KSU ROTC Cadets Conquer FTX on Fort Riley

Photo By Sgt. Alvin Conley | U.S. Army Maj. Christopher Reed, a Kansas State University Reserves Office Training Corps (ROTC) instructor teaches a M17 weapon familiarization class to U.S. Army cadets assigned to KSU ROTC Wildcat Battalion, Oct. 23, 2021, at Fort Riley, Kansas. The marksmanship training was a part of a three-day field training exercise hosted at Fort Riley to focus on learning and improving basic Soldier skills. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Alvin Conley, 19th Public Affairs Detachment)  

FORT RILEY, KS, UNITED STATES

10.24.2021

Story by Spc. Alvin Conley 

19th Public Affairs Detachment

FORT RILEY, Kan. – Kansas State University Reserves Officers Training Corps (ROTC) cadets conducted a field training exercise at Fort Riley, Kansas, Oct. 22-24, 2021.
The KSU ROTC unit, known as Wildcat Battalion, participated in training events such as range qualifications, obstacle courses, land navigation, and tactical combat casualty care, to focus on individual basic Soldier skills, as well as to build confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills.
Each day, combat medics assigned to 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 63rd Armor Regiment, 2nd Armor Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, assisted the cadets and KSU ROTC military instructor cadre with their respective trainings.
“Even though they may never have to do it, as a future officer, it’s good for the cadets to know how to treat a life if the need ever arises,” said U.S. Army Spc. Caleb Yaslowitz, a combat medic assigned to 1st Bn., 63rd Armor Regt. “I think it’s good for our future leaders to know what enlisted Soldiers have to do so they can understand and bond with them.”
The three-day long exercise not only gave KSU cadets a glimpse of what they could look forward to after graduating college and commissioning to become an officer in the U.S. military, but also brought back memories for some.
“Being a military child and actually wearing the uniform, it’s really inspiring and it drives me,” said U.S. Army KSU Cadet Max Treen. “My father was stationed at Fort Riley in 2003, and I remember coming to places like this and doing obstacle courses with him as a kid.”
Although new to some of the cadets, Wildcat Battalion as a whole is no stranger to having training exercises and community engagement events hosted at Fort Riley.
“With the interest that Fort Riley takes in knowing that the ROTC program is at K-State, we cannot be more grateful for that relationship,” said U.S. Army Capt. Vyent Newby, a KSU ROTC military instructor and former Big Red One Soldier. “Fort Riley taking an interest and supporting us makes a huge difference in what we’re able to accomplish and what we’re able to train the cadets on. I think in the future the partnership is only going to grow to be even better.”

• Date Taken: 10.24.2021
• Date Posted: 10.24.2021 21:43
• Story ID: 407881
• Location: FORT RILEY, KS, US