Past the Half-way Point!

It's Monday evening at 2235 and all is calm here at Annual Training 2008. I sincerely apologize for not being able to make regular updates; however, as noted earlier, we're without a Public Affairs Officer, which has caused this blog to fall into my lane. Fortunately, C/SFC Robyn Haake has done a great job of taking photos so that you all have something to watch.

Let me bring you up-t0-date on some things, as we enter our last week of training:

This isn't for everyone: We've had nine people thus far (adults, Cadets and recruits) who have detached for various reasons. Three have been permanently discharged from the program due to their inability to maintain our high standards of conduct (sadly parents who "sent" them, rather than for them to "want" to be here...it never works, as we sincerely belief in our motto of "Hard Core or OUT the Door!")

It's very, very hot!: Fortunately, we've had the support of great team of USAC and USAR medical professionals who have kept our cadre, Cadets and recruits safe and healthy. We've had minor heat injuries, as each Cadet/recruit carries a "Camelback" to keep them hydrated.

"Adventure Begins Here!": I've had a LOT of positive response to the photos, as parents watch their sons and daughters overcome things they never thought possible. There's no "X-Box" or text messaging here! The Drill Sergeants (who have been awesome!) push and lead to test the limits of the Cadets, encouraging them as they participate in the Confidence Course, Leadership Reaction Course, Martial Arts Training, Pugil Stick training (yes, they have conducted Pugil Stick training; however, we've been directed not to post photos of that event by FAPH Public Affairs), etc. I'm sure there will be a LOT of stories to tell this Sunday!

The Staff is to be Commended: Please remember, the staff here is comprised 100% of "non-paid professionals." That's our way of saying "volunteers." With that said, please ensure that you say "thank you" to the dedicated men and women who are training, or supporting the training for, your Cadet/recruit.

GRADUATION:

We are working the final details of graduation. Due to the July heat, we will forgo the traditional military parade, using a equally suitable - yet indoor - format for our Graduation Formation. I expect that we will be conducting the graduation at the Fort A. P. Hill Army Reserve Center. THIS IS NOT ON THE MAIN BASE....WATCH FOR DETAILS.

You MUST...again, you MUST register in the Graduation Database. If you fail to do so, you risk the strong possibility of not attending graduation. We will only have enough chairs of those who are registered. Please give us the courtesy of completing the registration process as outlined a few days ago on this forum.

If you are military (active, reserve, guard, retired), please wear your uniform. This is a military formation and the Cadets will appreciate that you are acknowledging them by wearing your uniform. The uniform requirements are to the left of this forum.

Civilian please wear comfortable modest civilian attire. "Business Casual" is appropriate. Please no shorts and no plain T-shirts for adults.

DO NOT....AGAIN...DO NOT....come to Wilcox Camp, or decide to "just drop in." Frankly, you'll be in the way and we'll ask you to leave. This is a training command, with a fast OPTEMPO and we can't have any "tourists." We're pretty well into our "battle rhythm" and can't break our stride by hosting visitors.

Thanks for the Cookies!: We've had several moms who have provided us with late night snacks...mmmmmm!!!! (Now if you can arrange for Chinese food to be delivered, we'd just work all night! ;) )

As I wrap up this post, I can hear the recruits on watch communicating by radio, cadre wrapping up some administrative work, old friends watching a movie on the Command Sergeant Major's computer....it's a good night at Annual Training 2008! We look forward to wrapping up the week safely, as we pass the half-way point.

Regards,

COL Land

Recruits On the Leadership Reaction Course

A very exhausting and exciting day! It was the recruits’ turn to take on the Leadership Reaction Course (LRC) while the Cadets went through Combat Water Survival Training (CWST). The recruits charged through the course with outstanding teamwork and intelligence. The Cadets showed excellent bravery and strength while they swam with their rifles and combat uniforms on. The Cadets later joined the recruits at the LRC to set the example for the recruits. The heat was intense, but they drove on, completing every task. The pugil sticks battles continue…a platoon round robin tournament has begun.

