Cadet events

Combat Water Survival Training (CWST)

CWST is conducted on the same day as CTT at the Wall Aquatic Center on campus, and completion of it is a commissioning requirement. CWST teaches cadets survival techniques in the event of a water emergency. It consists of five events:

1. 10 Minute Swim – Cadets need to show their proficiency to swim for an extended period of time by swimming for 10 continuous minutes without assistance.
2. Equipment Swim – Cadets are required to swim 25 meters in full ACUs, with a rifle and a full LBE.
3. Don & Ditch – Cadets with LBE and a rifle in hand are required to submerge underwater and release all their gear before they reemerged.
4. Tread Water – Cadets need to show their ability to stay in deeper water by treading water for 5 minutes.
5. 3 Meter Board – While blindfolded, cadets walk off a 3-meter diving board with a rifle into deep water. Without losing control of their rifle, cadets resurface and swim to safety with their weapon.

Field Training Exercise (FTX)

Every fall, the cadets from NAU travel south to our partnership unit at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University, in Prescott, AZ, to conduct a field training exercise (FTX). During the FTX, cadets participate in Squad Tactical Exercises (STX) led by MS III’s, Day and Night Land Navigation courses, a Field Leader’s Reaction Course (FLRC), and Patrol Base Operations for the MS III’s.

In the spring, cadets from several Army ROTC units (UA, ASU, ERAU, UNM, and NAU) converge on Navajo Army Depot, 10 miles west of Flagstaff, for a four day Joint Field Training Exercise. This exercise is the “Capstone” of the training year for our cadets. It gives the MS III cadets one final chance to hone their leadership skills before leaving for Advanced Camp over the summer.

Dome rappel

Every football season at NAU, the Lumberjack Battalion has the distinct honor of delivering the game ball from the ceiling of the Sky Dome. Two cadets free rappel 150-feet from the top of the Walkup Sky Dome to the turf below, and present the game ball to Louie the Lumberjack to start each home game.

Mountain adventure

 

At the beginning of each school year, every new cadet is invited to participate in Mountain Adventure. This is a Saturday trip up to a cliff face located near town at the foot of Humphrey’s Peak and Mt. Elden. At this event cadets, are taught basic rappelling techniques in a “Rope Corral” and on a “Bunny Slope” before hiking up the hillside to do some more advanced rappels.