Dear Friends,

It has been about 15 days since I last blogged with you. They have been very busy and productive.

Please let me try to bring you up to date.

On Friday July 8th in a special night-time ceremony outside of Allen House, the following officers were recognized for their outstanding service to the USAC with promotions as indicated.

Andrew Chen to Lt. Col., James Pease to Major, Clay Hammer to Captain, Beth Szydzik to Captain, Paul Cutter to 1st Lt., William Smith to Chief Warrant Officer 2 and David Puryear to Warrant Officer 1.

Each of these officers represents the very best the USAC has to offer. Whether you are a technical specialist, a senior staff officer or a commander of a local Company the USAC appreciates and recognizes service with incentives like promotions and awards.

During the day our Cadets took their written and physical exams.

The written test is a 90-question test of the materials presented to the recruits including, drill and ceremonies, rank recognition, customs and courtesies, USAC history and organization and general military subjects.

The physical test is the Army Cadet Physical Fitness test (ACPFT). It has three events, push-ups, sit-ups and a 2 mile run. These Recruits earned the maximum score of 300 points on the test:

Osei Avril, Benjamin Clarke, Tobias Dublin, Samson Finch, Luke Fleck, Jonathan Jimenez, Jacob McDonald and Jordan Okdie

On July 9th 100 Recruits became Cadets at a graduation ceremony. This ceremony marked the graduation of our first Basic Cadet Training Course and of the Cadet Ranger Challenge.

The Cadet Company led by Major Campbell formed in front of Allen House (USAC Headquarters), before Brig. Gen. Tornow and his distinguished visitors including retired US Army Reserve Brig. Gen. Charles Hanrahan, and Chairman of the USAC Board of Directors, Brig. Gen. Santiago Sanchis.

During the ceremony the recruits took the Cadet Oath and officially became “Army Cadets.”
"I do solemnly promise to give true faith and allegiance to the United States of America; to be faithful and loyal to the Corps of Cadets; to obey the orders of the Officers appointed over me; and to conduct myself so as to be a credit to my Unit, the U.S. Army Cadet Corps, the Armed Forces and my Country."

Over the last 2 weeks I have observed that our new Cadets have changed. This change is more than the superficial (uniforms, haircuts), I think that they are different people. They have that confident stride and eager look that marks a person who has completed a challenge and is ready for much more.

Today they became Cadets.

USAC is unique in that youth that join us do not automatically become Cadets. We have a long tradition in that the title of “Cadet” must be earned thru training and orientation. This is currently accomplished by having all recruits completing Basic Cadet Training here at the NCTC.
In addition to becoming Cadets several members of the BCT Class and the CRC were recognized as honor cadets and granted a meritorious promotion as indicated:

Battalion Honor Graduate: RCT Dewayne Patterson, promoted to C/PFC
1st Platoon Honor Graduate: RCT Olivia Golden
2nd Platoon Honor Graduate: RCT Richard Liao
3rd Platoon Honor Graduate: RCT Natalia Correa
Cadet Ranger Challenge Honor Graduate: C/PFC Michael Long, promoted to Cadet Corporal

In addition to this recognition the Battalion Commander has the authority to grant meritorious promotion to up to ten percent of each BCT platoon and the CRC. The following Cadets were promoted to Cadet Private. (PV2)

1st Platoon RCT William Johnson and RCT Jacob Schwager
2nd Platoon RCT Copeland Whitney and RCT Sarah Winger
3rd Platoon RCT Richard Gray and RCT William Moses

C/PV2 Lee Anderson of the Cadet Ranger Challenge was promoted to C/PFC.

The ceremony was well attended by many of the Cadets family members and USAC supporters from the local community.

After graduation we said good bye to about 50 of our new Cadets and CRC Cadets and spent the rest of the day getting ready for over 50 new BCT and Cadet Ranger School participants!

Many pictures of the ceremony were taken by 2nd Lt. Joseph Land and Warrant Officer Steve Biggers.

These are available on the National Cadet Training Center’s Facebook. Please check our Facebook for the latest pictures and video from Annual Training

Link: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/National-Cadet-Training-Center-Official/350329073135

Thanks and have a great Army Cadet day!


AL PABON
Civilian Executive, USAC
Annual Training Battalion
Public Affairs Officer
Headquarters, U.S. Army Cadet Corps
"ADVENTURE BEGINS HERE!"

Nearly 200 U.S. Army Cadet Corps personnel will participate in graduation ceremonies this Saturday at 10 am at the National Cadet Training Center.

Young people from as far away as California, Florida, New York, as well as India, Ireland and the People's Republic of China, will stand side-by-side during this time-honored military event.

We sincerely hope you will join us as we celebrate the accomplishments of these fine young adults. The public is invited. Please review this link for details.

The USAC Cadet Ranger Program

The U.S. Army Cadet Corps (USAC) Cadet Ranger Course started in 2010 as a way to give USAC Cadets a high adventure experience modeled on the training and operations of the US Army Rangers.

Rangers have been part of the army since its foundation and have served proudly in all of the nation’s armed conflicts. They have evolved from a rag-tag group of frontiersmen to respected members of the special operations community who have served gallantly and with distinction.

USAC uses the Ranger model to expose Cadets to the concepts of small unit leadership, teamwork and excellence.

The USAC Cadet Ranger program currently has two components:

The Cadet Ranger Challenge (CRC), which we are currently conducting is an intense three-week program based on the U.S. Army’s Ranger Indoctrination Program (RIP). CRC is designed to introduce Cadets to High Adventure lifestyle and includes challenges of both personal trials and team environments. Successful completion of CRC is required in order to be eligible for Cadet Ranger School (CRS).

