Cadet practice platoon cover and movements on South Campus during their regular Thursday lab. Photo courtesy of CDT William Vlad.
Army ROTC’s Alpha Company ran drills on CU-Boulder’s South Campus on Thursday, January 25th focusing on platoon movement and various field tactics. Cadets were split up into several platoons with about 5 students each along with an appointed second lieutenant as the platoon leader. The platoons worked together as a unit to practice covering ground in a wide area. As one platoon took the lead and inched forward, the remaining platoons layed cover fire. This movement repeated itself as each platoon ran through their individual forward advancement until all were in a flanking line again. Which the entire process was replicated again as the unit controlled more and more ground.
Once all platoons completed their objective of successfully traversing the terrain properly, a brief review of the exercise was conducted. The Cadets then prepared for the next phase of the tactical field movements. This time, several “enemy forces” were placed along the selected route that the platoons will cover. The unit moved out again with the added knowledge that they could cross paths with active enemy forces in the area. Each platoon was viewed and graded by the MSIV Cadets on their line actions and down field communications.
Cadets gather to review their first maneuvers. Photo courtesy of CDT William Vlad.
The platoons again worked as a moving unit while they covered a new plotted area on South Campus. As the platoons took turns leading and then holding cover fire, they were on high alert to detect any type of enemy movement.
At the first sign of any enemy forces, the lead platoon is responsible for sounding the warning call and motioning for all to take cover. This type of communication down the entier line of soldiers is like a “daisy-chain”, with each person sending the notice as quickly as possible. Once each platoon member is safely under cover, a new plan of attack must be formulated on the spot. The platoon leader that is actively in the lead has the task of making the decision on how to proceed.
Platoon lead soldier yells a warning of enemy forces sighted and prepares to take cover, as the information is disseminated, the rest of the platoon ducks – as Cadre (middle with back turned) and MSIV Cadets (on the right) review and grade the entire process. Photo courtesy of CDT William Vlad.
These types of tactical maneuvers are continually covered during each semester of the Cadets classroom coursework. By the time a Cadet is in their junior year (MSIII), having performed several different scenarios like these formations and maneuvers throughout each semester, their reactions should come as second nature at this point.
CDT B. Carver acting as one of the “enemy forces.” Photo courtesy of CDT William Vlad.
Each MSIII Cadet will need to take the knowledge gathered during trainings like this one and apply it when they attend Cadet Summer Training (CST) come May through August this year. CST is where each MSIII Cadet has their chance to demonstrate their proficiency, physicallity and understanding of the U.S. Army’s infantry training.
The remaining MSI and MSII Cadets are actively learning and linking the coursework teachings together with the real live action trainings during their standard Thursday lab times.
Awesome job ACO on conducting a successful training.