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Home Features ROTC Field Training: Making an Officer, Day 2
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ROTC Field Training: Making an Officer, Day 2

By
Jandi Jensen
-
March 24, 2012
0

Day two begins

0500: Wake up. We woke up to some booming mortar from another group training on the base.

On a side note: last night’s land navigation went extremely well! Cadets were given two and a half hours to complete the challenge. I managed to go out on my own (without a compass) and find the 3/5 points required to pass. Not too bad for a civilian!

Early morning briefing
Early morning briefing (Jandi Jensen)

0545: First formation, cadets are briefed on the day’s STX (squad tactical exercises).


Perimeter setup

Cadet Nudelman
Cadet Nudelman at her security post. (Jandi Jensen)

0700-1700: Cadets must always establish perimeter security.


STX lanes

0700: Cadets begin the squad tactical exercise (STX) lanes, consisting of assault, squad vs. squad, reconnaissance, ambush, and IEDs from Opfor.

Three cadets prepare for assault exercise
Cadets in the second squad rehearse their plan of action before taking (paintball) fire during a squad vs. squad assault. (Jandi Jensen)
Cadets participate in STX lanes
One cadet (background) has been hit while the other continues the exercise. (Jandi Jensen)
Cadets with their paintball guns in hand
Cadets put their tactical skills to the test during the STX lanes. (Jandi Jensen)
Photographer on the ground after getting hit by gunfire
A member of the press has been struck down by (paintball) gunfire during the STX lane. (Jandi Jensen)
A cadet plays dead during the STX lane
Cadets who are hit with “kill shots” must lie down and play dead for the remainder of the STX lane. Those who are hit in non-lethal areas must wait for a medic and act injured, e.g., no running with a leg injury. (Jandi Jensen)

Operation orders and briefings

0930: Cadets Bender and Williams receive op orders and prepare miniature terrain models to brief their squads.

Cadets Bender and Williams receive orders
Cadets Bender and Williams receive op orders and prepare miniature terrain models to brief their squads. (Jandi Jensen)
A look at a terrain model during a STX lane
Cadets Bender and Williams prepare miniature terrain models to brief their squads. (Jandi Jensen)

Putting training into practice

0945: Cadets practice dealing with approaching civilians; this includes determining if the person is hostile, and conducting a thorough search.

A civilian encounter during a STX lane
Cadet Mcdonald practices dealing with approaching civilians. (Jandi Jensen)
Cadets Bender (left), Williams and Mcdonald
Cadet Williams acts as a civilian during a practice “search” conducted by Cadets Bender and Mcdonald. (Jandi Jensen)

Performing op orders

1100: Cadets interact with hostile natives during an operation to gain intel on the location of IEDs.

Cadets interact with a hostile native
Cadets interact with hostile natives during an operation to gain intel on the location of IEDs. (Jandi Jensen)
Cadets perform op orders in the field
Cadets from the second squad move behind a tank while performing op orders. (Jandi Jensen)
Cadets on the move
Cadets from the second squad advance to an outbuilding during an operation. (Jandi Jensen)
Cadets move behind an outbuilding
Cadets from the second squad move behind an outbuilding during an operation. (Jandi Jensen)
Two cadets from the second squad encounter a native
Two cadets from the second squad encounter a native during an operation to gain intel on the location of IEDs. (Jandi Jensen)

Chow time

MSgt. Evershed (left) and Sgt. Crawford
MSgt. Evershed (left) and Sgt. Crawford serve up salad to the cadets. (Jandi Jensen)

1730: HOT CHOW! Fazoli’s catered a rockin’ pasta dinner at the FOB. Definitely a welcome change from eating MREs (meal ready to eat… Sorta) all day.

Master Sergeant Evershed and Sergeant Crawford served salad throughout the chow line; apparently cadre establishes their popularity based on how many cadets chose their salad. Bad PT scores were threatened, passing grades were bribed; Evershed even debated that his salad has “extra love” in it. Crawford retaliated by saying “Evershed serves bad salad!”

Light-hearted chow time definitely keeps morale up after a long day of STX Lanes.

1830-2230: Cadets go over guard tower duties. The MS IVs play out different situations where cadets need to deal with both hostile and friendly civilians. MS IVs dress as “Sapa” (a mock culture of opposing forces), and practice different battle tactics with the cadets.
These patrols were conducted during the night, pictures are not useable.

2300: Lights out after the following morning Op orders are given.


Protecting the press

Reporter Jandi out in the field during the STX lanes
Jandi alongside a ROTC cadet during the STX lanes. (Jandi Jensen)

Mark, my photographer, and I were issued paintball masks, but no weapons. Second Squad was assigned to protect us throughout the STX lanes. Cadets were timid at first, thus “the media” (us) was allowed to breach security and run rampant during ops. They quickly learned to be assertive, and say things like “You need to stay with me at all times. This is for your own safety, and the safety of the squad.” They also learned that if they keep media personnel in the back, that we will move to the front, out of formation and against orders, in order to get a good picture. I, myself, did disobey the command to “sure and stay” during the IED Op, because they left me alone. I proceeded to run to the other cadets, who were taking fire. Cadet Gemma took over media accountability, and grabbed my leg to keep me from getting shot as I low crawled from the cover of a building to get the shot of the cadets taking control of an opposing civilian. Having media on the field helps.

Mark and Jandi with their paintball masks on
Mark and Jandi with their paintball masks on (Jandi Jensen)
  • TAGS
  • Army
  • cadets
  • military
  • ROTC
  • ROTC Field Training
  • student blog
  • training
  • Utah
Jandi Jensen

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