Cadets shed light on the Land Navigation Course

Sixth Regiment Cadets plot out their course at the starting point of the night Land Nav at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. U.S. Army photo by Jesse Beals

By: Hannah Van Ree
U.S. Army Cadet Command Public Affairs

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – It’s 8:30 p.m. and the Cadets of 6^th Regiment get one last meal before they head out to face what some consider to be the most challenging event at the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC), night land navigation. This night they get a break from MRE’s (meals ready to eat) and get a plate full of spaghetti, bread, beans, apple sauce, fruit and cake.

Once the assessment starts the crunch of boots marching on gravel and the sloshing of leather through puddles will be the only sounds heard on the Warrior Forge land navigation course; the only exceptions being the horn signaling start and finish or the roar of an occasional helicopter overhead. Cadets are focused and ready to navigate through the night.

Collaboration key in Cadets’ strategy

Cadets overcome obstacles at the Field Leaders Reaction Course on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. U.S. Army Photo by Al Zdarsky

By Noelle Wiehe
U.S. Army Cadet Command Public Affairs

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Many challenges at the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) require Cadets to overcome fears or to see how far they can push themselves. At the Field Leader’s Reaction Course (FLRC) the most important factor to success is strategy.

Lt. Col. Gustavo Perez, chief of FLRC, will see thousands of Cadets come through his course. He knows, however, that it is not important for Cadets to overcome every obstacle, but to develop leadership skills and demonstrate those skills during the training.

“Being successful is not the object; it is being able to lead [the squad] and being able to adjust,” he said. “Don’t freeze, don’t get ‘killed’ and don’t get the squad ‘killed.’”

At FLRC Cadets go through several different lanes where their squad must overcome obstacles such as bridges, walls and mud pits within an allotted amount of time.

8th Regiment’s Army Physical Fitness Test

Cadet Airolmae Salanga from Seattle University performs push-ups during the Army Physical Fitness Test while at Operation Warrior Forge at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. U.S. Army photo by Al Zdarsky.

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – Top scores on the Army Physical Fitness Test for 8th Regiment were achieved by Weber State University Cadet Bradley Lagemann with a score of 396, and Marquette University Cadet Valerie Kehl scoring 366.

Scores and regiment standings:

Top Overall
396: Bradley Lagemann, Weber State University
366: Valerie Kehl, Marquette University

Top Two-Mile Run
10:45: Joseph Ward, University of Louisville
12:58: Valerie Kehl, Marquette University

Top Sit-Ups
116: Bradley Lagemann, Weber State University
107: Lauren Gregory, University of Central Missouri

Top Push-Ups
116: Bradley Lagemann, Weber State University
77: Valerie Kehl, Marquette University

Behind the Scenes at LDAC (Pop-up Video)

Get an inside look at Warrior Forge 2012 from Cadets who share some of their personal experiences while attending the Leadership Development and Assessment Course.

7th Regiment’s Army Physical Fitness Test

Cadet Christopher John from the University of Connecticut performs push-ups during the Army Physical Fitness Test on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. U.S. Army photo by Al Zdarsky

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – Cadet Elizabeth Provost from The Johns Hopkins University and Cadet Benjamin Dagg from Wheaton College achieved the top overall scores for 7th Regiment on the Army Physical Fitness Test, with Provost scoring a 355 and Dagg scoring a 366.

Scores and regiment standings:

Top Overall
355: Elizabeth Provost, The Johns Hopkins University
366: Benjamin Dagg, Wheaton College

Top Two-Mile Run
12:09: Elizabeth Provost, The Johns Hopkins University
9:57: Brian Charland, Bucknell University

Top Sit-Ups
102: Taylor Hansen, University of Connecticut
104: Benjamin Dagg, Wheaton College

Top Push-Ups
76: Ebony Starr, Cameron University
112: Jeremy Bowling, University of Hawaii at Manoa

LDAC Field Leaders Reaction Course

Check out some of the challenges LDAC Cadets take on as they complete the Field Leader’s Reaction Course at Joint Base Lewis-McChord and begin to come together as a squad.

6th Regiment’s Army Physical Fitness Test

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – University of Northern Iowa Cadet Vince Marcantonio scored a 371 on the Army Physical Fitness Test and Cadet Christina Jones from the University of Alabama scored a 373, making them the top scorers on the APFT for 6th Regiment.

Scores and regiment standings:

A 6th Regiment Cadet completes the two-mile run required as part of the APFT. U.S. Army photo by Al Zdarsky

Top Overall
371: Vince Marcantonio, University of Northern Iowa
373: Christina Jones, University of Alabama

Top Two-Mile Run
10:22: Robert Finicum, Brigham Young University
12:50: Erica Wade, Colorado State University

Top Sit-Ups
110: Vince Marcantonio, University of Northern Iowa
109: Christina Jones, University of Alabama

Top Push-Ups
107: Aaron Olson, Colorado State University
77: Astrid Cruz, Seton Hall University

5th Regiment’s Army Physical Fitness Test

Fifth Regiment completes sit-ups during the APFT. U.S. Army photo by Al Zdarsky

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – University of Montana Cadet Zachary Wagner scored a 394 on the Army Physical Fitness Test and Cadet Robin Furrer from the University of Montana, and Cadet Johanna Guarino from Old Dominion University both scored a 332, making them all the top scorers on the APFT for 5th Regiment.

