West Point cadets are actively engaged in the Cadet Troop Leader Training program, where they are integrated into 10th Mountain Division (LI) platoons across the installation.
This immersive summer training initiative exposes cadets to the rigors of daily Army operations, allowing them to assume leadership roles, strengthen their decision-making process, and enhance their ability to perform under stress within authentic training scenarios.
During their time with the 10th Mountain Division, these cadets had an opportunity to participate in a physical training competition hosted by 10th Mountain Reception Company, which works with the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade’s Holistic Health and Fitness team to introduce H2F to Soldiers of all ranks undergoing in-processing at Fort Drum.
Ben Smith, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade lead strength and conditioning coach, explained the purpose of having in-processing Soldiers compete against each other.
“During the two-week in-processing program we have the newcomers experience a physical challenge in the form of a team-based competition that is designed specifically to exploit their current state of mental, physical, spiritual, and nutritional readiness in order to provide them immediate feedback regarding their present ability to function as the modern war-fighter in which the 10th Mountain Division requires them to be both lethal and resilient to known and unknown adversities.”
Each week a member of the Division Command Team joins the competition to welcome the incoming Soldiers and convey the priorities of the division. This week’s guest was Maj. Gen. Gregory K. Anderson, 10th Mountain Division (LI) and Fort Drum commander.
When speaking about athletics, Anderson quoted the famous World War II General Douglas MacArthur.
“Upon the fields of friendly strife are sown the seeds that, upon other fields, on other days, will bear the fruits of victory.”
Anderson continued, addressing the cadets by emphasizing how important it is to implement teambuilding operations into every aspect of their military career.
“That is what today was – this is where you build what you need to fight and win our nation’s wars,” he said. “You build it here. You build your grit, courage, communication, your sense of team, and you push yourself.”
Using a Spartan shield, Anderson illustrated that a cornerstone of effective combat operations is building unit cohesion every chance you get.
“You don’t hold your shield for yourself in this division, you hold it for your teammate, for your brother and sister. When you bond like that, I’m telling you nothing beats you in combat.”
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