UWSP Army ROTC Training

The Pointer Battalion’s training program focuses on training cadets in basic military skills and leadership. Our emphasis is to train students to be leaders in the Army. Our goal is to train cadets to excel at the Leadership Development and Assessment Course (LDAC) and ultimately excel as leaders within the Army’s Officer Corps. The classroom curriculum develops a cadet’s leadership abilities by instilling the necessary values and attributes required of Army Leaders. During our laboratory events, cadets will learn the basics of marching, navigating in different types of terrain, and marksmanship. We believe this begins the foundation for building competent and confident leaders for our great Army. Our program offers additional training opportunities outside the UWSP campus.

These courses are offered for cadets on a voluntary basis. The Army courses are designed to challenge our mental and physical endurance and toughness. If you think you have what it takes, I highly encourage you to volunteer.

Qualified cadets may attend some of the following military schools and partake in some additional training programs. Schools are open to all cadets.

AIRBORNE TRAINING

Limited quotas for volunteer airborne training at Fort Benning, Georgia, are available to cadets who qualify. Applicants must have passed the airborne physical examination and attained the appropriate score on the APFT. Successful completion of this training entitles the cadet to wear the Army Airborne Badge. The three weeks of training are divided into ground, tower, and jump week. Ground week concentrates on building individual skills; such as, the parachute landing falls. Jump week consists on 5 successful jumps.

AIR ASSAULT TRAINING

Successful completion of this course allows the cadet to wear the Air Assault Badge. Requirements for selection are the same as for Airborne training. This 10-day school is designed to teach air assault skills and procedures, improve basic leadership skills, and instill the Air Assault spirit. During the course, cadets face such challenges as an obstacle course, physical training, rappelling, troop ladder, rigging and sling leading, road marches, and evaluations. The cadet can attend the Air Assault course at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, or Fort Campbell, Kentucky.

NORTHERN WARFARE TRAINING COURSE (NWTC)

Highly motivated and physically qualified cadets may apply for NWTC. The three-week training period is designed to familiarize the cadet with winter operations, to include a River Phase and a Glacier Phase. The rivers, mountains, and ice fields of Alaska provide a physical and mental challenge as well as tactical experiences in a mountainous region.

MOUNTAIN WARFARE TRAINING

Mountain Warfare School is on the slopes of Vermont's Green Mountains. "Tough" is a good way of describing the winter phase of the Mountain Warfare School. In two weeks, soldiers learn to ski and snowshoe. They patrol through waist-deep snow, using altimeter barometers instead of compasses. They climb 30-feet walls of solid ice, perform crevasse rescues and learn survival skills.

CADET TROOP LEADER TRAINING (CTLT)

Limited CTLT allocations are available annually to cadets who wish to volunteer to participate in CTLT. The CTLT program allows selected cadets to be attached to active duty or reserve component units (on annual training) and serve in a leadership position. The program is approximately three weeks in duration, and is available only to MS III cadets, who attend LDAC in the same year. Cadets who attend CTLT are paid at the same rate as for LDAC. Overseas CTLT tours are usually four weeks. Upon completion of this assignment, cadets receive a performance evaluation by an officer in the assigned unit. This evaluation is used by the PMS when providing further counseling and leadership training.

For further information on internships and other Cadet Command training opportunities, please click here:
http://www.rotc.usaac.army.mil/training/current_ops_div/ctlt.htm

LEADERS TRAINING COURSE

The Leaders Training Course (LTC) allows students to enter the Army ROTC Two-Year Program without any prior military or ROTC experience to qualify for Advanced Course entry. Through LTC students are provided the necessary training to ensure successes during the last two years for Army ROTC. While at LTC, instructors observe students and determine their officer potential in a leadership oriented, challenging, and motivating 28-day training program at Fort Knox, Kentucky. LTC is an exciting way to experience the ARMY. It is also a key step in the process of earning a commission as an Officer in the U.S. Army during the next two years on campus. This is a great opportunity to learn more about leadership, people, and most important, YOURSELF!

WARRIOR FORGE (LDAC)

Warrior Forge (previously known as Advanced Camp or the National Advanced Leadership Course) is a required training event for Army ROTC Cadets striving to earn their commission as Second Lieutenants in the United States Army, Army Reserve and National Guard. Cadets attend Warrior Forge the summer of their junior and senior year. The 30-day camp, held at Fort Lewis, Washington, incorporates a wide range of subjects designed to develop and evaluate leadership ability. The challenges are rigorous and demanding, both mentally and physically. LDAC Camp 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.

RANGER CHALLENGE

The Ranger Challenge team provides cadets with another opportunity for exciting and challenging training. Ranger Challenge is Army ROTC's "varsity sport." Annually, more than 300 universities nationwide field teams to compete in a series of challenging events. Locally, cadets compete against teams within the 9th Army ROTC Brigade comprising Universities from Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. The name and spirit for the competition are derived from the U.S. Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia. Training for this event includes rigorous physical fitness workouts, information classes on various elements of light infantry tactics, and a weekend Field Training Exercise where rifle marksmanship, rope bridging, land navigation, and other skills are practiced. Making a commitment to the Pointer Battalion team will provide you with outstanding leadership training, a high level of physical fitness and, perhaps more importantly, teach you about yourself. Are you up to the challenge?

Events Include:

• Basic Rifle Marksmanship
• Land Navigation
• The Army Physical Fitness Test
• Weapons assembly/disassembly
• Obstacle Course
• 10-Kilometer forced road march
• One Rope Bridge

Who Can Join?

The Ranger Challenge team is required to have between 8 to 10 cadets in order to compete. All cadets are eligible to try out for the team, men and women, scholarship and non-scholarship cadets in all years of Military Science. What is really required to be on the Ranger Challenge team is desire, commitment to the team, and as the name implies, the willingness to go further than you ever thought you could.

For more information contact the Department of Military Science and Leadership at (715) 346-3821.