Scores and regiment standings:

Top Overall
394: Zachary Wagner, University of Montana
332: Robin Furrer, University of Montana
332: Johanna Guarino, Old Dominion University

Top Two-Mile Run
10:22: Richard Everett, SD School of Mines and Tech
12:47: Robin Furrer, University of Montana
12:47: Kayla Dejardin, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

Top Sit-Ups
116: Zachary Wagner, University of Montana
95: Katherine Panek, University of Connecticut

Top Push-Ups
110: Zachary Wagner, University of Montana
68: Brianna Hugya, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

LDAC Confidence Course

Here are some of the obstacles Cadets face at the LDAC Confidence Course during Operation Warrior Forge at Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

Army Physical Fitness Test evaluates Cadets’ ability as officers

Second Regiment Cadets perform push-ups during APFT. U.S. Army photo by Jesse Beals.

By Noelle Wiehe
U.S. Army Cadet Command Public Affairs

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – They’ve prepared for this their entire ROTC career, from visiting the gym on their own to running with their college cadre back home; these Cadets are prepared and fit for the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC).

At LDAC Cadets must complete the Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT). It is through this test that the LDAC cadre decide who is ready and able to continue the course and complete events such as the confidence and obstacle courses. Should a Cadet fail the APFT, there is a possibility that they could be sent home.

“An individual’s physical fitness is directly related to an individual’s combat readiness,” said Col. Dean Shultis, Warrior Forge Commandant of Cadets. “In the Army, what we do is prepare for combat as part of our mission.”

TAC staff train to standardize evaluations of Cadets

By Alexandra Kocik
U.S. Army Cadet Command Public Affairs

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. — “An Army leader is anyone who by virtue of assumed role or assigned responsibility inspires and influences people to accomplish organizational goals,” according to Field Manual 6-22 (FM 6-22), a guide to Army leadership.

The Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) measures Cadets’ potential to be leaders in the military. The leadership development staff holds mandatory classes to ensure cadre use standardized leadership and evaluation methods to assess Cadets’ progress through LDAC. They hold Tactical Officer (TAC) staff school to calibrate cadre members responsible for evaluating platoons. Each platoon has a TAC, a lieutenant and a noncommissioned officer who are in charge of assessing their Cadets. Qualified assessors are also assigned to the various training committees to evaluate Cadets.

4th Regiment’s Army Physical Fitness Test

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – Cadet Lindsay Keith from the University of Washington scored a 366 and Cadet Anthony Nicholson from Marquette University scored a 356 on the Army Physical Fitness Test, both gaining the top scores for 4th Regiment.

Scores and regiment standings:

Top Overall

Cadets of 4th Regiment march to the APFT field in full PT gear. U.S. Army photo by Jesse Beals

366: Lindsay Keith, University of Washington
356: Anthony Nicholson, Marquette University

Top Two-Mile Run
10:43: Steven Jackson, Norfolk State University
12:26: Alanna Sparrow, University of North Florida

Top Sit-Ups
108: Derrick Elliott, Hampton University
108: Gregory Raupp, University of Wisconsin – Madison
98: Bethany Koshinsky, Capital University

Top Push-Ups
107: Nathaniel Wherley, Campbell University
83: Michele Deegan, Old Dominion University

Cadets become part of U.S. Army history

By Noelle Wiehe
U.S. Army Cadet Command Public Affairs

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. — Ceremony based on shared history is important in connecting officers and Soldiers of the U.S. Army to their common past.

Fourth Regiment uncases their colors after being activated as “Sykes’ Regulars,” their combat unit affiliation. U.S. Army photo by Al Zdarsky

Through the regimental activation ceremonies at the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC), Cadets representing ROTC programs from all over the country become united by affiliation with 14 of the Army’s finest combat units.

“Everything we do is based on military tradition and military history,” said Lt. Col. Kevin McKay, chief of protocol for Warrior Forge. “It is all based on years of drill and ceremony. We go by military regulation at this point, but those regulations have developed since the Continental Army back in 1775.”

Cadets of 4th Regiment conducted a regimental activation ceremony June 18 to become affiliated with the U.S. Army’s 20th Infantry Regiment, also known as Sykes’ Regulars. The affiliation allows Cadets to see that they are a part of something so much bigger than a 450-person training regiment. Instead, they are training in honor of an over 150-year-old infantry unit.

3rd Regiment’s Army Physical Fitness Test

Cadet Jerold Edwards from Georgia Military College performs the push-up portion of the Army Physical Fitness Test on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. U.S. Army photo by Al Zdarsky.

