By Xhaxany Cuellar, Assistant Editor
Over the 2023 summer, cadet training officer Shane Goodwin, a senior exercise sports science and pre-physical therapy major, participated in Cadet Troop Leader Training and Cadet Summer Training in Fort Knox, KY and Fort Cavazos, TX where he acted as platoon leader. The training consisted of 35 days and Goodwin prepared by doing weekly ROTC basic infantry movements here on campus and did his outside research.
Goodwin participated in the Army Combat Fitness Test, land navigation and the written practical test, where each cadet was put into six lanes and examined for leadership abilities and what proficiencies or skills they needed to improve on. Goodwin also did chemical decontamination which is described as cadets putting on a gas mask and having to clear a room where a chemical compound has been released.
In the field, Goodwin was a battle captain and was in charge of making sure his platoon had accountability for their equipment.
One challenge Goodwin faced in the field was having people follow him during the cadets' six-lane lineup. While Goodwin is the one giving people directions, actually getting them to follow those directions proved to be more difficult.
Goodwin stated, “It's not a bad thing, because some people have different learning levels, but they only do certain things for certain people.” However, Goodwin stayed motivated through the gratification of his battle buddies. “Sometimes you're just going to be pulling security so just making the most of it is talking to your battle buddies,” said Goodwin.
He made two lifelong connections stating, “One [person] was from Iowa, and then another one was from New York. I don't know what it was. We came from different backgrounds and just came together.” Goodwin mentioned he is still in contact and communicates with them every day.
In addition to his connections with other cadets, one of the most memorable experiences for Goodwin was the 100-meter repel tower. Cadets first practice climbing on a platform with a wall where they must hit 100 meters, however the second time, there is no wall so cadets go down a straight rod 100 meters tall.
Goodwin feels he's better prepared for the future because of CTLT.
“I just have more knowledge of what to prepare for because I got exposed to so many things,” Goodwin exclaimed.
“For other cadets looking to participate in CTLT OR CSD,” Goodwin says, “have an open mind to learn, and just have the ability to learn and be adapted.”
After graduation, Goodwin plans to commission as an Army Aviation officer and fly in the military; he hopes to be stationed in Germany and travel the world one day.
