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FORT KNOX, Ky. - Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) cadets from colleges all over the United States have gathered at Fort Knox, Kentucky, for annual Cadet Summer Training (CST).
The concept of ROTC in the United States began with the establishment of land-grant colleges by the Merrill Act of 1862. This act required these schools include military tactics as part of their curriculum. The most prominent of these early programs was found at Vermont’s Norwich University. The American Literary, Scientific, and Military Academy was founded by West Point graduate Capt. Alden Partridge, who promoted the idea of the “citizen soldier.” This concept led to the formations of both Reserve and National Guard units with regimented training to replace local militia forces.
In 1915, Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood created the Citizen’s Military Training Corps, which was the first in a series of civilian to officer training camps during what is known as the Plattsburg Idea. These programs condensed the course of training and commissioning of reserve line officers into one summer. One of the most notable graduates from this program was Theodore Roosevelt Jr.
The modern ROTC program has its official start with the signing of the National Defense Act of 1916 by President Woodrow Wilson. This brought the training being held at all colleges and universities under a single entity controlled by the federal government called the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps.
The formation of U.S. Army Cadet Command in 1986, headquartered at Fort Monroe, Virginia, helped change the ROTC into a truly centralized command to produce high quality and uniformly trained lieutenants.
Cadet Command at Fort Knox provides nearly 80 percent of the officer corps, ensuring they possess and maintain the capabilities and attributes the Army needs. During training, cadets are taught to understand the concept of being an officer; demonstrate an appropriate level of expertise; adapt, understand and act in ambiguity; and will anticipate change and act independently. These new officers will be able to develop, lead and inspire teams; nourish respect; communicate effectively; be a lifelong learner; and stay fit and resilient.
Cadet Initial Entry Training (CIET), which was previously called Leader Training Course/Basic Course, has been hosted by Fort Knox since the 1960s. The Cadet Leadership Course (CLC), once called the Leader Development and Assessment Course, came to Fort Knox in 2014. Command Sgt. Maj. John Carpenter of 6th ROTC Brigade in Savannah, Georgia, explains these courses are requirements for all officer commissions, “After their senior year, when they’ve graduated with a degree and they’ve met all the requirements, they will commission into the Army.”
It is here on Fort Knox during Cadet Summer Training that the future of leadership is made. While not all cadets will choose careers in the Army, they will learn lessons they can take into the various career fields to lead the future of industry and the civilian workforce. Cadets aren’t just learning lessons for combat, they are learning lessons for life.
| Date Taken: | 07.01.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.01.2015 18:34 |
| Story ID: | 168837 |
| Location: | FORT KNOX, KY, US |
| Web Views: | 324 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Cadets train for leadership at Fort Knox, by SGT William Battle, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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