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4 I Tuesday, December 5, 2006 | The Red & Black NEWS Story and photos by Andy McFee | amcfee@randb.com A Cadet Carol House applies camouflage just before the squad training exercises. Darker camoflauge is applied to the lighter portions of the face and lighter camouflage to the shadowed, recessed portions of the face. ROTC cadets take part in a simulation of real army life Every semester, University army ROTC cadets travel to Fort. Gordon for their Field Training Exercise (FTX). The FTX is a four-day training- camp in which cadets learn basic skills to prepare them for success in the army. Cadets take part in training exercises such as night and day land navigation, combat water sur vival training and squad tactical exercises. Each exercise is designed to teach cadets basic army skills and improve their leadership capabilities. For land navigation, cadets are given five sets of coordinates they must plot on a map and locate using a compass and pacing. Sgt. James, a military science instructor, said military leaders must know how to navigate tactically and safely across various terrain. Cadets participate in the FTX for different reasons: Fourth-year cadets are the leaders of the event, responsi ble for organizing and executing the different training exercises through out the weekend. The event is centered around third-year cadets who must pass a basic skills test in the coming sum mer. The first- and second-year cadets, while not required to attend, are invited to the FTX to get a feel for the rigors of army life. Emily Middendorf, a sophomore international affairs major from Athens, is a second-year military sci ence student participating in her sec ond FTX. Middendorf said she does not plan on joining the army but attends the FTXs because she loves pushing her self to know what she can do physi cally and mentally. Erica Lowe, a senior exercise and sports science major from Marietta, has contracted to join the army for Guaranteed Reserve Force Duty. Lowe said the FTX and the ROTC have helped her to develop her leadership and decision-making skills in the army and in the real world. ON THE WEB: See more photos from the Field Training Exercise in a photo slideshow under the “Multimedia ” section. www.redandblack.com ▲ (From Left) Cadets Joseph Pitt, Bruce Rosenbloom, Ryan Blume and Andrew Murphree walk in search of one of their five points during their land navigation exercise. The cadets are given five sets of coordinates and must find four of the five points by plotting them on a map and walking directly to each of them using a compass and counting their paces. (Far Left) A blindfold ed cadet prepares for her 3-meter drop dur ing combat water sur vival training. (Above) Cadet Benjamin Burch address the batallion in formation after a change in leadership. (Left) Mario Ponsell, a third year military sci ence cadet, protects his squad’s perimeter during the squad tacti cal exercises.