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Spring FTX, April 2025

From April 17th to 19th, the University of Colorado Boulder’s Army ROTC Golden Buffalo Battalion and UCCS ROTC programs conducted their annual Spring Field Training Exercise (FTX) at the Jack’s Valley Training Area, located on the grounds of the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. This three-day exercise is a critical component of the ROTC training curriculum and serves as a culminating event for cadets to apply their classroom knowledge in a realistic field environment.

During this FTX, MSIII cadets took on evaluated leadership roles as Platoon Leaders, Platoon Sergeants, and Squad Leaders. These positions are essential in preparation for Cadet Summer Training (CST) at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The Spring FTX allows MSIIIs to demonstrate their decision-making abilities under pressure, develop confidence in their leadership, and test their tactical proficiency one last time before CST.

MSIVs supported the exercise by serving as evaluators and mentors, guiding their underclassmen through each phase of the training and offering feedback grounded in their own experiences. Cadre members provided real-time assessments and coaching cadets on leadership and adaptability.

CDT Sabo in the planning phase, preparing for the delivery of an OPORD to her platoon.

The training period involved OPORD (Operation Order) briefings, land navigation, terrain models, and tactical movements. During this time cadets were able to refine their communication, leadership, planning, and critical thinking skills.

MSIII briefs his OPORD off of his terrain model.