Fall Field Training Exercise 2009

Recently cadets of the Green Mountain Battalion completed training at the Fall Field Training Exercise (FTX). The FTX took place from October 16 to October 18, 2009, at Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho, VT. Cadets participated in various training events over the weekend to include: Garrison Operations, Leaders Reaction Course (LRC), Squad Tactical Exercise (STX) Lanes, and Day and Night Land Navigation. All training events were planned and led by MSIV (senior) cadets. During Garrison Operations MSI and MSII (freshman and sophomore) cadets were given operations orders and prepped for the next day’s training by the MSIII (junior) cadets. Underclassman cadets also performed skits of their perception of cadre and fellow cadets.

The LRC course involved a test of leadership skills for the MSIII's. First, the MSIII cadets were briefed a mission from an MSIV cadet; they then briefed there squads of the mission and their plan of execution of the obstacle. Squads then executed various LRC obstacles with different MSIII's getting leadership roles on each obstacle. During STX Lanes MSIII's again were leading a squad sized element. In STX lanes the MSIII is briefed the mission and an objective; the cadet must then brief an operations order to the squad and a plan for actions on the objective. Once the squad is briefed the MSIII squad leader leads the squad to the objective and performs actions on the objective. Each MSIII squad leader is given an evaluation after the execution of each lane. In Day and Night Land Navigation cadets are given grid coordinates and a time limit and must plot their coordinates and then using a compass and pace count find their points in an allotted amount of time. Cadets are given a rating of Go or No Go based on the number of points they successfully find. Overall, this year’s Fall FTX was a great success. The MSIV cadets put together a great operation with a lot of good training for the underclassman cadets.