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© 2013 KentuckyGuard
Story by 2nd Lt. Michael Reinersman, 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Officer Candidate Benjamin Smith from Class 57-15 pulls security during the combined Officer Candidate School, Reserve Officer Training Corps with Western Kentucky University and Murray State University during a field training exercise at Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., April 17, 2015. Smith and 73 other Soldiers participated in the second combined OCS and ROTC exercise. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by 2nd. Lt. Michael Reinersman)
GREENVILLE, Ky. - Future Army leaders from across the commonwealth joined forces to conduct a combined field training exercise at Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., April 16-18, 2015.
Officer candidates from the Kentucky National Guard Officer Candidate School along with cadets from Murray State University and Western Kentucky University’s Reserve Officer Training Corps spent three days in the field covering troop leading procedures while conducting platoon and squad level tactics.
This included scenarios such as movement to contact and platoon ambush and raids. The goal of the combined field training exercise is to assess and provide instruction to the officer candidates and ROTC cadets in leadership positions while conducting infantry tasks.
Capt. Colin Bair, Assistant Professor of Military Science at Murray State University conducts an after action review with cadets from Western Kentucky University and Kentucky Guard Officer Candidates during field training exercise at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., April 17, 2015. This marks the second year that ROTC programs from Western Kentucky and Murray State have participated in the field training exercises with the Kentucky OCS program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by 2nd. Lt. Michael Reinersman)
According to Western Kentucky University’s Assistant Professor of Military Science, Capt. Lincoln Ward, there are many benefits to training and collaborating with the Kentucky Guard.
“This has been a good partnership,” said Ward. “Working with new soldiers from different backgrounds provides a new challenge to the cadets.” Adding that, “The Kentucky National Guard provides us with resources that we don’t normally have at a ROTC program or the NCO support that can help access land and medics.”
This marks the second year that ROTC programs from Western Kentucky and Murray State have participated in the field training exercises with the Kentucky OCS program. To enhance training this year, cadets and candidates used a military grade paintball system, to simulate live fire.
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“This enhancement from last year’s training will make it more realistic and environmentally friendly by using bio degradable paint balls,”said Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Kennedy, operations noncommissioned officer for the 238th Regimental Training Institute. “It is a better alternative than having shell casing all over the training area.”
Officer candidate Jennifer Steinmetz also echoed the mutual benefits of the training exercise.
“This would have been a hard training event to conduct since we don’t have the numbers,” said Steinmetz. “There are eight officer candidates, training with the cadets allowed the officer candidates to participate in full platoon and squad lanes,”
“Now, that we have those spots filled, during phase three, it will not be such a shock when we conduct platoon and squad lanes.”
Capt. Colin Bair, Assistant Professor of Military Science at Murray State University checks the coordinates of ROTC Cadet Kelsey McArthur and Chrystal Falefata from Western Kentucky University during field training exercise at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., April 17,2015. The goal of the combined field training exercise is to assess and provide instruction to the officer candidates and ROTC cadets in leadership positions while conducting infantry tasks. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by 2nd. Lt. Michael Reinersman)
Phase three is the last step in the OCS commissioning process. The final phase covers troop leading procedures, infantry squad tactics, and culminates with a field leadership exercise at Fort McClellan, Alabama.
Cadet Kyle Taylor with Western Kentucky University and a member of Kentucky’s Bravo Company, 149th Infantry, said training on a college campus is just plain difficult.
“Since we don’t have a lot space on campus, it’s great to be in a tactical environment and run lanes,” he said. “We are able to evaluate each other and work to get better.”
According to both Kentucky OCS and ROTC leadership, the Spring FTX was another successful collaboration between two commissioning programs to develop future leaders in the Kentucky Guard, Army Reserve and active duty.
Video by Spc. Cody Cooper, 133rd MPAD
Story by Sgt. 1st Class Dennis Anderson, 238th Regiment Unit Public Affairs Historian Representative
Staff Sgt. John Riggi, Training NCO for the Kentucky National Guard’s Officer Candidates’ School speaks to candidates and cadets from Army ROTC programs at Western Kentucky and Murray State Universities during a field training exercise at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., April 11, 2014. The collaborative training was a first in Kentucky to combine the multiple programs. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Dennis Anderson)
GREENVILLE, Ky. — In a unique combination of the future Army leaders, Soldiers with the Kentucky National Guard’s Officer Candidate School trained alongside cadets from ROTC programs in the commonwealth during a field exercise at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Kentucky, April 10-13, 2014.
Cadets from Western Kentucky and Murray State Universities gathered at the training site for an annual weekend in the field. The Kentucky Guard’s 238th Regiment took the opportunity to invite the ROTC programs to Greenville and mingle their own officer candidates with the cadets for some enhanced combined training.
Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Black (right), a military science instructor at Western Kentucky University gives guidance to a ROTC cadet during a field training exercise at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., April 11, 2014. According to WKU staff members, training with Kentucky National Guard officer candidates was beneficial for both military learning and as a cost-saving plan for the ROTC programs. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Dennis Anderson)
“The weekend is a consolidation of ROTC Students and our OCS candidates to refine and help develop skills that are relevant to today’s battlefield with regards to student taught lanes training,” said Lt. Col. Todd Neal, commander of the 2nd Modular Training Battalion, 238th. “Hopefully it will also develop other skills for them to become better future officers.”
Neal said while the two programs are different, the end goal is still the same. And the combination was well received by the cadets and candidates in the training. Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Black, Military Science Instructor at WKU said working with unfamiliar faces would serve them well in their careers and would remind them that they are not alone in their chosen path.
“Ultimately, the exercise allows them to come together as a team, rely on the person to their left and right…know that it is not just them going through these hard times, hard training, difficult training by themselves, this isn’t something they can gain from a classroom,” said Black.
According to Sgt. 1st Class Anthony Kennedy, Operations NCO for the 238th, the blending of the Soldiers was a first in Kentucky and that it was not only a benefit for the training environment, but also as a cost-saving method for the ROTC programs.
“The ROTC programs had been looking for a closer, more economical way to conduct their field training exercise, they immediately accepted the invitation,” said Kennedy. “We are very optimistic that we can develop this into a reoccurring annual event.”
The Soldiers spent the two days in the field moving through the land navigation course and a variety of platoon and squad level operations such as maintaining security of their area. Cadets and candidates agreed the hands on exercise would be very beneficial for them and their careers.
Lt. Col. Scott Walker, Professor of Military Science and Battalion Commander for the ROTC programs at both Western Kentucky and Murray State Universities speaks to cadets and Kentucky National Guard officer candidates following a field training exercise in Greenville, Ky., April 13, 2014. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Dennis Anderson)
Capt. Lincoln Ward, Assistant Professor of Military Science at WKU also echoed the mutual benefits of the collaboration, both for the Soldiers and the costs. Ward said WKU was thankful the Kentucky Guard provided them the opportunity and called the Guard’s support outstanding.
“The groups of future officers will, without a doubt become better lieutenants because of this training exercise,” he said. “The partnership we have established here between the programs is one we look to sustain and expand in the coming years.”