A Different Insight

Here is an excerpt from a posting from CPT Darin Ninness, who detached a few days ago:
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I returned home from annual training last night (0010.. made great time considering I left AP Hill around 1430 and covered about 560 miles, including getting dicombobulated and losing 20 minutes within the gravitational pull of the Menlo Park Mall. One should never underestimate the drawing power of the Garden State..), and even with sleeping till 11am, I'm pooped.

Some highlights:

We started AT on 5 July with five parallel programs running: OCS/WOCS/DCC (Officer Candidate School/Warrant Officer Candidate School/Direct Commission Course), CTC (Cadet Transition Course, for those cadets from a "Recognized Cadet Corps" that want to come into the US Army Cadets), BLC (Basic Leaders Course, our take on WLC), CNCOC (Cadet Non-Commissioned Officers Course) and THA (Troop Handler Academy). About 80 personnel total were under our roof come the close of the day on July 5th.

I ran the majority of the Officer Candidate program. Unfortunately, my partner in crime was taken ill and couldn't come to Annual Training, so I had to make the best of teaching two programs of instruction nearly simultaneously (Phases I & III of OCS/WOCS and the Direct Commission Course share some similar classes at the beginning of the week, some "reintegration" subjects like drill, etc, to put people back on the same page after a year, but by about Tuesday or Wednesday, the POIs split and diverge rather heavily).

In addition to US Army Cadet personnel, early in the week we were graced with the presence of a number of US Army Reserve personnel thanks to the interest in the Army Cadets by MG Mallory, the CG of the 108th Training Command. Director of Health Services CPT Tom Janisko (a true purple suiter, as he wears the khaki of a USPHS Lieutenant everyday, and then the blue of a CAP member and the foliage green of the US Army Cadets when he's denying himself sleep..) had his medical staff augmented by 5 medics of the US Army Reserve, most from the USAR unit supporting Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Maryland. Also, we were graced with the services of 3 USAR drill sergeants to start the week. SSGs Connelly, Dyer and Henry from the Kentucky & Tennessee area were on hand to provide expert instruction to our incoming cadets on customs & courtesies, uniform wear, and of course, drill & ceremonies. Honestly, by the end of Monday, these cadets were marching about as well as I've ever seen cadets. It was very impressive.

We were lucky, too, in our location. Directly to the north of our battalion area in the Wilcox Camp of AP Hill was a gigantic vehicle hardstand that was, initially, empty. One part of that hardstand had been converted into a simulated Entry Control Point for a FOB, giving reserve component and active duty soldiers who will be deploying an opportunity to practice force protection measures. Well, that's all fine and dandy, but when their ECP is getting attacked by "simulated AIF forces" (in the form of soldiers with their ACU coats reversed), it makes for a great show for the cadets as we're marching by.

Wednesday was the LRC, a great opportunity for the training programs to see exactly how goofed up your can get when 6 people are going in different directions and you have 50 more yelling at you to distract... The water in most of the obstacles was this ominous green color, so you can figure how motivated people were to fall in.

Wednesday was also the day we picked up our ITC (Individual Training Company) recruits. These are recruits who are not members of a drilling local unit who want to participate in a "Military Adventure Camp". Oh, they're gonna get adventure all right. They arrive on Wednesday, in advance of Saturday's start of Basic Cadet Training, to receive 40 hrs of "Recruit Orientation". Normally, a recruit in a drilling unit will receive RO immediately after they join and prior to going to BCT, but since the ITC recruits are not part of a unit, they have to get RO before BCT starts, so from Wednesday to Saturday, they get the major components of RO and are outfitted with their initial uniform issue during that time.

