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On April 16-April 18, UW-Madison Army ROTC went to Ft. McCoy for their spring field training exercise (FTX). They conducted night land nav, situational training exercises (STX), and patrolling. During night land nav, cadets are given 5 points they must find with only a map, compass, and protractor. They must find at least 3 out of 5 in order to pass. During STX lanes, the MS IIIs (juniors), are given a mission, such as conducting an attack, ambush, recon, etc, and must lead their squad to complete that mission. During the STX lane, different variables that change the missiion are given, and the squad leader must respond to the change quickly to successfully complete that mission. Patrolling consists of a larger element called a platoon rather than a squad, and the patrol leader must work with the assistant patrol leader and 2 squad leaders to complete the mission they were given.
On April 8-April 11, the MS IIIs (juniors) flew to Ft. McCoy in Blackhawk helicopters to participate in the Combined Field Training Exercise (CFTX) at Ft. McCoy with other MS IIIs in order to prepare for the Leadership Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) they will be attending during the summer. On April 9, the MS IVs (seniors), ran the Field Leadership Reaction Course (FLRC) in which the MS IIIs must lead their fellow squad members through various obstacle courses using leadership and problem solving skills.
On March 21st, 2010, 15 cadets from the Badger Battalion honored the memory of the brutal Bataan Death March by competing in the 21st annual Bataan Memorial Death March in White Sands, NM. Nearly 5,700 people from across age groups and the country marched, ran or walked to remember and honor survivors of the actual forced march. The cadets of the Badger Battalion competed in a heavy division, marching 26.2 miles in the New Mexico desert with 40 lb. rucks on their backs. If that doesn't sound brutal enough, the cadets drove 22 hours from Madison, WI to White Sands Missile Range, NM in 15 passenger vans just to compete in the event!
All in all, the trek was worth it though as all three competing teams placed in the top 50% of the ROTC Heavy Team Division. The UW-Madison team placed 8th in their division, finishing the marathon in 6 hours and 55 minutes, while UW-Whitewater team completed the event just behind the Badgers at 7 hours and 11 minutes, taking 9th. The Maranatha Baptist Bible College team finished 14th, coming in 8 hours and 13 minutes after stepping off. Congratulations to all the teams on a job well done!
To read more about the Bataan Memorial Death March, check out this article (which also features a few cadets from the Badger Battalion!): http://cadetcommand.armylive.dodlive.mil/2010/03/26/bataan/
On Friday, March 5th, a few cadets traveled to Blackhawk Technical College in Janesville in order to practice firing small arms and room clearing. Cadets fired at targets in an indoor range, honing their skills in marksmanship. After all the ammo was expended, the cadets went on to practice room clearing given various situations and airsoft weapons to complete the mission.
Since the beginning of the fall semester, LTC Pitz and CPT Daniels have administered the contracting oath to 19 cadets in the Badger Battalion. CDT Snieg, CDT Baer, CDT Chrnelich, CDT Jaeger, CDT Kopp, CDT Ludwig, CDT Moore, CDT Reichers, CDT Strong, CDT Torrico, CDT Blahnik, CDT Boyle, CDT Domsic A., CDT Domsic J., CDT Herring, CDT Kastelic, CDT Lange, CDT Raupp and CDT Sprague were all welcomed into the Badger Battalion family after raising their right hand and reciting the oath. Contracting is a big step for these cadets as it signifies the beginning of their training to become officers in the U.S. Army. Congratulations to all them all and "Badgers Up Front!"
