The first few days of Basic Cadet Training (BCT) can be very stressful. Our recruits are in a strange place with people that they have never met before and wearing funny clothes.
This culture shock is the first step in changing our Recruits into Cadets.
Please don’t get me wrong. We are not about building soldiers. In the USAC we help young people to succeed by teaching them leadership skills, people skills and life skills that will let them succeed in life.
Here are some of the highlights of the last few days of training.
Each morning starts with Physical Training or “PT.” The recruits are up at 6:00 AM and start their day with a period of exercise and a run. On Monday our company’s leaders and the Troop Handlers conducted a Physical Fitness test that measures how many push-ups and sit-ups a recruit can do and how long it takes them to run 2 miles. The results of a test are used as a benchmark to determine how well they have progressed during the course of BCT.
A key activity over the last three days has been Drill and Ceremonies. We use drill to teach teamwork, discipline and attention to detail. It takes concentration, effort and discipline to learn how to stand at attention and move in unison as a unit.
This instruction is given by our Troop Handlers under the supervision of Drill Sergeant Nordan. Nordan is a retired Army Sergeant First Class and an Army Drill Sergeant. His most important job is to mentor our Troop Handlers as well as being a principal instructor in military subjects.
Each day our Recruits have 3 wholesome and nutritious meals at our dining facility (DFAC). While there they eat and do nothing else. Recruits may not have conversations, keep their elbows off the table and must sit straight with their feet flat on the ground while in the DFAC.
Once they become a Cadet they will have the privilege of being able to have a conversation at the table.
On the first day they were struggling but as I write this blog the cadets are starting to get it and are beginning to work together. I can hardly wait for the Graduation Ceremony on July 9th.
Lt. Col. Jim Gorman and Major Jeff Campbell have been teaching our recruits The Army Cadet Martial Arts Program (TACMAP.)
TACMAP utilizes MCJKKD (Military Cadet Jukaikido) as its main training format, which includes a combination of Self Defense, Judo, Aikido, Jujitsu, Karate, Boxing and Wrestling. The cadets have been very receptive to these training sessions. One reason is that there is "no rank on the mat," so they can compete with Cadets and others as complete equals.
If you go to the National Cadet Training Center’s Facebook you will see pictures of our Recruits receiving instruction in TACMAP over the past few days.
Recruits also spend time each day preparing the barracks (dorms) for inspection. This includes keeping their personal space in order; they make their beds to standard, arrange their uniforms in a standard way and make sure the common areas are clean.
Each day our Recruits, their living areas and common areas are inspected by their Troop Handlers and company leadership.
This evening our Recruits will enjoy “Canteen.” It’s time that every few days our Recruits can enjoy a beverage or a treat and basically “be kids” again. We have a Canteen area that is adjacent to ACES where Recruits and Cadets can play pool, other games or just hang out. They are still under the supervision of their Troop Handlers but it’s their time to let their hair down (well, so to speak!)
Training for our Recruits and the Cadet Ranger Challenge (CRC) candidates is going well. Tomorrow I will blog about the CRC as well as more about our BCT Recruits.
Please take a moment to visit the National Cadet Training Center Facebook for the latest images from AT.
Link: http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/National-Cadet-Training-Center-Official/350329073135
V/R,
AL PABON
Civilian Executive, USAC
Annual Training Battalion
Deputy G1/Public Affairs Officer
Headquarters, U.S. Army Cadet Corps
"ADVENTURE BEGINS HERE!"
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