FIELD TRAINING EXERCISES
Field Training Exercises (FTX) are a more expanded
type of lab. FTX's usually last an entire weekend but we
also have day long FTX's as well. This training
concentrates on the essential skills needed to succeed at
Advanced Camp such as Land Navigation, Rifle Marksmanship
and leadership training. Some of the more fun training is
Rappelling which is usually done at least once per year.
PHYSICAL TRAINING
Physical Training is a very important part of Army
ROTC. PT is conducted three days per week. A normal PT
session consists of some upper body workout, then a
stomach workout and finally a distance run. Some other PT
workouts include: distance swimming, weight lifting,
stadium running (stairs) and the occasional recreational
day in which cadets play Volleyball or Basketball for the
hour. Most cadets say that PT helps to wake them up in
the morning so that by the time they go to class after
having done their workout for the day they feel much
better.
Pershing Rifles
"To foster a spirit of friendship and cooperation
among men in the military department and to maintain a
highly efficient drill company." This is the purpose
of the Pershing Rifles, as propounded by its
distinguished founder in the early eighteen nineties.
In 1891 General Pershing, then a second Lieutenant in the
Sixth Cavalry, became Professor of Military Science and
Tactics at the University of Nebraska. He, wishing to
improve the morale of the ROTC unit, formed a select
company of men, thereafter known as Company A.
In 1892 this company won the maiden competition at the
Omaha Competition. In 1893, the special drill company
became a fraternal organization bearing the name of
"Varsity Rifles." In 1894, the organization, in
appreciation of the initiative and cooperation of Lt.
Pershing, changed its name to "Pershing
Rifles."
When Pershing left Nebraska, in 1895, he, at the request
of a committee, gave the company a pair of his cavalry
breeches. These breeches were cut into small pieces and
were worn on the uniform as a sign of membership. These
"ribbons" were the first service ribbons ever
worn in the United States.
During the Spanish American War, thirty members of the,
now powerful, Pershing Rifles enlisted in the 1st
Nebraska Volunteers. W. H. Oury, Captain of the Pershing
Rifles, now a full Colonel in the Regular Army, was
placed in command. Another Pershing Rifleman by the name
of Robbins was made the First Sergeant. He later achieved
high position in the war department. Every one of the
thirty distinguished himself in the ensuing battles.
From 1900 to 1911, Pershing Rifles reached the height of
its existence prior to World War II. It was one of the
most important features of Nebraska military and social
life. Membership was a great military honor. Its
influence in the Military department continued strong
until 1911.
After 1911 the organization suddenly lost prestige and
declined deplorably. Its activity suddenly seemed to
cease. The organization became a mere shadow of itself.
Its military influence plummeted and its social
activities dropped.
In 1917, the conditions became so bad that the
organization was disbanded and its records were burned.
Thus in seven short years, this promising organization
had passed from national renown to oblivion.
In 1920 Pershing Rifles was reborn. Out of the ashes of
the organization which had died of its own weight in
1917, there sprang a corps with new life and activity. It
was obvious the prestige of the early 1900's was missing.
As originally organized in 1920, Pershing Rifles was an
organization for junior officers. It soon, however
regained its status as a basic military society. The
presence of Scabbard and Blade on the Nebraska campus
probably prevented its growth as an officers
organization.
The growth of Pershing Rifles after its reorganization is
as remarkable as its former decline. It stepped back into
its old niche and strove to grow big enough to fill it
again. By 1924, it had regained some of its lost
prestige. Special drill companies all over the country
began to seek admittance into Pershing Rifles.
The present National Honorary Society of Pershing Rifles
owes its existence to Ohio State University. In the fall
of 1922, a group of advanced course men got together and
formed "The President's Guard." It was so named
in honor of William Oxely Thompson, President of Ohio
State University. The "Guard" gave an
exhibition drill on Military Field Day in the spring of
1923. After this exhibition the company disbanded. In the
fall of the same year it was reorganized by the Captain
of the local Scabbard and Blade chapter and basic men
were admitted.
This new organization was too loosely organized and too
closely allied to the regular drill for the company to
stand alone. In the spring of 1925, it applied for
affiliation with Pershing Rifles. The Nebraska
organization refused. The Ohio State group, seeing the
need for a national organization for basic men,
threatened to nationalize the "President's
Guard" and leave Nebraska out of it if the two
organizations could not work together. Finally, after a
negotiations lapse of over a year, the Nebraska
organization approved the formal application of the Ohio
State organization. This application was dated May 13,
1925. The chapter was installed on May 22, 1925 by John
A. Picker, Colonel of Pershing Rifles.
Thus was inaugurated a new policy in Pershing Rifles.
