WEST POINT, N.Y. (Aug. 1, 2012) -- In traditional Army style, the Class of 2015 returned to West Point July 27 not by convoy or air support, but by foot, and the 7.5-mile Run Back from Camp Buckner was just one last hurdle for more than 1,300 cadets completing Cadet Field Training this summer.
The four weeks in and around Camp Buckner was nothing short of intense and the culminating three-day field training exercise was the ultimate test of this training, said Class of 2013 Cadet Justen Anka, the CFT commander.
"It's an emotional challenge--we've really just provided them with some incredible opportunities to figure out how hard they can push themselves," Anka said. "They've gone out there every day figuring out that as long as they keep their minds strong, their bodies will keep going."
CFT also signifies the developmental transition from being a plebe to becoming a leader in the Corps of Cadets.
At the end of CFT, the class advances into the Cadet Noncommissioned Officer Corps and takes on the responsibilities of leading plebes.
Anka said the field training helped develop those leadership skills which they can use in their roles as team leaders. No longer are the yearlings responsible just for themselves, as Anka and the cadet cadre often reminded them.
"I think they've taken that to heart, trying to become that mature leader the academy wants them to be," Anka said.
Going from the "do this, do that" mentality of Cadet Basic Training to the stressful mindset of leading Soldiers during CFT had its challenges and rewards .
"During CBT we just followed orders, didn't question orders or really say anything," Class of 2015 Cadet Joon Mo Chung said. "Here we had more freedom and responsibilities, and those responsibilities really taught me a lot throughout this training period."
Class of 2015 Cadet Alec Bannister, 4th Squad, 2nd Platoon, 2nd Company, said enduring the rigors of CFT meant staying focused on the endstate.
"It's all about staying motivated and thinking about what comes next," Bannister said.
Bannister said the event that challenged their motivation most was the FTX, especially duirng a downpour and having to lay prone in fighting positions for hours while the mud seeped through their uniforms.
"It wasn't much fun but we got through it as a class, so … it was worth it," Bannister said. "I learned about my limits and how far past my limits I can go. I think we all learned that at the FTX."
The heat wave accompanying this summer's training was one of the worst in recent memory, not to mention the occasional bouts of heavy rain.
Anka said a significant rise in temperature coincided with some of the most strenuous field training, but safety was always paramount.
"That's something we take real seriously and one of our goals throughout the detail was zero heat injuries, and we've done real well with that," Anka said toward the end of CFT. "The chain of command is on top of it, and what's better than that is the fact the yearlings themselves are taking it seriously. They're making sure their buddies are drinking water, eating enough so their bodies can function in this heat."
Anka said he holds a strong allegiance to this yearling class after serving as a first sergeant to the Class of 2015 during Cadet Basic Training in 2011.
"From last year's CBT to this summer's CFT, I've seen the gamut of West Point field training," Anka said. "I feel really attached to this class after having the opportunity to bring them into the Corps last year and now seeing them promoted to NCOs this summer. I foresee great things for the Class of 2015."
CLASS OF 2015 AWARDS CEREMONY
Class of 2015 Cadet Lisa Junta had an exceptional freshman debut on the Army Track team last season, and her athletic prowess proved helpful during Cadet Field Training.
Junta achieved the highest Army Physical Fitness Test score (364) among female cadets to earn the Department of Physical Education Fitness Award at the CFT Awards Ceremony July 26.
She was also presented the Best Recondo Award for scoring the highest among female cadets. According to the CFT operations cell, a little less than 25 percent of cadets completed all the requirements to earn a Recondo Badge.
"Every cadet has the opportunity to earn the Recondo Badge, and I like to challenge myself, so that's the main reason I went for it," Junta said.
That challenge included passing all obstacles on three courses at Camp Buckner, a tactical casualty care test, the APFT, and the assembly and function check on the M249 and M240B. In addition, cadets needed a perfect score on the daytime land navigation course and completed a three-mile assault pack run and a Firebreak 5-miler within time limits.
"It's going to challenge everybody in different ways," Junta said. "It can be difficult in the sense you have to be well-rounded in all the tasks."
Class of 2015 Cadet Joon Mo Chung joined Junta on stage when he collected the DPE Fitness Award, scoring 374 to top all male cadets and helping 6th Company earn the DPE Company Plaque for highest PT average. He was also named 6th Company's best team leader and received the Superintendent's Award for the best overall cadet performance during CFT.
"In all honesty, I wouldn't have gotten any of these awards without the support from my squad and the great chain of command that we had," he said. "For me, the biggest learning experience from this was learning how to become a leader. Receiving the Superintendent's Award means best overall performance but, really, I learned a lot of lessons and I learned them the hard way, the easy way and every way possible."
It was a combined effort which resulted in 6th Company accumulating nine awards at the ceremony.
"We all worked together, accomplished all our missions and goals as one with barely any miscommunications at all," Chung said. "Everything was a group effort and we did our best."
Chung also said getting that initial experience of leading a team was rewarding enough, and he looks forward to getting more opportunities during the academic year. If he were to advise the next group of rising yearlings on how to successfully complete CFT, it could be summed up in one word.
"I would say 'embrace.' Embrace everything. You are handling a lot of stress, it's all new to you and you may be unsure of yourself but if you embrace every little thing thrown your way you can succeed," he said.
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