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View Full Version : My first FTX is coming up



Kevin23
11-11-2010, 06:46 AM
My first training exercise is coming up on Friday for AROTC, in which I will be travailing to Quantico with my school's battalion to participate in a variety of events many of which relate to what I've learned or done so far in AROTC. However, I've never been on a ROTC FTX before, so if anyone else has done one before what should I expect in terms of the courses, challenges etc?

SethB
11-11-2010, 03:22 PM
I think you should just go, and find out.

motorfirebox
11-11-2010, 04:56 PM
I don't know about ROTC FTXs, but our Basic FTX was basically a DIGX. We marched out, set up a perimeter, dug foxholes and assigned guard shifts. Then we ran around doing stuff like reacting to gas attacks, more marching, etcetera.

My advice: bring long underwear. Apparently, there's this new thing where it gets cold at night in the winter, not sure who thought that one up.

Van
11-11-2010, 06:54 PM
As far as gear goes, I'll tell you what I told my cadets (MS I class, University of Hawai'i).

-Don't bring a Rambo knife. You going to use a knife to open MREs. A modest size Swiss Army Knife (not the ten bajillion blade model) or a multi-tool (like a Leatherman or Gerber) works fine. If you go this route, get something with scissors; trying to trim moleskine with a knife doesn't work.

-Don't bring a $120 flashlight so bright it causes retina damage at 15m. You're going to use it to find your sleeping bag or check a map on night land nav. If you just CANNOT live with the Army issue flashlight, get a small (AA or AAA battery) LED type light with a red or blue LED.

-Wear a watch. Assume you'll lose or break your cellphone doing landnav and tactics. You'll still be expected to be on time, and an alarm is useful (but silence it during tactics). A G-Shock is an excellent choice.

-If you're not issued a poncho liner, you might consider making this investment in your career. Your wubbie is your friend.

Concur with the long underwear; a good set of polypro can save your life. Or at least prevent cold weather injury (not a problem for my younglings though).

Granite_State
11-11-2010, 07:19 PM
As far as gear goes, I'll tell you what I told my cadets (MS I class, University of Hawai'i).

-Don't bring a Rambo knife. You going to use a knife to open MREs. A modest size Swiss Army Knife (not the ten bajillion blade model) or a multi-tool (like a Leatherman or Gerber) works fine. If you go this route, get something with scissors; trying to trim moleskine with a knife doesn't work.

-Don't bring a $120 flashlight so bright it causes retina damage at 15m. You're going to use it to find your sleeping bag or check a map on night land nav. If you just CANNOT live with the Army issue flashlight, get a small (AA or AAA battery) LED type light with a red or blue LED.

-Wear a watch. Assume you'll lose or break your cellphone doing landnav and tactics. You'll still be expected to be on time, and an alarm is useful (but silence it during tactics). A G-Shock is an excellent choice.

-If you're not issued a poncho liner, you might consider making this investment in your career. Your wubbie is your friend.

Concur with the long underwear; a good set of polypro can save your life. Or at least prevent cold weather injury (not a problem for my younglings though).

Concur with all of the above. Shell out the sixty or seventy bucks for a solid multitool, it'll come in handy all the time.

I finally got out of Quantico two months ago, expect the weather to be miserable in one way or another.

Polarbear1605
11-11-2010, 09:16 PM
I understand it is standard issue now...but bring your Gortex...Quantico Falls can get wet and miserable.;)

AdamG
11-26-2010, 02:33 PM
So did this kid survive, or did the Jabberwocky eat him? :confused:

Kevin23
11-28-2010, 03:35 AM
So did this kid survive, or did the Jabberwocky eat him? :confused:

To answer your question, I actually overslept and missed the bus.:(