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By Sgt. William Howard
1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs Office, 4th Infantry Division
Cadet Given Breckenridge joined the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, along with 11 other Army ROTC candidates for Cadet Troop Leader Training (CTLT) Aug. 8, 2015.
CTLT provides cadets an opportunity to experience leadership in an Army unit over a three- to four-week period. Cadets are assigned a unit mentor, provided on-post lodging and meals and all CTLT positions are linked to a specific regiment of the Leaders Development Assessment Course.
“My experience at Fort Carson has been eye-opening so far,” said Breckenridge, who’s majoring in Criminal Justice at Alcorn State University. “This is my first look at how the active Army actually works, so I’m learning a lot about what actually happens in the Army instead of just ROTC.”
So far, Breckenridge has trained on planning for a range and a field problem, motor pool stability and basic soldiering skills with members of the 4th Brigade Support Battalion, 1st SBCT.
“We’re giving the cadet a rundown of how the Army works,” said 1st Lt. David Sievers, fuel and water platoon leader, 4th BSB. “Each day I give him to different Army personnel (such as) a Soldier or another platoon leader so he gets a broad overview of everything that’s going on within our unit.”
Sgt. Lamont Bell, section sergeant, Company A, 4th BSB, said he thinks the real-world experience is more valuable for cadets than just hitting the books.
“I think it’s a good program for the cadets,” said Bell. “They can work with platoon leaders and noncommissioned officers so they can see firsthand what to expect when they have a platoon of their own.”
Sievers said he has a piece of advice for all future officers.
“Take care of your Soldiers, always do the right thing and your Soldiers and chain of command will take care of you,” he said. “If you’re always doing the right thing and working hard you’ll have no problems.”
