Central Washington University Cadet David Barndt, from Ellensburg, Wash., leads his fellow Cadets from 13th Regiment onto the parade field during graduation at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. U.S. Army photo by Jesse Beals

The AUSA Leadership Excellence Award, Bank of America Coin, and the COMTeK Leadership Award goes to the No. 1 Cadet in each regiment:

Jennifer Cigler, 14/A/2, Pacific Lutheran University

The Sinclair L. Melner Award and the USAA Leadership Award go to the No. 2 Cadet in each regiment:

Zachary Betts, 14/B/3, University of Nevada – Reno

The COMtek Warrior Ethos Award goes to the Cadet who displayed innovation, resiliency, courage, integrity, and honor:

Hector Hernandez-Aviles, 14/A/4, Campbell University

The Warrior Forge Commander’s Leadership Award goes to the Top Cadet in each company:

William Cordes, 14/A/5, Kansas State University
Justin Rider, 14/B/5, Cornell University

The Platoon Leadership Award goes to the Top Cadet in each platoon:

Joseph McGrew, 14/A/1, Ohio University
Caitlin Lynca, 14/A/2, University of Montana
Alexander Hedine, 14/A/3, Gonzaga University
Robert Ferrainolo, 14/A/4, University of Maryland, College Park
Garrett Stanbrough, 14/A/5, College of the Ozarks
Daniel Pauly, 14/B/1, California State University – Sacramento
Steven Williams, 14/B/2, Georgia Southern University
Michelle Cody, 14/B/3, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Starlet Baker, 14/B/4, Western Illinois University
Stephen Voline, 14/B/5, University of West Florida

The AUSA Leadership Excellence Award, Bank of America Coin, and the COMTeK Leadership Award goes to the No. 1 Cadet in each regiment:

Matthew Upshaw, 13/A/3, North Georgia College & State University

The Sinclair L. Melner Award and the USAA Leadership Award go to the No. 2 Cadet in each regiment:

Kevin Bubolz, 13/A/2, Marquette University

The COMtek Warrior Ethos Award goes to the Cadet who displayed innovation, resiliency, courage, integrity, and honor:

Brian Hamel, 13/B/4, University of Vermont

The Warrior Forge Commander’s Leadership Award goes to the Top Cadet in each company:

Matthew Upshaw, 13/A/3, North Georgia College & State University
Brian Hamel, 13/B/4, University of Vermont

The Platoon Leadership Award goes to the Top Cadet in each platoon:

Scott Deryke, 13/A/1, Western Michigan University
Kevin Bubolz, 13/A/2, Marquette University
Matthew Upshaw, 13/A/3, North Georgia College & State University
Jesse Dewan 13/A/4, Widener University
Douglas Rohde, 13/A/5, University of Nebraska – Lincoln
Caitlin Holbrook-Bruns, 13/B/1, Gonzaga University
Marcus Fisher, 13/B/2, Austin Peay State University
Brendan Hoffman, 13/B/3, Tufts University
Brian Hamel, 13/B/4, University of Vermont
Aurelia Clementi-Poat, 13/B/5, University of Wisconsin- Stevens Point

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – “Ages ago, Native American tribes from across the Northwest gathered at Lake Sequalitchew to test their will and bravery. These warriors came to these hallowed waters in the spirit of competition. Their spirits linger on, beckoning us to live as they did and to honor their traditions …”

Sgt. Maj. Gary Fortunato is the senior training advisor for the water confidence course at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. U.S. Army photo by Mike Sweeten

It’s probably hooey, but that’s how Sgt. Maj. Gary Fortunato responded when he learned that he was being profiled for this story. Fortunato is well-known as the senior training advisor for the water confidence course at Lake Sequalitchew on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, where the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) takes place. For the past seven years, he has had a ready word for Army Cadets who may be afraid of water and of heights.

He assured me that his made-up story is far more interesting than his life history.

Over the last 14 years, Fortunato has been the senior military instructor at Providence College, and teaches and encourages Cadets at LDAC. Prior to that, he served 30 years on active duty. Fortunato has worked in infantry, military intelligence, and administrative professions. This is Fortunato’s humble version.

At the water confidence course, Fortunato watches every summer as Cadets climb, shimmy, scoot, splash, and swim their way out of LDAC. Cadets must successfully navigate the water confidence events in order to pass the course. When they get stuck, and fear of heights or of the water grips their hearts and legs, Fortunato talks them across. He cracks jokes. He asks Cadets to sing their alma mater. If they didn’t know it, he tells them that they have until reaching the end of the zip line to learn it.

The familiarity leads to trust. His motto, “You can do it,” stems from his personal history of accomplishments. And, most Cadets succeed.