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – Cadet Meghan Clark from Loyola University of Maryland and Cadet Dillon Grover from Oregon State University achieved the top overall scores for 3rd Regiment on the Army Physical Fitness Test, with Clark scoring a 365 and Grover scoring a 364.

Scores and regiment standings:

Top Overall
365: Meghan Clark, Loyola University of Maryland
364: Dillon Grover, Oregon State University

Top Two-Mile Run
10:35: Jordan Baker, University of San Francisco
12:26: Shauna Dool, University of Portland

Top Sit-Ups
108: Meghan Clark, Loyola University of Maryland
108: Zeke Dodd, Virginia Military Institute

Top Push-Ups
113: Dillon Grover, Oregon State University
70: Emmalena Kelly, University of Nebraska – Lincoln

Leaders assess risks before testing Operation Warrior Forge Cadets

By Alexandra Kocik
U.S. Army Cadet Command Public Affairs

Master Sgt. Frank Boaz conducts a secondary equipment check before Cadet Carlos Diaz from the University of Texas at El Paso rappels down the 30-foot wall during Operation Warrior Forge. U.S. Army photo by Alexandra Kocik

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. — Masks, ropes, helmets and maps are just a few of the tools cadets will use during Operation Warrior Forge. Although not all of these items are dangerous, the exercises they are used in must be carefully planned to avoid broken bones and equipment. Leaders with U.S. Army Cadet Command spend countless hours developing ways to avoid accidents during the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) with a motto of “Safety first, safety always.”

There are safety standards for everything from driving a 15-passenger van to running the land navigation course. Cadet Command uses a process called Composite Risk Management (CRM) to assess the dangers of any action taken on base. Risk assessment matrices measure the probability and severity of hazards and develop ways to control the situation for maximum safety. High-risk activities must be reworked to meet minimal risk requirements.

2nd Regiment’s Army Physical Fitness Test

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – Jessica Tarsa and Lyle Rogers achieved the top scores on the Army Physical Fitness Test for 2nd Regiment with Tarsa getting a 377 and Rogers getting a 368.
Scores and regiment standings:

Second Regiment Cadets complete the two-mile run portion of the APFT at LDAC. U.S. Army photo by Jesse Beals

Top Overall
377: Jessica Tarsa, Duke University
368: Lyle Rogers, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs

Top Two-Mile Run
10:54: John Gatewood, Citadel
13:15: Kayla Amsler, Gannon University

Top Sit-Ups
107: Lyle Rogers, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
104: Jessica Tarsa, Duke University

Top Push-Ups
115: Joshua Brownlow, University of Florida
76: Jessica Tarsa, Duke University

1st Regiment’s Army Physical Fitness Test

First Regiment Cadet Abigail Drew from Texas Christian does push-ups for the APFT at Lewis-McChord, Wash. U.S. Army photo by Jesse Beals

JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – Cameron University Cadet Ariel Bergeron and North Carolina State University Cadet Ben Bizzell achieved the overall top scores on the Army Physical Fitness Test for 1st Regiment, with Bergeron scoring a 374 and Bizzell scoring a 373.

Scores and regiment standings:

Top Overall

374: Ariel Bergeron, Cameron University
373: Ben Bizzell, North Carolina State University

Top Two-Mile Run

9:58: Parker Thompson, Wheaton College
13:20: Jashay Bingham, University of Houston

Top Sit-Ups

107: Kelly Lindemann, Seattle University
105: Ashley Pierce, Ohio State University
105: Ariel Bergeron, Cameron University

Top Push-Ups

119: Ben Bizzell, North Carolina State University
75: Ariel Bergeron, Cameron University
75: Jashay Bingham, University of Houston

Staying in shape at LDAC 2012

Warrior Forge Commandant of Cadets, Col. Dean Shultis, expresses the importance of physical fitness at the LDAC 2012 APFT.

1st and 2nd Regiments report for LDAC

By Hannah Van Ree
U.S. Army Cadet Command Public Affairs

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Second Lt. Starlet Baker prides herself in being the first face to welcome Cadets of the 1st Regiment to the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) this year at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The few Cadets that trickled in from the 1st and 2nd Regiments around 9:30 a.m., June 11, and the first buses that arrived, signaled the beginning of Warrior Forge 2012.

Cadet Jessica Dodd, a junior from the University of Arizona, signs in to the Leader Development and Assessment Course after arriving to Joint Base Lewis-McChord. U.S. Army photo by Jesse Beals

Traveling from all over the country and some from all over the globe, U.S. Army Cadets from all different backgrounds come together at LDAC every summer to complete a crucial assessment they need before becoming second lieutenants. Cadets are flown into Sea-Tac International Airport and then bused to the base, their new home for the next month.

Cadets had a chance to bond during the flights and bus ride from the airport to Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Cadet Ashlie LaFalce of 1st Regiment from State University of N.Y. College, Brockport, said that it felt like team building was already taking place.