Det 847 uses FTX incentive tool to promote commitment Published April 11, 2014 By Senior Airman Joshua Edwards 17th Training Wing Public Affairs GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Angelo State University Air Force ROTC Detachment 847 cadets participated in their annual field training exercise and first overnight stay at Camp Sentinel here April 4. Detachment 847 uses this annual FTX as an incentive tool for cadets who are unsure if they want to pursue an Air Force commission. Air Force ROTC offers programs such as these to give cadets the opportunity to experience what the Air Force is about before committing to service. "This gives them practical exposure to those things that officers will be expected to perform," said Capt. Paul G. Frisinger, ASU ROTC Det. 847 Operations Flight Commander. "A lot of these cadets will be given leadership scenarios during this exercise. It'll let them know right off the bat if they are ready for this and if this is what they want to do." Since the time frame extended to overnight, Goodfellow modified the FTX allowing more time for mock deployment training. "This time around we wanted to focus more on the forward operating base operations and to give them a chance to get into the military action, to learn the techniques that a lot of Air Force Specialty Codes entail and what Goodfellow Air Force Base offers," said Master Sgt. Adrienne F. Gaskins, 17th Medical Operations Squadron and ASU FTX facilitator. "This gives them as close to a real world situation as possible to know what the expectations are going to be for them." The first half of day one, the cadets learned a variety of skills to include Self-Aid and Buddy Care, weapon familiarization and group movements. Cadet Ray T. Chhith, ASU ROTC Det. 847 student, said real world experiences like this and getting hands on training appeal to him. From Friday night until Saturday afternoon, Goodfellow and ASU instructors ran the cadets through a series of operations and exercises. "I was selected for security forces, so it kind of gave me an idea, if I'm ever at a forward operating base, of the things I would see," said Cadet Chance D. Aycock, ASU ROTC Det. 847 Cadet Wing Commander. "That helped me solidify my opinion for being in the Air Force." The FTX concluded around noon the next day, leaving the cadets forearmed with knowledge and a few decisions to make for their future.
