Blackhorse Regiment welcomes future leaders of America's Army

By Sgt. Giancarlo CasemAugust 4, 2009

Blackhorse Regiment welcomes future leaders of America's Army
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Matthew Frasier, 20, of Columbus, Ohio, patrols the streets of Medina Wasl, at the National Training Center on Fort Irwin, Calif., July 23. Frasier a junior from West Point Military Academy was attached to 1st Platoon, B Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Arm... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Blackhorse Regiment welcomes future leaders of America's Army
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Matthew Frasier, 20, of Columbus, Ohio, patrols the streets of Medina Wasl, at the National Training Center on Fort Irwin, Calif., July 23. Frasier, a junior from West Point Military Academy was attached to 1st Platoon, B Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th Ar... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Blackhorse Regiment welcomes future leaders of America's Army
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – West Point Military Academy Cadet Megan Liesenfelt of Pompano Beach, Fla., gets a chance to sit in the cockpit of an air-ambulance helicopter at Fort Irwin, Calif., in July. Liesenfelt, 20, a junior from West Point Military Academy was attached to th... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

FORT IRWIN, Calif. - West Point Cadets received a glimpse into their future during an on-the-job training program, here in July.

The West Point Military Academy's Cadet Troop Lead Training Program saw seven cadets from the academy attend a three-week hands-on instructional block of training at the National Training Center. The training program at the NTC afforded the cadets to experience Active Army garrison life. More importantly, during a recent rotation, the cadets were able to get a taste of life in a forward-deployed combat environment.

"This is what I'm going to be doing when I get to Iraq; actually being a platoon leader," said Cadet Sgt. Matthew Frasier.

The 20-year-old West Point Cadet said he plans on joining the combat arms branch.

"I love the infantry guys, I love it our here," said the native of Columbus, Ohio. "I definitely want to go into the combat arms branch when I get the opportunity to, I'm looking to go infantry."

The CTLT program provides Cadets the opportunity to experience leadership in an Army unit for a period of three to four weeks. During this period, cadets will participate in a platoon leader position, one that is typically filled by a lieutenant. This gives them the chance to experience what it will be like when they receive their commission into the United States Army.

"I've done field training at West Point with active duty groups, but this is my first time coming to an Army base with an active duty group," Frasier said. "We're here to learn the job as Soldiers in the field and in the garrison."

Frasier said that while he learns a great deal in the garrison environment, he prefers the field.

"It is awesome working with the Soldiers," he said. "I'm really learning the infantry life; it's a lot different than the garrison."

Another cadet, Megan Liesenfelt, said she was interested in the medical field. The recent rotation meant that she was able to see first-hand what was expected of her after she received her commission.

"They have a very intense job, I don't know if I was at any other post if I would be learning and seeing this much training going on," said the 20 year-old from Pompano Beach, Fla. "From what I hear, there is not this much training that a regular Army unit does, it is very fast paced a lot of stuff going on at once, and short periods off."

Cadets typically attend CTLC between the summer of their sophomore and Junior year. When they are attached to the unit, the cadet will shadow an officer of the branch that they intend to commission into.

Liesenfelt said she was undecided about which branch to go into until she arrived at the NTC.

"They sent me to the air ambulance unit, I've learned a lot there, I'm actually thinking about going into the Aviation Branch," she said. "I had my top three; I was undecided between aviation, medical services or engineer. Now I'm leaning towards aviation.

As a platoon leader, however, Frasier worked closely with his platoon sergeant to learn vital information to save his Soldiers' lives. During his stay at the NTC, Frasier served as a platoon leader with 1st Platoon, B Troop, 1st Squadron, 11th ACR. He participated in the recent rotation as an Iraqi Army role-player.

"I really enjoy working with the platoon sergeant and listening to the other NCOs," Frasier said. "I rely on them to get through the exercise, they know it and it's their job. I'm learning pretty much what I can from those guys."

The most important lesson he's learned so far is to listen to his NCOs he said.

"Learn from the NCOs, as a second lieutenant, you may have the education, but you won't have the experience, we have to rely on them."

For Liesenfelt, it wasn't so much a single lesson, but a myriad of them. It was a vital look into a field that she had not fully decided to.

"I don't know if I can put into words what I've learned," she said. "There's not one thing or specific lesson; it was a lot of different things."