“It’s important for them to trust their resources and for us to empower them,” said Fortunato. “Even if they’ve faltered, they learn to trust their equipment, each other and themselves.”

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Fear is a powerful thing, but it can be overcome at the Leader Development and Assessment Course. Cadets here manage the pressures of fear in their own way, making the choice of taking fear by the horns or leaving LDAC empty-handed.

Water and heights are just two of the many obstacles in Cadets’ minds as they conquer tasks at Joint Base Lewis-McChord this summer.

At the Water Confidence Course, Cadets learn to overcome their fear of water and heights. U.S. Army photo by Al Zdarsky

“We’ll ask them what their fear is first and make them understand that it is OK for them to have fear,” said Sgt. Maj. Gary Fortunato, a senior advisor to the confidence committee. But as leaders they need to learn to push through their fear. We remind them of their past successes in training and to trust their leadership abilities.”

Cadets are not alone as they complete the events on this course. Not only is teamwork needed to conquer one of the events on the course, but while Cadets face some of their biggest fears, members of their regiment have their back. The course is full of cheering and encouragement.

“At this course, Cadets gain more of a collected identity and realize they are a team – not singling out Cadets from different schools,” said Lt. Col. Paul Baker, chief of the confidence committee.

At the poncho raft assembly, Cadets are shown how to wrap their gear to keep it dry and afloat in their packs. Many who have prior service overseas explained that this type of training does come in handy.
Next, Cadets learn through timed experience how to work as a team and operate Zodiac watercraft efficiently. A team of 10 and a coxswain in charge power into the water from the launch site. Halfway through the water course, they must intentionally capsize their boat, right it again, and get everyone safely back in. They then proceed to shore where they must carry the raft a distance of 50 meters on the ground and then maneuver it back into the water.

“This course is about overcoming fear and building camaraderie,” said officer in charge Warrant Officer Nick Martocci.

After these educational and team-building tasks, Cadets conquer some of their greatest fears. Climbing up the 35-foot ladder is not what scares most Cadets. It is the initial step away from the ladder onto a narrow beam over the water that gives them pause. Looking up at the  course, Cadets get a different perspective than when they are balancing on the beam themselves. What they hear below is the pounding of their hearts in their chest as they take those first initial shaky steps.

Martocci not only stressed how Cadets gain leadership skills at LDAC, but at the water confidence course Cadets realize they have to accomplish tasks to help out their fellow Cadets and finish the mission.

“They understand that they need to put their fears aside to help out their ‘Joes’ and the mission,” said Martocci.

Cadets will fall into the water regardless, but it takes some of them a little time to convince themselves they can cross the beam. Others have no problem. One Cadet was even said to have danced across the beam.

“It doesn’t matter how scared they are. It’s whether they can do it or not,” said Staff Sgt. Philip Dubose, an instructor and site coordinator.

After completing the log walk, Cadets then climb another ladder to crawl across and dangle from a rope. After gathering their composure – the time it takes to do this keeps them from a wonky fall – Cadets let go and plunge into the water. Fear of heights and water beaten, right?

Maybe. But talk about water confidence at LDAC always turns to the “slide for life,” a zip line attached on one end to a 57-foot tower. The climb up is slow – gives Cadets time to worry whether or not they’ll step off the platform when it’s time, trusting their grip.

The way down is not slow. Grabbing onto a pulley at the top, they glide down and hope to properly time their drop into the water – 250 meters from their starting point. Coming up from the water this time for the Cadets means that they have taken the last adrenaline rush needed to become an officer.

“I love zip lines,” said Cadet Eva Wilkes, visiting from the United Kingdom. “I could do it all day. But the log drop really freaked me out; I was absolutely terrified. But now it’s no worries.”

Q. What advice do you have for future Cadets who will attend LDAC?

“Make sure you are in shape for all the physical training. Also be sure to take all your training at school serious.” – Luke Harris, Ole Miss

“Study the TAC OP as much as you can. The better you know that, the better prepared you will be. It is all the preparation you can do.” – Clayton Lawson, Purdue University

“Come in with an open mind. Come ready to learn from everyone, not just the cadre, but Cadets from all over the country. You can learn a lot from everyone and you learn really fast.” – Sean Keeler, University of Alabama

The day before graduation, Cadets from the 13th Regiment undertake the two-mile Regimental Run at the Leader Development and Assessment Course on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. U.S. Army photo by Mike Sweeten

West Chester University Cadet Matthew Gotzy (left) answers questions of Spc. Jason Routt (right) of the Armed Services Blood Bank Center before donating blood during the Leader Development and Assessment Course on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. U.S. Army photo by Mike Sweeten.

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – Addicted to Facebook or Twitter? Adapting to the newest technology learned at the Leader Development and Assessment Course might be easier than you think. Technology is increasingly becoming a stronger force in the world, and the technological advances of the U.S. military are no different.

