FORT CAVAZOS, Texas – Cadet Troop Leader Training (CTLT) with the 1st Cavalry Division offers Cadets an opportunity to develop leadership skills by shadowing and learning from platoon leaders in a real-world training environment.
Nathaniel Reese Young, a Cadet from Wolf Pack Battalion, University of Nevada, Reno, is majoring in political science with a minor in military science.
“I always wanted to serve; I wanted to be in the United States Army,” Young said. “It’s what I’ve always wanted to do. I love the warrior ethos, I love the community, I love what it stands for, and I thought the best way to get my higher education and serve my country was to do ROTC.”
After completing CTLT, Young hopes to commission as an Infantry officer.
Most Cadets participating in CTLT have not yet received their branch allocations. The program's intent is to allow them to confirm their preferences, making their CTLT experiences critical in shaping their future Army careers.
Cadet Sydney Montana, from Frontier Battalion, Slippery Rock University, is also conducting CTLT at Fort Cavazos. She is majoring in homeland security.
“Cadet Troop Leader Training is important to us as Cadets because it allows us to learn from an LT who is a platoon leader,” Montana said. “We get to observe how they interact and what they do in their day-to-day tasks. As a Cadet, it’s very important for me to take those skills back with me for my final year of college and into my ROTC program.”
Montana aims to gain experience that will help her become a better leader in the Army.
After completing the CTLT program, the Cadets will return to their respective universities to continue their Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) programs. They will serve as senior leaders to junior Cadets, using the skills and experiences gained during CTLT to guide their peers. As they approach graduation, Young and Montana will prepare to start their careers as U.S. Army officers.
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