JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash., June 16, 2011 -- As Cadets flocked to baggage claim at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport June 13, 2011, they were ushered to in-processing, signaling the start of the Leader Development and Assessment Course, U.S. Army Cadet Command's capstone assessment, and the Army's largest training exercise.
Cadets huddled around carousels at baggage claim, waiting to locate their duffel bags before being directed to the check-in station. There, they were told to drop their baggage in designated areas and sign in. Handfuls of Cadets, most wearing polo shirts from their respective schools, chatted with each other and made last-minute phone calls.
Cadets had mixed feelings about starting the course, also known as Operation WARRIOR FORGE.
Cadet Travis Kirchner from the University of Nebraska was excited to get started.
“I’m two percent scared, 98 percent excited,” Kirchner said. “Or maybe it’s the other way around. But I’m ready for this. I’m ready to come in and complete all of my training.”
Cadet Carey Duval, University of Colorado at Boulder, was “a little bit anxious, but ready to go out and do my best.”
“I just want to get out and meet the people I’m going to be serving with,” said Cadet Richard Shannon from the University of Missouri.
After checking in with cadre, Cadets from the course's 1st and 2nd Regiments were instructed to take their bags outside and load them onto a bus. Cadets were sorted into groups to be shuttled to Joint-Base Lewis-McChord, or JBLM, Wash., while their bags were taken ahead of them. Before boarding the shuttle, Cadets were given a box lunch for the ride and received instructions for arrival at Warrior Forge.
“The idea is to keep positive control and order,” said Maj. Jon Bryan, who oversees the in-processing station at Sea-Tac. “The challenge is to get the Cadets and their bags there in an orderly fashion. It helps to have a process laid out.”
Upon arriving at JBLM, Cadets were taken to their regiments and split up into their designated platoons.
Warrior Forge 2011 is expected to have close to 7,000 Cadets come through this summer. Seven separate arrival dates are scheduled, with nearly 1,000 showing up for each.
Related Links:
Official News & Info for Operation WARRIOR FORGE
STAND-TO!: U.S. Army Cadet Command: Making Army lieutenants
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