Cadets at Operation Warrior Forge are exposed to simulators and technology at Mission Command that will be beneficial to them out in the field.

In the field, Army officers are sometimes put into positions where they are under fire and must make decisions that could affect the lives of their Soldiers. At the beginning of Mission Command, Cadets watch step-by step how a real mission in Afghanistan was executed and why the mission leader made his final decisions.

Kutztown University 11th Regiment Cadet Michael Cardena-Kramer goes through a First Person Simulation (Virtual Battle Space-2) Mission Command in the Mission Command at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. U.S. Army photo by Jesse Beals

“These stations expose Cadets to training enablers and challenges they will find on the battlefield. They learn how to use mission command and the systems that they will control as platoon leaders,” said Lt. Col. Scott Figlioli, a professor of military science at Fresno State University and committee chief of Mission Command.

For an hour, Cadets watched a simulated mission video based on real events told by Soldiers. The video is stopped periodically and Cadets take turns acting as platoon leaders, stating what they would do next in the situation.

After the leadership development exercise, Cadets split up and some go to station two, the “First Person Simulation,” while others go to station three, which consists of the “Platform Level Mission Command,” “Call for Fire Trainer,” and the “Common Driver Trainer.”

At “Platform Level Mission Command,” Cadets learn how to operate various military technologies through a Stryker orientation. They deal with many different training enablers and learn how to use tools such as a Blue Force Tracker. Information might include knowing where friendly units are, where they are going and their current coordinates. Also, units can share their locations with one another and commanders can sit at different points and determine the location of all of their units.

The computers in the Strykers have touch screens littered with buttons that indicate fuel levels, map coordinates, weather patterns and team morale levels.

“The Twitter and Facebook generations relate really well to the new technology,” said Figlioli, while noting that the gauge on the bottom of the screen mentioned the units’ mood and compared it to a Facebook status update.

At the “Common Driver Trainer” station, Cadets get behind the screens of computers and wheels of simulators. A team of three Cadets work together – one as the driver, one as the truck commander, and one as the instructor. The driver is put in a helmet and ushered inside the simulated Stryker vehicle and starts to drive on the animated terrain. The truck commander gives the driver directions and mission plans, just like a platoon leader gives operational orders. The other Cadets get to create the scene and the terrain the vehicle is passing through.

“All of these things show what the future will be like for them in the Army. Stryker accidents can happen if you aren’t careful,” said Figlioli. “It also shows how important it is to assist the drivers and also how important working with our tech guys and commanders are.”

Figlioli stressed this was just “first exposure training” for Cadets with these technology systems in order to show their capabilities, advantages and disadvantages. It would take a unit multiple days of training to master a system effectively.

Cadets Michael Kramer and Trevor Buckles worked together on a simulation and coordinated a driver and gunner team. In doing so, they saw how much Soldiers depend on one another out in the field.

“You get accustomed to different operations, while driving and making decisions at battle speed,” said Kramer.

At Mission Command, Cadets are getting exposure to the systems they will be using on the battlefield, and learning how technology can aid them in what can potentially be a last-minute, life-altering event.

Please join Kailyn and Stephanie, Warrior Forge Public Affairs personnel, as we do weekly live broadcasts from Operation Warrior Forge.

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – During Operation Warrior Forge, a significant portion of Cadets perform various tactical exercises. From individual squad tactics to larger patrolling, Cadets are evaluated on their leadership potential in stressful situations.

“We want to help them develop their leadership skills while they’re out here. We want to reinforce their strengths and help them find out where they need to improve,” said Maj. David Ramsey from the University of Cincinnati.

Cadet Robert Zebrowski from Kent State University along with other members of his squad from 10th Regiment, B Company, 4th Platoon patrols the dense undergrowth during the Squad Situational Training Exercise phase of Operation Warrior Forge on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. U.S. Army photo by Al Zdarsky

Cadets spend a total of eight and a half days doing maneuvering, squad exercises, patrolling and a 10-kilometer march. Cadets are evaluated numerous times in various leadership roles to include squad leader, patrol leader and assistant patrol leaders.

Of those eight and half days, four are spent at STX lanes. Each squad conducts six lanes a day, with each lane lasting two hours. Cadets have 45 minutes of planning, another 45 minutes to execute their mission and 30 minutes for review.

“The hardest thing to plan for was the terrain,” said University of Alabama in Huntsville Cadet Ty Myatt. “Adapting to a new environment was challenging.”

Following the four days of STX, Cadets have a transition day before they begin two days of patrolling. There, two squads will come together to form a patrol, or section. Three missions, each lasting four hours, are completed per day. For patrolling, Cadets have 90 minutes of planning, two hours for the mission and 30 minutes for review.

