App State Army ROTC kicked off its Fall Field Training Exercise (FTX) with a weekend of challenging, hands-on military training designed to build leadership, confidence and tactical proficiency among cadets.
The exercise began Thursday with weapons training at the Watauga Gun Club, preparing cadets for the rigorous field training that would follow throughout the weekend.
Friday’s activities featured a memorable and unique start as two Black Hawk helicopters from the North Carolina National Guard's Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 131st Aviation Regiment arrived at Brookshire Park to transport contracted cadets to the North Carolina Forest Service Mountain Training Facility. During the flight, LTC Jones administered the Oath of Enlistment to Cadets Quinlan and Laney, marking a significant milestone in their military careers.
Adding to the significance of the occasion, the lead aircraft carrying the newly enlisted cadets was piloted by two App State ROTC alumni: Major Hosak, a 2010 graduate, and Lt. Medlin, a 2024 graduate. The airborne enlistment ceremony provided an inspiring example of the program's enduring legacy and the continuum of leadership among Mountaineer ROTC graduates.
Following the air insertion, cadets participated in a series of round-robin training stations focused on essential military skills before concluding the day with squad-level land navigation exercises. Saturday's training emphasized tactical lanes and patrol base operations, challenging cadets to apply classroom knowledge in realistic field environments.
The training exercise concluded Sunday with the Battalion Mountain Run, followed by an enlistment ceremony for Cadets Pioquinto and Palmer. Cadets then gathered for breakfast at the Forest Service dining facility before returning to Boone and conducting recovery operations.
The annual Fall FTX provided valuable experiential learning opportunities while strengthening camaraderie, leadership development and readiness across the battalion. The weekend's airmobile insertion, combined with demanding field exercises and enlistment ceremonies, made for a memorable and successful training event that showcased the professionalism and commitment of App State ROTC cadets.
"Airmobile App State ROTC" servied as a fitting description of an impressive start to a comprehensive field training experience. Fire on the Mountain!
ROTC Blackhawk thumb
ROTC Blackhawk thumb