More than 20 ROTC cadets from Columbus State University were given a mission Sunday - rescue two U.S. Special Forces Soldiers and a member of the American Red Cross.
In a mock mission at Buchanan Range, insurgents captured the town of Ridleyville and ousted the mayor. It was the cadets' job to rescue the prisoners and secure the two-story building that was used as the insurgents' headquarters.
The exercise was part of the CSU Cougar Battalion's first field training exercise this semester. It was designed to hone leadership skills, said LTC Mark Ridley, military science professor at Columbus State University. Senior cadets, who will graduate and commission in the spring, "managed" the problem-solving process, Ridley said, and junior cadets led at the squad and team level. They were evaluated on their performance.
To be successful, the cadets were required to develop a solid plan but remain flexible as circumstances evolved, said MAJ Scott Jones, ROTC operations officer.
"You always want to go in with a good plan, but when you go up there, you get a first time view of what it looks like, you confirm, deny or possibly have to void your plan based on your leader's recon," Jones said in an after action review.
"Very few times ... does the plan you rehearse ever go down exactly the way you planned and rehearsed. Something always changes."
The cadets planned to move in on Strykers, dismount and approach the insurgents' headquarters through the woods behind the building. They didn't expect to encounter snipers on the roof, hysterical civilians roaming the
streets and aggressive reporters complicating the situation. These complications led to the "deaths" of two ROTC squad leaders.
"We wanted to make it stressful for them," Ridley said. "It's important to have civilians in their training, because that is what they will see the majority of their time in theater in Iraq and Afghanistan. We put them in these situations so they can figure out how to deal with them and how to apply the rules of engagement toward them."
Cadet Seth Prosser was surprised to find himself assigned to lead the mission.
"In a situation like this, you never know what is going to happen," Prosser said. "They threw in some wrenches, like the (civilians) walking up to the platoon and talking. You have to be able to stay focused, think on your feet and make a quick, but smart, decision."
Cadet Gwen Hill, a junior, said the exercise taught her about the responsibilities of holding various positions and the need to remain flexible when it comes to carrying out a mission.
"You have to have a plan, but be able to adjust it if (something) goes wrong," she said.
Cadets also practiced ambush, reconnaissance and squad tactic drills and wrapped up their three-day FTX Sunday.
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