Training day for Angelo State University ROTC Cadets

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Michael Smith
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Sounds of gun fire and the ringing of spent shells hitting the ground were all that could be heard at Camp Sentinel, here, as the cadets from the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, Angelo State University, in San Angelo, Texas, conducted their field training exercise, April 8.

Twenty-seven ASU freshman and sophomore cadets participated in a nine hour training event consisting of briefings, hands-on scenarios and a Meal Ready-to-Eat lunch with Col. Thomas Schmidt, 17th Training Wing Vice Commander. The cadets were also briefed on the Law of Armed Conflict and the Rules of Engagement by members of the 17th Training Wing Legal Office.

"Some of the cadets, including myself, have been excited for this since the first semester when it was first announced," said Cadet Nathan Wake, ASU AFROTC. "We had no idea what was going to happen. They were keeping mostly everything a secret. We knew we were going to be getting blanks and body armor, but other than that we only knew we were going to get trained and run through scenarios."

The training scenarios were ran by the Army 344th Military Intelligence Battalion cadre and involved operational M-16s equipped with blank-firing adaptors, supplied by the 17th Security Forces Squadron, to help immerse the cadets in the scenarios.

In today's Air Force, deployments have now become routine, which led Cadet Brett Estes, ASU AFROTC, to plan and make sure the training ran smoothly for his fellow cadets.

"I think the overall training went pretty well," said Estes. "The most monumental thing for the cadets today was probably manning the entry control point, but the overall training they had in these scenarios checked their biases, leadership and followship under tried and true combat situations. They weren't taken lightly out here; they were pushed to the extreme."

Even with several days of training stuffed into nine hours, the cadets were able to enjoy themselves while learning important combat skills.

"My favorite thing about today is a tossup between manning the ECP with all the craziness happening, including using an interpreter to communicate with a Farsi speaking mob and running patrol with my squad through a village while clearing several rooms during a firefight," commented Wake. "Learning how to communicate with your squad members has been a tremendous experience as a squad leader."

Anticipating what's coming is an important asset to possess in any life experience, which is why every member of the training team touched on a variety of subjects, including properly searching a detainee and how to conduct a proper report.

"I'm a two time graduate of combat skills training and each time the Army personnel out here did an amazing job in a short period of time teaching these young men and women how to clear rooms, how to go into villages and how to interact with people," said Lt. Col Stephen Magnan, ASU ROTC Detachment 847 Commander. "I enjoy watching the satisfaction on their faces when they accomplish something regardless if it's out here or at the detachment."

The cadets' field training may have only lasted for less than a day, but the knowledge and training they obtained will stay with them as they move on to potential future Air Force leaders.