In 1927 the University of Tennessee's crack drill unit
was granted a charter by the National Headquarters. This
group was designated Company C, and was established under
the influence of Scabbard and Blade of that school. From
this time until 1929, the Nebraska unit concentrated on
the establishment of a strong long local unit rather than
a weak national organization, figuring that if the local
unit was made strong, a national organization could be
easily organized. Due to this program, Pershing Rifles at
Nebraska even surpassed its Spanish American War
greatness.
In 1928 the National Headquarters was established at the
University of Nebraska. All of this laid the foundation
for a strong national unit. In the summer of this year, a
number of circulars were sent to other universities,
besides those already having PR units, inviting their
crack units to apply for charters from the National
Headquarters. Those who knew of the relative value of
Pershing Rifles as an organization capable of promoting
interest in drill work for basic drill students, heeded
the circulars. Also during that summer, officers attached
to the schools where there were Pershing Rifles chapters
met with officers from other institutions and thus the
organization received good publicity.
Ranger Challenge
Welcome to RANGER CHALLENGE! The mission of the Ranger
Challenge Team is to enhance military knowledge through
the application of training beyond the scope of other
organizations affiliated with ROTC and the military. In
addition, the Ranger Team is the basis and impetus behind
the preparation of a twelve-man team which competes in
the annual Army ROTC Ranger Challenge Competitions.
Finally, the team instills in its members a sense of team
unity, cohesiveness, and esparto de corps through
organized socials, challenging training, and
teamwork-building activities.
Mission: The Ranger Challenge Team conducts training
during the Spring Semester in order to develop the skills
and physical abilities of team members for competition in
the fall, and contribute to the professional development
of team members as Cadets in the Army ROTC Program.
The Ranger Challenge competition is meant to emulate one
of the finest organizations in the Army: The Army
Rangers. The competition takes many of the Army's common
skills tasks and grades cadets on their skill and
ability.
There are several events: The Army Physical Training
Test, Basic Rifle Marksmanship(BRM), Grenade Assault,
Rope Bridge, Weapons Assembly, 10k Ruck Run.
The teams from various schools compete in the two day
regional competition. On the first day, the competitors
start with the APFT, consisting of two minutes of
pushups, two minutes of situps, and a two mile run.
Scoring is based on Army standards, with awards for the
best male and female score in each event.
Then cadets go to a timed written patrolling test, in
which the team must answer various questions on
patrolling tactics. This test is based on speed and
accuracy.
The next event is orienteering. In this event the teams
break up into groups of two and go find points in the
area using maps and orientiering skills. The points are
all shown on a master map. The team captains must copy
the points to their map so that each group can copy the
points that they will find. The score for each point is
determined by the distance from the starting point.
The teams then rotate between the BRM (Basic Rifle
Marksmanship), the Grenade Assault course, the One Rope
Bridge, and M-16/M-60 assembly.
At the BRM competition, the teams shoot for score. Each
team member is given 9 rounds to zero their M-16. Then
they are given 40 rounds and shoot for points under a
specified amount of time
The Grenade Assault course consists of an obstacle
course, and at certain points on the course, cadets throw
simulated grenades at targets. While on the course cadets
must use movement techniques such as the High Crawl, Low
Crawl, and Back Crawl to successfully complete the
course. Points are awarded based on time and grenade aim.
At the One Rope Bridge course, teams must create a
bridge and get all team members across to the other side
of a water hazard. Only two cadets are allowed to get
wet. The Rope Bridge event is based on time, and there is
a time penalty assessed if anyone other than the two
allowed cadets get wet. The course is run twice with the
standing time being an average of the two runs.
The M-16/M-60 asembly is a timed event where each team
member must assemble an M-16 and a M-60. The cadets start
50 meters from the parts. Then they must run to the
parts, which are all located inside one box, and proceed
to put both of the weapons together.
The 10 K Road March is held on the second day of the
competiotion. It is the only event held that day. The
teams must complete a 10 K run, wearing full equipment
including LBE (Load Bearing Equipment) with two canteens,
an M-16, a ruck sack packed with a spare uniform and an
extra set of boots. Each team must also carry their
Guide-on during the run.
Each team is awarded points based on how well they
perform in each event.
This page was Created By:C/SGT
Rivera,Carlos J M.S. II
E-Mail me at: [email protected]