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Volume CXVIII, No. XXIII |
December 8, 2005 |
Behind Enemy Lines
Juniors learn how to lead, encounter surprises
The Record
The Record
The Record is continuing a yearlong series, bringing you behind the scenes of ROTC.
In Chapter Two, we bring you into battle. Follow us as we become embedded with the cadets and test the leadership of MS3s who are preparing for their big test.
The battle simulation took place Nov. 19 at St. John's.
Chaos erupted as camouflaged cadets darted to the ground and aimed their guns at the enemy.
"Bang, bang bang bang!"
The sounds of the attack echoed through the dense, snow-covered woods.
"All right, everybody hide behind this tree," said junior and company leader Kevin McCabe to the two reporters and photographer embedded with the patrol. "There's enemies out in front of us."
In front of us, about 10 cadets were busy dealing with the enemy, simulated by senior cadets.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
While talking with us, the reporters, McCabe also supervised his group, Bravo Company.
"Tyler, secure that enemy," he shouted out and then explained the action to us. "Right now, the Alpha team is being engaged by the enemy."
In a couple of minutes, the cadets would inspect the three attackers lying on the ground.
The battle was over. But the test had just
begun.
Embedded
The cadets were simulating a battlefield. McCabe was in charge of leading his group of four cadets through the woods while coming under attack by MS4s, or seniors.
Our job was to ask questions and report to our readers. But as we asked, distraction and chaos ensued.
For McCabe, a third-year cadet, and the other juniors, this is practice for what is to come.
This summer, McCabe and fellow MS3's will journey to Warrior Forge in Fort Lewis, Wash., for the Leadership Development Assessment Course. Cadets will be tested on everything they are supposed to know after graduation from ROTC. It is a big part of deciding where cadets will be placed after graduation.
"It's kind of like studying for finals," McCabe said. "This year is our study period, and Warrior Forge is our final."
Each month cadets participate in labs that test and apply the skills needed for Warrior Forge. Last month, McCabe and other MS3's were team leaders in a field simulation.
"Right now, we're focusing on what [troops are] doing in Iraq," Lieutenant Colonel Bob Pederson said.
The scenarios mimic situations that troops may come across. On this early morning, they dealt with an ambush, observed the enemy, knocked out a bunker and were attacked while dealing with us, the journalists.
And it wasn't easy.
Reacting to contact
As the four groups of cadets came through that morning, two of them shot at us immediately. Cadets holding fake M-16s would yell "bang," signifying a person had been shot.
As we loudly began to ask questions, some troops and team leaders became uneasy. We had a gun pointed in our face, and we were even told we were going to be tied up and gagged.
"As far as cadets are concerned, we're taught that everything is a threat until you realize what it is," McCabe said. "You looked like the people we were supposed to be attacking."
Pederson said he's not surprised most of the cadets reacted as they did.
"They have not been taught [how to deal with the media] yet," he said. "You'll see much different reaction [in the spring simulation]."
When McCabe's patrol appeared over a nearby ridge, we immediately approached them with questions about their mission.
"I can't give you that information," said their squad leader, SCSU junior John Dufner. "It's classified information. Get out of here."
The cadets had not been informed they would have to deal with media during their morning briefing.
McCabe said what he has learned is to address the reporters and immediately check their credentials. Only one of the four groups did. It was McCabe's.
"Do you guys have IDs on you," a cadet asked.
We showed them our press credentials and were told to go toward the back of the formation with McCabe.
"We're in a hostile area," Dufner said. "You'll stay in the back of our formation then. We'll handle all your questions and take care of you after the threat level is lowered."
Suddenly, a burst of voices shouted out as contact with the enemy began.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
Scott Cummings, a MS4, was a part of the opposition. He and two other attackers snuck behind trees, trying to catch the cadets off guard. When they did, they simulated engaging fire and threw empty pop bottles, acting as grenades.
"[The media has] to understand that … either you have to stay in the unit so we can protect you but then … you have to abide by our rules for the time being so that we don't get put in harms way," McCabe said.
As for those cadets and leaders who didn't handle the situation in the most appropriate manner, McCabe said it's all a matter of time.
"This is the very, very basic level of anything," he said. "People make mistakes, and that's why you want them to make mistakes here rather than the real thing where it becomes a problem."
Pressure to perform
Master Sergeant Mark Hejhal is in charge of instructing the MS3s. He said this simulation showed how well they could deal with a stressful and unfamiliar situation.
"We evaluate our cadets to see how they make a decision," Hejhal said. "The big picture of the [ROTC] program is teaching and evaluating their leadership. We use the tactics to teach leadership."
As McCabe and other juniors prepare for LDAC, Hejhal said the pressure is on because if a cadet doesn't pass the test, they can't become an officer.
"I'm looking forward to it, but I'm also extremely nervous because it has a huge impact on the rest of my career," McCabe said.
And because McCabe plans to enlist for more than 20 years, this test is even more important to live out a dream that's lasted for more than a decade.
"It's just one of those boyhood fantasies," he said. "It's something I've always wanted to do. I've just been drawn to it."
