On Friday, April 1, 136 Cadets from the Military Science Department loaded on buses and vans for a two-hour trip to Fort Indiantown Gap, located outside of Harrisburg, for the Royal Warrior Army ROTC Battalion's spring field training exercise.

The event kicked off with 30 seniors participating in a live-fire range, as they conducted zero and familiarization fire with M-16 rifles. Other highlights of the two-and-half day training exercise included day-and-night land navigation for freshman and sophomore Cadets. Placed in two-person teams, Cadets, using a map and compass, had to navigate to four points located across the training site during both the day and night portions of the training. 

The Cadets also took part in a field leadership reaction course. During the course, one Cadet was place in charge of several of their peers and given basic instructions, time constraints and minimal equipment then expected to lead their squad over a set obstacle. This training is designed to test not only Cadets leadership abilities, but also force them to work as a team, employ problem-solving abilities, communicate with each other, and test their physical stamina.

For the Cadets in the junior class, the weekend's training centered on small unit tactics. Saturday Cadets focused on leading a 15 to 18 personnel patrol, which required that they not only employ their basic military leadership skills, but demonstrate their understanding of military tactics. Cadets moved through scenarios which required they execute tasks ranging from engaging with civilians on the battlefield to conducting an ambush against an enemy position. After a day of patrolling, they transitioned to squad tactical lanes where they performed many of the same tasks, however, with only six or seven members in the formation. The intent behind this training was to help prepare the juniors for many of the tasks they will be required to perform and be evaluated on when they attend the Leader Development and Assessment Course at Fort Lewis, Washington, this summer.

The entire exercise was planned and executed under the direction of the program’s seniors. Planning for the exercise began in January and consisted of a series of inprogress reviews with the Military Science Department’s Cadre. In addition, the MS IV Cadets oversaw the publishing and issuing of a Battalion Operations Order and a Battalion level rehearsal with Cadre to ensure the seniors were prepared to execute this event.

Among those Cadets who stood out over the course of the exercise were senior Cadets Andrew Baker, Christopher Mead and Timothy Moore. Cadet Baker, who serves as the Battalion’s Cadet Sergeant Major, was responsible for ensuring Cadets were always in the right place, right uniform and ready to train. He serves as a direct link between the Cadets and the program’s Non-commissioned Officers.  Cadets Mead and Moore were instrumental in the planning, execution and assessment of both the Patrolling and Squad Tactical Training for the MS III Cadets.