Air Force ROTC cadets vist Indiana for training event

Troy University Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (AFROTC) cadets recently participated in a large-scale training event in Indiana alongside other cadets from across the country. 

The event, organized by Indiana State University at Camp Atterbury, allowed cadets to participate in a multi-day field training exercise designed to simulate real deployment conditions. 

Cadets explained the training as a condensed version of the required multi-week field training they attend between their sophomore and junior years. 

“It focuses on getting them that leg up and preparing for what field training is,” said Maria Ciurleo, a senior applied sciences in resource and technology management major from Crestview, Florida. “Every year it's a little different, but I think this is the most realistic experience compared to what other detachments do.” 

Through this opportunity, the cadets were able to train in many areas, including land navigation, base defense operations, small unit tactics and tactical combat casualty care.

The cadets were also challenged with a new environment and unfamiliar teams, requiring them to adapt to any situation. 

The cadets shared their experience with the training and why it is important. 

“We really had to learn how to lead and operate under stress,” said Zachary Lowery, a junior physics in mathematics major from Elba, Alabama. “It’s pretty much an officer’s job to lead people in stressful situations.” 

Charles Clark, a sophomore political science major from New Lenox, Illinois, shared his view. 

“For the cadets that went, it was a pretty good leadership experience with the fact that we volunteered for something that we knew was going to be uncomfortable,” Clark said. “That is going to be something that you’re going to have to do throughout your career.” 

The cadets also shared the planning and preparation that went into attending the event, with increased training for underclassmen and both planning and logistics for upperclassmen throughout the semester. 

“The intensity has been a little bit higher this semester,” Clark said. “Really focusing on warrior knowledge, we have a whole list from the chain of command to the code of conduct and drill has been rigorous as well.” 

Ciurleo shared her perspective as an upperclassman. 

“Logistics and the communication factor were the biggest two things of prepping, and it took the entire semester to get it going,” Ciurleo said. “You have to work with more people to make sure we can have a backup plan, and the underside that they don’t get to see as much as we were in contact with other detachments all the time.” 

The cadets gave advice to others that may be preparing for this training in the future. 

“You get out of this program what you put into it-- that’s something that the cadre always says,” Lowery said. 

Clark shared a sentiment regarding failure. 

“Be ready to fail, and honestly, it's better to fail there than at actual field training,” Clark said. 

While the event was voluntary, the program had around 20 cadets participate, something Ciurleo said reflects the dedication of Troy’s AFROTC. 

“[The participation] reflects really well,” Ciurleo said. “Just networking, building those teams and knowing that anytime someone calls us we are that support group.”