Rappelling

This was an exciting day. Not only did I get to photograph my cadets conquering their fears, but I got to conquer some of my own – another  battle against heights. I had the opportunity to rappel twice, once with the skid and once without. It was amazing!!

Photos are property of the U.S. Army PAO and Kristin Sherrard.

Heavy Weapons

Cadets are introduced to heavy weapon machinery. While they do not receive live training, they learn how to load and unload the weapons.

Photos are property of the U.S. Army PAO and Kristin Sherrard.

Land Navigation

Cadets take the skills the learned in the classroom and apply them in the field. Before their assessment, the cadets are paired up and search the terrain for at least four out of their five listed markers before time runs out. The practice test takes place during both the day and the night. For their official test, cadets are alone and on a different course.

For the practice test, I decided to hike through the woods with a pair of cadets and then switch to a different pair when we reached either a marker or a water point. While it was a good experience, most of my photos were taken when the cadets stopped to check their azimuth or their pace count. I also made the mistake of wearing my short-sleeve PAO shirt and was scratched and bitten numerous times as punishment. I changed tactics for the actual day test. I decided to hang out at one of the markers and let the cadets come to me. This was a better decision on that particular day because it rained pretty hard, which caused the markers to be moved out of the woods and off to the side of the path, making it easier for the cadets to find. I did not go out on either of the night tests. Reason: I didn’t think I would get any good shots, and I tripped over a ton of trees during the day, so I didn’t really trust myself at night!

Photos are property of the U.S. Army PAO and Kristin Sherrard.

Map Reading Class

The cadets spent the day in class learning how to read a map, use an azimuth, and conduct a pace count while they are out at the land navigation site.

Photos are property of the U.S. Army PAO and Kristin Sherrard.

Stream Crossing

At this training site, cadets learn how to tie a variety of knots, as well as how to successfully cross a stream with a two-rope and three-rope bridge.  Squads also compete to see who can construct a one-rope bridge the fastest and get all of their teammates across.  The winning squad competes against their cadre team and the site team.

Photos are property of the U.S. Army PAO and Kristin Sherrard.

Combat Water Survival Training

Combat water survival training takes place at the Gammon Pool.  Here, cadets must go through a series of stations.  They must tread water for 5 mins, swim 15m with a M-16 rifle and vest, step off the high dive blindfolded with the rifle and vest, jump into the pool and remove the rifle and vest, and learn how to turn their uniform into a flotation device.

Mark, one of the writers, and I went through the training.  He was a lot more successful than I was, but I’m still glad that I tried.

Photos are property of the U.S. Army PAO and Kristin Sherrard.

Team Development Course

The team development course is a series of team-building exercises that take place in the first few days of the cadets’ arrival.  There are five stations, and the squads must maneuver themselves, their teammates, and either a canister of ammunition or a barrel of “oil” from one side to the other using different length boards.

Photos are property of the U.S. Army PAO and Kristin Sherrard.

Delta Company: Where eagles dare

Where eagles dare is held at the Forrest Hills Climbing Complex. There are three climbing obstacles: the ropes course, the climbing wall and the climbing tower. I climbed the ropes course with Charlie Company thinking that I would climb the course later with my company and with my gear: Not happening. I forget that I’m afraid of heights until I’m up high, and it was definitely a scary experience. I also climbed the rock wall and shot down on the cadets for about two hours.

Photos are property of the U.S. Army PAO and Kristin Sherrard.

Delta Company: Arrival and In Processing

Cadets arrived in the Louisville Airport and were bussed to Fort  Knox.

Upon arrival, they were separated into their platoons and squads and entered the barracks for the first time. There, their bags were thoroughly  inspected, and they learned how to properly make their beds and organize their closets. The cadets were also weighed and measured.

The next day during in processing, cadets filled out multiple pieces of paperwork, received approval for any medications they had brought with them, posed for their photo IDs, and performed other administrative type work.

The next day, the cadets visited the warehouse to pick up all of their gear.

Photos are property of the U.S. Army PAO and Kristin Sherrard.

Delta Company

Just wanted to say that I’m sorry for not keeping up.  I have been taking tons of photos, I promise!  I have just gotten a little overwhelmed since my company has shown up that I haven’t had time to put pictures up on my blog.  However, I have been posting to the Leader’s Training Course Web site.  I will make an effort this week to post my best pics to my blog so that you guys can see them.  Keep checking back!