“Some Cadets have a little more experience and domain knowledge,” said Ramsey. “We’ll try to throw in some developmental challenges for them. It won’t hurt their evaluation in most cases. It usually helps them excel even more. Sometimes it’s a change in mission, and sometimes it’s different than what they thought they would see.”

“I guess the hardest part was overcoming confrontations amongst people and overcoming differences during all of that training together,” said Myatt.

“Everyone has their own way of doing things and have different expectations,” said Cadet Natalie Thiel from Capital University.  “You’re working with a squad that you haven’t been with and working with people you aren’t familiar with. You really have to be on your feet.”

There are 268 cadre and an additional 77 lieutenants who are part of the tactics committee at Operation Warrior Forge this year. They act as evaluators, as well as functioning as part of each scenario. All of the supporting cadre are divided into four teams that cycle through as different regiments come to tactics.

The most important leadership skills that Cadets should know are troop leading procedures and the tactics they have to employ. Cadre assesses each Cadet’s potential in a variety of leadership positions throughout tactical training.

“Some cadre are taking note of your domain knowledge of tactics, and others are assessing leadership ability,” said Thiel.

“They’ll explain what you did right, what you did wrong, and how to correct it,” added Arielle Bazulka from East Stroudsburg University. “It’s definitely constructive criticism and you learn a lot.”

Lastly, Cadets will march 10 kilometers while wearing their rucksack. They are given a route map and an operations order, while their regimental command runs the march.

“I think the most motivating part of the 10k was the energy from the cadre,” said Bazulka. “They were really into it – running up and down and cracking jokes. It was fun because we knew we were finally leaving.”

JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. – The Order of Merit List. For Cadets, it represents the sum of all of their training. The list, which ranks Cadets from across the country, is a criterion by which duty stations and assignments are determined. Where they fall on the list will determine where they will be placed after they have graduated and commissioned, and what Army “branch,” or profession, they will serve in.

Cadet Justin Holmes from Kansas City, Kansas who attends the University of Arkansas checks out an artillery sight during Branch Orientation on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. U.S. Army photo by Al Zdarsky

Several factors go into determining a Cadet’s placement on the Order of Merit List. A Cadet’s rank is dependent upon their grade point average, score on the Army Physical Fitness Test, and performance at both their university and at the Leader Development and Assessment Course. The higher up on the list a Cadet is, the more likely they will get their preferred branch.

“Most Cadets already have a good idea of what branch they want before they get to Warrior Forge,” said 2nd Lt. Josh Kennedy, a graduate of Claremont McKenna College.

At Warrior Forge, a branch orientation day brings representatives from Army professions together to help Cadets understand what various jobs entail. Set up much like a job fair, Cadets can visit tents of the 16 different U.S. Army branches. They include: adjutant general corps, air defense artillery, armor, aviation, chemical corps, corps of engineers, field artillery, finance corps, infantry, medical service corps, military intelligence, military police, ordnance corps, quartermaster corps, signal corps, and transportation corps.“Just going in for ten to fifteen minutes has been really helpful,” said Cadet Sharlene Rodriguez of Shippensburg University. “It’s good for a lot of people who don’t really know about each branch.”

Cadet Shannon Roemer of Elmira University wants to pursue nursing.

“Nursing is my number one and only choice,” Roemer explained. “There are so many ways that you can go with it and you can always change. Also, being able to help people played a role in my decision. We got the opportunity to go to Madigan hospital earlier. It was really helpful to talk to lieutenants who have already gone through the process and who know what to expect. It was good to find out what will happen after we graduate.”

Cadets were at each tent for five rotations for roughly 40 minutes. At each tent, representatives from each branch explained to Cadets what a specific branch did and answered any questions Cadets had about them.

“It gives them a lot of information about what each branch offers and the duties and responsibilities associated with each,” said Kennedy.

There were also tents for the National Guard, Special Forces, and Chaplain corp.

“The most common branches that Cadets typically want are military intelligence, infantry, signal and armor,” said Kennedy.

“So far, ordnance is pretty interesting,” added Rodriguez. “So is MP, transportation and signal.”

“I always hear the guys say specifically that they want infantry, aviation and artillery,” said Roemer.

Cadets have to include a combat arms branch as one of their top choices when they list their preferences. As seniors, they will be notified of their branch assignment and will head to their Basic Officer Leadership Course after they commission.

Niagara University 14th Regiment Cadet Jessica Cristiano from West Seneca, N.Y. fills out the proper paperwork before giving blood during a blood drive at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. U.S. Army photo by Jesse Beals.

Marymount University 2nd Lt. Bryan Welsh of Fairfax, Va. stands at attention after getting his bars during 11th and 12th Regiments' graduation ceremony at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. U.S. Army photo by Jesse Beals.