CONTENTS - Joint Sports Day - Spring FTX - Commissioning - LDAC - CTLT - LTC

1. The Kinnear Husky Squadron Panorama Spring 2009 Joint Sports Day CONTENTS - Joint Sports Day - Spring FTX - Commissioning - LDAC - CTLT - LTC This year Joint Sports Day, a day of competition between the Army, Navy/Marine Corps, and Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) programs, was held April 18th at the Intramural Activities Field. The Army team was organized by Cadet Deveraux to compete in a variety of events including: the Dizzy Izzy, the Push-Up Train, Marine Corp Obstacle Course, and a 4x100 meter relay around the field. The final event, the Tug-of-War resulted in the Army's cumulative victory as winner of the Commander's Cup. The award was presented later during the yearly award ceremony following the Joint Service Review. Above: At 1030, the Dizzy Izzy started off the competition. In this event, competitors would spin around a baseball bat running to their teammates in line. Right: All teams of the push-up train would perform one push-up at a time in step with commands from the event manager. Failure of any one of the cadets in the train would disqualify the team. The Army team outlasted its competitors for a win in this event The Marine Corps obstacle course required the teams to field competitors to low-crawl, carry ammo cans, and even carry each other in a race to be the first team with all members back at the start line. The Navy/Marine team took victory in this event. Left: Cadets Allen and George carry Cadet Leverkuhn to the finish as their team captain, Cadet Deveraux, shouts them on.

2. Spring Field Training Exercise The Spring Field Training Exercise (SFTX) is UW Army ROTC's most significant weekend of training over the year. From Friday May 15 to the 17th, our third-year cadets (MSIIIs) were evaluated as they led their squads or patrols through a variety of battle drills an patrolling lanes. Above: Cadets packed in the bus and ready for deployment to Palomas (the imaginary country within Ft. Lewis in which ROTC cadets patrol to prevent ethnic cleansing and violent insurgent disruptions in the Paloman political transition to independence). Above: Cadet Bugg, a fourth-year student, leads a brief class on patrol base operations. MSIV cadets each shared a lesson to provide lowerclassmen with a last-minute refresher on the most important subjects they would be tested upon in the next two days. Above: Cadet Bedlion records advice from his last-minute instruction. As an MSIII, he is expected to apply this knowledge as he leads a squad or patrol to complete a variety of missions the ROTC program has laid out to test knowledge and leadership. Above: Major Pelletier and Cadet Beckwith were amongst the evaluators who followed the squads about their lanes as they graded the MSIII cadets on their performance as leaders. Right: Other cadre and MSIVs were stationed at the Tactical Operations Center (TOC) where they relayed data between the tactics lane personnel, recorded MSIII progress, managed supplies, and performed a variety of other essential tasks to ensure the SFTX was efficiently conducted.

3. Spring Field Training Exercise The first step in any mission was to receive the operations order (OPORD). Evaluators would give the mission of the higher authority and the MSIII cadets would find their own missions within that order. They would next compile their own order and present it to the squad or platoon before conducting rehearsals and finally the mission. Left:: An MSIII squad leader gives a brief warning of the contents of his OPORD to his team leaders. While they prepare the squad, he will finish compiling his OPORD and set the terrain model he will use to explain his mission. A significant portion of a squad or platoon mission is simply to move towards the objective. With eight digit grid coordinates, a compass, protractor, and a map, MSIII cadets plotted their destination points on maps and set their course. Squad lanes were of short length, only a few hundred meters in length. However, patrol lanes commonly exceeded a kilometer. During the trek through the Ft. Lewis forest, the cadets needed to ensure they were carefully oriented onto their course else they might not find the objective and complete their mission. Tactics in movement was strongly emphasized during the SFTX. Leaders had to ensure that hand and arm signals were utilized to communicate through the dispersed formations. Likewise, cadets needed to maintain situational awareness of their surroundings as they applied to tactical cover and concealment.

