Army ROTC by Elizabeth Billman

CDT Harbaugh repositions his 24...my ROTC at Ft. Drum, New York.

CDT Harbaugh repositions his 240 Bravo Machine Gun, loaded with blanks, while engaging in a defensive maneuver with his platoon. This simulated battle drill is a part of the larger Joint Training Exercise Harbaugh is participating in with his program, Syracuse University Army ROTC at Ft. Drum, New York.

Syracuse Army ROTC cadets run t...loth from touching the ground.

Syracuse Army ROTC cadets run the big flag along the football field before a match against Rutgers University on the 20th anniversary of 9/11. In addition to the cadets holding on the outside, a few additional ones are sent underneath the 50-foot-long flag to prevent the cloth from touching the ground.

The "Tough One" is a ...nd rope section of the course.

The "Tough One" is a part of the standard Army Obstacle Course. This event involves climbing up a rope, runnign across sevearl boards and up and over a ladder and rope section of the course.

A Syracuse Army ROTC platoon of...ack at any point of the night.

A Syracuse Army ROTC platoon of Cadets heads away from the days training area where they conducted multiple iterations of basic battle drills. The day is not finished for these cadets as they head off to find a place to set up their Patrol Base for the night. In this Patrol Base the cadets will set up a defensive position and rotate through "fire watches" to keep the area defended at all times and respond to simulated enemy attack at any point of the night.

CDT Dargis fixes his helmet aft...s—in battle drill simulations.

CDT Dargis fixes his helmet after a momentary pause in training. Dargis is an MS3 or in his junior year of the Syracuse Army ROTC program. As a junior at this Joint Training Event, he is engaging in Leadership Rotations and preparing for the six weeks he will spend at advanced training in Ft. Knox this summer. He practices his skills commanding a platoon of younger cadets—his peers—in battle drill simulations.

The Syracuse ROTC program went ... an M-4 rifle at their target.

The Syracuse ROTC program went on an FTX or Field Training Exercise for three days in the Fall of 2020. Any FTX can be very physically and mentally demanding, with decreased sleep, stressful environments, and exposure to the elements. Juniors in the program attend the shooting range as part of the FTX. To receive a passing score at their summer advanced training they need to be proficient in accurately firing an M-4 rifle at their target.

The Syracuse ROTC program went ... and exposure to the elements.

The Syracuse ROTC program went on an FTX or Field Training Exercise for three days in the Fall of 2020. Any FTX can be very physically and mentally demanding, with decreased sleep, stressful environments, and exposure to the elements.

An appointed squad leader in th...nship with the younger cadets.

An appointed squad leader in the practical exercise of the Movement to Contact drill informs a member of his squad of the logisitcs of the mission ahead. The junior class are the main players in what is called cadet leadership. They act as the squad leaders, platoon leaders and other higher leadership positions in the battalion. With the pandemic, the juniors have been key operators in dealing with changes to the organization while also maintaining a good realtionship with the younger cadets.

Cadets participate in morning P...er to comply with regulations.

Cadets participate in morning Physical Training that runs from 6:30am-7:30am. The cadets would typically participate in PT as a battalion consisting of the entire 140 people in the organizations. Because of the pandemic the cadets participate in PT in squad sized groups of 8-12 in order to comply with regulations.

The Syracuse ROTC program went ...e summer of their junior year.

The Syracuse ROTC program went on an FTX or Field Training Exercise for three days over the weekend. Juniors in the program attend the shooting range as part of the FTX because they will need to be proficient with the weapon in order to get a good score at Advanced Camp durin gthe summer of their junior year.

While cadets are participating ...ide of "cadet land."

While cadets are participating in rigorous training during the academic year and at FTXs, they are still college students. CDT Troelstra tucks brightly colored pencils into her pen pouch, not something you would typically see outside of "cadet land."

The Syracuse ROTC program went ...y've made in the program.

The Syracuse ROTC program went on an FTX or Field Training Exercise for three days over the weekend. Any FTX can be very physically and mentally demanding, with decreased sleep, stressful environments, and ezposure to the elements. Peer bonding becomes extremely important as ROTC cadets will tell you that they wouldn't be able to "embrace the suck" with out the friends they've made in the program.

CDT Scheeren puts forth her bes...while completing the exercise.

CDT Scheeren puts forth her best effort to complete the Confidence Climb at the annual Joint Training Exercise for Syracuse University Army ROTC. The Confidence Climb is comprised of 10 wooden beams reaching 35 feet in total. The height between each beam increases as the heigh does and Army personnel have to always maintain three points of contact while completing the exercise.

The Syracuse ROTC program went ... and ezposure to the elements.

The Syracuse ROTC program went on an FTX or Field Training Exercise for three days over the weekend. Any FTX can be very physically and mentally demanding, with decreased sleep, stressful environments, and ezposure to the elements.

Cadet Lopane completes "Th...e place in the summer of 2022.

Cadet Lopane completes "The Weaver" an obstacle course that uses the whole body as one muscle to move up, over and under each of the bars until complete. Lopane and his fellow cadets completed this practice obstacle course in preparation for Air Assault Tryouts that will take place in the summer of 2022.

On November 6th, the Army ROTC ...on protocol for the afternoon.

On November 6th, the Army ROTC program was visited by a local medical evacuation National Guard Unit. The members of the unit volunteered to teach cadets medical and evacuation protocol for the afternoon.

On November 6th, the Army ROTC ...ew aroudn the Syracuse campus.

On November 6th, the Army ROTC program was visited by a local medical evacuation National Guard Unit. The members of the unit volunteered to teach cadets medical and evacuation protocol for the afternoon. They also did a live demonstration of a medical evacuation, allowing two students to go up into the helicopter as it flew aroudn the Syracuse campus.

Syracuse University Army ROTC C...th the day and nightime hours.

Syracuse University Army ROTC Cadets work together to check the accuracy of their compasses before heading out onto the Land Navigation Course. Part of the Individual Soldier Skills that cadets learn through their ROTC training include orientiering in both the day and nightime hours.

On November 6th, the Army ROTC program was visited by a local medical evacuation National Guard Unit. The members of the unit volunteered to teach cadets medical and evacuation protocol for the afternoon. They also did a live demonstration of a medical evacuation, allowing two students to go up into the helicopter as it flew aroudn the Syracuse campus.

To up the stakes in training, t... physically involved training.

To up the stakes in training, the Syracuse University Army ROTC program decided to have a paintball day, adding a bit of fun and color to their normal training maneuvers. The cadets faced off in battle drills against one another and were able to get more physically involved training.

CDT Jones participates in the &... the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

CDT Jones participates in the "Big Flag" assignment on the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

Cadets at the Syracuse Universi...duct battle drill simulations.

Cadets at the Syracuse University Joint Training Exercise walk in a Road March formation with their rucks weighing 40lbs or more. They walk in between locations where they conduct battle drill simulations.

CDT Little leads a group of und...ets with their meals each day.

CDT Little leads a group of underclassmen cadets to the location of the next battle drill. As a senior in the Syracuse University Army ROTC program, Little has completed the 6 week summer advance training at Ft. Knox, KT and is given leadership and responsibility of the program along with his fellow seniors. At the Spring Joint training exercise Little guides the underclassmen in their assessments and learning of Basic Battle Drills. He is also there as a mentor and support system for the younger cadets who will spend 4-5 days in the woods, sleeping, eating and conducting training. In the back of his ruck he carries an empty MRE box used to supply the cadets with their meals each day.

Elizabeth Billman

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