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Required TrainingAdditional Training Opportunities
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LDAC – WARRIOR FORGELeadership Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) is the most important training event for an Army ROTC cadet. The 32-day camp incorporates a wide range of subjects designed to develop and evaluate leadership ability. The challenges are rigorous and demanding, both mentally and physically. LDAC tests intelligence, common sense, ingenuity and stamina. These challenges provide a new perspective on an individual's ability to perform exacting tasks and to make difficult decisions in demanding situations. LDAC places each cadet in a variety of leadership positions, many of which simulate stressful combat situations. In each position, cadets are evaluated by platoon tactical officers and noncommissioned officers. In addition to proving their leadership ability, cadets and officer candidates must meet established standards in physical fitness, weapons training, communication, combat patrols and demonstrate their proficiency in many other military skills. Cadets and officer candidates must excel at camp to be considered competitive for a commission as an Army officer. One special aspect of LDAC is the Regimental Affiliation Program. Each cadet regiment is affiliated with an established and honored Army Regiment. The cadet battalions adopt the honors, lineage and heraldry of their respective active regiments. The purpose of the program is to infuse each cadet with regimental esprit de corps and pride. Over 4000 Army ROTC cadets and National Guard Officer Candidates from throughout the nation attended the 2001 ROTC National Advanced Camp. The camp consisted of 12 training cycles, the first cycle began in June and the last cycle graduated in August. Primary training at LDAC consists of: Field Leaders Reaction CourseFLRC develops and evaluates leadership and builds teamwork early in the camp cycle. Cadet squads must demonstrate initiative, teamwork and common sense while negotiating difficult physical obstacles. Cadet leadership potential is assessed and cadets receive feedback on their leadership strengths, weaknesses, styles and techniques. Confidence TrainingConfidence training builds individual, team and unit esprit through a series of individual and team competitions. It gives cadets the opportunity to evaluate their courage and resolve, and gives cadre the opportunity to evaluate the cadets’ mental attitude under different levels of stress. Basic Rifle MarksmanshipFuture Army Leaders must know the characteristics of the M16, the basic Army rifle, how to fire it accurately and how to employ it in combat. Rifle marksmanship training teaches cadets to engage and hit targets on the battlefield. Cadets are required to fire for record. Rifle qualification is a camp completion requirement. Machine GunSquad Automatic Weapon/M60 machine gun training teaches cadets the characteristics, functions and employment of the weapon. This training provides skills used in subsequent tactical phases of camp. Land NavigationLand navigation skills must be mastered early in the camp cycle for cadets to be fully successful in the tactical training which follows. The land navigation training and evaluation consists of written and practical exercises. A passing score in land navigation is a camp completion requirement. Individual Tactical TrainingITT is the first block of instruction in tactics at LDAC. It teaches individual battlefield skills, combat movement techniques, and procedures necessary for subsequent tactical training at the squad and platoon level. Hand GrenadeBasic understanding and use of hand grenades is an important facet of weapons and tactical training. Cadets learn to identify major types of grenades, learn the grenades’ characteristics and uses, and are allowed the opportunity to throw live grenades. Nuclear, Biological and ChemicalNBC training provides basic soldier skills cadets must master to meet pre-commissioning requirements. Cadets learn characteristics, maintenance and employment of NBC equipment. They also develop confidence in defensive equipment during mask confidence exercises. Squad Situational Training ExerciseSquad STX is a five-day, two-phase event. The first two days, the squad training phase, are designed to train squad battle drills and collective tasks. The last three days, the squad STX lane phase, are designed to evaluate leadership using tactical scenarios. Each cadet receives two formal evaluations of his or her performance as a squad leader during this phase. Squad operations builds on and reinforces all previous instruction. Cadets use knowledge of land navigation, terrain association, weapons systems, and all individual training previously presented to successfully complete squad STX. Platoon Patrolling ExercisesPlatoon Patrolling Exercises is a three day event that provides cadets practical experiences leading soldiers at the section level. The first day is a training day on which cadets are taught the fundamentals of patrolling missions. The following two days are designed to evaluate leadership potential using tactical scenarios by giving cadets opportunities to utilize training as patrol leaders and assistant patrol leaders. Patrolling Exercises builds on and reinforces all previous instruction and teaches cadets the basics of air assault operations. This event culminates cadets' training at LDAC. |
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