Prairie View A&M University ROTC cadets gained first-hand experience in a wartime atmosphere in Huntsville, Texas last weekend during their spring Culmination FTX, or field training exercise, at Sam Houston State University’s Gibbs Ranch.
Senior Military Instructor Master Sergeant Dennis R. Howard said, “We scheduled training prior to the exercises to prepare the students to think on their feet. Overall, I was satisfied with the way our cadets performed. We had a few cadets earn excellent scores, and overall, I think they developed a sense of how to work with other people.”
With Texas A&M University, Stephen F. Austin University, University of Houston, and host Sam Houston State’s Bearcat Battalion in attendance, FTX ushered in more than an estimated 237 participants, including 16 cadets from Prairie View. Cadets participated according to ranks, with 154 MS-3 cadets completing task operations directed by 22 cadres, and monitored by 61 superior ranking MS-4 cadets who participated in previous field training exercises.
The cadets’ weekend began with a morning arrival at the site followed by registration. Cadets were divided into two separate companies, Alpha and Bravo, with each company being divided into two squads. One of the initial tasks cadets performed was the Land Navigation Exercise, an exercise where navigation skills and sense of direction were tested. Using a geometric protractor, the cadets had to find checkpoint locations. After spending hours in the sun during the day, the troops were given a downsized version of the exercise at night.
Senior communications major David Washington said, “My biggest challenge was adapting to being around other individuals from different schools. There’s a certain level of comfort when maneuvering through the exercise with cadets from our program. When I get in a mixed environment around people I’ve never met before, don’t know anything about, and I’m unaware of their leadership capabilities, it tends to be a bit intimidating at first.”
After completing the land navigation exercises, cadets then prepared for rest as they gathered their sleeping bags and camped outside for the entire weekend. As a part of their training, cadets were selected for fire watch rotations, a 30-minute time span to secure the perimeter of the area where fellow cadets rested.
However sleep hours would be limited, as cadets awoke at 5 a.m. for accountability, hygiene, food from their Meals-Ready-to-Eat, and formation. The next task for cadets was a mile-long walk to the site of their Field Leadership Reaction Course, a series of obstacle courses that focused on small group organization, teamwork, and military procedures. FLRC was followed by a brief intermission and Situational Training Exercises.
Christian Bionat, a junior political science major at Sam Houston State University, said, “In particular, PVAMU cadets definitely increased the level of motivation throughout FTX. It was a pleasure working with the PV cadets because they clearly depicted the Army’s values through their actions.”
While in STX lanes, cadets practiced additional wartime situations, patrolling the area for civilians and opposing forces. While performing exercises, cadets were equipped with M-16 rifles with blank firing adapters attached to the barrels, a valuable asset and priority to all cadets at all times. Penalties were assessed to cadets who left their weapons unattended. Cadets woke again the next day for Patrol exercises, in which they established perimeters and created mock battle plans while being evaluated by superior officers.
Senior psychology major Jennifer Thompson, a cadet who served as the executive officer for Prairie View, said, “Having this position was one of my favorite parts of the weekend. It was my job to delegate tasks down to my company mates. I was nervous about it at first but I used my resources including my cadre and our MS-4s, to carry out my operational orders. I will use my mistakes to prepare for LDAC.”
With sweltering heat conditions in effect, one of the key concerns for cadets were health conditions throughout the course of the weekend. Four medical specialists, three from the army, were on site to provide medical support. According to Bruno Toledo, a MS-4s cadet and S1 administrative officer from the University of Houston, there were only 20 troops who reported medical-related issues. Minor issues ranged from mild dehydration, improper eating, heat cramps, and one twisted ankle.
Nicole Corso, a critical care paramedic nurse from Texas A&M, said, “The heat was our only concern entering the weekend. You can only hide from it so long, which is why we provided rest, encouraged proper eating, and kept cadets hydrated.”
The significance of the spring FTX for cadets that it’s the last event held for cadets to apply their military knowledge before heading off to the Leadership Development Assessment Course this summer, which is a similar exercise with cadets from ROTC programs from around the world.
Jonathon Howard, assistant professor of military science at the University of Houston, said, “When they get to LDAC, it will be a similar situation, except there will be about 55 cadets per platoon. By bringing them in on a smaller scale, it gives them a picture of what they will be doing. They’ve only worked with cadets at their schools before this weekend, so when they get to LDAC this summer this will have prepared them for working with complete strangers.”
Cadet Battalion Commander Lyza Gross, a senior psychology major, said, “Although I only saw the FLRC courses, but overall, I think they did really well. They need to be focused, but simultaneously open to new personalities heading into LDAC.”