FORT SILL, Okla., April 13, 2018 -- About 70 ROTC cadets from four battalions trained at Fort Sill, April 6-7, for their annual Team Oklahoma Spring Field Training Exercise (FTX).
The cadets, from Cameron University (CU), the University of Central Oklahoma, the University of Oklahoma (OU), and Oklahoma State University (OSU), were mostly juniors (Military Science 3) and seniors (MS4).
The training prepared the MS3 cadets for their upcoming monthlong advanced summer camp at Fort Knox, Ky. The cadets split from their school battalions, so many trained alongside cadets they had never met before.
"It's awesome preparation for summer camp because you're working with other cadets that you don't know, so you hear different ideas, and use those as we learn to work together," said MS3 Jason Albert, CU "Comanche Battalion."
The training included M16 rifle marksmanship, and day and night land navigation, said Cadet Audrey Shifflet, a junior at CU, and public affairs officer for the FTX.
The training was cut short by almost two days because of a severe cold front that moved in, so that eliminated the planned situational training exercise lanes, she said.
MS4 cadets helped in the planning of the FTX because they know what their underclassmen will encounter at the summer camp, they also assisted running events, said Shifflet, who once she's commissioned, plans to attend the Field Artillery Basic Officer Leader Course here.
MS4 Austin Martin, CU, said he wants the junior cadets to develop their crucial cognitive abilities.
"At advanced summer camp I think the most valuable skill in succeeding is critical thinking skills," Martin said. "Certainly practice with tactics and doctrine helps, but being able to 'think on your feet' helps most."
Cadets were slated to sleep under the stars during the FTX, however, because of the bad weather they slept inside at Forward Operating Base Kelly here, Shifflet said.
At the Sgt. Seay North RETS Range, MS3 Melissa Guevara, OU, prepared to fire her M16 at pop-up targets, and targets up to 300 meters. Earlier she zeroed or adjusted her sights on her rifle at the Pvt. Wanton 25 Meter Range. She said that was easy for her.
Guevara said she gained great leadership experience during the FTX that she'll use at the summer camp. She was also impressed with the Fort Sill training areas.
"At our school we don't have a range, and the training area is limited, but being out here is great," she said.
At the day land-navigation event at Rabbit Hill training area, cadets had to find four points that went out as far as 1,700 meters, said MS3 Chris Matthews, OSU.
He estimated that he walked five miles during the three-hour training, and that he learned about terrain association, and judging distances.
"It was way more challenging than I thought it was going to be," said Matthews, who is also a National Guard Soldier with 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry in Ponca City, Okla.
Matthews said he had met quite a few of the other schools' cadets from previous ROTC activities, or through his Army National Guard work.
"For the ones I had not met it's been a pleasant interaction to swap knowledge that they have and I lack, and vice versa," said Matthews, who plans to become a cyber officer.
Maj. Kristen Plassmeyer, OU assistant professor of military science, was at the FTX with her staff and their senior cadets. She said she wanted the cadets to get a better understanding of what they'll experience at Fort Knox.
She described the FTX as a tight snapshot of the summer camp.
"They'll gain some better leadership skills and enhance what they already know," she said. "We hope they have fun here, and also get a better feeling about what they're going to be doing in the Army when they become lieutenants."
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