West Point, NY – Soldiers assigned to Task Force Leader, from the 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), deployed May, 10th, 2022 to Camp Natural Bridge, a training area at the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) to assist with the USMA’s Cadet Summer Training (CST) 2022.
The CST is conducted annually to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets and visiting participants so that each graduate develops into commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country, prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the nation as an officer in the United States Army or respective service.
Members of TF Leader took pride in having been selected to take part in training, leading and developing the cadets during CST 2022.
“Having focused on achieving a higher state of readiness over the past several months, our Soldiers distinguished themselves as a highly trained and disciplined team, I could not be prouder to lead this Task Force supporting the West Point Cadet Summer Training mission,” Harrison said.”
TF Leader comes with highly motivated and dedicated Soldiers, noncommissioned officers (NCO’s) and officers who understand the importance and value of the CST program.
“I think teaching at Cadet Summer Training is important as an organization, and as a fighting force to train future leaders of all CM’s across the U.S. Army to increase lethality and preparation for tomorrow’s war,” said Sgt. 1st Class Charles Bell, platoon leader, TF Leader. “Personally, it’s important to me and good for myself because these are the platoon leaders that are going to serve along my peers and affect many lives, and if I can teach them what right looks like, we can cultivate change in the Army in the right direction.”
The command and their troops of TF Leader are ready and excited for their mission to support the West Point cadets.
“What I’m most excited about is the opportunity for cadets to be exposed to our awesome Soldiers and NCOs, and I think one of our primary missions in addition to this specific training is using the time outside of training windows for our Soldiers to sit down and talk to cadets, because I think the more they’re around Soldiers and NCOs, the more excited they’re going to be to join the Army,” said Harrison.
TF Leader, which is comprised of approximately 950 Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) and subordinate units have been working meticulously to prepare for their CST mission. They’ve ensured their work station areas have been set in place, synchronized communication planning operations between TF Leader and West Point counterparts, prepared for mailroom operation, set up a dining facility and began downloading and staging of equipment received through line haul. These are just a few of the tasks the unit has worked to set the stage for CST.
Prior to the start of CST the TF will be conducting lane validation training provided by the Department of Military Instruction (DMI) to ensure the DMI’s objectives for CST 2022 are properly met, and the Soldiers are fully trained and ready to support the cadets effectively and efficiently. Some of the training the unit will be validated on are team live fire exercise, call for fire, basic rifle marksmanship, land navigation, and water confidence course.
Harrison spoke of some of the goals he wants the TF to accomplish at the completion of Cadet Summer Training.
“When they graduate, they are ready and they are confident to assume the job of preparing, leading, and fighting alongside the Soldiers across the Army,” he said. He added that he hopes the Cadets come away with a greater appreciation for how amazing their Soldiers and NCOs are.
“I am absolutely excited for this mission, I think it’s a great opportunity for us as a battalion and a task force and also for us to make an impact on the next generation of our Army’s Lieutenants.”