Thursday was the obstacle course and rappel tower for the training courses (minus the ITCs, who were still embroiled in Recruit Orientation) and Friday featured the 5 mile tactical road march for the OCSers. (there was more going on, but the photos tell the story)

Saturday morning saw the "end of week" testing for all the training programs. For CTC cadets, demonstration of competence carried over from their previous cadet program plus subjects learned during the week would see them merged into the "advanced training" part of BLC (the upcoming week's field craft, land nav and other CTT training), otherwise they would move into Recruit Training for the remaining two weeks. Two new Troop Handlers, C/SGT Ryan and C/CPL Samuels, were sworn in that morning, in preparation for the recruits they'd receive that afternoon. The recruits began arriving from all around the country, and that evening at formation, we commissioned our two newest 2LTs, Virginia Shepard and Richard Gribble, along with promoting 2LT Jon Swinarski to 1LT. That evening, however, the recruits had a rude surprise from the drill sergeants in the form of a sorting exercise (moving recruits into platoons that were leveled by age) called a "shark tank." (for those of you unfamiliar, while the photos look "scary," on a scale of 1-10, this was about a 3.5 or a 4. Scary enough for a 12 year old, but definitely not over the top...) It was their first introduction to their "hats" for the week, the troop handlers and the drill sergeants, and it was a heck of an introduction.

Sunday was my last full day at AT, and it started with a visit by several distinguished visitors. MG Eder, the Deputy Chief of the Army Reserve and MG Cooke, the chair of the General Officer's Steering Committee, along with a number of staff officers from the GOSC and the USAR OCAR's office. They toured the barracks, met Cadets and recruits and observed the conclusion of the first period of instruction on The Army Cadet Martial Arts Program (TACMAP). Following a discussion about the US Army Cadet Corps led by BG Tornow, our Commanding General and lunch, the generals also observed in our rappel tower training in the field.

All in all, a great time. I wish I could have stayed longer!

_________________

CPT Darin Ninness
Managing Editor, CadetStuff.org
9. Rule Inexplicably Missing
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Updates

The next photos won't be posted until Monday at the earliest. I'm in DC on a combination of civilian and U.S. Army Cadet Corps business and we're without a PAO, so the photos won't be uploaded and submitted to FAPH PAO until tomorrow Friday. I don't anticipate approval from FAPH PAO until Monday (possibly Friday, but don't count on it).

I'm sorry for the delay; however, this occurs when folks are a no-show. If you have a PAO background, let's talk soon!

Regards,

COL Land

Graduation Database

Graduation will be held on July 27th at 11 am. We're still finalizing the location for both fair weather and foul weather ceremonies. More as we know it.

ALL visitors age 10 or over - including active and retired military, as well as USAC personnel - must be in the visitors database found at http://www.acacadets.org/visitors/login.asp .

U.S. Army Cadet Corps

Post-Graduation Check-Out Procedures

Check-out: We will try to stream-line the check-out process as much as possible; however, please remember that we have nearly 200 people who have to check-out and those who are on FLIGHTS on Sunday evening will take priority. Please plan on as much as two hours for check-out.

The check-out process will be time-consuming. We MUST have accountability for every young Cadet who is leaving here, so we must have a signature assuming custody of the Cadet. Since we have some who are traveling by plane, with VERY tight departure times, the following priority will be used in the check-out process:

** IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER'S OUTBOUND TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENTS BE IN THE TRANSPORTATION DATABASE**

**** Priority 1: Cadets who are traveling by plane or train, unaccompanied, on Sunday evening.

**** Priority 2: Staff members who are traveling by plane or train, on Sunday evening.

**** Priority 3: Cadets who are traveling by plane or train, accompanied by family, on Sunday.

**** Priority 4: Cadets who are traveling by car over 250 miles, leaving on Sunday.

**** Priority 5: Staff members who are traveling by car over 250 miles, leaving on Sunday.

**** Priority 6: Cadets who are traveling by car less than 250 miles, leaving on Sunday.

**** Priority 7: Staff members who are traveling by car less than 250 miles, leaving on Sunday.

**** Priority 8: Cadets or Staff who are leaving on Monday.

** IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT YOUR SON OR DAUGHTER'S OUTBOUND TRANSPORTATION ARRANGEMENTS BE IN THE TRANSPORTATION DATABASE**