4. Spring Field Training Exercise At any moment during a squad or platoon's movement to the objective, there was a possibility that they would be attacked, be fired upon by artillery, or meet up with local Palomans. The leadership had to adapt and react to each new challenge with the skills and knowledge they had acquired through their training over the years. Our fellow ROTC programs of the Air Force and Navy/Marine Corps volunteered their cadets to assist in the SFTX training event. They served as the opposing force (OPFOR) in the form of enemy insurgents or other actors in the scenario of the squad or patrolling lane. Above: A squad of the OPFOR prepares to conduct a night search and possible attack on the patrol bases set up by Army cadets. Left: Air Force cadets enact a hostage scenario, one of a variety of situations that might be best handled by the cadets by using good communication and an emphasis on security. Below: Squad leaders and platoon leaders must stay in consistent communication with their superior officers so their leaders will be able to know the big picture. Consequently, SFTX lanes required cadet leaders to properly report new data. Above: Cadet Ritnoppakun simulates an injury received during one of his missions. Cadet George helps him move to a secure location for treatment. Following any injury, the cadet leader would call in a request for medical evacuation.

5. Commissioning The yearly commissioning ceremony marks the end of a cadet's training through the ROTC program and the beginning of his or her career as a 2nd lieutenant. After graduation, commissioned cadets begin their 2LT training at introductory leadership courses and their branch-specific schools. Left: 2LT Takamura uses a saber to cut the cake at the beginning of the post-commissioning reception. Right: 2LT Deveraux is one of many new 2LTs whose shoulder boards were attached by friends and family. Commissionees and their Branches as shown in picture left to right Andrew Nevins - Military Police Joon Lee - Infantry Christine Bumgarner - Adjutant General Joseph Yu - Quartermaster Kirk Sealls - Infantry Charles Idle - Quartermaster Katherine Tran - Nurse Corp Brennan Deveraux - Field Artillery Galen Takamura - Infantry Caleb Bugg - Air Defense Artillery Congratulations to the Class of 2009!

6. Leadership Development and Assessment Course The Leadership Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) consists of the final evaluation of third-year cadets. LDAC takes place at Fort Lewis, Washington over the summer between the junior and senior years. Over a period of 28 days, the MSIIIs were tested over a wide variety of subjects. Each cadet was evaluated on his or her effectiveness as a leader in both garrison and tactical environments. This course serves as an important testing ground and final factor in determining each cadet's standing in the national order-of-merit list. Right: Cadet Taggart utilizes a computer program which simulates the roles of drivers and gunners on a tactical convoy through a city. Through this training, cadets would become familiar with common convoy procedures and communication. LDAC offered other digital training as well, such as vehicle simulators and tracking/geographic information systems. Below: Cadet Ahn (center) stands with fellow cadets on the Fort Lewis airfield. All squads and platoons were deployed to Palomas by helicopters, either in a Chinook or in a Black Hawk. After deployment, Ahn and her platoon navigated to the tactical training base (a tent city) where they would stay each night after conducting a day filled with tactical exercises. Above: Cadet Michelle Lee (center) stands in front of LDAC barracks with her fellow cadets from the United Kingdom, who joined U.S. cadets as part of an interstate training program. Left:: Cadet Youngman (front, center-left) kneels with his squad after completing one of the day's tactical lanes. Each cadet was assigned as a squad leader for 2 lanes in squad-level exercises. The final two days in the field consisted of the longer patrolling missions for which each cadet was assigned 1 leadership position within the platoon's chain of command.

7. Cadet Troop Leading Training During the school year, cadets may apply to attend additional/optional training during the summer, such as Air Assault School, Airborne School, cultural immersion, internships, and a variety of other programs. MSIIIs are exclusively permitted to attend Cadet Troop Leading Training (CTLT) after LDAC. At CTLT, MSIII cadets are assigned to a 2LT mentor and receive an introduction to the life of an officer. CTLT has slots open at many U.S. bases as well as on bases in countries such as Germany and Korea. Right: Cadet Ahn poses before a helicopter at CTLT. Below: Cadet Michelle Lee gets practice as the recipient of an IV during training with her CTLT unit in Fort Polk, Louisiana Leader's Training Course Leader's Training Course (LTC) is a summer program in Fort Knox designed to count as the equivalent of the first two years of military science instruction, allowing new juniors to start the year as MSIIIs. Above: Cadet Ritnoppakun, one of our LTC attendees this year, is shown in the barracks with his squad. Left: Cadet Ritnoppakun working on a knot as part of a squad effort to build a raft out of tarp, boards, barrels, and rope. This was one of a variety of challenges meant to test and develop leadership to LTC cadets as well as introduce them to the cadet evaluation process.