Field Training Exercise (FTX)

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Fall FTX

The Fall Field Training Exercise (FTX) is a weekend long event that is used to provide MS III Cadets with an insight into what the rest of the year’s expectations will entail, as well as what the Leader Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) is going to be like. MSI’s and MS II’s were introduced to many different concepts that provided them experiences that will prove useful in their future training this year, and in the years to come.

On Friday, the MS III’s began the weekend by conducting the Night Land Navigation (NLN) course in the woods surrounding Saint John’s University. Upon completion of the NLN course, the MS III’s were moved to a different location to conduct rock drills, which are mock battle drills performed step by step so that the Cadets can learn and understand how to perform the important steps in each drill. On Saturday, we were given an OPORD (Operations Order) class that taught us the finite details of briefing the Squad you are in charge of during the Situational Training Exercise (STX) lanes that would follow that afternoon.

Following the OPORD class, we conducted Day Land Navigation and STX lanes. These lanes were the first opportunity for the MS III’s to lead a tactical exercise in their ROTC training. These lanes were also an opportunity for the MS I’s and MS II’s to become familiar with these tactical exercises. After the completion of the STX lanes, the MS I’s and II’s were released for the weekend while the MS III’s received a class on Patrol Base Operations. After our class, we moved into the woods to apply what we had learned. In the early morning hours of Sunday we set up an Ambush for one of the other squads that was moving down a road. All MS III’s that completed this weekend’s training gained insight and knowledge that will prove incredibly useful for their Warrior Forge training at Ft. Lewis, WA.

External Link: http://www1.csbsju.edu/rotc/current_events/2008%20Fall%20FTX.htm

ROTC Cadet conducting FTX with his m-16 rifle


Caption: Spc. Kynan Sherman, Co. A, DSTB inspects his weapon after reacting to enemy contact June 4 during a exercise near Dongduchon. The exercise tested the signal Soldiers' war-fighting abilities. One purpose of the training was to get the Soldiers certified on the Satellite Tactical Terminals, Joint Node Networks and Satellite Mobile Anti-Jam Reliable Tactical Terminal, also known as the Smart-T. The Soldiers understood the importance of achieving proficiency on those machines.

Virginia Tech Army ROTC - FTX


Caption: Virginia Tech ROTC cadets conduct field training exercise. The Fall Field Training Exercise is a weekend long event that is used to provide Cadets with an insight into what the rest of the year’s expectations will entail, as well as what the Leader Development and Assessment Course is going to be like. Were introduced to many different concepts that provided them experiences that will prove useful in their future training this year, and in the years to come.