All Fighting Saints Battalion cadets had the opportunity to get hands on with common military weapon systems last week at their weekly lab training. The MSI and the MSII cadets were working with the M9, M4, M249 SAW, M240B, and the .50cal. Some of the cadets had never seen any of the weapon systems in person so this gave them a great chance to get a closer look at them and to ask MSIV cadets any of the questions they might have. Most of the time for the MSI and MSII cadets was spent practicing how to properly disassemble and assemble each individual weapon, then completing a functions check after they reassembled them. The MSIII cadets also had time to review how to disassemble and assemble the different weapon systems with a functions check at the end. This was good practice for them because they will need to know how to work with these weapons at their training this upcoming summer. They were also given the opportunity to practice their marksmanship skills on the EST system, which is the virtual shooting range. All of the cadets benefited from the training because of the knowledge gained but also because it is fun to change focus from tactics to other tasks.
Task Force Ranger Challenge Competition
Rapid City, SD: This past weekend, both the 5-person and 9-person Ranger Challenge teams walked away victorious at the Task Force Ranger Challenge competition held this year in Rapid City, SD. Both teams persevered through the rugged Black Hills terrain to claim the top spot among all Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota Programs. Both teams will now move on to compete at the Brigade Ranger Challenge event in Fort Leonard Wood, MO 01-03 November.
Cadet Summer Training Advanced Camp 2019
Fort Knox, Kentucky – From 27 June to 3 August, CDT Miller attended Advanced Camp at Fort Knox. During this training event, CDT Miller had the pleasure of working alongside fellow cadets that came from other universities throughout the country. They were evaluated and trained in numerous events such as land navigation, rappelling, tactical combat casualty care, throwing live M67 hand grenades, qualified on the pop-up rifle range with their M4’s, three field training exercises, conducted a buddy team live fire exercise and much more. CDT Miller was fortunate enough to make lasting friendships and memories with his fellow cadets in 8 th regiment, D CO, 2 nd platoon. CDT Miller enjoyed the challenges that Advanced Camp threw at him, both when he was in leadership and not. CDT Miller’s favorite part of Advanced Camp was enduring some of the harsh challenges and weather conditions with his fellow cadets in his platoon. Through this, he was able to connect and bond with his platoon that he will remember for the rest of his life. Ultimately, CDT Miller was able to learn how to be a better leader and listener that he can carry on throughout his Army career.
Military Ball 2019
On 3 May 2019, the Fighting Saints Battalion held their 67th annual Military Ball at the College of St. Benedict. This was a night for all cadets and cadre to set aside their OCP’s and boots for their ASU’s and enjoy a night of good food, company of friends and family, and dancing.
The guest speaker for this year was Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Katie J. Blue who is an alumnus of the FSB graduating in 1998 from St. Cloud State University with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and commissioning as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Signal Corps.
LTC Blue talked about her accomplishments throughout her extensive career in the Army (including having survived being a towed jumper during an airborne jump) and outlined the keys to success for a young officer just starting their careers. All cadets took away key insights into being a good officer and how to find success in an Army career. This information was very valuable for the younger cadets who will commission in a few years as well as for the seniors who will commission in a few weeks.
Another big part of the night was recognizing senior Cadet Marvin Heimer for being the fifth nationally ranked cadet in the nation for 2019 out of some 5,500 cadets. Cadet Heimer will commission as a Field Artillery Officer with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics. As well as being ranked fifth nationally, Cadet Heimer was the number one cadet out of all Field Artillery Officers commissioning in 2019.
The different special teams who won their respective competitions throughout the year were also recognized during Military Ball. The five-person ranger challenge team was recognized for winning the Task-Force and Brigade ranger challenges in the fall at Camp Ripley and Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri. The Army Bataan elite team was recognized for winning the marathon this spring in the mountains of White Sands, New Mexico. Additionally, the Northern Warfare team was recognized for winning their 22-mile competition through the snow bluffs La Crosse Wisconsin this winter.
Finally, the whole battalion was recognized for their contribution in winning the 2018 MacArthur Award. The MacArthur Award is given to the best ROTC Battalion in the Brigade. The Fighting Saints Battalion was the best ROTC program in Third Brigade and one of the top eight programs in the Nation. This is a huge accomplishment for the program, and it was directly due to the hard work of the cadets throughout the year.
This military ball was a good time for cadets to enjoy their accomplishments, learn how a formal Military Ball works, and gain knowledge on their future careers in the Army from LTC Blue.
Spring FTX 2019
From 12-14 April, 2019, Fighting Saints Battalion conducted their Spring Field Training Exercise (FTX) at Saint John’s University. The 3-day FTX was comprised of a variety of training events, including Engagement Skills Trainer (EST), a Call for Fire simulation (CFF), Land Navigation, and platoon-sized Situational Training Exercises (STX) in the woods. These events all aid in cadets’ preparation for Cadet Summer Training (CST) over the summer months at Fort Knox Kentucky.
The EST is an electronic range simulator that prepares cadets to group, zero, and qualify on a 300-meter pop-up range with an M4/M16 rifle. This is a graded event at Advanced Camp. All cadets must must shoot at least 23 out of 40 on Alt-C and the 300-meter pop-up range. By practicing on the EST simulators cadets will be better prepared to shoot and qualify on their weapon system at CST.
CFF simulation trains cadets to call indirect fire on enemy targets. MSIII cadets first received a class on how to properly request a fire mission via radio, how to adjust their fires, and successfully bracket to destroy the enemy with indirect fire. After the class all cadets went through a practical exercise, calling for fire on a terrain model with a simulated enemy target. MSIII cadets are tested on CFF at CST. CFF training ensures they will be successful during the graded practical exercise.
Land Navigation training enhances the confidence of cadets to get from one point to another in the woods using only a compass, map, protractor, and their pace count. During the Spring FTX, cadets conducted Land Navigation training in the St. John’s arboretum, searching for small 1’ by 1’ points in the woods. Cadets’ mastery of Land Navigation is essential for both their success in STX and for their success at CST. Each MSIII must pass a Land Navigation practical and written test to graduate CST.
Situational training exercises (STX) test cadets’ on the Army’s leadership attributes and competencies through the employment of basic infantry tactics. During STX, MSIII cadets lead their peers in platoon leader, platoon sergeant and squad leader positions. These MSIII cadets lead the platoon through simulated ambush, recon, raid, attack, and defense missions. MSIII cadets will be graded on these same positions and missions at CST over the summer. Practicing STX and performing in leadership positions gives FSB MSIII cadets a leg up over their peers at CST.
Over the 3-day Spring FTX, Cadets had many opportunities to work together, problem solve, and develop as leaders in preparation for Cadet Summer Training and as future officers in the United States Army.