Fall FTX
October 26-28, 2007
By ADM Clark
The Fort Huachuca Scout has printed an article about our FTX! Click the link below to see it in .pdf form!
http://fp.arizona.edu/armyrotc/newsletters/TheScout200820Nov2007.pdf
The Wildcat Battalion recently visited Fort Huachuca to take part in their annual Fall Field Training Exercise. Friday morning, October 26th, the entire Wildcat Battalion met at The University of Arizona’s South Hall to depart for a weekend full of field related training in order to enhance their technical skills, build confidence, and prepare Cadets for advanced camp.
Almost as soon as the Cadets stepped off the busses that had been carrying them for the hour and a half ride, they began training. After setting up the area that contained their tents, equipment, and personal belongings the battalion broke up into two groups. One group contained the underclassmen, MS I's and MS II's, and the other group contained the juniors, MS III's. The two groups traveled to a training area within Ft. Huachuca. From there they took part in Land Navigation exercises, one during the day and another at night. The weather was much kinder this year than last year. Even with the full moon, Night Land Navigation was still very challenging. These events required the Cadets to find designated points on a map using only a map and a compass. After plotting the points on their maps and determining a plan of action for finding them, they went out into the course on their own to find posts and record the number and/or letter on them. One Cadet, Younghun Kim, claimed, "It was very different than just learning about it in the classroom, but having a battle buddy and getting to be hands on actually made it better."
The following day Cadets took part in several different events. The first was another Land Navigation exercise on a much larger course. All Cadets participated in this event, with the seniors; MS IV's assisting the cadre with running and monitoring the event. Upon completion of this course, the Wildcat Battalion broke into two separate groups to continue training. One group went to a Confidence Course while the other went to a Rappel tower to practice rappelling. At the Confidence Course, Cadets faced obstacles that they had to complete both individually and in a group. Cadet Angel Hart remarked of her experience, "I had a lot of trouble climbing the rope on one event but two of the older Cadets, Phil Cerami and John McGrath, spent a lot of time showing me different techniques. All the events were hard but I was able to do them because of how mentally strong ROTC has made me." These events were the finale of the second day of training. Cadets finished the day off by eating a BBQ dinner and watching a movie around a campfire. However, there was still one more event to complete before heading home.
On the final day, everyone took down their shelters and their gear packed and loaded to head back to Tucson. The Cadets then moved to a different location to take part in the Leadership Reaction Course. Here the MSIII's would be given the opportunity to lead a squad-sized element through different challenges and obstacles. This event tests their conceptual and tactical skills, their ability to lead others, and to practice for an event that they would be evaluated while at Advanced Camp in Fort Lewis next summer. Many of these obstacles had water in them that needed to be crossed and luckily or skillfully no one fell into the water. This was the first time the junior class was evaluated in a non-garrison position. This great learning experience also served as a confidence booster. Upon completion of this final event, the Cadets had an After Action Review to discuss both positive and negative experiences, in order to prepare for future events. Following the AAR the Cadets and Cadre all headed back to Tucson to enjoy what was left of the weekend and prepare for the week to follow.
October 26-28, 2007
By ADM Clark
The Fort Huachuca Scout has printed an article about our FTX! Click the link below to see it in .pdf form!
http://fp.arizona.edu/armyrotc/newsletters/TheScout200820Nov2007.pdf
The Wildcat Battalion recently visited Fort Huachuca to take part in their annual Fall Field Training Exercise. Friday morning, October 26th, the entire Wildcat Battalion met at The University of Arizona’s South Hall to depart for a weekend full of field related training in order to enhance their technical skills, build confidence, and prepare Cadets for advanced camp.
Almost as soon as the Cadets stepped off the busses that had been carrying them for the hour and a half ride, they began training. After setting up the area that contained their tents, equipment, and personal belongings the battalion broke up into two groups. One group contained the underclassmen, MS I's and MS II's, and the other group contained the juniors, MS III's. The two groups traveled to a training area within Ft. Huachuca. From there they took part in Land Navigation exercises, one during the day and another at night. The weather was much kinder this year than last year. Even with the full moon, Night Land Navigation was still very challenging. These events required the Cadets to find designated points on a map using only a map and a compass. After plotting the points on their maps and determining a plan of action for finding them, they went out into the course on their own to find posts and record the number and/or letter on them. One Cadet, Younghun Kim, claimed, "It was very different than just learning about it in the classroom, but having a battle buddy and getting to be hands on actually made it better."
The following day Cadets took part in several different events. The first was another Land Navigation exercise on a much larger course. All Cadets participated in this event, with the seniors; MS IV's assisting the cadre with running and monitoring the event. Upon completion of this course, the Wildcat Battalion broke into two separate groups to continue training. One group went to a Confidence Course while the other went to a Rappel tower to practice rappelling. At the Confidence Course, Cadets faced obstacles that they had to complete both individually and in a group. Cadet Angel Hart remarked of her experience, "I had a lot of trouble climbing the rope on one event but two of the older Cadets, Phil Cerami and John McGrath, spent a lot of time showing me different techniques. All the events were hard but I was able to do them because of how mentally strong ROTC has made me." These events were the finale of the second day of training. Cadets finished the day off by eating a BBQ dinner and watching a movie around a campfire. However, there was still one more event to complete before heading home.
On the final day, everyone took down their shelters and their gear packed and loaded to head back to Tucson. The Cadets then moved to a different location to take part in the Leadership Reaction Course. Here the MSIII's would be given the opportunity to lead a squad-sized element through different challenges and obstacles. This event tests their conceptual and tactical skills, their ability to lead others, and to practice for an event that they would be evaluated while at Advanced Camp in Fort Lewis next summer. Many of these obstacles had water in them that needed to be crossed and luckily or skillfully no one fell into the water. This was the first time the junior class was evaluated in a non-garrison position. This great learning experience also served as a confidence booster. Upon completion of this final event, the Cadets had an After Action Review to discuss both positive and negative experiences, in order to prepare for future events. Following the AAR the Cadets and Cadre all headed back to Tucson to enjoy what was left of the weekend and prepare for the week to follow.