in the field. The situational training exercise (STX) the Cadets go through at Fort Knox aim to test just that, with freshly formed squads being required to scout or capture objectives within a time frame. Cadet Jordan McIntyre from Michigan State University was part of a squad participating in the drills that day. “Our first one that we’ve […]

At Cadet Summer Training, mission success isn’t realized without a competent team to make it happen. This is especially evident for FTX Panther, a Cadet lead mission that could easily fall to disaster without effective leadership and communication. “My platoon’s mission was to deliver an ambush along with a hasty defense afterwards,” said Cadet John Barrales from California State University, Northridge. “We were given very little time to do the ambush. We didn’t even have time to brief an OPORD (operations order), so our communication had to be on point.” To complicate matters, the platoon had to face the dense Kentucky […]

“Currently, the Cadets are receiving a block of instruction on hand grenade identification,” said Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas George Gonnion. Cadets from 3rd Regiment were taking instruction a short distance away, sitting on the red Kentucky earth and enjoying the nice weather while they take in the basics of grenade training. “They’re learning the different types and capabilities of grenades that we use in the United States Army,” said Gonnion. “Following the class, they will do a practical exercise with the two different throwing techniques that we’re going to be teaching them today, which is standing and kneeling [position].” This exercise […]

The deafening boom of gunfire echoed through Pells range as Cadets from 3rd Regiment, Advanced Camp, went for their M4A1 qualification. This event is the culmination of prior training exercises that the Cadets had to go through in order to reach this point. Exercises such as preliminary marksmanship instruction, the engagement skills trainer, group and zeroing, and battle march and shoot all aim to prepare Cadets for this final moment. Of the Cadets present for the M4 qualification, Wang Ruan from the University of San Francisco waits for his chance at the range. While this would be Ruan’s first time qualifying […]

Land navigation is one of the skills taught at Cadet Summer Training (CST) at Fort Knox, Ky., but DePaul University Army ROTC Green to Gold Cadet Ryan Russett, 4th Regiment, Advanced Camp, had prior experience that made this challenging event easier. “I applied my points really quickly” he said, and then, “I just picked the shortest path which was — to the south first.”  Russett is from Chicago, where his program honed his navigation skills further as a Green to Gold Cadet. To his advantage, the ROTC program at his university comes to Fort Knox to do their Field Training Exercises […]

3rd Regiment Cadets completed grouping and zeroing with their M4 carbines in preparation for their rifle qualification at Fort Knox, Ky., June 16, 2022.  Cadet Vincent McGinnis, a graduate of Penn State Brandywine, said he enjoys grouping and zeroing. Grouping and zeroing, which is part of Cadet Summer Training helps Cadets be sure their sights are set properly.  “Grouping and zeroing entails taking five shot rounds and trying to place them as close to the center of the target as possible and making adjustments on your sight so that your sight lines up with where your rifle is aiming,” McGinnis said.  […]

“It seemed like every scary movie where someone’s about to fall off a cliff,” said Army Reserve Officer Training Corps Cadet Jasmine Valentine, from 2nd Regiment, Advanced Camp, when describing the feeling of being on the 64 ft. rappel tower at Fort Knox, Ky. Valentine is from the the University of North Georgia where she has done things similar to the rappel tower with its ROTC program, but those experiences did not take away the fear she had going into the rappel tower training event.  “I have a deathly fear of heights,” she said.  Valentine said encouraging words she received from […]

4th Regiment Cadets completed their chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear training and testing at Fort Knox, Ky., on June 15, 2022.  The training is part of Cadet Summer Training. It involved a safety brief, classes, tests, and then a short time in the confidence chamber. In the chamber, Cadets are exposed to CS gas. They have to perform several small exercises while wearing their masks. Then, they remove their masks.  Many Cadets feel nervous when thinking about entering the confidence chamber. For these Cadets, their squad and platoon can be a source of encouragement and motivation.  Cadet Hunter Cashmer from Clarion […]

1st Regiment Cadets trained on the rappel tower and confidence obstacle course as part of Cadet Summer Training at Fort Knox, Ky., June 9, 2022.  Cadet Conor Custer from Lock Haven University enlisted in the U.S. Army when he was 18. He attended air assault training, which he said helped him conquer his fear of heights. One obstacle involved climbing a rope, walking across beams and climbing down a rope net.  “Unfortunately, I didn’t get to do the ‘tough one’ obstacle, but other than that I passed all the obstacles that were over there and repelling – repelling is always fun,” […]

Only four hours into a new day, the Cadets from 4th Regiment are awake and ready to perform to the best of their abilities for the Army Combat Fitness Test. Located under a large, turfed pavilion surrounded by a mile-long circular track, the ACFT aims to put a Cadet’s physical prowess to the test in a series of six back-to-back events. The six events are the deadlift, standing power throw, hand release push-ups, plank, and the sprint-drag-carry. These events all cumulate into the final challenge, a two-mile run. The ultimate goal of the ACFT is to score a perfect 600 points […]