ROTC cadets get a taste for the deployed environment Published April 21, 2015 By Airman 1st Class Devin Boyer 17th Training Wing Public Affairs GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Angelo State University Air Force ROTC Detachment 847 cadets performed a field training exercise at Camp Sentinel to gain experience and an understanding of a deployed environment April 17 and 18. The FTX trained the cadets on entry control procedures, search and rescue procedures, civil affairs and more. "I think my favorite scenario would be rescuing some downed pilots that were providing over watch for us," said Dylan J. Meador, ASU ROTC Det. 847 cadet. "We had the opportunity to run through an ambush, take some bad guys out, move forward and rescue the pilots ... it was a lot of fun and teamwork, and the plan came together." In the simulation, the cadets received a radio call from a downed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft that three Airmen flew in on. One Airman was unconscious from the crash while the other two provided care and waited for a rescue team. The cadets moved in on the crash site taking out any hostiles along the way and rescued the downed Airmen. Students and instructors from the 316th Training Squadron acted as hostiles during the scenarios, speaking Middle Eastern languages to enhance the realism of the training. "The 316th linguist students were able to provide cultural and linguistic realism to the training," said Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Lunkley, 316th TRS instructor. "They took on the roles of friendly villagers and citizens in a foreign country and hostile insurgents that may come from other countries to join in the fight. Cadets were able to experience an atmosphere where a language barrier made it difficult to complete their mission. Overall, students and instructors from the 316th provided the scenarios that challenged the cadets' attention to detail, assertiveness and managerial skills to help them become good leaders if and when they decide to become commissioned officers." Matthew K. Eddins, ASU ROTC Det. 847 cadet, expressed why he thought the training was important. "It's the military," he said. "You got to know how to fire a weapon, how to clear rooms, how to lead a squad down the field and how to protect your men." This was Eddins second year participating in the FTX. He said with the exception of one scenario, everything was new. "It turned out to be a whole lot more in depth and exciting than I expected," said Meador. "Getting to do [the FTX] with a lot of my best friends here was a great time." The ASU ROTC Detachment 847 holds this annual FTX to give cadets a broader understanding of what the Air Force is truly like before committing to serve.
