Army ROTC
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 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 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.
The ROTC program conducts their first APFT or Army Physical Fitness Test to qualify cadets for scholarships during the first week of school. Cadets of all grades will take two tests per semester, one that is a diagnostic or practice test and one that is a record test with a score that will go towards their grade. The layering of this photo makes people appear closer to eachother than they actually are.
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 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 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 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.
ROTC seniors prepare to teach the juniors about Movement to Contact and Battle Drill 1A which is also known as the attack drill. The juniors are separated from both the freshman and sophomores because they are practicing more advanced tactical drills and they are also beginning preparation for the time they will spend at Fort Knox, Kentucky for Advanced Camp. This camp is a requirement to become a Second Lieutenant after graduation. They are used soley for educational purposes.
During the lab portion of their military science class, cadets of all grades head up to SkyTop in order to conduct rehersals or drills of battle plans. Unlike other activities on campus, lab occurs in rain or shine as cadets need to prepare for any kind of weather.
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.
Cadet Synder takes a moment in between training exercises to rest as he waits for his next mission. Snyder is a senior in the Syracuse Army ROTC program and is playing the role of the OPFOR or Opposing Force to help train the younger cadets on their leadership skills.
Cadets take notes during a practical exercise at Skytop on Friday. Cadet Blum is instructing his squad on the steps for the upcoming movemnet drill. In addition to a three hour class in the morning on Friday in the classroom, cadets also attend a lab on Friday afternoons with the whole program.
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.
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 Physical Training or PT that runs from 6:30am to 7:30am. The cadets would typically participate in PT as a battalion consisting of the entire 140 people in the organizations or at least in their platoons which consist of 40-50 people. Because of the pandemic the cadets participate in PT in squad sized groups of 8-12 in order to comply with university regulations.
Cadets participate in morning Physical Training or PT that runs from 6:30am to 7:30am. The cadets would typically participate in PT as a battalion consisting of the entire 140 people in the organizations or at least in their platoons which consist of 40-50 people. Because of the pandemic the cadets participate in PT in squad sized groups of 8-12 in order to comply with university regulations.
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 in rigorous training during the academic year and at FTXs, they are still college students. CDT Poe brought strawberries to the range with her which is not a typical sight you would see with active officers but cadets walk that line of being in the military and being in the civilian world.
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 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 Barton and CDT Gordon are not only very good friends but also roommates. Spending eight hours at the range took a toll on them and the rest of their class. Moments of downtime are few and far between but are much appreciated by the cadets who need a break from the mental and physical challenges brought on by training.
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. Moments of downtime are few and far between but are much appreciated by the cadets who need a break from the mental and physical challenges brought on by training.
Cadet Snyder makes a call to the instructors of the drill to request a medical evacuation. Snyder uses one of the military radios the cadets learned how to use on the previous day. The Syracuse ROTC program went on an FTX or Field Training Exercise for three days over the weekend. FTXs are extremely stressful, especially for juniors as they hold leadership roles, run battle drills, and prepare for the upcoming summer where they will attend Advanced Camp. The camp in the summer will consist of multiple FTXs over a 42 day period.
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 on an FTX or Field Training Exercise for three days over the weekend. One of the lessons reviewed at an FTX is a drill called EPW or enemy prisoner of war. THe drill consists of how to clear an enemy of weapons and search them for intel.
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.
The Syracuse ROTC program went on an FTX or Field Training Exercise for three days over the weekend. During an FTX there are rehersals of different battle drills, an aspect of which is maintaining security around the perimeter of the training area for the purpose of being prepared for an imaginary enemy.
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 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 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 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.
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.
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 "Big Flag" assignment on the 20th anniversary of 9/11.
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.
ROTC cadets wait on the side oif the road while members of the 10th Mountain Division pass through in HumVees, on the way to a separate training. The Joint Training Exercise put on by yracuse University, Cornell Univerity, Siena College and Clarkson University runs simultaneously to other events and trainings occuring at Ft. Drum, NY.
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.
MS3's or Junior Army Cadets must complete leadership exercises as part of their ROTC training. At a spring Field Exercise, Syracuse Army ROTC juniors lead the underclassmen in Battle Drills as Platoon Leaders. They share the leadership roster with other juniors from Cornell, Clarkson University and Siena College.