To pass the CRC excellent conditioning and motivation is required while maintaining the ability to work as part of a team. Note: Cadets must achieve the USAC Advanced Physical Fitness Standard on the ACPFT in order to remain with CRC after the first week.

The next piece is the Cadet Ranger School (CRS).

CRS is an intense three-week program that focuses on the patrolling and field skills curriculum taught during U.S. Army Ranger School. Cadets attending this program must be highly motivated and in excellent physical shape when arriving.

The first week of CRS is an evaluation period to determine if the Cadet can complete the course. Those not allowed to continue will transfer to the field skills portion of the Basic Leader Course (BLC) and continue with the Army Cadet Martial Arts Program (TACMAP) program after BLC concludes.

Cadets must have satisfactorily completed CRC to be eligible to attend this course. Note: Cadets must achieve the USAC Advanced Physical Fitness Standard on the ACPFT in order to remain with CRS after the first week.

Cadets will be starting the last week of CRC on Sunday July 3rd and this week will determine who moves on to the Cadet Ranger School. Please watch this Blog and the NCTC Facebook for more information.

As the CRS begins we will have an in depth blog about the training program and talk to one of this year’s CRC graduates.

Please visit our Facebook for images from this year’s Cadet Ranger Challenge.

Link: http://www.facebook.com/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!"

Update for 30 June and 1 July

Over the past few days our Recruits have continued their training in basic cadet skills.

They are mastering their marching and other drill movements as well as other cadet skills.

On Thursday the recruits had a barracks inspection conducted by their commander, Major Campbell and Drill Sergeant Nordan.

Honestly, our recruits could have done better. :)

They did well in some areas but there is room for improvement in areas like bunk making and laying out their gear. Troop Handlers are working with them and they expect better results at the next inspection.

On Thursday evening, USAC was invited to participate in the annual Blackberry Festival Parade in Carlisle.

20 hand-picked recruits, led by Cadet Staff Sgt. Royce and a color guard consisting of four of our troop handlers marched in the two mile parade.

The Cadet Ranger Challenge Cadets traveled to the Winchester Fire and EMS Rappelling Tower. There they learned how to safely rappel. Lead by Lt. Col Gorman, 2nd. Lt. Land and Warrant Officer Smith, they spent a good part of the day learning and practicing both “Standard” and Australian style rappelling techniques.

Images from Thursday’s activity can be found at the NCTC Facebook:

General Images: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150365279518136.429137.350329073135

Blackberry Festival Parade:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150365343458136.429167.350329073135

Rappelling Tower:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150365597978136.429274.350329073135

Today (Friday) we started with a Physical Fitness test. Many of the test scores improved and two of our cadets received a perfect score of 300 points.

The Army Cadet Physical Fitness Test scores Cadets and Recruits on how many push-ups and sit-ups they can do as well as how fast they can run two miles.

Some of our highest scoring Recruits (RCT) were:

RCT Benjamin Clarke, 300 Points
RCT Tobias Dublin, 300 Points
RCT Samson Finch, 299 Points
RCT Jonathan Jimenez, 295 Points
RCT Vincent Abell, 292 Points

Tonight First Platoon is participating in “Pugil Sticks.” A pugil stick is a heavily padded pole-like training weapon used by military personnel for training in rifle and bayonet combat since the early 1940s. The pugil stick is similar to a quarterstaff or Japanese bo, and may be marked at one end to indicate which portion represents the bayonet proper and which the butt of the rifle.

Dr. Armond Seidler of the University of New Mexico invented the Pugil Stick training method during World War II. The training was initially adopted by the Marine Corps, but was later included in Army combat training as well. Dr. Seidler was given an award by the Marine Corps for his invention.

Pugil bouts are always conducted in the USAC with contact while wearing protective gear such as groin protectors, American football helmets, hockey gloves, and chest protectors or shin guards, such as worn by baseball catchers.

This training is conducted with maximum safety in mind, but the Recruits do have fun!
The Cadet Ranger Challenge participants traveled today to the Torrent Falls Rock Climbing Center at River Gore east of Lexington, Ky.

There the Cadets learned the basics of rock climbing and practiced those skills in climbing the various walls there.

Images from Friday’s activity can be found on the NCTC Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Cadet-Training-Center-Official/350329073135#!/media/set/?set=a.10150366058233136.429433.350329073135

This weekend we continue our training in preparation for several activities next week including the high ropes course, confidence course, water safety course and rifle marksmanship range.

On Sunday July 3rd we look forward to receiving participating Cadets for the Basic Leader Course. We will also receive several Officer Candidates who will receive classroom instruction and hands-on training to prepare them for appointment as USAC Officers.

This Monday is the 4th of July and while we will be training we will take time out to celebrate the 235th anniversary of our nation’s founding with a BBQ and some fun activities.

On a closing note I wanted to thank Cadet Private 1st Class Austin Strange of the Headquarters Company. He has been taking many of the excellent pictures that you see on the National Cadet Training Center Facebook. Thank you Cadet Strange. HOOAH!

Please take a moment to visit our Facebook (linked below) and check out some of the many images that have been posted there as well as the latest updates on our summer programs.

Link: http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Cadet-Training-Center-Official/350329073135#!/

Enjoy your weekend.

AL PABON
Civilian Executive, USAC
Annual Training Battalion
Deputy G1/Public Affairs Officer
Headquarters, U.S. Army Cadet Corps
"ADVENTURE BEGINS HERE!"