28 Days - Michael Noble Jr. Portfolio

The Leader’s Training Course is the premier leadership program of its kind in the United States. An intense four-week introduction to Army life and leadership training of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, the aim of the course is to motivate and qualify Cadets for entry into the Senior ROTC program. (Army ROTC)

I was hired as a photo intern for the summer to document the LTC program for the public affairs office of Fort Knox. I was assigned Bravo and Golf company over their 28 days in Kentucky.

Incoming cadets receive their first taste of military life as they arrive at the Fort Knox Army base for the 2013 Leader’s Training Course, a program that condenses three years of Reserve Officers' Training Corps classes into 28 days of intense training.

Drill Sergeant Sergio Mesa acknowledges a cadet’s mistake as he arrives at LTC. Mesa’s duties as a Drill Sergeant are to help train, educate and evaluate cadets during their stay at Fort Knox.

Cadet Rose Lee fills out forms at cadet inprocessing on the back of fellow cadet Nikki McBride. On this day cadets fill out all the paper work necessary for LTC.

Cadet Nikita Peters shows off her ripped up hand from doing the high ropes course. Even with injured hands, Peters still finished course. It is said that the high ropes course is designed to help the cadets get over conquer their fear of heights, because once you are hooked up to the tower, you can't unhook until you finish.

Cadets practice lock, loading and unloading their weapons with their eyes closed behind O'Neil Chapel. This was just one station of basic marksmanship training.

Cadets of Bravo Company dig into their Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE) as they take a break from training on the assault course. During lunch, cadets frequently traded parts of theirs meals with fellow cadets to get something more appetizing.

Cadet Tiara Marshall, a 21 year-old junior of Howard University, bursts through a smoke grenade on the Fort Knox assault course. “I’ve definitely never done this before; I learned a lot, but it was harder than I thought,” Marshall said.

Cadets John Samplaski, Cadet Khristen Munoz and Cadet Jordan Jenkins fell in after competing against other platoons in the obstacle course. The cadets competed as their Drill Sergeant cheer them on.The winner was awarded a streamer for that event which added to that platoon's flag.

Cadet Ramon Allbritton carries fellow Cadet Evan Gardner who was "wounded" in the STX (Squad Training Exercise). At STX, the cadets learned how to formulate an op-order and lead their fellow cadets into simulated combat using paintball guns to conduct their ambushes and assaults. While they conducted their missions they are scored by Drill Sergeants on how well they lead and executed their mission.

Drill Sergeant Torres leads his cadets in a chant before they start their second round of basic rifle marksmanship at the qualifying range. He gave a speech that inspired the cadets to improve their scores and go for the perfect score, a 40/40.

Cadets salute their drill sergeants, cadre, and their parents at their graduation for the last time as LTC cadets. A few of the Cadets were given awards the highest marksmanship score, the highest physical training score and many more.